Ethiopia Travel Guide

Getting There and Around
By Air
Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa is the country’s principal link to the rest of the world and gateway to the other parts of Ethiopia. The national carrier Ethiopian Airlines has an extensive domestic network flying to 43 airfields and an additional 21 landing strips. Several other airlines also serving Ethiopia are Kenya Airways, South Africa Airways, KLM, Egyptair and many others.
By Road
Traveling by road allows travelers to experience Ethiopia’s wonderful scenery, but road conditions are generally poor, and mountainous topography in the north will cut speed. In general road access to Ethiopia is challenging; the reason being the country’s mountainous topography.
Road users however needn’t worry. There are commuter taxis available in most cities and major towns of the country. These include; the blue-and-white mini buses, pickups with a closed Canopy as well as special hire saloon Cars. They operate on a fixed rate and standard route. Personalized and specific trips should be negotiated with the driver well in advance.
Also in Addis Ababa are non-metered luxury Mercedes Benz taxis operated by National Tour Operation (NTO). They normally station outside major hotels and at the airport. In addition, there are yellow taxis stationed at the airport for special hire which necessitates a prior negotiation with the driver for the price.
By Rail
Railway enthusiasts who wish to travel by train from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa or on to Djibouti should be prepared for delays and run down carriages.
Time
Ethiopia is in the GMT + 3 hours time zone. Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consist of twelve months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 or 6 days.
Climate
There are two seasons: the dry season prevails from October through May; the wet season runs from June to September.
What to Wear
Carry light clothes for the daytime and jacket or jumper for the evenings as they mostly tend to become cold. A good pair of all season walking shoes is appropriate since most parts of Ethiopia have an uneven landscape and stony. Warm clothes and waterproofs and 3-4 seasons’ sleeping bags are best for trekkers especially in the Bale and Simien Mountains.
Best Time to Travel
This depends on where you are going. In Ethiopia, the wettest season runs from June through to late September. This is not the best time to travel to Ethiopia especially if you are traveling for the first time. In the Southern parts however, the seasons vary significantly with more rains coming between March and June and becomes scanty in early November. For travelers who do not mind waiting out a downpour (usually followed by brilliant sunshine), your best travel time is March. There are some short rains in March which are usually not so destructive to travelers. Enjoy your Ethiopia travel experience!