Eritrea is located on Africa's east coast by the Red Sea. It shares borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia and Sudan, and has a total land area of 121,320 sq km. The coastline of Eritrea measures 2,234 km, yet besides the sea, there are no natural water sources within the country. This presents Eritrea with problems such as drought, desertification, soil erosion and locust swarms, making farming extremely difficult if not impossible in places. Eritrea can be divided into three main areas: the Western Plains, Central Highlands and the Coastal Plains. The highest elevation within Eritrea is Mount Soira at a height of 3,018m. A major natural feature of Eritrea is the Danakil Desert, an area infamous for being one of the most inhospitable places on this planet with temperatures often reaching 50°C. Another large natural feature is the Dahlak Archipelago in the Red Sea. These beautiful serene islands, rich in crystal-clear waters, are packed with an abundance of colourful marine life and ship wrecks. Although Eritrea has had a troubled history of border disputes, the people of this fascinating country are both welcoming and hospitable. Archaeological ruins and underground towns can be found scattered across this barren land.

The capital of Eritrea is Asmara and can be found nestled in the Central Highlands. Asmara is home to some fine buildings left behind by the Italian colonial legacy. After the Italians left, Eritrea became a province of Ethiopia, finally gaining independence in 1993. Unlike so many ex-colonies in Africa, Eritrea has not chosen Italian to be its official language. Instead, Eritreans speak Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre, Kunama and Tigrinya. The national unit of currency is the Nakfa.

Like its neighbour Djibouti, Eritrea's coastline is strategically positioned alongside some of the world's busiest shipping lanes. In fact, Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea at independence. This is a key economic factor and allows Eritrea to be an important trading post. Astonishingly, given the fact that the soil is so infertile, 80% of the population are involved in farming and herding. Agricultural products include sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco and coffee. Eritrea is rich in natural resources. These include gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil, and natural gas. The main industries within Eritrea are food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles.

The climate is hot, dry and arid, due to much of the country being desert. Conditions are cooler and more bearable in highland areas. These regions also receive most of the country's annual rainfall. Rains normally arrive in June and last until September. The average temperature in the Central highlands is 30°C. The hottest ever recorded temperature of 51°C was in the Dankil Desert.