3 Seasons in 2 Hours
Eritrea is beautifully located at the highest landmass of the African continent. As a result, the highlands of Eritrea have ameliorating climate conditions. Resulting from these climatic conditions at higher altitudes we find vegetative cover and fertile soils which are suitable for agricultural purposes. Our country is mostly known for its well-combined weather: in Eritrea, it can never be too hot or too cold, and this gives a lot of visitors a pleasant stay and for most of us it gives us a peaceful state of mind.
Eritrea has a variety of climatic conditions. Asmara at 2,350 meters (7,700 feet) has a pleasant climate all year (average temperature of 16° Celsius (60° Fahrenheit)) and receives 508 mm (20 inches) of rainfall annually. The eastern coastal areas receive the unpredictable, “little rains” (belg) during October to March, while the other areas get “main rains” (kiremti) from June to September. Matter of fact In the highlands, further inland, with an elevation between 1,800 and 2,100 meters (5,900 and 6,900 feet) the hottest month is usually May (around 30°) and in winter (December to February) temperatures are near freezing point at night.
While at the sea level along the coast (Massawa, Assab), the period from June to September is very hot (40-50°). In the period December to February
(rainy season) the temperature varies from 20 to 35°. Massawa at sea level has an average annual temperature of 30° Celsius (86° Fahrenheit) and an annual precipitation of 205 mm (80 inches). In the western lowlands (Agordat, Barentu), the temperatures and the rainy seasons are comparable to those on the coast.
Eritrea is a year-round destination for the highlands while at other places it depends on the place one spends most of one’s holidays in or the activities one wishes to undertake. We are indeed talking about the land where one can experience three seasons in just two hours or one hour and a half of drive – from the rugged mountain peaks of Emba Soira to the arid desert heat of the Danakil Depression (100 meters below sea level and which is one of the hottest places on earth) to the cool breezes of the Red Sea.
“3 seasons in 2 hours,” goes the tourism motto in Eritrea. With the great land scape Eritrea has to offer, numerous sites of natural attractions and rich historical monuments invite fascination to any visitor. Both the high mountains and lowland depressions are dotted with unique features, including breathtaking tropical beaches, beautiful mountain ranges, tranquil landscapes, fertile plains and verdant hillsides among others.
In just two hours, it is possible to travel from the cool 2,438m (8,000ft) ‘city in the clouds’ down to sea level Danakil Depression to the hot coastal desert strip. A number of travel agents offer 
different excursion packages to various destinations.
Asmara, the capital city, lies 2,400 metres above sea level with a friendly climate of 17 degrees centigrade annual mean temperatures. Summer comes in April and May, with temperatures reaching 25 degrees centigrade while December and January bring the coldest season with temperatures of between 18 and 20 degrees centigrade. June and July are the months of rainfall.
For everybody who visits Eritrea, an absolute must-see is a journey from Asmara to Massawa for the best and unforgettable scenic sites and beautiful landscape that no one would want to miss out. From the terraced mountains of Asmara area, the journey to Massawa takes you down a mountainous road with quite spectacular views. Half an hour drive from Asmara by car
brings you to a small town of Nefasit overlooking mount Bizen. At the top of this mountain, 400 metres high and 7 km from Nefasit, stands Debre Bizen monastery, which is 700 years old. The only way to access it is by climbing on foot.
The trip from Asmara to Massawa takes about 2 hours – where the “3 seasons in 2 hours” motto gets originates from. The experience of three seasons during the journey:
The fall – the cool air of mountainous Asmara
The spring – Plateau around Ghinda area
The Summer – the heat of the Red Sea desert
You can visit Eritrea any time of the year because of the pleasant weather in both Asmara and the country’s highlands. The highest temperature may go up to 30 degrees centigrade in May.
September to January may be a good time to visit the coast. Another favorable period is from around April to the beginning of June because the temperatures are not too hot. But either way, the gorgeous climate and delicate landscape and above all its welcoming people definitely make Eritrea a place to be and make some great memories with your loved ones.