Travel to Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Various information

How do you get to Ethiopia?

Usually the visitor reaches Ethiopia by plane.

Airplane

direct flights go regularly from Frankfurt/M. to Addis Ababa.

Railway

An approximately 800 km long railway line connects Addis Ababa and Djibouti.

Car, bus

The route via Kenya is mainly used by car or bus.

There is a six-lane toll road about 75 km long from Addis Ababa to Adama. A branch from Mojo to Hawasa (Awassa) is being planned and the Mojo – Ziway section is under construction.

Caution

You are warned against traveling to the border areas with Kenya, Somalia and Sudan; the border crossings between Ethiopia and Eritrea are now passable for locals.

Travel in the country

Flight connections

There are irregular national flight connections between over 40 cities.

Railroad

The country has an approx. 800 km long rail line between Addis Ababa and Djibouti.

The second main line from Awash to the north via Weldiya to Mekele is currently passable as far as Kombolcha.

Bus

Buses run between almost all places in Ethiopia.

Roads

The main road network comprises around 4,000 km of paved roads and connects the most important cities and holiday areas. The unpaved secondary roads should only be used with all-wheel drive. An Ethiopian driver’s license is required for rental cars and is available upon arrival.

International license plate

According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Ethiopia is:

ETH

Ethiopia: entry and exit requirements

Formalities, visas

To enter Ethiopia, tourists need a passport that is still valid for six months, a visa and a return or onward ticket. Proof of sufficient funds for the stay must also be provided. A valid yellow fever vaccination must be proven when entering from a yellow fever infection area.

Local currency, foreign exchange regulations

The national currency of Ethiopia is the Birr

1 Ethiopian Birr = 100 cents

  • Import and export of the national currencyThe import and export of the national currency is limited to 100 Br.
  • Importing and exporting foreign currenciesThere is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that you can take with you, but you must declare it.The export may take place up to the amount declared.

Goods, customs regulations

Inexpensive goods, souvenirs

In Ethiopia , tourists like to buy gold and silver jewelry, wood carvings, leather goods, carpets, basketry as well as traditional spears and drums.

Customs regulations

People over 18 years of age are allowed to import 100 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225 g of tobacco and 1 l of alcoholic beverages duty-free into Ethiopia, as well as 2 bottles or 500 ml of perfume and gifts up to a value of 10 birr.

A license from the Ethiopian National Museum is required for the export of hides, leather, hides, antiques and objects of art-historical value (objects over 50 years of age, but also newer woodwork).

Ethiopia: travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings

Infectious Diseases

In Ethiopia, the following infectious diseases are to be expected in Germany and Central and Northern Europe:

  • Malaria: With the exception of Addis Ababa, there is a high risk of becoming infected with the malaria pathogen in the country all year round. About 80% to 90% of infections occur with the very dangerous malaria tropica, the rest with malaria tertiana. There is no risk of malaria infection in areas above 2,000 m.
  • Amoebic dysentery
  • Bacterial agitation
  • Schistosomiasis
  • cholera
  • Dengue fever
  • Intestinal infections from contaminated food or water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria
  • Filariasis
  • Typhus
  • Yellow fever
  • Guinea worm
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Kala Azar disease
  • Leishmaniasis Disease
  • Meningococcal encephalitis
  • Polio, polio
  • Sleeping sickness
  • tetanus
  • rabies
  • typhus
  • Tick bite fever

Vaccination recommendations

  • Diphtheria – a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Yellow fever – highly recommended
  • Guinea worm infection
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Polio, polio
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Tetanus – a vaccination against tetanus should always exist, also in the home country.
  • Rabies – but only for high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
  • Typhoid – but only for travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food

Compulsory vaccination

For all persons older than one year and arriving from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO, vaccination against yellow fever is mandatory. The country itself is one of the yellow fever infection areas designated by the WHO.

Malaria prophylaxis

When traveling in the country, especially when traveling to the areas mentioned above, it is strongly advised to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.

Current warnings

Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany

Citizens Service

Telephone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000

www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de

Ethiopia: Diplomatic missions

Visit Countryaah for a full list of Ethiopia embassies and consulates in each country around the world.

Representations of Ethiopia in Germany

The building of the Embassy of Ethiopia is on Boothstraße in the Berlin district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf. The embassy building is a beautifully renovated villa.

The parking situation in front of the embassy can be regarded as favorable. Around 100 m away – on Ostpreußendamm at the corner of Boothstraße – there is a bus stop for bus lines 186 and 380.

Embassy in Berlin

Boothstraße 20 a

12207 Berlin

Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 772 060

Email: Emb.ethiopia@t-online.de

www.aethiopien-botschaft.de

Consulate General in Frankfurt am Main

Mendelsohnstrasse 51

60325 Frankfurt/Main

Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 9726 960

Email: consul.eth@t-online.de

Responsible for Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Lower Saxony

Honorary Consul in Düsseldorf

Kasernenstrasse 23

40213 Düsseldorf

Tel: 0049 – (0) 211 – 848 00

Responsible for North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland

German representations in Ethiopia

Embassy in Addis Abeba

Yeka Kifle Ketema, Kebele 06

Addis Abeba

Tel: 00251 – (0) 11 – 123 5139

Email: info@addis-abeba.diplo.de

www.addis-abeba.diplo.de

The German embassy in Ethiopia is still there responsible for Djibouti.

Austrian representations in Ethiopia

Embassy in Addis Abeda

N. Silk Lafto Kifle Ketema Kebele 04 H.No. 535

Addis Ababa

Tel: 00251 – (0) 11 – 371 3144

00251 – (0) 11 – 371 2445

00251 – (0) 11 – 371 0052

Email: addis-abeba-ob@bmeia.gv.at

www.aussenministerium.at/addisabeba

The Austrian embassy in Ethiopia is still responsible for:

  • Djibouti
  • Republic of the Congo

Representations of Ethiopia in Austria

Embassy in Vienna

Wagramer Strasse 14/1/2

1223 Vienna

Honorary Consulate in Vienna

Althanstrasse 14

1090 Vienna

Swiss representations in Ethiopia

Embassy in Addis Abeda

Old Airport

Lideta Kifle Ketema

Kebele 02/03

Tel: 00251 – (0) 11 – 371 1107

00251 – (0) 11 – 371 0577

00251 – (0) 11 – 371 0483

Email: add.vertretung@eda. admin.ch

www.eda.admin.ch/addisabeba

The Swiss embassy in Ethiopia is still responsible for Djibouti.

Representations of Ethiopia in Switzerland

Embassy in Geneva,

Rue de Moillebeau 56, Case postale 338

1211 Geneva 19

Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 919 7010

Travel to Ethiopia