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A Visit To The Tank Graveyard In Asmara

On the outskirts of Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, lays an infamous tourist site, the Military Tank Graveyard. The place is covered with military vehicles used in the 30-year long war between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Maybe you are curious as to why keep old rusted up military equipment. It is to remind the people of Eritrea about the sacrifices that were made to free their nation.

The place is covered with hundreds of military vehicles and wracked up normal cars vehicles stacked on top of each other. There’s even an airport flight stair car stacked up here.

Asmara Military Tank Graveyard
Kinda look cool though, with all the stuff stocked up here at Tank Graveyard
Asmara Military Tank Graveyard
Even a Flight Stair car is stocked up here at Tank Graveyard
Asmara Military Tank Graveyard
Some old metals at Asmara Tank Graveyard
Asmara Tank Graveyard
Some of the cars are from old Soviet.
I need one of those at Tank Graveyard
I need one of those

When travelling around Eritrea, you will come across a lot of rusted up military equipment along the roads. Don’t be surprised if you pass everything from military trucks laying upside down, to rusted up tanks that the local kids use as their playground.

Asmara Military Tank Graveyard
A Local kid hanging out in the tank graveyard.
Asmara Military Tank Graveyard
Nothing is like walking your goat´s through a park with old military gear.

If you decide to walk to the Tank Graveyard then you will enjoy walking through one of the best neighbourhoods in the country.

You will pass by the house of the Chinese and British Ambassador. Once you pass the stunning neighborhood, just across the road and your big bad junkyard is right there. Quite a contrast?

Asmara tank graveyard
How high can you stack tanks?

Tank Graveyard in EritreaLike with everything else in Eritrea, you will need a permit to visit this site. The permit is FREE (remember to bring your passport). You will have to visit the Ministry of Tourism and Information across the big Cathedral in Asmara to get it.

Asmara Military Tank Graveyard
Just a small part of the place

Before going to Eritrea, I contacted a few local travel agency about getting the permit to the Military Graveyard. Some of them wanted to charge me 50 USD to get it.

And yes you will need your permit. There were few armed security guards walking around. And they will ask to see your permit.

Asmara permit for Tank Graveyard
The permit for the Tank Graveyard that you need to get with the official stamp
Asmara Military Tank Graveyard
Armed Guard One at the Tank Graveyard
Asmara Tank Graveyard guard
Armed Guard two at the Tank Graveyard

In any other country, this place would be a scrap metal merchant’s dream, but here in Eritrea, it remains as a symbol of pride and victory over Ethiopia.

Asmara Tank Graveyard
An old forgotten car with an anti-aircraft gun.
Asmara Tank Graveyard
Nature is taking over the Tank Graveyard
Asmara Tank Graveyard
Goat´s hanging out next to the Tanks.
Tank Graveyard in Eritrea
Where to go?

Fast information about the Eritrea -Ethiopia war.

After Italy’s defeat in World War 2, Eritrea struggled to keep itself afloat economically. So the United Nations decided in 1950 that it would be better off being Ethiopia’s 14th province. A thing Eritrea had spent the last 50 years to avoid.

Eritrea became part of a federation headed by Ethiopia after WWII. Overtime, Eritrea’s independence diminished as Ethiopia increased its influence and power.

Starting in 1961, a fight for independence began, as Eritrea struggled for its freedom. In 1991 in Ethiopia, the Marxist Derg government was overthrown by rebel parties.

And this coincided with military victories over the deflated Ethiopian forces by the Eritreans. In a referendum in 1991, Eritreans voted overwhelmingly for their independence.

ertirea Tank Graveyard
Enough scrap metal at the Tank Graveyard
Tank Graveyard in Eritrea
Tank or cactus?

Eritrea had become part of Ethiopia after World War II when both territories were liberated from Italian occupation. Ethiopia claimed that Eritrea was part of their country.

Ethiopia’s wishes were fulfilled after the United Nations General Assembly federated Eritrea to Ethiopia as a province as early as 1950.

Following the Marxist–Leninist coup in Ethiopia in 1974 which toppled its ancient monarchy, the Ethiopians enjoyed Soviet support until the end of the 1980s, when glasnost and perestroika started to affect Moscow’s foreign policies, resulting in a withdrawal of help.

This is the longest war fought in Africa in the 20th century. There were over 200,000 casualties.

The war went on for 30 years until 1991 when the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) defeated the Ethiopian forces in Eritrea.

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Travel guide to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, lays an infamous tourist site, the Military Tank Graveyard. The place is covered with military vehicles used in the 30-year long war between Eritrea and Ethiopia
On the outskirts of Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, lays an infamous tourist site, the Military Tank Graveyard. The place is covered with military vehicles used in the 30-year long war between Eritrea and Ethiopia

Simone

Monday 6th of May 2019

Hello. It's one of the most interesting places I've ever seen... "untouristly" speaking! Did you take some photos of orange buses that can be seen on the extreme right of the "Just a small part of the place" photo? You can see them behind the little white buses. Many thanks! Simone from Italy

Christian L.

Saturday 11th of May 2019

Hello Simone. I will go through my photos and see if I can find some If you . have photos of the orange bus will I upload it:)