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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
South African passport holders require a visa to enter Ethiopia. The most convenient method is applying for an e-Visa online. A Visa on Arrival is also available, but only at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
VISA INFORMATION
WEATHER
Ethiopia’s climate varies dramatically due to its topography. The highlands, including Addis Ababa, enjoy a temperate climate year-round with cool nights and warm days. The lowlands (e.g., Afar and Somali regions) can be extremely hot and dry. Rainfall patterns are split into short rains (Feb–Apr) and long rains (Jun–Sep), especially in the central regions. Overall, Ethiopia is drier in the east and wetter in the southwest.
- Spring (March to May): Ethiopia experiences a mix of climates due to its varying elevations. In most highland areas, March sees the short rains, with mild temperatures around 20°C to 25°C. By April and May, the weather becomes warmer and drier, making it a good time for trekking and cultural visits. However, in the lower-lying regions such as the Afar, Somali, and Omo Valley, this period brings the main rainy season from March to June, with hotter temperatures.
- Summer (June to mid-September): This is the wet season across most of Ethiopia, especially in the central and northern highlands where heavy rains can make some roads muddy and difficult to travel. Despite the rain, daytime temperatures remain mild, rarely exceeding 25°C due to the country’s elevation. In the lowland regions, rainfall is less intense, but humidity can be higher.
- Autumn (October to November): October marks the start of the dry season for most of the country, with clear skies and pleasant temperatures. In the lowland areas like Gambella and the Afar region, shorter rains occur in November, but they’re generally less disruptive. Landscapes remain lush after the summer rains, making it a scenic time for travel.
- Winter (December to February): This is one of the best times to visit Ethiopia, with clear, sunny days and stable weather. Average daily temperatures hover around 20°C to 25°C in the highlands, while the lowlands can be considerably hotter. It’s perfect for exploring historical sites like Lalibela or trekking in the Simien Mountains.
- Best Time to Travel: January to March is the ideal time for visiting Ethiopia, offering sunny days, comfortable temperatures, and minimal rainfall, especially in the highland regions. October to December is also a good time to travel.
GENERAL INFORMATION
| Country: | Ethiopia |
| Capital City: | Addis Ababa |
| International Airports: | Addis Ababa Bole International Airport |
| Area: | 1,104,300 km² |
| Population: | 80 Million (approx) |
| Time Zone: | GMT + 3 hours. Note: In Ethiopia they use a 12 hour clock with 2 cycles from dawn to dusk and the other from dusk to dawn so 15:00 western time or 03:00 is actually 9 o’clock Ethiopian time, the variable is day or night. |
| Religion: | Ethiopian Orthodox, Muslim, Protestant, Traditional, Catholic, Last Emperor of Ethiopia was worshipped by Rastafarians as a divine being. Home to the Black Jews. |
| Language: | Amharic is the official Language with Oromo, Somali, Tigrayan, being the other main languages. English is widely spoken. |
| Currency: | Ethiopian Birr. All Birr needs to exchanged back to foreign currency prior to exiting the country |
| Exchange Rate: | Please consult your local bank as exchange rates fluctuate. |
| Credit Card Payment Availability: | Not many establishments will accept credit card payments. It’s best to bring cash. |
| ATM Accessibility: | Not readily available – contact your local bank to find out if your card will be compatible with Ethiopian ATM’s. |
| Dialling Code: | +251 |
TRAVEL TIPS
| Electricity: | The electricity in Ethiopia is generally 220V, 50HZ, AC. Adapters are necessary but readily available in the country. |
| Water: | It is advisable to drink only bottled or distilled water. |
| Business Hours: | Business Hours; Monday – Thursday 08:3 – 17.30 (lunch break from 12.30 to 13.30 ) Fridays 11:30 to 13:30.
Shops; Monday – Saturday up to 18:00, supermarkets, are open on Sundays and public holidays. |
| Banking Hours: | Banking hours: Monday – Saturday 08:00 – 17:30 .
Please note that the banking infrastructure is not well developed in Ethiopia and can cause problems for independent travellers. Therefore, it is advisable to use a reputable tour operator, as they will be able to assist you with dealing with payments whilst travelling. |
| Photography Restrictions: | Professional photography/ filming requires a valid permit from the authorities. Caution: Please consult with you Tour Operator when travelling with multiple lenses and more than one camera as you may be at risk of having the equipment confiscated if immigration misunderstands your intentions. |
| Tipping: | In most hotels and restaurants, a 10% service charge is added to the bill. Tipping is a fairly frequent custom, but amounts are dependant on service quality. |
| Vaccination Requirements: | Yellow Fever Certificate is required if you are travelling from or have travelled via a risk country. Please consult with your medical practitioner before travel. |
| Dress Code Restrictions: | Dressing code – Dress conservatively, Ethiopians are generally modest dressers, and visitors should be sensitive about going underdressed (shorts, tank tops and barebacked) into places of worship. Shoes must always be removed before entering churches and mosques – for getting around sites like Lalibela with its many churches, airline socks are very useful.
Clothing: Because of the elevation, temperatures rarely exceed 25oC in most of the country. Pack light clothes for the day time and a jacket or sweater for the evenings, and a good pair of walking shoes even if you are not going trekking – path ways around historic sites are usually uneven and stony. Trekkers in the Simien and Bale Mountains will need warm clothes, water-proof sleeping bags. |
| Peculiar Customs to Observe: | Greeting is a serious affair, and the elderly are treated with the utmost respect. When an elderly person enters a room it is customary to stand until they are seated. Then as a male it is impolite to be the first to extend a handshake to a female, it is best to wait for her to extend her hand first. Since all meals are eaten with your hands it is polite to wash your hands prior to the meal. |
FESTIVALS
The celebration of Meskel Festival in Addis Ababa: – The celebration of Meskel commemorates the Finding of the True Cross. It is celebrated on September 26th and 27th (September 27th and 28th in a leap year) in the major cities. The origin goes back to the fourth century AD when Queen Helena (the mother of Constantine the Great) discovered the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. In December 2013 the Meskel celebrations were inscribed as the first Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Ethiopia by UNESCO.
Read MoreTimket festival or Epiphany in Gondar: The Timket festival or Epiphany in Ethiopia is the most colourful and exciting festival of the year and a great celebration for locals and travellers alike. During the eve of Timkat there is an option to go to the overnight resting place of the tabots, the bath house of Fasil. Tabots are replicas of the Ark of the Covenant – the sacred chests described in the Book of Exodus as carrying the stone tablets on which the 10 Commandments were written. The tabots are blessed with water by the priests and then singing and dancing accompany the tabots back to their churches.
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“Ethiopia’s ancient culture reflects Animist, Judaic, Byzantine, Christian and Islamic heritages. One of it’s notable qualities is its calendar.”
– Nita Bhalla