Gash-Setit Wildlife Reserve- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Gash-Setit Wildlife Reserve, covering 709 km² in Eritrea's Gash-Barka region, is the northernmost habitat for elephants in Africa. Situated between Haykota and Tesseney, it takes its name from the Gash and Setit (Tekezé) rivers. The area is historically home to the Kunama people and is one of Eritrea's most fertile regions, often called the country's "breadbasket" due to its agricultural productivity. Crops like sorghum, millet, cotton, and sesame thrive here, a legacy of Italian colonial-era plantations. The reserve also holds historical significance, with settlements reflecting past Italian influence. Today, it remains an ecologically and culturally significant region, extending to the Sudanese border.