Filfil
Eritrea · Northern Red Sea · 900 m
Description
Filfil is the green belt on the eastern escarpment, the one place in Eritrea where mist forest survives. The road out of Asmara drops from the highland plateau towards the coastal plain in a series of hairpins, and in sixty kilometres it passes through a change of two thousand metres and every vegetation belt in between. Where the cloud catches the slope there are figs, wild olives and creepers, with vervet and hamadryas baboons in them and a bird list that brings people out from the capital. It is a day out from Asmara and has no accommodation of its own.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 day
Travel season
Best time to visit: September – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Escarpment drive through the cloud forest
- Birding on the green belt
- Viewpoints down towards the Red Sea
- Hairpin descent by way of Ad Sciek
- Vervet monkeys and hamadryas baboons
- Waterfalls after the rains (approx. September)
- Coffee and honey stops in the roadside villages
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- ASM