This month I was lucky enough to spend a little over a week in Ethiopia. Though I would have loved more time on the ground, I was pleasantly surprised by how much you can see and experience in Ethiopia in a short amount of time. Ethiopia is definitely more about the journey than the destination and more than anything, it is a test of patience. These are the things to know before you visit Ethiopia to help you make the most of your trip.
Things to Know Before You Visit Ethiopia
1. Save on flights by booking with Ethiopian Airways
Before you visit Ethiopia, it is important to know that you will save a lot of money by booking with Ethiopian Airways if you plan to fly within the country. If you fly into Ethiopia with Ethiopian Airways you will get a huge discount on your domestic flights (around 50% off the price).
2. If this is your first time visiting, focus your efforts on the North or South of Ethiopia
When I began planning our trip to Ethiopia I was quickly overwhelmed by how many amazing cities and destinations there are within this country. It is tempting to try and “do it all”, however, you would need at least a month to really see all the country has to offer. If you only have one or two weeks, I would recommend traveling to the North of Ethiopia. Highlights include Gondar, the Simien Mountains, Lalibela, the churches of Tigray, and the Danakil Depression. If you have three weeks you could also include the South of the country where you can visit the Omo Valley and meet the tribes there.
3. Only book tours and transfers in advance if you are short on time
One thing we learned the hard way is how much more expensive it will be to book tours in advance. I had already heard from friends that this would be the case, however, with such a strict schedule and only a week to see as much of Northern Ethiopia as possible, we decided to book our tour to the Danakil Depression ahead of time to be sure not to miss out. Instead of paying $325 (USD) per person, we ended up paying $500 per person. It turns out that despite our visiting during high season, there were plenty of tours departing every day with various tour companies. Save yourself a lot of money and book your tours on the ground… and always haggle for the price!
4. Pack the essentials, especially if leaving the cities
Our travels in Ethiopia were planned around the journey rather than the destination. Instead of endeavoring to visit all the cities, we spent most of our time hiking in the Simien Mountains and hiking a volcano in the Danakil Depression. For this type of adventure it is important to pack everything you will need as it is difficult (if not impossible) to find these things on the ground:
Head torch
Face wipes
Talcum powder (to stay fresh when there are no showers!)
Hand sanitizer
Neck pillow
5. Ground transport vs. Flights is really just a question of time
If you are planning an adventure around Ethiopia you will have two options for transport: by land or by air. Travelling by land can only be done on the cheap if you have a lot of time to spare. Buses are often day-long journeys and rarely operate on a timed schedule. Private drivers are readily available but not much cheaper than flights and the roads in Ethiopia are often bumpy and dusty. If you are on a tight schedule, flying between major cities is the best option.
When you’re on the ground
6. Expect delays in travel times
Delays when traveling through Ethiopia are inevitable both on the ground and in the air. For our trip, we felt like we had beaten the odds until our last flight from Mekele back to Addis Ababa when we were delayed four hours. The best thing you can do is expect delays to avoid disappointment. I wish we knew this before we visited Ethiopia to save the travel headaches! However, it all felt like part of the journey.
7. Ethiopians are really lovely people
When I told my friends and family I was traveling to Ethiopia they were surprised and often asked “Is it safe?” Relatively speaking the country is currently safe to travel throughout without hassle. Ethiopians are incredibly hospitable people and very eager to share their culture, language, and food with visitors.
8. You can’t exchange or use Ethiopian Birr at the airport
Be sure to use all of your Ethiopian Birr before you leave the country as it is not possible to exchange this currency when you leave the country and not even possible to use Birr in the airport as you leave. In fact, much of the tourism industry is priced in USD or EUR.
9. Everything can be bartered
Prices in Ethiopia are almost always flexible. This is especially the case for taxi rates, tours, trinkets, and almost anything in Ethiopia. If you think it sounds expensive, offer a lower rate and be prepared to barter. For that reason, i would suggest not booking tours before you visit Ethiopia as it will be cheaper to do so on the ground.
10. Use ATMs to withdraw cash
When we first landed in Addis Ababa I made a run for the exchange office to grab some cash for our taxi journey to the hotel. As it turns out you can only exchange a handful of currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP. Instead, I opted to withdraw cash from the ATM with no trouble and soon realize there are ATMs throughout the country.
