11 Days Wild Places Safari In Ethiopia

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On the map, Ethiopia doesn’t seem like a massive country, with a land area approximately equal in size to the U.S. state of Alaska. But traveling around the country, particularly by land, makes you feel as if you’re in a much more sprawling piece of territory. The good news is that Ethiopia has decidedly modern elements to its infrastructure (namely, a robust domestic air network), and is working hard to modernize its roads and rails. The better news? My Ethiopia transport guide helps you navigate the good, the bad and the ugly of traveling through the birthplace of humanity.

Buses and Train

Actually, that’s a lie. In addition to the Ethiopia-Djibouti train line that runs from Addis Ababa to the city of Djibouti, Addis Ababa is also in the process of building a metro system, parts of which have already been opened. In general, however, rail is not a practical form of travel in Ethiopia. Indeed, the only realistic way to travel by land in Ethiopia is by bus—and, more often than that, the minibuses that travel both long and short distances throughout the country. Buses regularly run from Addis Ababa to destinations like Bahir Dar and Dire Dawa and even as far away as Lalibela, although I recommend a different sort of transport for traveling there.

Ethiopian Airlines

I’m a bit of an #AvGeek, so I knew prior to visiting Ethiopia that Ethiopian Airlines is one of Africa’s largest, most modern airlines. What I didn’t realize until reading their inflight magazine was how long they’ve been flying intercontinental (since the dawn of the jet age) and how intertwined their history is with that of the country as a whole. In any case, I bring the airline up not to recommend its long haul services, but its short haul ones. The airline efficiently and (if you purchase the tickets inside Ethiopia, not outside) affordably connects all major destinations in Ethiopia, easing the pain traveling by land more often than not incurs.

For many people, the best time to visit Ethiopia is during the dry season, which runs from October through February. There are exceptions to this rule, however—especially if you're interested in experiencing Ethiopia's cultural festivals, some of which are held during the rainy season. If you're on a budget, traveling during the low season is also a good way to save money.

A travel-insurance policy for all medical problems is essential for travel in Ethiopia, while one to cover theft and loss really is helpful but not vital. Many insurance companies will not cover you for countries, or parts of a country, that your home government has issued a travel warning for. In Ethiopia many border regions and parts of the south can often fall under this category – check before travelling.

Ethiopia has a large, predominantly rural, and impoverished population with poor access to safe water, housing, sanitation, food and health service. The government has made significant investments in the public health sector which have led to improvements in the health outcomes.

1. Injera (sourdough flatbread)

2. Tibs (sautéed meat chunks)

3. Shiro be Kibbe (legume stew)

4. Berbere (typical spice blend)

5. Kitfo (Ethiopian beef tartare)

6. Coffee

7. Tej (an alcoholic honey beverage)

8. Juices

9. Fir-Fir (sautéed injera)

10. Doro wat (chicken stew)

Tipping is more common in Ethiopia than in other East African countries, but there aren’t any hard rules for how much you are supposed to tip. The amount you tip depends on the quality of the service and on how much money you have. Since most Ethiopians only earn about two dollars a day on average, even a small amount of money is a big deal for them. Many Ethiopians do not know much about Western cultural practices. This is partially because there aren’t a lot of foreigners in Ethiopia, but also because most Ethiopians don’t speak English and aren’t always connected to the internet.

Backpacks. As a photographer, the age-old question of what backpack to bring to a trip is never as simple as “just bring one”.

Shirts & Underwear

Pants & Jacket

Shoes

Toiletries

Sleeping Bag

What's in the Daypack

Miscellaneous