Ethiopia Travel Forum

Hi there!
I’m planning a solo, month-long trip to Ethiopia, trying to see as much as possible! No concrete plans, yet…
It has to depend on costs…
I read in various postings, very contradicting prices for similar (?) tours.
Trying to make it in a rather budget cost (maybe 20-30 euro/day without package, and if doable, 10 e more for tour packages?).
I wonder first, which places of the country worths to visit by public transport (and do some day-trips around) so to manage some good sightseeing without package tours there...
besides that, it seems that it is necessary to book tours (eg for Omo) but the costs vary big money.
Maybe for some agencies, it is because of higher level of service, but for others, could they also be inflated prices for 'dummy tourists'?
It would be great if it was enough to spend a couple of days in Addis Ababa and manage to book good value tours. Do you think this is the case?
Or maybe needs more time for in depth research...?
Any recommendations, experiences, costs, would help a lot guys!
Many thanks!
Nikolas

Hi Nikolas
I would recommend that DAO's pages on Ethiopia are a good place to start.
I began to reserach Ethiopia last year as we were hoping to visit (but had to postpone our trip as we bought a house instead). My initial reaction is that your proposed budget is pretty tight, but perhaps we just have different modes of travel?
Good luck!
Regards
Cathy

Cathy thanks for your info !!
certainly, each one has his/her own style of travel and level of comforts!
From searching until now, I get the notion, that my budget could work for cities (for average quality and lower) and for public transport between them, but it is questionable for packages.
Searching web initially in general, about tours to Omo, Danakil, Simien, gave me travellers' reports or agencies prices, from around 30-40 usd up to 200 usd per day per person! (in shared car).
sometimes it gets complicated because they give seperate prices for gasoline, car rental etc, so I try to find how much it gets when you include everything.
maybe you have a more precise estimation from your previous searches, than me?
Or can you (and any vt member!), comment on this wide price range?
is it justifiable by different quality of service or it's just 'tourist price'?
Maybe if somebody books tours in cities closer to sites, instead of booking in Adis Ababa, it will be cheaper price / better service?
many thanks again!

Hi Nikolas
I think a lot of the confusion arises - as you correctly identify - from tour operators/guides not quoting on the same thing. So some will quote just for their services, others will quote for services + car hire (but without fuel), others may include accommodation ... no wonder we're confused!
This is the thread from a simiar query that I posted about a year ago:http://forum.virtualtourist.com/discussion-539872-1-1-Travel-0-0-Ethiopia-discussion.html
In this, DAO recommends a guide that he rates very highly, so perhaps follow up with him?
As you can see, our constraint was time, so we were unfortunately left with no option but to plan on flying between towns, which is obviously more expensive. In general, the rule of thumb for travelling in the developing world is that if you have limited time, then your transport component inevitably skyrockets, so if you had the time to use local transport such as buses between the various areas of interest, the transport cost would come down considerably. Unfortunately in our case it simply wasn't an option.
It's probably worth browsing through the other forum postings on Ethiopia just to see whether other have responded to previous posts with useful information.
Regards
Cathy

thank you very much Cathy!
I'll search more on these you mention,
If anybody has anything to add, I'll keep watching this thread, feel very welcome to post!
happy travels to all!

Hi,

Yes, my friend Solomon still organised cheap tours using local transport. He has been used by several folks from VT. Flynboxes Ethiopia pics are taken from his adventures travelling with Solomon. I also can recommend a good guide in Axum. Lalibela and Gonder have enclosed areas and the tour is in with teh entrance fee.
In Bahir Dar and Harer you can find a guide and agree a price through negotiation, although I still have the contact details for guides in both cities. Adventures in the Omo region and long distance travel is best with Solomon.

Hope that helps, please email me with any questions. Ethiopia is thankfully a relatively crime free country, some tour companies will happily charge whatever you are willing to pay. If you use individual guides and local transport - you are going to meet, share meals and experiences with real locals.

All the best,

DAO

Hi Niko,

in general, everything involving hiring a car is expensive. Trips to the OMO valley can be done by public transport (Konso, Jinka, in dry season maybe even to Turmi) but take time. A flight from Addis to Arba Minch in the South is cheaper than a private car (50-60 USD).
Danakil without private transport is simply impossible.
The north can be done by public transport, but distances between the places are long. Examples:
Addis Ababa - Arba Minch: 7-10 hours
Addis Ababa - Awassa: 4-6 hours
Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar: roughly one day/ 3/4 day
Addis Ababa - Harar: night bus (a normal bus)
Bahir Dar - Gondar: 4 hours by minibus
Gondar - Lalibela: 2 days in 2008, I do not know if that has changed (I decided that was to long and took a flight)
Gondar - Debark (Entry to Simien Mountains): ca. 4 hours

Doing the northern Christian part, the Danakil and Omo in 4 weeks is too stressful in my personal opionion and will require a lot of private transport. Public transport with the local can be fun though.
So may I suggest that you decide on which part of the country you really want to see most and arrange the rest accordingly (not easy, I know).

When are you planning to go? Maybe we can meet in Addis for a beer if I happen to be there.
Cheers Daniela

Daniela hi!!!
I'm very happy to hear from you again!
i had spotted you are ethiopian expert and was going to ask your help before going, but you sent first!
well, my plans are still evolving.
there was a terrible incident near Danakil with killings and abduction of tourists, and this has put me into second thoughts. Definately this area is not in my plans anymore and I consider about the rest, trying to make it to Omo as the biggest draw for me.
I'll work a little more things in my mind and I'll get back to you.
It would be definately great to have a beer in Addis!!!
If you are still there and have any updates on security situation, would be great to know!
All the very best Daniella!!!!!
Nikos

:-)

When do you plan to go to Ethiopia? Or will I meet you before in Bergamo? Are you coming to the Euromeet?

Wherever, looking forward to a nice beer with you!

Hotel Taitu is an unprofessionally/over-priced run dump. They threw me out after 1 even though I had reserved the room for 3 nights several months before. This was because a group showed up and they could get more money and probably a back-hander.

By the way my room - as advertised - was cold water only.

Shame it was the first hotel in Ethiopia. Hasn't changed a bit since.

I have a nice tip on this on my Addis page!

Niko,

about the security situation: To my knowledge (I was in Addis beginning of March) the situation remains as before in the highlands and the south. Some areas in Addis have become a litte eerie at night, compared to before, but compared with other African capitals it is still okay. Contact me when you know your dates and itinary and I will check again.