Ethiopia

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Do I need a visa?
  2. What is the food like?
  3. Is the weather very hot?
  4. Is it safe?
  5. What size is the group?
  6. Do I need to get immunisations?
  7. What camera equipment should I bring?
1. Do I need a visa?
Yes, but get it on arrival at Addis Ababa airport, it costs US$50.
How to get there: Emirates flies to Dubai and then onto Addis. There is a combination airfare which has very good connections with Thai/Ethiopian or Sydney to Kenya and then to Addis Ababa.
2. What is the food like?
Western food is mostly Italian, good coffee, bread rolls, omelettes and soups.
Type of accommodation: Best hotels in most areas, rooms have en suites, hot running water, comfortable beds, in quiet areas.
3. Is the weather very hot?
No, most days are 20-24 degrees, with no humidity.
Addis is at 2,200 metres high so the air is very dry.
Simien Mountains – it can get down to 0 degrees at night and 20 during the day.
From October to March is the dry season and most days are sunny and clear.
Clothes to wear: Jacket, gloves and hat for the Simiens otherwise conservative clothes such as cargo pants and shirt with comfortable walking shoes (we have a list we usually send out prior to the start of the trip).
4. Is it safe?
Compared with many African countries, Ethiopia is remarkably safe. Serious or violent crime is rare, particularly against tourists. I have been taking tours there since 2010 without any incidents and have always felt very safe. People tend to be very friendly and helpful.
Your safety is of the utmost priority and I have an extensive network of ground operators and contacts who keep me informed and up-to-date on all local situations in which we operate. In addition, I also recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for general advice.
5. What size is the group?
Generally between 6-10 people and can be a wide range of ages.
6. Do I need to get immunisations?
Yes, Yellow Fever vaccination is essential in returning to Australia. Hepatitis A is recommended.
Malaria tablets may be required. Please check with your doctor for his or her recommendations.
7. What camera equipment should I bring?
Your DSLR or a compact camera, a couple of lenses, several memory cards, camera manual, couple of batteries, tripod, external hard drive to save your images. I usually bring a hard drive myself where you can save your images if you don’t have one.