Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

The national airline is Ethiopian Airlines (ET) (website: www.flyethiopian.com), which operates three flights a week from London, with a stopover either in Frankfurt/M or in Cairo, and three times a week from Washington.

International Airport

Addis Ababa (ADD) (Bole International) is 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). To/from the aiport: A coach service departs regularly to the city. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Duty-free, car hire, banks, bureaux de change, left luggage, post office, first aid facilities, restaurant and bar.

RAIL

A 784km- (487 mile-) rail service between Djibouti and Addis Ababa is run jointly by the two governments.

ROAD

The main route is via Kenya. There is an all-weather road from Moyale on the border via Yabelo, Dila and Yirga to Addis Ababa. The following border points are also open: Dewale/Galafi (from Djibouti) and Humera/Metema (from Sudan). The road linking Nairobi and Addis Ababa forms part of the Trans-East African Highway.

Travel - Internal

AIR

Ethiopian Airlines runs internal flights to over 40 towns, although services may be infrequent. Airports throughout Ethiopia are currently being upgraded in a step to encourage tourism. Ethiopian Airlines also operates an Historic Route Service for tourists taking in the country's world-famous historic sites.

RAIL

The only operative line runs between Addis Ababa and Djibouti, via Dire Dawa and Harar. Travellers should be prepared for occasional delays.

ROAD

A good network of all-weather roads (4100km of Ashphalt ) exists to most business and tourist centres. Otherwise, 4-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended (19,000km of gravel and dirt roads). Frequent fuel shortages can make travel outside Addis Ababa very difficult. Vehicle travel after dark outside Addis Ababa is risky. Traffic drives on the right.

Bus: Services are run by the Government as well as private companies and they operate throughout the country. The bus terminus can provide schedules and tickets, although it is unusual for tourists to attempt to use this service. Bus trips can be slow as there is often a lengthy wait to assemble a convoy (necessary in more dangerous areas).

Taxi: Available in Addis Ababa and other major towns. These include blue and white mini buses; they sometimes offer service on a shared basis and are inexpensive. Fares are not usually metered and should be negotiated before travelling. Personalised and specific trips should be negotiated with the driver in advance of travel. In Addis Ababa, the National Tour Operation (NTO) operates luxury taxis. They are stationed outside major hotels and at the airport. There are also yellow taxis at the aiport. Neither have meters.

Car hire: This is available from Avis and Hertz in Addis Ababa.

Documentation: Full valid international or Ethiopian licence is required. Licence from country of origin must be endorsed locally.

Resorts & Excursions

ADDIS ABABA

Ethiopia's capital is located at an altitude of 2440m (8000ft) in the central highlands. Places of interest include the university, St George's Cathedral, the Ethnology Museum, the Menelik Mausoleum, the Trinity Church, the Old Ghibi Palace and the market, one of the largest in Africa.

AKSUM

The ancient royal capital of the earliest Ethiopian kingdom lies in the north of the country. It is renowned for multi-storeyed ancient carved granite obelisks, for important archaeological remains and for the church, which claims to house the Lost Ark of the Covenant.

NATIONAL PARKS

There are nine national parks in Ethiopia: the Simien Mountain National Park (in the northern mountain massif); the Awash National Park (east of the capital); the Omo and Mago National Parks (southwest of the capital); the Shalla-Abijatta Lakes National Park (south of the capital); the Gambella National Park (Ilubabor region); the Nechi Sar National Park (Gambo region); Yangudi-Rassa National Park (Harerge region); and the Bale Mountains National Park, on high southern moorland country, which has its own unique flora and fauna

ELSEWHERE

The Blue Nile Falls (also called Tissisat) are one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Northern Africa. They are situated about 35km (22 miles) from Bahar Dar. Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia from 1632 to 1855 and is the site of many ruined castles. Close by is Lake Tana, on which 37 islands stand and is the largest lake in Ethiopia. Lalibela is famous for its 12th-century, rock-hewn churches. Harar is a famous Muslim walled city and the centre for the coffee trade. Dire Dawa, near Harar, is an important trading centre on the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway line. The Rift Valley Lakes in Ziway, Langano, Awasso, Abiyata, Shalla, Abaya and Chamo offer unique scenery and beautiful beaches. Langano is one of the most popular lakeside resorts