Overlanding Eritrea
 

Hello from Pebane, Mozambique

anyone having experience with over-landing Eritrea? We are currently heading up 4x4 through Sudan and Ethiopia and would love to enter Eritrea.

Thanks for any information regarding visa / travel permits

Hannes

Interesting question, the Ethiopian border seems open for a few months, worth monitoring the situation as it might change and become a bit stricter... I'd make sure I had a double entry Ethiopian visa for example.

story1
"The border is almost entirely open. Ethiopians can cross without visas and with only a cursory ID check. Even some foreigners have been able to enter Eritrea without any documentation. There are as yet no customs officers or tariffs on any goods."

story2
"But the weight of new arrivals has left the region struggling to cope, raising fears the border could close again"

And remember previously you needed travel permits to move around inside of the country, no news on these being abolished so best ask at embassies in Addis I'd suggest for example...
Story3
"Since 11 September, the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia is open, Eritreans and Ethiopians can cross almost without bureaucracy. For international travellers, there are however some challenges:
- Inside Eritrea, you need a travel permit for all trips further than 25 km from Asmara.
- Since there are no real border formalities yet, you cannot get an exit/entry stamp into your passport. After crossing, you won't have a proof that you have crossed legally, which can create problems - or maybe it's even not possible altogether.
However, according to another travel forum, the Ethiopian embassy in Asmara now issues visas, so there might be an option.
Any insight or experiences are highly appreciated!"

Anyway, go and figure it all out for us ;-)

Where are you now Nandor?


I'm in Kenya, looking at heading up that way. I'll get a multi-entry Ethiopia so I can go in-out of Djibouti for sure, and I want to explore the possibility of Eritrea too.


The Djibouti visa seems easy to get in Nairobi.


Please let us know what you find!



Cheers,
-Dan

Yeah you are right, somebody has to do it and break the ice. Maybe it is us :helpsmilie:

Reg. your stories: I have heard different rumors about it as well. We will keep working on it and report, any information until then is highly appreciated

All best,

Hannes

Hello Dan,

thanks for your reply. We are in Nacala Region, Mozambique. It will take us 3-4 months until we get to Eritrea. I will try to get more information regarding Eritrea, some friends are in the area too, and keep everybody informed.

Did you get your Ethiopia Visa in Nairobi, was it easy? And any info on Djibouti is also very welcome.

All best, please keep in contact

Hannes

I crossed the Eritrea/Ethiopia border the last time it was open--shortly after independence, around 1995. It was fairly confused and chaotic, since different officials on either side had different agendas and ideas about what was required and how things should go.

Assuming the same is true, best bet as always is to be relaxed and friendly to anyone who might have influence, whether uniformed or not. I was saved from several difficult situations by people I'd been talking to casually who then intervened on my behalf. Make sure you've always got entry and exit stamps and any other documentation which might be required--even if you're told you don't need it. It definitely won't hurt to have cards, letters, or just phone numbers of people in positions of possible authority in either government--just the possibility that you might have friends or be connected is enough to grease the wheels. In this respect it'll be just like other African borders, but maybe a bit more so. I hand out my own cards and contact information very freely, and this often prompts people to give me theirs in return.

Take the above with a grain of salt, since it's based on experiences several decades ago. However, the reports I've heard have sounded remarkably similar to the way things were back then.

I'd be interested in hearing how it all works out. Back in the nineties, Eritrea seemed full of passion and excitement, with a sense that everything was flowering after the long, brutal civil war. It hasn't gone very well since, but maybe this time the flowering will continue.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I have been on a bicycle trip to Eritrea for two weeks in September 2018 ( fly in / fly out ) just as the border had been opened and the furtest destination south I was able to obtain a travel permit for in Asmara has been Mendefera.

I tried to specifically get a permit to travel as far as Adi Kwala which is 30km before the Ethiopian/Eritrean border but it was absolutely impossible even with well connected local friends trying to help. You are only allowed to travel on major routes, the interlinking route between Decemhare / Mendefera for example is off limits, also the spectacularly scenic Filfil route ( branches off the Keren road ) is badly damaged and closed.

The temporary security zone for foreigners is as we are speaking now still in place. The only time my travel permit has been checked was when entering Keren. Also nearly all of the former military checkpoints had been removed, at least on the routes Asmara to Massawa, Decemhare, Keren and Mendefera.

I have asked many people and during that time Ethiopians were granted a 10 day stay without pre-aranged visa, foreigners still needed to apply for visas in their country of residence and the officials I´ve asked told me the border is only open to Ethiopians/Eritreans not foreigners.

Of course you can always try to slip through and there might even be a chance it works out but I have to remind you folks trying to talk yourself out of that kinda situation might be close to impossible in Eritrea and they will definately not hesitate to throw you in jail if they catch you without proper documents or travel permits ! ( if unlucky they will say you´re a spy, it wouldn´t be the first time ! )

It´s at least to my impression one of the least corrupt countries on the continent, officials are very dedicated to their duty and it´s a whole differant situation than in most other African countries regarding bribery and "fixing" problems.

As people were asking about crossing from Eritrea into Djibouti, just forget it you are not allowed to go to Assab as the Saudis have a military base there.

Apart all these struggles I have highly enjoyed my time in beautiful Eritrea and will definately be back soon. The people are amazingly friendly and hospitable, it´s totally save to even wander around at night and the landscape is breathtaking.



In my two weeks there I´ve only met one other tourist, I hope more people will decide to go in the future to discover this beautiful country !


Cheers !

Thanks for the ground-level report! What you're describing sounds like the situation perhaps a year or more before my visit--a gradual opening and relaxing of restrictions, but with many remaining. This will reward patience, and might not satisfy people operating within a limited time window.

Sometimes you luck out, as I think I did in touring just after the end of the Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Rwanda civil wars and the fall of apartheid. And sometimes you're just a bit ahead or behind the curve, ending up unable to do much about it without heinous risk. Lots of adventure in those sweet spots between!

I'm also greatly reassured to hear the the Eritrean people remain welcoming and that your travel there was rewarding despite the limits.

Mark

Yep, Ethiopia visa in Nairobi, no worries.
Everyone gets it there.


Unfortunately it's only single entry (they refused to give multiple, or more than one month), which makes Djibouti a bit harder. I'll try to get it changed to multiple entry once I'm in Ethiopia (doubtful) or the other option will just be to go into Djibouti and hope to get an Ethiopian visa there so I can get back out again.... hmm.
Oh well, if I don't get one and least I can ship out of Djibouti! ha


I'll keep you posted.



-Dan

The Ethiopian embassy in Djibouti was very friendly, and happy to issue me a one month single entry visa on the spot.


Djibouti itself is a unique country, and worth a look if you like out of the way places!


I put the details on the embassy and some other stuff in iOverlander


I keep hearing Eritrea is likely a no-go at land borders. Even the ambassador in Sudan will issue a friend a visa, but doesn't know if it's possible for a foreigner to cross the land border. Ha!


I'm skipping it unfortunately.

Good luck!



-Dan

We were in Axum, Eth. a month ago and they said the border had been closed.
Perhaps sorting the bureacracy to formalize their relations.

Sudan's leader said today they have opened the border to Eritrea after a year long closure.

Tried hard to enter via correspondence via emails and MSN Facebook calls with a strong contact of faith....many promises it was like making pig shit into strawberry jam' 2 critical issues I came across :
1-Visa's due to stipulations have to be done in your own country !!!
2-If above is completed it only gives you carte blanche to see Asmara the capitol. You will notice emphasis is stipulated with what/who tourist company you are using .
I soon realised a visa to Eritrea is only to see the capitol !! to see other areas you need more forms filled out that show you are using a tour operator who basically vouches for you to travel in other parts of Eritrea(mainly to see the south parts of Eritrea. The north is a no go area ,west likewise (?) and yes money costs & contacts are essential.

Needless to say I got despondent and moved into other parts of Eastern Africa .....YET I heard from consular official that in Addis A .Ethiopia staff are being recruited & trained up to issue visa's...... I would not bank on it immediately !

Recently visited the Eritrean consulate in my country. You submit visa application it then gets vetted then on their request you submit your passport for the actual visa . The way I understood the facts its a 30 day visa and it can be used within a 90 day period ,once the 90 days are up and you have not entered Eritrea ...you reapply (which is obvious , but money wasted) .Only issue is for me and may apply to some of you .....if you require visas for Nigeria , Mali,Ghana,Burkina Faso,Mauritania it does get logistical and very stressful
Good luck!