Phone coverage
Landline, mobile telephone and internet services are unreliable. Internet is available at some international hotels and internet cafes in Asmara.
Local SIM cards aren’t available to non-residents.
Eritrean mobile phone providers don’t have agreements with international providers. International roaming may not be available.
Contact your telecommunication provider before travelling.
Travel permits
You must apply ahead for a travel permit to travel 25km outside of Asmara and the surrounding province of Zoba Maekel. Ministries in Asmara process applications.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry handles business travel applications.
The Ministry of Tourism on Harnet Avenue in Asmara handles tourist travel applications.
It usually takes around 24 hours to process applications.
When applying for permission to travel outside of Asmara, give details of your car.
If you’re living or working outside of Asmara and want to travel outside your normal area of work or home, you need a travel permit. Apply at your local Zonal Administration Office. Travel applications can take several days to process. Sometimes they’re refused or delayed.
Our consular services are severely limited outside Asmara. This includes emergency assistance. Australian consular officials often face long delays to get visas to enter Eritrea. Once in Eritrea, Australian officials must then apply for a permit to travel outside Asmara.
Driving permit
To drive in Eritrea, you must get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before you arrive. Otherwise, contact local authorities to get a local licence.
Road travel
There are extensive mine fields in Eritrea, especially in border areas. Driving on main roads outside of border areas is generally safe. Driving on rural roads and off-road driving can be dangerous. Avoid travel after dark in rural areas. Road signage and barriers are scarce, and steep drops are common. In many parts of the country roads are difficult or impassable during the rainy season.
Roads are sealed between the cities of Asmara, Massawa, Mendefera, Dekemhare, Baretun and Keren. Roads leading to smaller villages are unsealed.
Road maintenance isn’t consistent in mountainous regions and steep sloping areas. Narrow winding roads with crumbling edges often don’t have safety barriers.
More information:
Motorcycles
Avoid using motorcycles, particularly in rural areas where standards of driving and road maintenance are lower.
Check with your travel insurer to see if your policy covers riding a motorcycle.
Always wear a helmet.
Taxis
Use only licensed taxis or reputable limousine services. You can arrange this through your hotel.
Public transport
Maintenance standards on buses may be lower than in Australia.
Travellers are sometimes not allowed to use public transport to travel outside of Asmara. You may need to rent a car or use a private taxi.
More information:
Sea travel
Before you arrive, you must get permission and an entry visa to arrive in Eritrea by sea.
Commercial vessels that don’t have agreements with Eritrean authorities should avoid Eritrean territorial waters. The Eritrean government has taken control of ships that didn’t have an agreement. This has led to lengthy detention for international crew members.
Piracy is a high threat in the coastal areas of Eritrea. Pirate attacks happen against all forms of vessels in and around Eritrea’s waters and the Gulf of Aden.
All forms of shipping are attractive targets for Somali pirates, including commercial vessels, yachts and luxury cruise liners. Stay alert and take extra precautions when anywhere near these waters.
More information:
Air travel
We can’t provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Eritrea’s air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Source link : https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/eritrea
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Publish date : 2024-01-10 08:00:00
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