Ethiopia

Discover a side of the world not many get to experience: the stunning beauty and unique culture that is Ethiopia. With its awe-inspiring natural wonders, vibrant cultural heritage and coffee-producing know-how, Ethiopia has something special for everyone – no matter what your travel style.  From exploring ancient monolithic churches shrouded in mystery to trekking through some of Africa’s most stunning national parks, wildlife-spotting on boat trips on majestic Lake Tana and encountering locals from one of Africa’s oldest tribes, Intrepid’s tours provide an authentic and unforgettable Ethiopian experience that will leave you with memories for a lifetime.

Activities

• Fasil Ghebbi
• National Museum of Ethiopia
• Rift Valley lakes
• Blue Nile Falls
• Omo National Park
• Harar Jegol Wall
• Dallol
• Debre Berhan Selassie
• Yemrehanna Kristos
• Debre Damo
• Aksum Obelisk

Getting Around

By Air:  Ethiopian Airlines is reasonably priced and has fairly comprehensive domestic services. Flights are often overbooked, so it is essential to reconfirm your tickets at least a day in advance and show up at the airport on time. If you forget to reconfirm, they may assume you aren’t going to show up and give away your seats.  Tip: Booking tickets for Ethiopian Airlines on-line works out to be very expensive compared to booking at their office in Addis Ababa. Even better: If you have booked your international trip to Ethiopia via Ethiopian Airlines’s webpages you will get a 50% discount on domestic flights.

By Bus:  Ethiopian buses fit into one of the following categories: the ubiquitous minibuses or matatus (typically Toyota vans that carry up to 14 people) that operate throughout the region; small to large sized passenger buses called “Higer bus” (named after the manufacturer) that often travel between regions (“1st level” to “3rd level” indicating the class); luxury buses (Korean modern standard buses) going between the main cities, and the large (often double-jointed) red Addis Ababa city buses.  There is a comprehensive network of cheap Higher buses along the major roads, although these are slow and basic. Buses travelling shorter distances generally leave whenever they have filled up with passengers (in practice, this means once an hour or so). Buses do not travel at night; they will stop before sundown in a town or village with accommodation for the passengers, or, between Dire Dawa and Djibouti, just in the plain countryside. Between some cities (eg, Adama and Addis Ababa), minibuses will run after the larger buses have stopped for the night. Everyone on the bus must have a seat by law – this prevents overcrowding, but often makes it difficult to catch a bus from an intermediate point on a route. If planning to travel by bus, keep in mind that almost all the vehicles are old and very dusty and some of the roads are in bad condition.  The bus stations usually open somewhere around 05:00. If you are catching an early morning bus, you should get to the station at 05:00. They are very chaotic first thing in the morning, and many buses will sell out of seats before they leave at about 06:00. To make things easier and less stressful, you can often buy a ticket in advance. In smaller cities, you can often buy your ticket from the conductor when the bus arrives from its previous trip the afternoon before you travel. Even if you already have a ticket, arrive early and claim a seat as soon as possible. If you don’t have a ticket, you will have to ask people to show you the correct bus (unless you can read Amharic). In this case, don’t waste time trying to buy a ticket from the window or from the bus conductor—push your way on board the bus and claim a seat! The conductor will sell you a ticket later. Medium sized backpacks can usually be squeezed under the seats, but large packs and most luggage will have to go up on the roof. Claim your seat before you worry about your luggage. Luxury buses however have a really professional approach with both numbered seating and dedicated luggage compartments under the bus. Anyone assisting you with your luggage, including the person passing it up to the conductor’s assistant on the roof, will expect a small tip (around 2-3 birr).

By Driving:  Although more expensive than public transport, renting a car is a good way to explore Ethiopia. You can take small aircraft to expedite your tour, but you will see more of the scenery if you travel by car. However, there are few rent-a-car services in Ethiopia outside of Addis Ababa so you may prefer to depend on the services of touring companies that offer cars and 4x4s complete with an experienced local driver. Petrol costs 21 birr a litre. Make sure to check the pump is zeroed before re-fuelling starts.

The Culture

Journey to Ethiopia and experience one of the world’s most beautiful and historically rich countries! From colorful local cultures to magnificent natural wonders, Ethiopia is the destination for adventurous globetrotters who want a truly unique experience.  Here you’ll find stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites that proudly celebrate Ethiopia’s long and vibrant history. Discover traditional towns, ancient customs, and vibrant festivals as you explore this awe-inspiring land – an unforgettable experience for any traveler.  Ethiopian cuisine is delicious especially and distinctive and standing to the rest of African countries.

What is the weather like?

The best time to visit Ethiopia is between January and March when clear, sunny days bring regular average daily temperatures of 25°C (77°F). This is Ethiopia’s busiest time to visit, with wildlife spotting at its peak and the festivals of Timkat and Leddet drawing huge crowds.  The rainy season (April to September) brings soaring temperatures and humid conditions. Due to rain, from May to August some roads in the Lower Omo Valley become impassable. August is the hottest (and wettest) month with temperatures reaching 45°C (113°F) regularly in the lowlands. In the highlands temperatures are much more moderate but sightseeing is hampered by downpours of rain.

The Ethiopia Landscape

Treat yourself to an unforgettable journey of adventure, beauty and discovery with a visit to Ethiopia. From the high plateaus to the mountains and dry lowland plains, Ethiopia offers some of the most rugged and stunning scenery in the world.  Take your pick from a variety of exciting activities – go on a safari, explore ancient ruins or immerse yourself in the vibrant culture that has been passed down for generations. Whatever your preference, you are guaranteed an unforgettable experience in this picturesque country.  So make sure to start your journey at its very heart – Addis Ababa – where you can witness first-hand the striking changes in vegetation and terrain that await when traveling any direction from here.

What to pack

Due to vast altitude differences between highland and lowland areas, if you are intent on exploring Ethiopia fully you should prepare for a wide range of temperature differences. In general between seasons clothes and layers are appropriate. Bringing clothes that can be easily layered is the obvious choice.  You will need lightweight clothing for the lowlands and mediumweight for the hill country.  At least one warm jumper or pullover should be brought along to cope with dramatic temperature drops once the sun goes down. At higher altitudes, a warm or a coat are needed in the evenings. Travelers should take rain coat or other rainwear, particularly when visiting the country during the period from February to October.  It is usually possible to have clothes laundered at or near hotels within a short period of time (frequently services are offered 24 hours a day).

Currency

Ethiopia’s currency is the birr. It’s divided into 100 cents in 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent coins as well as a one birr coin, and there are 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr notes. According to National Bank of Ethiopia regulations, all bills in Ethiopia must be paid in birr. But this isn’t enforced and Ethiopian Airlines, most major hotels and most travel agencies accept (and sometimes demand) US currency. The US Dollar is the best foreign currency to bring with you to Ethiopia and it can be exchanged at banks and foreign exchange bureaus. US Dollars should be carried in cash (they do not accept US Dollar travelers checks). One regulation that’s strictly enforced is the conversion of birr to US dollars or euros; this transaction can only be done for people holding onward air tickets from Ethiopia. This means people leaving overland must budget accordingly. There are black-market traders around the borders, but rates are poor and it’s risky. Visitors may import an unlimited amount of foreign currency but this must be declared on arrival to the customs authorities on the appropriate blue-colored form. Foreign currency may only be exchanged at authorized banks and hotels, and a receipt must be obtained. The currency declaration form must be retained as this will be required by customs on departure along with the currency exchange form. Visitors may change back any surplus Ethiopian Birr to cash at the airport before departure.

Vaccinations for Ethiopia

Make sure you’re properly prepared with the latest recommended vaccinations such as diphtheria, hepatitis A, poliomyelitis, and tetanus. Please consider vaccinations or booster vaccinations for  hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, typhoid, and yellow fever. For those individuals at the highest risk of certain diseases, we selectively offer additional vaccines such as cholera. Whether it’s your first international trip or one of many journeys abroad – let us make sure you stay healthy and safe in your travels.