Marsabit to Addis?

I didn't go to the border but the southern highway in Ethiopia is quite good. The highways are very busy with animals, pedestrians, cyclists and loads of cars/trucks - accidents are frequent - our driver recommended only traveling during the day.

(The highway south from Addis is really busy until Mojo (?), where it splits to either go south or east (to Harar) ... try to get there early to avoid the congestion).

the "road" between marsabit and the ethiopian border is very rough in general. the road is not paved. vehicles run along ruts. surfaces vary from rocky to sandy to sections with washboard/rumble steps. Not a pleasant ride sometimes.

if traveling in the rainy season, some sections maybe impassable due to flooding.

security wise, i don't have up-to-date info. however, when i was there in 2007, we (the truck i was hitching on) had to take on armed guards about 2 hrs south of the border.

like normadoo1 has pointed out, after moyale the road is paved to addis. smooth sailing.

Kenyan side - Marsabit to Moyale (Ethio-Kenyan border) is roughly 240kms and took us about 9-10 hours, mainly because it was raining, trucks and buses stuck for hours and was hard even for our well-equipped Toyota 4WDs crossing on the side ditches. The road truly not in good condition or should I bluntly say in bad shape. Day time drivings are ok with not much security concerns. I recall having two armed police with us. While having a picnic lunch roughly 150kms out of Moyale, the route patrol police in green land rovers came over to more or less rush us back on the road, saying the spot we were lunching at wasn't safe .... We did it the reverse way in late January/early February 2009 - covering the Lower Omo Valley and then exiting out of Ethiopia through Yabelo and Moyale, then heading into Kenya, then to Marsabit, Maralal, Loiyangalani, Nakuru, Masai Mara and finally in Nairobi in 23 days. Starting off from Marsabit should be at about 6:00AM so that you get to the Kenyan side of Moyale at about 3:30PM, allowing yourself time to clear up with the Kenyan side and cross over to the Ethiopian side. Security, accomodatione etc is much much better on the Ethiopian side. As mentioned above, road condition on the Ethiopian side is incomparable to the Kenyan side. Fully paved asphalt road all the way upto Addis Ababa (770kms).

Evans

Thanks so much, great advice.

Came from Isiolo to Moyale last week! the roads are definitely atrocious! and journey long!
If going from Isiolo you have to try and get the trucks leaving either 2 in the morning or 4 in the morning! for sitting in the front, it shouldnt be more that 1500-2000 kenyian shellings. there will be scouts who want to help as well but as always its a bit doggy. The minimum time it takes is 17 hours but some trucks do an overnight in Marsabit and then next day to Moyale. the border at Moyale is open until 6. Buses to Addis leave daily around 6 (be there 5:30) and best to do with a stop over in Awasa

Hope this helps
Andrew

Thanks for the advice.