Ambassade Addis Ababa

Travel

To Ethiopia

Several international flights call in at Bole airport in Addis Ababa. The national carrier Ethiopian Airlines schedules flights to several locations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Foreign airlines flying to and from Addis Ababa are The Royal Dutch Airline (KLM), British Airways, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa, Saudi Airways and Yemen Airways. Ethiopian Airlines also provides a regular domestic air service to 25 airports in Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia

Three times a week the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway operates from Addis Ababa. The train is slow, the service unreliable, and in the past the train has been targeted by bandits and thieves. Reports are that security has improved, but the Embassy still does not recommend this type of transportation.

A good network of buses connects the major towns of Ethiopia. Yet, reports on the quality vary. According to the Lonely Planet, buses are cheap, reasonably safe and comfortable, but slow going. Sealed roads should allow the bus to cover 45 km per hour, dirt roads 30 km or less.

The most comfortable way of travelling through the country is by private vehicle. A four-wheel drive is preferable, especially during the rainy season. Car hire is available in Addis Ababa. It is best to avoid driving after sunset, as the road is also used by pedestrians, animals and cars without lights.

Health and safety

Vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory to enter Ethiopia and getting additional vaccinations is advisable. Consult a medical practitioner several months before your departure. If you travel in areas lower than 2000 meter, taking malaria profylaxis is advisable.

Besides certain unsafe regions, travelling through Ethiopia is usually uncomplicated. The Embassy regularly reports on the safety situation in Ethiopia. This travel advise (in Dutch) can by consulted on the website of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ethiopian time and calendar

The Ethiopian expression of time differs from the 24-hour clock. Ethiopian time starts at daybreak and ends when it's getting dark. For example, 6.00 a.m. equals twelve o'clock Ethiopian time, 7.00 p.m. is one o'clock. Ethiopian time and 10.00 p.m. is 4 o'clock Ethiopian time.

The Ethiopian calendar is roughly 7,5 years behind the Gregorian calendar. It is based on the Julian system and has 12 months of 30 days and a 13th month of 5 days or 6 days in a leap year. In the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopian New Year is on September 11, so the new Ethiopian year 1997 starts on September 11, 2004.