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Hi fellow travelers!

Just throwing this out there to see what people say so my friend and I can start planning our trip - 2 females, 30's/40's, one Canadian, one American.

We want to visit Ethiopia and surrounding countries for a month starting the last week of Dec through the third week of January. We definitely want to be in Ethiopia for Leddet on Jan 7th, so the first week will clearly be in Ethiopia. Another requirement is Somaliland for the appropriate amount of time. We're looking for recommendations on how to construct the trip, including understanding if we should do a round trip and return to Addis for the outgoing flight, or leave from somewhere else.

Other than that Ethiopia, especially for Leddit, she was thinking to add in Uganda and Kenya. I was thinking Eritrea and Djibouti (although I don't know much about it, but just figured we would cover the northern part of east africa on this trip, and do Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, for instance, on another). I do understand Eritrea might require a fight to Yemen to transit in.

So, I guess first thing is - which part of east africa does it make sense to combine with Ethiopia and Somaliland?

After that, can anyone recommend a 4 week route that makes sense? We're into the usual - tours only where safety/logistics require it or where we would learn much more from it, nature, culture, wandering, history, public transportation as appropriate. We not so budget constrained, but also am not into exorbitant spending.

I'd love to hear your thoughts as we start this pretty overwhelming planning, as the near term action is to purchase fights. We'll then dig into the research for each country.

Thanks in advance for you help!
Cheers!

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1

Between 4 and 8 countries in one month is impossible even with a flying carpet then it's totally unrealistic with public transports.
Try to have a realistic program.
One month is this part of Africa should be one country or a part of a country.
It's different for Djibouti and Somaliland but if it's your first time, you have better places to see.
It's a travel, not a race... I hope...

Michel

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2

I've seen some of your other posts, so your rudeness is not surprising. Neither is your lack of reading comprehension.

I said she was thinking Ethiopia/Somliland and adding on Kenya and Uganda. I suggested Ethiopia/Somaliland and adding on Eritrea and maybe Djibouti instead. If we wanted to do Somaliland and Eritrea, clearly we'd only do north Ethiopia.

Why people use this forum to belittle others is beyond me.

It's a community, not a high school cafeteria...I hope...

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3

It's up to you, it's your race...
I visited some countries in the East part of Africa. It's always time consuming even If you use plane for some parts.
Ethiopia, Somaliland, Kenya and Uganda in one month is a joke.
Ethiopia, Somaliland, Djibouti seems to be more realistic but you can visit Ethiopia for a while and you can stay easily one full month for visiting the North part (Historical Road)
The main problem with Eritrea is reaching it and leaving it. It will be by air.

Michel

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4

Yes, my friend who suggested it has never been to Africa before. That is why I suggested the alternate route, and was just trying to get confirmation I was seeing things correctly.

Regarding how to reach Eritrea, again, Michel, you need to brush up on your reading comprehension. I stated quite clearly I knew Eritrea would require a flight.

I'm trying to make clear to you I am not looking for your feedback as you are condescending and clearly do not pay attention to details. Both of which you exhibited even in your second post. As a result, I do not value your feedback either for accuracy or for just plain camaraderie.

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5

I don't care but why do you use a public forum If you don't want any advices...
Visit three, four or more countries in a month as you want.
It's a joke but it's your choice.
Good race.

Michel

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6

Oh dear, Emerald, you'll really need to brush up your manners if you want to enjoy your time in Africa, such rudeness will not be appreciated there!
Michel has given you good, sensible info. Sorry it's not what you want to hear, but if you want to have an enjoyable holiday, you really don't want to be visiting more than 2 countries. Personally, with only 1 month I'd stick to just one.
Ethiopia - northern circuit only - and Somaliland will be plenty.

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7

Leddet is really not that big a deal as festivals go - Timkat (Jan 20th 2016) is a much bigger, more colourful festival. Eritrea is a real hassle to get to (particularly from Addis, and at the moment, particularly via Sanaa - who knows what may happen by Jan next year) and you need travel permits to get anywhere. I'd say that there's plenty to do in Ethiopia for a month to keep you happy plus possibly a trip into Somaliland from Jijiga.

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8

Awesome, Jijiga! Those are some specifics I can really work with. Your comment about Leddet versus Timkat was very helpful, as it may change the structure of our trip. Yes, at the current time, transit through Yemen would not be possible - I was probably being optimistic the situation would change by the end of the year. I knew about the permits, but like other travel of this type, it was going to be an experience. I experienced my first walk through a border crossing in east africa, so this would have been my first experience needing travel permits. But, I think I'll take your advice and save that for another trip. Thanks again...

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9

Oh, one more question - should we plan to be in AA for Timkat, or can it be experienced from other cities/towns? Again, I'm trying to plan a route of what at this point seems to be northern Ethiopia and Somaliland - we are landing in AA on the 27th of December and will be leaving on the 23rd of January, so does it makes sense then to just leave AA soon after we land to travel, and then return for Timkat and our return flight a few days later?

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