Ethiopia Trips & Tours

Bole International Airport in the capital city, Addis Ababa, is Ethiopia's only international airport. It’s a modern airport (by African standards!) but there are not many facilities in the airport itself – the last time we visited there was a 24-hour bank, a restaurant and a few cafes, along with a few duty-free shops and a bar in departures. Depending on your arrival time, you may have to overnight in Addis before departing to your first lodge or hotel the following day.

International flights
Ethiopia’s national airline, Ethiopian Airlines, is one of the best and largest airlines in Africa. The fleet of planes is modern and their safety record excellent, and it’s definitely worth investigating flying with them from Europe. Other major airlines flying to the county include Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Kenya Airways, KLM and Lufthansa. We would recommend booking your flights online in order to get the best rates. If you need any help or advice on this, please let us know.

Flights in August and over Easter, Christmas and New Year should be booked well in advance. Ethiopians living abroad visit their families during this time, and tour groups often try to coincide with the major festivals. Ticket prices are substantially higher during this time.

Domestic flights and transfers
Connecting between all the locations on your trip may necessitate a variety of modes: light aircraft charters, domestic commercial flights and road transfers. Please review the inclusions and exclusions on your specific trip page for details. If you need help understanding the best flights to book, please let us know.

From the moment that you land in Ethiopia, you will be greeted and assisted to your onward connections. You will be looked after from that point on until you are transferred back to the airport in time for your international departure flight.

The road conditions in Ethiopia are generally poor, and the mountainous topography in the north will cut speed substantially. Some of the drives are long (and a little bumpy!) but consider this part of the experience – the scenery that you pass is astonishingly beautiful.

Please consult your personal physician and/or a travel clinic preferably 6 weeks prior to your departure. Vaccine requirements vary based on your country of origin, your travel itinerary and your previous vaccination history. It is best to consult with your physician or the CDC website for guidelines.

Important vaccinations to consider and which may either be required or recommended are: Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B and Cholera, among others. Please always carry your "International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP)" (or "Yellow Card") with you.

Malaria
We advise that you consult a medical practitioner at least six weeks prior to travel for up to date advice but Malaria is present in Ethiopia and it is strongly advisable to take malaria prophylactics before, during and after your visit. Please consult a medical professional regarding which prophylactics will be suitable for you.

In addition to the recommendations of your travel clinic or physician, you may also consider the following proactive preventative measures:
• Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. Recommended repellents contain 20-35% DEET but it is a very virulent repellent, and should be used cautiously.
• Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants at dawn and dusk, as well as closed shoes.
• Use a mosquito net if your tent or room isn't screened or air-conditioned; and spray insecticide or burn a mosquito coil before going to bed.

If you come down with flu-like symptoms either during or within four to six weeks after your visit to a malaria area, seek a doctor's advice immediately and let him/her know that you have been in a malaria area.

You can also visit www.malaria.org.za for more information.

Yellow Fever
Proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination is no longer mandatory for travellers visiting Ethiopia and the laws state that you will only be required to show one if you are arriving from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever, or have recently travelled in a country with a risk, but this is subject to change (and without much notice!). Please seek advice from a medical professional before you travel. We recommend that you carry your "International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP)" (or "Yellow Card") with you at all times.


Communication
Ethiopia country code: +251

Calling overseas from Ethiopia:
From a landline dial 00 followed by the country code plus area code and number.
e.g. USA: 00 1 910 795 1048

When calling from a cell phone dial + prefix followed by the country code plus area code and number. e.g. USA: + 1 910 795 1048

All modern forms of communication (telephone, mobile, fax, and Internet) are available in Ethiopia, but are not always the most reliable, especially by the standard you may be used to! Reliable internet cafes are located throughout Addis Ababa and major cities outside of the capital and large hotels will also have Wi-Fi but network is often a problem. Elsewhere in the country, however, internet usage and access is rare and slow.

Money
The currency in Ethiopia is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB). You can convert money to ETB at a bank or Forex Bureau, or withdraw from an ATM, all found in the larger airports and towns (but please check with your bank for charges and advice when using international ATMs).

VISA and Mastercard are the most widely recognised credit cards, but are not always accepted even in the top hotels and restaurants. American Express has limited to no coverage. We advise that you carry just enough cash with you, either in USD (the preferred foreign currency) or ETB, as a back-up. Traveller’s cheques are becoming increasingly difficult to cash, but if you do bring them, make sure they are in USD and expect to cash them only at larger bank branches in major towns.

IMPORTANT: When bringing foreign currency (e.g. USD, GBP, EUR) into the country, be sure to have the new format (post 2006) with no damage or marks.

Gratuities
Gratuities are not compulsory or expected; rather it is a reward for excellent service. If you are pleased with the service you receive, you are more than welcome to tip your guide or the staff. Tipping is usually done at the end of your stay in a hotel or lodge. You may tip the staff individually, give the tip to the manager to distribute, or do both. Tips can be made in Ethiopian Birr (ETB), USD, GBP or EUR. Having a good wad of small notes – Birr1 and Birr5 – is a very good idea and will always come in useful for tips for porters, taking photographs, etc.

Gratuities suggestions:
• Safari camp or regional guides/drivers: $10 - $15 per person per day
• Porter: $1 per bag
• Ranger or any “ancillary” guides on an ad-hoc basis for a specific activity: $3 - $5 per person per activity
• General camp/lodge staff: $7 - $10 per person per day
• Waiters in restaurants: 5% - 10% (a large group may incur automatic service charge - please check)

Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself, as well as any dependents/travelling companions for the duration of your trip. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities:

Compulsory Insurance:
a. Emergency evacuation expenses
b. Medical expenses
c. Repatriation expenses

Recommended Insurance:
a. Cancellation or curtailment of trip
b. Damage/theft/loss of personal luggage, money and goods

Currently all visitors, with the exception of Kenyan and Djiboutian nationals, need visas to visit Ethiopia. Passports MUST be valid for at least six months from your departure from Ethiopia to home. There must be at least TWO (we recommend four) consecutive blank VISA pages in the passport (not endorsement pages). Immigration control in African countries can be very strict, so please ensure all requirement are met before travel.

Most visitors flying into Addis Ababa can either obtain an e-visa beforehand (www.evisa.gov.et) or acquire a one-month visa upon landing (US$50). If obtained on entry, visas must be paid for in cash in USD.

If arriving by land, you must obtain a visa at an Ethiopian embassy in advance. Visas are not currently issued at land borders. Please contact the embassy or consultant in your home country to reconfirm visa requirements as they change often. Visa Central is also a good resource for further information.

As a general precaution, we recommend you make several copies of your travel-related documents (passport, traveller’s cheques, credit cards, itinerary, airline tickets, insurance cover, visas, etc). Leave one set at home, and bring another set with you, and place it in a location separate from your originals.

Climate

There are two seasons in Ethiopia: the dry season prevails from October through May and the wet season runs from June to September. As a general rule, the climate is hot in the lowlands and temperate in the highlands. Most of the country is on a high plateau which keeps the climate pleasant and the sky is more often than not blue and sun-filled, but it can get extremely hot in the desert and Red Sea coastal areas. The rains fall from June to September but even during this time, do not underestimate the strength of the equatorial sun.

Dress Code
Ethiopia is a very traditional country and most people, both Christian and Muslim, dress very modestly by Western standards. Although this is changing in parts of the country (especially Addis Ababa), we advise that you wear conservative clothing throughout Ethiopia. For women, long shirts and dresses that cover the shoulders and knees are ideal. Trousers are fine but shorts and sleeveless tops will be frowned upon. Men should generally wear long trousers and a shirt or T-shirt covering the shoulders. Going shirtless is totally unacceptable and shorts are widely considered to be undignified attire for adult men.
Generally speaking, light layers of clothing in neutral safari colours of green, khaki and beige are the best items to bring with you (even if you aren’t going on safari!). Dark colours such as navy or black can attract tstese flies and are best avoided, as are bright colours like yellow, red and purple (this is particularly important if you are going on safari).

What to Pack.
• Loose layers – long-sleeve shirts, trousers etc
• A light scarf or sarong to cover up if required.
• A warm fleece or jumper.
• A lightweight waterproof jacket.
• Comfortable but sturdy shoes
• Socks (for wearing in temples & churches).
• Flip-flops.
• Swimming costume (Bathing suit)
• A hat or baseball cap
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen – a must!
• Toiletries – most camps will provide shampoo, shower gel and soap but if you can, bring a small supply.
• A small torch
• Spare batteries, plug adaptors and charging equipment
• A good pair of Binoculars (8x40/8x42 is recommended)
• Books or a fully loaded Kindle / iPad.

Most camps and lodges will have a small medical and first aid kit, but we recommend bringing your own supply of essentials - cough medicine, plasters, vitamins, aspirin and paracetamol, and anything else you use on a regular basis.

Camera Equipment (for the enthusiasts!
• A telephoto lens (200/300mm)
• Flash and fast film (400 ASA) for night photography
• Lots of film (64,100,200,400 ASA) if using an SLR camera
• Spare memory cards for digital cameras
• Camera cleaning equipment and a good dust proof bag
• Bring spare batteries as although you may recharge your batteries at the camps, charging capacity can be limited

NB There are no genuine taboos on photography in Ethiopia and it’s fine to photograph both the interior and exterior of churches and mosques from the outside, and Ethiopians are generally relaxed about foreigners photographing street scenes. It is however unacceptable to photograph local people without permission, which will often be refused, or given subject to a few Birr changing hands afterwards. This is particularly the case in South Omo.

Luggage
Please check with your airlines for the specific luggage restrictions relevant to your flight schedule. Most international airlines have a baggage allowance of 20kgs or more per person and some commercial airlines permit two (2) pieces of checked luggage per person, but this varies for each airline. The carry-on bag must be of such dimensions and weight as set by the airlines.

Luggage restrictions on internal flights
Please be advised that on most domestic flights in Ethiopia, luggage is limited to one SOFT bag per person with a maximum weight of 20kg/44 lbs. It is advisable to avoid large, hardshell bags and suitcases as well as bulky hand luggage, as space can be limited.

Electricity
Ethiopia uses 220/230V, 50Hz, and sockets take mostly 2-prong narrow round plugs but sometimes also 3-prong round plugs; it is advisable to bring an adapter/convertor combination. Most hotel rooms have sockets for 110V electric razors. Electricity, even in the larger towns, can be prone to fluctuations and cuts, but most hotels and lodges have generators that kick in almost instantly.



General facts
• About 90 per cent of the population earn their living from the land, mainly as subsistence farmers. Agriculture is the backbone of the national economy and the principal exports from this sector are coffee, oil seeds, pulses, flowers, vegetables, sugar and foodstuffs for animals. There is also a thriving livestock sector, exporting cattle on the hoof and hides and skins.

• Ethiopia has 80 languages, but Amharic, Oromigna and the Semitic Tigrigna are the major languages used by two-thirds of the population. Amharic is the official language