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Eritrea |
Facts about country
| Capital | Asmara |
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Population |
4 Million |
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Main Languages |
English + Amharic +
Arabic + Bilen + To Bedawi + Saho + Tigre + Kunama + Nara + Tigrinya |
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Electricity |
2 Plug System 220 or 240 Volts 50Hz |
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Currency |
Nakfa |
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Exchange Rate for US $ as of June 2001 |
10.05 Nakfa per 1 US$ |
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Safe to Drink Tap Water |
No |
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Size |
124320 sq km |
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Transport |
Train, bus, minibus, boat (ferry), 4WD vehicle is a benefit, plane |
| Cash Machines (ATMS) | No |
| Credit Card Usage | Only a few places + heavy surcharge |
| Religion | Christian + Muslim |
| Measurement System | Metric System |
Recommended Budget per Day in US $
| Total Budget per Person | Accommodation | Meals | Transportation | Other |
| 20 $ | 5 $ | 5 $ | 5$ | 5$ |
Main things to See (we give descriptions only on places we visited)
| Things to See | Visited | Brief Description | Recommend (10 is best 1 is don't bother) |
| Asmara | Y | The capital of Eritrea. It is not like the rest of eastern Africa. Very European, though there is nothing to buy. Great cappuccinos and pastries and very cheap. The main attractions are the Governors House, Opera House, National Museum, Tank Cemetery, City Park, and the Catholic Cathedral. | 7 |
| Masawa | Y |
The town was heavily bombed during the war with Ethiopia. It is the main port in Eritrea on the Red Sea. It is very hot there. |
6 |
| Keren | N | ||
| Qohaito | N | ||
| Keren | N | ||
| Nakfa | N | ||
| Dahlak Archipelago | N | ||
| Metera | N | ||
| Adulis |
Popular activities and Tours (Being not included does not mean they do not exist)
| Hiking / Trekking | X |
| Scuba Diving | X |
| Historical Sites | X |
| Sightseeing tours | X |
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Ballooning |
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Bungy Jumping |
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Safaris |
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| Boat tours | X |
| Fishing | X |
| Horseback riding | |
| Canoeing | |
| Camping | |
| River Rafting | |
| Sky Diving | |
| Abseiling | |
| Surfing | |
| Windsurfing | |
| Kayaking | |
| Sailing | |
| Mountain biking | |
| Roller blading | |
| Motorbike | |
| Sand boarding | |
| Snorkeling | X |
| Water Skiing | X |
| Others Camel Safaris | X |
Feeling and Opinions on Eritrea
The first impression of Eritrea is that it is not Africa. The people are drinking cappuccinos and wearing western clothes. It is also fairly hassle free. The people seem to have a indifference on one being there or not. However, in our opinion there is not a whole lot to see and do there.
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Maren & Kirk