Ethiopia

From ancient ruins and temples to monolithic churches and fairytale-like castles, Ethiopia is a treasure trove of unique historical, natural and cultural gems, just waiting to be explored. Ethiopia boasts no less than nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites - including the sacred rock churches of Lalibela and the magnificent Simien Mountain National Park, and is home to the fascinating tribes of the Omo Valley.

Climate

Being close to the equator, there is almost a constant twelve hours of daylight. In addis Ababa, on average the sunrise and sunset occour at c. 0630 and 1845.

October and November are wonderful months to travel as the countryside is green with lots of wildflowers in bloom. 
December to May are driver months, offering great visibility for photographing landscapes - especially mountains.
Harvesting takes place in December and January when landscapes become barer.
Average temperatures from September to June is 20 - 28 deg C

Temperatures vary from the mountainous North to the Omo Valley in the south. The hottest months are:
Greater Ethiopia - April, May & June
Southern Ethiopia - July & August

Dry Season
Greater Ethiopia - September - May
Southern Ethiopia - June - February
July & August are excellent for vising the south whilst its wet in the north

Wet Season
Greater Ethiopia - June - Mid September
Southern Ethiopia - September - May
Short rains in. Omo Valley from March - May

Ethiopia COVID Protocols Ethiopia COVID Protocols

Ethiopia COVID-19 Travel Protocols

Updated: 05 September 2022

Pre-Departure Requirements

  • Fully Vaccinated travellers or travellers with a valid COVID 19 recovery certificate no longer require a PCR / Antigen RDT test prior to travel
  • All other travellers aged 12 and over are required to take a PCR test 72 hours before departure or a Antigen RDT Test 24 hours before arrival
  • Children under 12 years are exempt from these regulations

On Arrival

  • Transit Passengers: Passengers in transit DO NOT need to show a COVID-19 -ve certificate but will be screened on arrival. Max transit time of 72 hrs. If your flight transfer is LESS than 24 hrs you can remain in the airport. For transits over 24 hrs, you will be taken to a designated hotel for the duration of your stay.

On Departure

  •  Dependent on airline / transit point / final destination

Useful links and documents

Ethiopian Airlines COVID-19 and Country protocols