This guide may contain affiliate links. At no cost to you, they allow me to provide these free and, even if I do say so myself, expert guides based on almost two years of travel in Africa. For a broader view, don’t miss my complete guide to travel in Africa.
Eritrea is not easy to get into. Land borders with all three neighbours are closed, meaning you’ll have to fly in whether you like it or not. It’s arguably even harder to get around, with everyone needing official permission to leave the capital, Asmara. But those willing to take on the patience and paperwork needed to explore the ‘North Korea of Africa’ have at least the chance to delve into its variety of protected areas. Here are my choice of the top national parks and reserves in Eritrea.
1. Semenawi Bahri National Park
Roughly 90 miles (140 kilometres) east of Asmara via the city of Mitsiwa (Massawa), Semenawi Bahri National Park is dominated by coastal mountains.
Rising to heights of almost 8,000 feet (2,500 metres), its landscapes also include a fork in the River Alighede. This has made the park an important habitat for many bird species, as well as the region’s montane flora.
While almost none (see below for an explanation of the ‘almost’) of Eritrea’s protected areas contain the megafauna associated with east Africa’s savannahs, it’s perfectly possible to catch sight of antelope species including klipspringer and duiker. The park is also known to be home to a small population of leopard.
Its network of unsurfaced roads can be accessed via Meg’o, Medhanit, and Sabur. The last has a fantastic position above the Filfil Valley, whose forests are cut through by a ribbon of winding tarmac.
2. Dahlak Marine National Park
Continue eastward from Semenawi Bahri and, boats permitting, you’ll reach Dahlak Marine National Park.
It consists of a series of islands scattered across the Red Sea, around 30 miles (50 kilometres) from the coast.
Offering a blend of cultural insight and wildlife sightings, four of these rocky and arid islands are inhabited by people.
There’s a total of population of around 2,500 permanent residents, who continue to fulfil traditional livelihoods. The most obvious to visitors are fishing and goat husbandry.
Those islands that have remained uninhabited by humans have become a further important spot for birds. Good populations of seabirds exist, since the waters around the islands are well-populated with more than 300 different species of fish.
These can be explored up close thanks to the park’s growing scuba diving scene. Dive spots include coral reefs and an old shipwreck. You can generally charter boats from Mitsiwa.
3. Yob Wildlife Reserve
Rubbing up alongside the country’s northern border with Sudan, Yob Wildlife Reserve was apparently first founded by the British in 1959. Since Britain handed over administration to the UN in 1952, this sounds a lot like it’s got muddled somewhere along the lines.
What’s less muddled is the reason to travel to Yob Wildlife Reserve today. This is for stays that take in the increasingly rare Nubian ibex.
The 1,000 square mile (1,500 square kilometre) reserve lies in one of the least visited parts of one of Africa’s least visited nations. So you shouldn’t expect the luxury safari lodges of the Maasai Mara/Serengeti’s great wildebeest migration.
Nonetheless, the reserve is a magical place that’s home to a variety of other species, from hares and tortoises to brightly-feathered birds.
4. Gash-Setit Wildlife Refuge
Close to Eritrea’s western border with Sudan is Gash-Setit Wildlife Refuge. Located on the southern banks of the meandering River Gash, it’s relatively small at just 270 square miles (700 square kilometres).
It’s well stocked with wildlife, however, since it occupies some of the country’s most fertile ground. Even so, the Gash River only flows for a few months of the year, from June to September. It’s nothing but a dry river bed the rest of the time.
Semi-permanent marshland on its outer reaches attract water-loving birds, including the Eurasian teal, little stint, and the marsh sandpiper.
As a demonstration of the good habitat available, historical records also include small number of African bush (or forest) elephant, magnificent greater kudu, and Dorcas gazelle.
5. Nakfa Wildlife Reserve
This wildlife reserve is somewhat miss-named since it encompasses the town of Afabet rather than Nakfa, which lies a few miles further north.
Situated approximately midway between Yob and the hotels of Asmara, the reserve has a small population of elephant, which is incredibly unusual for this part of Africa.
Other inhabitants of the reserve include wild dogs, several small antelope species, and no shortage of birdlife.
Visiting the top national parks and reserves in Eritrea
The handful of visitors that make it into Eritrea each year are generally blown away by what they find, from city tours of Asmara to multiday tours of the country’s top sights. Protected areas almost entirely free of tourists and handed over to wildlife dot the country too.
While Eritrea can never be called a traditional east African safari destination, it is possible to experience the underwater world of the Red Sea and to encounter elephant, as well as even rarer Nubian ibex. Whether you start searching for flights straight away, or stick the country on your bucket list, be sure not to miss the top national parks and reserves in Eritrea!
