Ethiopia Travel Forum

Hi everyone, I'm trying to figure out a trip to Kampala from Addis Ababa and I'd like to get some advice. I'm flying into Addis Ababa on June 1 and out on September 1 but I want to be in Kampala from July 1 - August 14 if possible. I don't want to fly and I'd like to get out into the countryside as opposed to just sticking on main roads.

I was thinking of going down through the Omo Valley, and to the end of the Omo River, then along lake Turkana through Kenya, all the way down to Kampala (hiking in the places where there's no buses). On the way back, I would be in more of a rush so I'm thinking of bussing it from Kampala, through Kenya to Moyale and then on up to Addis Ababa from there. Do you have any advice about that plan? I would consider flying on the way back if it was less than £50 but any flights I've looked at have been over £200.

Do you know anything about getting local guides? I don't want to go through a company if possible - I'd prefer to go with individuals who know the land from being on it (if these people exist!) and I'd be happy to do the safer parts without a guide (my biggest fear is attracting attention from people who'll want to steal my money/stuff and will be willing to hurt me to get it - especially as I'll be camping most of the time). From previous experiences in other countries, guides are the best way to prevent that sort of stuff from happening - but maybe I'm wrong?

Also, how useful is it to have American Dollars and British Pounds? I'm from the UK so I could bring a fair amount in pounds if I thought it would be more useful or even as useful as Birr.

There's a pile of other things that I want to ask about but lets start here and see where it takes us.

Thanks in advance,

Darragh

Hi.
I just can tell you about the ugandan leg of your trip. We found easy to find private drivers to go from point a to b, but not cheap at all. Public transport do carry you from one point to another, but we did it three times, and then we decided to pay drivers. It was VERY UNSAFE and most of the time uncomfortable...but an interesting experience. I don´t know if you will be able to go from Kampala to Adis Ababa for less than 200 pounds...gas is as expensive as in Spain(1.05 euros per litre, in Spain it is 1.22) and I think it is the same all over the continent.

I recall that there was an air company in Kampala advertising cheap flights to other capital cities in Africa, so you may be lucky.

Pounds and euros were widely acepted in any bank, and they always show the exchange rate at the door, so your pounds will be perfect in Uganda. You may use your credit cards to get cash at the atm, but don´t expect to pay anything with credit cards outside main malls in Kampala.

Good luck, have fun. Your trip sounds great.

I would recommend Kennedy Nari who is a long time tour guide in Congo and around Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda area and is tour coordinator for his own company Hakuna Matata tours - he was recommended by VTer Dao who is very well travelled around AFrica - check out his VT page and Ive since been in contact with Kennedy - whether someone becomes an agency or turns his skills into his own company does not reduce their skill and ability to be a local guide

he would im sure be happy to provide you with information to get around between these countries.

Also flights once you get into each country are available and cheaper - eg Ethiopia air has its own flight passes to get around that is not made known on its website and can only find out by going into its agency - a friend of mine who is Ghanaian and Nigerian has said the same on her recent trip back home she got cheap flights by getting them within the country whereas prices that we get to know about on the commmercial market are huge.

So Im sure you will eventually hear from locals in the know. but do contact Kennedy - he has joined VT but check on Daos VT pages on the Congo or Rwanda for his tips on Kennedy for hime via VT. otherwise look for him on facebook and contact him that way.

all the best - i will keep an eye out for the info you get as its what i want to know as well! thanks!

check out Vters Dao and kennedyrw

if crime and safety issues are important to you, I´d advise you to change your route and avoid the Turkana area - the region is notorious as bandit and cattle raid country (tourists being even better than cattle, moneywise) and the drought of the past months has only increased the problem. If travelling south from Ethiopia, take the Moyale - Isiolo - Nanyuki route to Nairobi rather. There are security issues in the border region as well, and the roads are very very bad, so make sure you only go with a bus/car that joins a convoi and look technically fit enough to make the trip.

While you´d miss Lake Turkana this way, you should definitely stop to stay in Samburu/Buffalo Springs/Shaba Hills - wildlife there is great, as is the scenery. If you are into hiking, you might climb Mount Kenya, or just hike in the park - Naro Moru is a good place to join other climbers to cut costs.

From Nairobi the cheapest way to get to Kampala would be a bus company like Akamba.

you´ll need cash in Ethiopia especially as ATMs in rural areas are not particularly well spread. You´ll find Barcley´s and other ATMs you can use in places like Nanyuki, and other medium towns in Kenya, and of course in the big places.

as for flights, forget about something available for 50 pounds - East Africa is not a cheap place to travel compared to SE Asia, eg