Senafe
Eritrea · Debub · 2446 m
Description
Senafe is the last town of the southern highlands before the Ethiopian frontier, set among rock towers and pinnacles that rise straight out of the plateau. Just outside it are the ruins of Metera, an Aksumite settlement whose inscribed stele stands again after being knocked down, with house walls and tombs around it. The massif of Amba Soira, the highest ground in Eritrea, fills the horizon to the east. The border here has been closed to foreign travellers for years, and the fighting of the late nineteen nineties left ordnance in the fields, so walking means staying on the tracks.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Ruins of Metera (Matara) and its inscribed stele
- Amba Soira, the highest point in Eritrea
- Rock towers and pinnacles around the town
- Senafe market
- Aksumite tombs on the outskirts
- Rock hewn church of Enda Tsadqan(Day trip)
- Plateau edge walk with views into Tigray
- Saho pastoralist encampments
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- ASM