What animals live in Eritrea?

Eritrea is a small country on the Horn of Africa, and it has some remarkable creatures living there! You can find African elephants, lions, and leopards in the wild lowlands. The country also has a long coastline along the Red Sea, where sea turtles, dolphins, and colorful reef fish swim in the warm blue water. The highlands of Eritrea are home to troops of olive baboons and hamadryas baboons — those are the ones with bright red faces. Eritrea also sits along a major bird migration route, so birdwatchers have spotted hundreds of species passing through, including flamingos and raptors. It is a land full of life, and all of it was made by the same Creator who also loves the people of Eritrea and wants them to know His Son, Jesus.

What do kids eat in Eritrea?

In Eritrea, kids eat a lot of injera — a spongy, sour flatbread made from a grain called teff. It looks like a giant soft pancake, and you tear off pieces to scoop up stews made with lentils, vegetables, or sometimes meat. Families often eat together from one big shared plate. Teff is a tiny grain that has grown in this part of Africa for thousands of years, and it is packed with nutrients. A common stew you might find on that injera is called tsebhi, made with spices that give it a deep, rich flavor. Sharing food from the same plate is a sign of friendship and family in Eritrean culture — it is one of those everyday gifts God wove into how people care for each other.

How do people say hello in Eritrea?

Great question! In Eritrea, the most common language is Tigrinya, and people say hello with the word 'Selam' — it sounds like 'seh-LAHM.' It's a warm greeting that people use every day when they meet friends, neighbors, and strangers on the street. Eritrea actually has several languages, including Arabic and Tigre, so greetings can sound different depending on where you are. In Arabic, people say 'As-salamu alaykum,' which means 'Peace be upon you.' Missionaries working in Eritrea work hard to learn these local greetings — because saying hello in someone's own language is a wonderful way to show respect and open a door to share the gospel.

What sports or games do kids play in Eritrea?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Eritrea love football — what Americans call soccer — more than almost anything else. You'll find boys and girls kicking a ball around on dusty open fields, in alleys, and even on rocky hillsides. It's the sport that brings whole neighborhoods together. Rusty wants to add that kids in Eritrea also enjoy traditional running and jumping games, and track athletics is a big deal there — Eritrea has produced some seriously fast long-distance runners who compete around the world. Board games and simple hand-clapping games are popular too, especially among younger children. Life in Eritrea can be hard, with poverty and a government that makes things difficult for Christians, but kids still find joy in play — and that joy is a gift from God.

What's the weather like in Eritrea?

Eritrea sits along the northeastern coast of Africa, right on the Red Sea, so its weather really depends on where you are in the country. The coastal lowlands around the port city of Massawa are very hot and dry — one of the hottest places on Earth, where summer temperatures can climb past 104°F (40°C). But head up into the highlands around the capital city, Asmara, and things cool down quite a bit. Asmara sits about 7,600 feet above sea level, so the air is thinner and temperatures stay much more comfortable, usually between 60–75°F. There are two rainy seasons that bring some relief from the heat, but much of Eritrea is semi-desert and water is hard to find — which makes everyday life genuinely tough for the people who live there.

Tell me a fun fact about Eritrea.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Eritrea sits along the Red Sea in East Africa, and it has one of the most unusual railway stories in the world. There is an old Italian-built train line that winds up steep mountain cliffs from the hot coast to the cooler highland city of Asmara — and locals have worked hard to keep those vintage steam engines running after more than a hundred years. Rusty loves this part: Asmara, the capital city, is packed with old Italian buildings from the 1930s that look like something out of a time capsule — curved walls, bold colors, and outdoor cafes where people drink strong coffee called 'bun.' The city sits about 7,600 feet above sea level, so even though Eritrea is near the equator, Asmara stays surprisingly mild and breezy.

What is school like for kids in Eritrea?

School in Eritrea is a serious business, and kids there work hard. Classes are taught in local languages like Tigrinya in the early grades, then switch to English later on. Many schools don't have many books or supplies, so students share what little they have. After 8th grade, all Eritrean students must attend a school called Sawa, which is run by the military government. Many families find this very difficult and worrying. Life for kids in Eritrea is not easy, but there are Christians there who trust that God sees every child and holds them close, even in hard times.

Who are the unreached people in Eritrea?

Eritrea is a small country on the Horn of Africa, and several of its people groups have heard very little about Jesus. The Tigre people are one of the largest unreached groups there — most of them follow Islam and many live as nomads or farmers in the lowland areas. The Saho and Afar peoples also live in Eritrea, and most of them have not yet heard the good news that Jesus died and rose again to save them. What makes this especially hard is that Eritrea's government is very strict, and Christians there can face serious danger just for following Jesus or telling others about Him. Some believers have been put in prison for their faith. That means the people who could most easily share the gospel with the Tigre, Saho, and Afar — Eritrean Christians — have to be very brave to do it. You can pray that God opens doors, protects His people, and brings the unreached peoples of Eritrea to trust in Jesus as their Savior.

How can I pray for the people of Eritrea?

Eritrea is a small country in East Africa where following Jesus can be very dangerous. The government there has put many Christians in prison just for believing in Jesus and meeting together to worship — some have been in jail for years. One of the best things you can do for the people of Eritrea is bring them before God in prayer. Here are some real things to pray: Ask God to protect Christians who are suffering in prison and give them courage and peace. Pray that Eritrean believers stay faithful and that secret house churches grow strong. Ask God to bring more Eritreans — including children and families — to trust Jesus as their Savior. Pray that brave local leaders rise up to share the gospel with their own people, and that missionaries find open doors to enter a country that is very hard to reach. God hears every prayer, and He has not forgotten the people of Eritrea.

What is a holiday or celebration in Eritrea?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the biggest celebrations in Eritrea is called Timkat, which marks the baptism of Jesus. It happens in January, and people dress in white robes and walk in procession carrying a special cloth-wrapped object that represents the ark of the covenant from the Old Testament. It is a striking and meaningful event. Rusty wants you to know that many Eritreans who celebrate Timkat belong to the Orthodox Christian church, which is one of the oldest forms of Christianity in the world. Eritrea also has a Muslim population that celebrates Eid. What is interesting for missions explorers like us is that even in a place with old church traditions, many people still need to personally hear and believe the true gospel of Jesus — that He died and rose again to save sinners. Knowing about Jesus from tradition is different from trusting Him with your whole heart.

What language do people speak in Eritrea?

Eritrea is a small country in East Africa, and it is wonderfully varied when it comes to language! The most widely spoken language is Tigrinya, which uses its own special alphabet called Ge'ez script — it looks quite different from the letters you are used to seeing. Arabic and Italian are also used there, left over from different periods of Eritrea's history. Altogether, Eritrea has nine recognized languages, including Tigre, Afar, Bilen, and several others spoken by different people groups across the country. This is one reason Bible translation work matters so much — when people can read or hear God's Word in the language of their heart, it goes deep. Some of these languages still need more of the Bible translated, which means translators and missionaries have important work to do there.

What's a famous place to visit in Eritrea?

Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, is one of the most remarkable cities in all of Africa. It is filled with old Italian-style buildings from the 1930s — think grand cafes, curved balconies, and wide tree-lined streets that make you feel like you stepped into a different world. Another place worth knowing about is the Dahlak Archipelago, a group of islands off Eritrea's Red Sea coast, with clear blue water and ancient ruins from civilizations long ago. Eritrea has a deep history — it was part of ancient trade routes where many cultures and ideas passed through. Sadly, today Eritrea is very hard to visit because the government tightly controls who can come and go, and Christians there face serious hardship for following Jesus. That makes the country a place worth thinking and praying about.

Eritrea — Kids Missions Explorer

Nubian Ibex

This sure-footed wild goat climbs the steep cliffs of Eritrea's highlands with remarkable confidence, using hooves that grip rock almost like rubber.

Hamadryas Baboon

Troops of Hamadryas baboons roam Eritrea's rocky escarpments, and the males are easy to spot by the thick silver-grey capes of fur around their shoulders.

Injera

Injera is a spongy, slightly sour flatbread made from teff grain that serves as both plate and utensil — you tear off pieces and use them to scoop up stew.

Zigni

Zigni is a slow-cooked spiced beef stew rich with berbere chili paste, and its deep red color hints at just how bold and warming the flavor is.

Shiro

Shiro is a thick, savory paste made from ground chickpeas or fava beans, eaten almost every day by many Eritrean families, especially during fasting seasons.

Eritrea

Things you should know about Eritrea

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Eritrea

Missions in Eritrea

Pray for Eritrea