Travel Information
Climate
Throughout most of the country there are two major seasons: the dry season from October to May; the wet season from June to mid-September.
Visa Requirements
No visa is required for the nationals of Kenya Djibouti, and The Sudan. In addition nationals of the following countries can easily get a visa on arrival in the airport.
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korean Republic, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherland, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States of America
Nationals out of the mentioned countries above may apply for a visa at the Ethiopian Diplomatic Mission Offices.
Office Hours
Ethiopia lies in the GMT +3 time zone. The usual office hours are from 8:30am – 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm – 5:30pm Monday to Thursday and from 8:30am to 11:30am and from 1:30pm to 5:30pm on Fridays.
Communication
Telephone, Tele fax, Internet, e-mail and postal facilities are available in the country. Internet services are available in major cities and towns. The international dialling code for Ethiopia is +251.
Clothing
Visitors should take light, summer clothes for the day time and something warm for the evenings, like a sweater or jacket. The temperature drops quite rapidly towards sunset. Simien or Bale Mountains trekkers should bring warm and water-proof clothes. Shoes must always be removed before entering churches and mosques. For more information regarding clothing please contact us.
When to Come
Ethiopia can be visited all-round the year, but for specific routes and the Danakil (Dallol) depression you should contact us for more details.
Customs
Duty-free import are permitted for up to:
- 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 1/2 lb of tobacco
- 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
- 1/2 liter, or two bottles of perfumes
- Some articles (such as animal skins and antiques) may require an export permit.
Transportation
Surface: There are asphalt roads connecting the major tourist destination except in the South Omo Valley.
Air: The national carrier is Ethiopian Airlines (www.ethiopianairlines.com) which has an extensive domestic flight network, flying daily to several destinations including the popular tourist destination, such as Axum, Lalibela, Gonder, Bahir Dar, Mekelle, Dire Dawa, Arba Minch and Jimma.
Heath Requirements
A visitor should have a valid yellow fever certificate, vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arriving in Ethiopia.
Energy
Ethiopia uses 220 volts and 50HZ. It is best to bring your own round, two-prong if necessary.