Helpful Information

Money Matters

Currency Information
The national currency of Ethiopia is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB), with an exchange rate of 21 to the USD (April 2016). Birr may not be imported or exported. We advise you to bring most of your funds in cash.  US Dollars, Sterling or Euros are all fine. At the airport it can be very slow to exchange money but the various banks in Addis Ababa are a good option. US Dollars, Sterling or Euros should be clean and free from rips or marks. Travelers cheque issued either by Thomas Cook or American Express can also be changed at the airport, but they can be difficult to cash anywhere else. Outside of Addis Ababa, credit cards are not accepted in most establishments, so it’s better to carry enough cash to last for a few days.
ATM availability/Credit Card Acceptance/Travellers cheques
Ethiopia has a dense network of ATMs in Addis Ababa. Credit cards, mainly Visa and MasterCard are useful for cash advances in Addis Ababa and can be used at most ATMs, major hotels and restaurants. However they remain of little use outside the major cities. For credit card transactions you will usually be charged a service fee between 2.5 -10%. Moreover, your bank is likely to charge you a also a fee for withdrawing cash from ATMs and for using your card overseas. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your credit or debit cards will always work in Ethiopia. You need to check with your bank before departure. Please do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. Experience has shown that it is wise to withdraw a certain amount of cash upon arrival at the airport for your personal use. We can advise you on the approximate amounts of money you will need on your tour.
Extra Expenses and Spending Money
Bring extra spending money if you wish to buy local crafts such as jewelery, Ethiopian dresses, scarves, carved wooden crosses, basketwork, frankincense, Ethiopian coffee or any other local specialties.