Is it safeCan you visit Lalibela right now?
No, not at the moment. As of 28 September 2026 there are reports of fighting near Lalibela, flights to the town were suspended on 24 September, the UK advises against all travel to Amhara region, and the US says do not travel there for any reason. Postpone rather than cancel, and see Ethiopian Orthodox church life in Addis Ababa in the meantime.
Updated Sept 2026 · 7 min
What to expectDoes Ethiopia shut down the internet? How to stay connected as a traveller
Yes. Ethiopia has repeatedly cut internet access, usually in specific regions during conflict or unrest: Tigray was largely cut off during the 2020–2022 war, most cities in Amhara lost mobile internet from August 2023 until July 2024, and major social media platforms were blocked nationwide from February to July 2023. On 25 September 2026 the monitor NetBlocks confirmed a new disruption in Tigray as fighting resumed; reports did not describe Addis Ababa as cut off. The UK government warns that networks may be closed with no notice, so plan to cope offline.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
Is it safeCan you visit Bahir Dar, Gondar or the Simien Mountains right now?
No, not as of 28 September 2026. Bahir Dar, Gondar and the Simien Mountains are all in Amhara region, where the UK advises against all travel, the US says Do Not Travel, and Canada says avoid all travel. Fighting spread into Amhara in late September and Lalibela flights were suspended on 24 September. We found no reports of Bahir Dar or Gondar flights being suspended, but the UK warns northern flights can stop at short notice, and flights running doesn't change the advice.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
Is it safeIs it safe to visit the Danakil Depression right now?
No, not as of 28 September 2026. The US Embassy tells US citizens not to travel to the Afar region for any reason, Canada says avoid all travel to Afar, and the UK advises against all travel near the Eritrean border and the Tigray boundary and against all but essential travel to the rest of Afar. The usual gateways are also closed to visitors: civilian flights to Tigray, including Mekelle, are suspended, and the UK says foreign nationals currently cannot travel to airports in Afar.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min