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Bookmark & shareOnce an icon of misery, Ethiopia is coming out of the shadows.
Travelling in Ethiopia won't be everyone's cup of chai: there's not much tourist infrastructure here, and checking your email rivals carrier pigeon for speed. But the landscape is splendid, the people are welcoming, the sense of history is tangible and you won't have to worry about crowds of tourists.
Travel Warning: Capital Tensions - Border Issues
Political violence flares up now and then in Addis Ababa. Travellers should monitor local news and stay clear of any mass demonstrations.
Travel to the Eritrean border military zone - in the Tigray and Afar regions - should be avoided. The border itself is permanently closed. Ethnic tensions dog the west of the country. Borders with Kenya, Somalia and Sudan are also very dangerous with an extreme risk to traveller's security.
Check out Safe Travel for updated government warnings or the Thorn Tree travel forum for some good advice from travellers.
severity: Mid-level alert
Fast Facts
Country Full Name
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Population
64,000,000
Currency
Name: Ethiopian Birr
Code: ETB
Symbol: Br
Electrical Plugs
220V 50Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromo
Essential: Arabic
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +3
Country Dialing Code
+251
Weights & Measures
Metric
Ethiopia & Eritrea - Pick & Mix Chapters
Download the free Getting Started chapter or purchase individual chapters from our Online Store.
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
