Ethiopia Travel Forum

Hi. I'm going from Addis to Jimma in a few weeks from now. I'm wondering if I should go by bus or flight. The flight only takes about an hour, however I heard it oftens gets delayed (i.e. canceled for the day!). I'm wondering how the busride is? Can anyone tell me? And how long it takes? Thanks. Mette

Hi there,

Please read the information under here hoping that my answers would suffice your travel plan. Before making a choice for air or surface transport from Addis Ababa to Jimma, I want to raise some points which need consideration. They are:Purpose of travel, No. of days staying,Traveling alone or in groups and Quality of Service

Based on these considerations, these are my proposed options:

Option 1:Purpose of Travel – If you are travelling for leisure i.e. tour or visiting people, surface transport would give you the opportunity to discover the small towns and the views across the edges of the highway. The question, however, remains whether to use a public transport or hire a private car. I don’t advice on using a public transport because it is very slow, less comfortable, and highly suffocated. A hired car provides greater care, convenience and flexibility. If you are traveling for business i.e. meeting or presentation, air transportation is preferable. Mostly, air transportation saves your time and energy that you need for upcoming duty.

Option 2: No. of days staying in Jimma - For someone who travels for a short stay in Jimma, it is better to hire a private car since they provide convenience and there is no significant cost difference with the air transport. But if you are staying for more than 2 days, it would be appropriate to fly the round way.

Option 3: Traveling Alone or in Groups – If you are not alone, I advise you to hire a car (a Land Cruiser or a mid size bus depending on your group size). In terms of cost, you would able to save much as the fee for hiring a car would be shared among group members.

Option 4: Quality of Service – Ethiopian Air Lines is the only domestic flier in Ethiopia. In recent times, the airline has shown greater improvements in cancellation and delaying flights. I think you do not need to worry on this regard. Be also aware that they have six days flight every week except Saturday.I hope this would help.If you need further information, please let me know.Abraham D.