Safety
Honest, regularly updated answers on which routes and cities we drive and how we decide.
27 answers
Honest, regularly updated answers on which routes and cities we drive and how we decide.
27 answers
EthiopiaYes, but not the Big Five kind you find in Kenya or Tanzania. Ethiopia's wildlife is about animals that live nowhere else, such as the Ethiopian wolf, gelada, mountain nyala and Walia ibex, plus birds and big landscapes. The best park you can visit right now is Bale Mountains National Park, home to the largest population of Ethiopian wolves. Abijatta-Shalla on the road south and Nechisar near Arba Minch also work, while the Simien Mountains and Awash are not advised at the moment.
Updated Nov 2026 · 7 min
Is it safeNot at the moment. Wenchi (also spelled Wonchi) Crater Lake is about 150–155 km west of Addis Ababa, roughly two and a half to three and a half hours by road via Ambo or Woliso. As of 23 October 2026, official travel advice warns against travel to West and South West Shewa, the zones both roads cross. For a crater lake you can visit now, Bishoftu's lakes are about an hour from Addis on the expressway.
Updated Nov 2026 · 6 min
How longAdama, formerly Nazret, is about 90 km south-east of central Addis Ababa by road. On the Addis–Adama toll expressway the drive takes about 1 hour 15 minutes in light traffic, longer when leaving Addis at busy times. It is a warm, busy Rift Valley city, and the Sodere hot springs lie about 25 km beyond it. As of 23 October 2026, UK advice exempts the expressway itself, but US advice says not to travel to Oromia outside Bishoftu and Bale Mountains National Park, which includes Adama and Sodere.
Updated Nov 2026 · 6 min
Is it safeYes, for most women who travel with some care. Addis Ababa is stable and busy with ordinary life, and most crime against visitors is petty theft such as pickpocketing and bag snatching, not violence. What women alone do meet is attention and verbal harassment, more so outside the capital. Dress modestly, don't walk alone after dark, and use a pre-booked car from the airport and for evenings out.
Updated Oct 2026 · 7 min
Is it safeNot right now. Bahir Dar, Gondar and the Simien Mountains are in Amhara region, where official travel advice warns against all travel after fighting in the north escalated in late September 2026; as of 10 October that advice hasn't eased. Flights to Lalibela have been suspended since 24 September; Bahir Dar and Gondar flights were not reported suspended as of 10 October, but the advice applies either way. Addis Ababa, Bishoftu and Hawassa in the south are good alternatives in the meantime.
Updated Oct 2026 · 6 min
Is it safeYes, with planning. As of 10 October 2026, Harar itself and Dire Dawa are not under do-not-travel advice, and the easiest way in is an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa, then about 50 km by road up to Harar. That road crosses East Hararghe zone, which is on the US do-not-travel list, and the long road from Addis crosses areas under travel warnings, so fly rather than drive from Addis and check the latest advice before you book.
Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min
Is it safeNot at the moment. As of 10 October 2026, flights to Lalibela are still suspended (since 24 September, because of fighting nearby) with no restart date announced, and official travel advice warns against all travel to Amhara region, which includes Lalibela. Postpone rather than cancel: the rock-hewn churches will still be there. In the meantime you can see Ethiopian Orthodox church life in Addis Ababa, and Bishoftu and Hawassa make good alternatives.
Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min
Is it safePartly. As of 10 October 2026, Jinka and the Hamar country around Turmi in South Omo are not under do-not-travel advice, and Ethiopian Airlines serves Jinka from Addis Ababa. But official advice warns against travel near the Kenyan and South Sudanese borders (including Omorate and the Lake Turkana shore), to Konso and neighbouring zones on the usual road south from Arba Minch, and to Maji zone in South West Ethiopia Region. In January 2026 two tourists and their driver were killed in a robbery in Suri district, west of the Omo River. Go with a licensed local guide, check the latest advice, and plan the route carefully.
Updated Oct 2026 · 6 min
What to expectSometimes, usually in specific regions rather than nationwide. The latest disruption was in Tigray, confirmed on 25 September 2026 as fighting resumed there; one local outlet reported phone and internet back in Mekelle on 4 October, but much of Tigray was still described as disrupted, and Addis Ababa was not reported cut off (as of 10 October). Past examples include Tigray during the 2020–2022 war, mobile internet in most Amhara cities from August 2023 to July 2024, and a nationwide block on major social media platforms from February to July 2023. Cuts can come without notice, so keep tickets, bookings and maps saved offline.
Updated Oct 2026 · 7 min
What to expectEthiopian Airlines runs Ethiopia's scheduled domestic flights, from Terminal 1 at Addis Ababa Bole airport to about two dozen towns, including Dire Dawa, Hawassa and Arba Minch. Arrive at least an hour before a domestic departure, and keep economy cabin bags to 7 kg. As of 10 October 2026, flights to Axum, Shire and Lalibela in the north are suspended, and Ethiopian Airlines says Mekelle flights restart on 11 October.
Updated Oct 2026 · 7 min
Is it safeYes. Addis Ababa is safe for visitors: daily life carries on as normal and most trips are trouble-free. The conflict is in the north, in the Amhara (including Lalibela) and Tigray regions, where travel isn't advised right now. In Addis, the main things to watch are petty theft and scams, as in any big capital, so keep valuables out of sight and use a car after dark. Bishoftu, Hawassa and the south are open and good to visit.
Updated Oct 2026 · 6 min
Is it safeThe Danakil Depression, in Ethiopia's Afar region, is not a trip to plan right now: as of 10 October 2026, official travel advice warns against travel to Afar (and against all travel near the Eritrean border and the Tigray boundary), and foreign nationals cannot use airports in Afar. The restrictions are in the north. Addis Ababa and the south stay open, and Bishoftu's volcanic crater lakes, a short drive from Addis, make an easy alternative, with Hawassa's Rift Valley lake further south.
Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min
Is it safeThe easiest day trip from Addis Ababa right now is Bishoftu (Debre Zeit), a crater-lake resort town roughly 50 km south-east on the Addis–Adama expressway. Inside the city, Entoto, the National Museum, Unity Park and Merkato make good full-day outings, and Hawassa, on a Rift Valley lake to the south, is an easy trip of a night or two by the main road. Some classic day trips, such as Debre Libanos in North Shewa, are in areas where official advice currently warns against travel (checked 10 October 2026).
Updated Oct 2026 · 6 min
CompareAs of October 2026, the easiest way to get around Ethiopia is to fly Ethiopian Airlines for long distances and use a car with a driver on the road. Uber doesn't operate in Ethiopia; in Addis Ababa, local apps (RIDE, Feres, Yango) work for short trips. Long-distance coaches are cheap but leave at dawn and don't run after dark, self-drive is rare, and travel to the north (Amhara, Tigray) isn't advised right now.
Updated Oct 2026 · 8 min
Is it safeYes for most of the places visitors go, as long as you choose your regions. As of 10 October 2026, Addis Ababa is calm and busy with ordinary life, and Bishoftu, the Rift Valley lakes, Hawassa and Arba Minch are open; we drive these roads regularly, by day. Travel isn't advised right now to the north (Amhara, including Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar and the Simien Mountains; Tigray; and Afar, including the Danakil) or to border areas. In the cities, the everyday risks are petty theft and being out on foot after dark.
Updated Oct 2026 · 8 min
What to expectEntoto Park (Entoto Natural Park) is a large forested park on Mount Entoto, on the northern edge of Addis Ababa, opened on 10 October 2020. You can walk forest trails, enjoy views over the city and pay separately for activities such as horse riding, archery, a zipline and rope courses. Entoto Maryam Church, where Menelik II was crowned in 1889, is nearby. Most visitors go by car and spend two to four hours; bring ID, some cash and a warm layer, and visit in daylight with company.
Updated Oct 2026 · 8 min
Bole airportYes. Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa is a busy, modern hub with security checks at the terminal entrance, and serious trouble inside is rare. The real risks are small ones: pickpockets and bag-snatchers around the terminal, unofficial drivers, overcharged fares and street money changers. Get an eVisa before you fly, change money only at the banks in the arrivals hall, and use transport arranged in advance, especially if you land at night.
Updated Oct 2026 · 7 min
Is it safeYes. Official travel advice does not say tourists are targeted because of their race, and most visitors find Ethiopians warm and curious. White, Asian and other visibly foreign travellers mainly deal with attention, children calling out "ferenji" (foreigner), higher "foreigner prices" and pickpocketing in crowded places. As of 8 October 2026, official advice warns against travel to Amhara (including Lalibela), Tigray and other conflict areas; Addis Ababa and the south are open.
Updated Oct 2026 · 7 min
EthiopiaBook through a hotel, a licensed tour operator or a well-reviewed driver service, and get a written fixed quote that says whether fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's meals and lodging are included. Ask for the driver's name and number plate before the day, check every seat has a seatbelt, and avoid large prepayments to anyone you cannot verify. Plan long drives to arrive before dark, and check current travel advice: parts of the north, including Lalibela, are under 'all travel' warnings as of October 2026.
Updated Oct 2026 · 10 min
What to expectFor a night out in Addis Ababa, go for live music at Fendika, now performing at the Hyatt Regency hotel, or Ethio-jazz at the African Jazz Village in the Ghion Hotel; a traditional dinner-and-dance show at a cultural restaurant such as Yod Abyssinia in Bole; or the lounges and clubs around Bole, which fill up late, especially at weekends. The scene has shifted from small azmari bars towards DJs and newer music spaces. Petty theft rises after dark, so go door to door by car rather than walking.
Updated Oct 2026 · 6 min
Is it safeLong-distance buses are how many Ethiopians travel between cities. Coach companies such as Selam Bus and Golden Bus have fixed schedules and assigned seats and leave around dawn so they arrive before dark, while minibuses are more crowded and riskier. Official advice for visitors favours private transport from a reliable source over public buses, and for trips such as Addis to Bishoftu or Hawassa a whole car with a driver is the easier option.
Updated Sept 2026 · 5 min
CompareHire a private driver if you want transport on your own schedule: airport runs, days around Addis Ababa, or trips to places like Bishoftu and Hawassa, while you plan the sightseeing yourself. Choose a licensed tour company for trips that need guides, permits, escorts, camping or complicated logistics, such as multi-day treks. As of 28 September 2026, travel to Amhara, Tigray and Afar isn't advised, so whoever you book should follow official advice for every stage of your route. Ethiopia Driver is a private driver service in Addis Ababa.
Updated Sept 2026 · 8 min
EthiopiaBishoftu, the town once called Debre Zeit, is about 47 km south-east of Addis Ababa and is known for its volcanic crater lakes, including Hora, Bishoftu, Babogaya and Kuriftu, plus the seasonal Cheleklaka wetland. People come for lakeside lunches, birdwatching, short walks and resort weekends, and for Irreecha, the Oromo thanksgiving festival at Lake Hora, set for Sunday 4 October 2026. As of 28 September 2026 Bishoftu is an exception to the do-not-travel warnings for Oromia, and the expressway corridor from Addis to Bishoftu stays open.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
What to expectSometimes, for a short stay, but the licence rules are unclear: depending on your nationality, a foreign licence may be accepted for as little as two weeks, a licence plus an International Driving Permit for longer, or you may need an Ethiopian licence. Ethiopia drives on the right. Roads are shared with pedestrians and livestock, rural roads are often unlit, and it's best to travel outside cities in daylight, so most short-term visitors hire a car with a local driver instead.
Updated Sept 2026 · 7 min
EthiopiaYes, you can take photos in most of Ethiopia, but it is illegal to photograph military sites and personnel, police, government buildings, key infrastructure such as bridges, dams and airfields, and the area around the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa. Offenders can be fined, have equipment confiscated and be detained. Ask before photographing people or inside churches and mosques. Drones need prior approval to bring in and permission to fly, and can be confiscated on arrival.
Updated Sept 2026 · 7 min
What to expectMerkato is a huge open-air market district in Addis Ababa's Addis Ketema area, with around 7,100 businesses selling everything from spices and coffee to baskets and recycled metalwork. Visit on a weekday morning (Monday to Saturday), allow one to three hours, carry only a phone, a copy of your passport and small birr notes, keep your bag in front, and agree your drop-off and pickup points before you walk in.
Updated Sept 2026 · 7 min
Is it safeParts of Ethiopia are safe to travel by road and parts are not, and the honest answer changes month to month. The main southern routes from Addis Ababa (Bishoftu, Hawassa, Arba Minch, Langano) and the roads inside Addis are ones we drive every week. Some northern and western regions have restrictions or active problems, and there we recommend flying or waiting. Ask us about the specific route and date and we will tell you plainly what we would do.
Updated Sept 2026 · 3 min
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