Avoid, 02 Nov 2008
Pants. Avoid unless you are specifically going to both countries and cant bear to carry two books.
Fairly good info for Ethiopia's historical circuit but even there the writing style is appalling and gushy with far too many completely!! innapropriate!!! exclamation marks!!!!
Is also now quite outdated - factor prices up by X2 and features several hotels which no longer exist and restaurants which have gone markedly downhill.
The book really falls down on its claims to inform about Dijibouti and Eritrea however, which are cursory and just feel as if they have been tacked on in a cynical attempt to tap a market.
The chapter on Asmara, capital of Eritrea, is particularly bad. In one of the most architecturally extaordinary cities on earth, the notes have clearly been cribbed from another book with zero understanding or appreciation for their subject matter.
And, as i discovered to my cost, the airport is not ten minutes from the nearest bus service - its half an hour with a heavy back pack in pitch darkness. Thanks boys!
Buy the Bradt Guide: it's much better, 15 Sep 2006
This book's a reasonable guide, but is eclipsed by the brilliantly written and hugely informative Bradt Guide. We took both books to Ethiopia (09/2006) and found the Bradt one to be far superior.
Fine and Dandy, 22 Nov 2004
I used this guidebook for Eritrea. The walking tours in Asmara are a must and an excellent feature. The information is good the only drawback is that there aren't any maps for the smaller towns. That is where Bradt has the advantage. However Eritreans are charming so asking the way is a pleasure.
Excellent guide book, 10 Jun 2004
I spent a month in Ethiopia (March 2004) and found this book to be both accurate and informative. I would recommend it to everybody. Ethiopia is a most fascinating country and definitely worth a visit. This book provides all the information to take away the worries and hassles and makes you really enjoy your holiday.
Geat book - shame about the cover, 11 Jan 2004
I travelled in Ethiopia between 19/12/03 and 4/1/04 - just after this new edition came out. The cover is boring and so un-Ethiopia but the content was very accurate and uptodate.
Some good "legends" and local stories. Recommend that if going to Ethiopia you also get hold of a copy of Graham Hancock's "Lords of poverty" - easilt attainablein Addis Abba -even if you can't get it on Amazon !
Eritrea visit - April 2008, 23 Apr 2008
I visited Eritrea for 10days, and the Bradt Guide has been invaluable to gain knowledge and understanding of the fascinating culture of this country and its people. Moreover the author has done a wonderful job in depicting the warmth and hospitality of the people of Eritrea and I was lucky enough to experience it myself.
I will certainly consider buying Bradt guides from now now. The Eritrea guide provided me with information on the country that goes in much more depth then "places to visit", "where to stay" and "where to eat" etc. A valuable read that goes beyond a touristic necessity.
I hope to return to Eritrea soon and I will certainly bring my trusted Bradt guide with me wherever I will go.
The best there is, 10 Dec 2007
Dear sirs,
Nearly every year we travel to Eritrea. We have many friends there. We used the former edition of the Bradt guide. I think it is about the best guide I have ever seen. For Eritrea it is probably the only guide. At least the only serious one. So nothing but compliments.
The only criticism we have, is about the quality of one specific hotel. It is not as good as it was under the rule of the former owner. But I understand that the author cannot control all changes.
Albert Laterveer (Holland)
Caveat Emptor, 16 Apr 2004
Let the buyer beware. While Kaplan's book is a good factual account of conditions in Eritrea and the Horn generally during the wars of the 1980s, this account is filtered through his own political worldview - and that worldview is most charitably described as 'idiosyncratic'. Kaplan correctly links the famines that struck Ethiopia and Eritrea in that decade to the policies of the Moscow-oriented Dergue junta. He embarasses himself by expressing perplexity over the fact that it was western liberal newspapers such as London Guardian which did most to expose the role of the Dergue in creating famine conditions. In other words, he is apparently incapable of grasping a basic political fact like the distinction between social-democratic liberalism and the Stalinist version of marxism.
That someone like this has been elevated to the status of an authority says something about the world we live in.
