Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Heading about halfway along Bole Rd will cost around US$20 and to Piazza around
US$35. A taxi association has a booth at the airport's exit. Taxi drivers belonging to this
association have yellow taxis and it's probably safer to use these so as to avoid being
overcharged by a random taxi in the chaos outside.
Bus
Buses in Addis Ababa are considered poor man's transport. They're cheap but slow, run
less regularly than the minibuses and are notoriously targeted by pickpockets. The
minibuses are a much better bet.
Car
Parking isn't usually too much of a problem in Addis Ababa. Most of the larger hotels and
restaurants have guarded parking spaces and don't usually mind you leaving your car
there. In other places, it's worth paying for a guard.
Anywhere you park on the street a 'parking warden' (we're not sure how genuine they
are) appears and leaves a little note on your windscreen noting the time of arrival and they
then charge you based on that (per hour Birr0.50).
Minibus
Addis Ababa is served by an extensive network of little blue-and-white minibuses, which
are fast, efficient, cheap and a great way of getting around.
Minibuses operate from 5.30am to around 9pm (till 8pm Sunday). Journeys cost
roughly Birr1.30 (though exact prices depend on the distance).
Minibus stops can be found near almost every major intersection. Major ones include
Arat Kilo, De Gaulle Sq in Piazza, Meskal Sq, Ras Mekonen Ave near La Gare and in
front of the main post office on Churchill Ave.
To catch the right minibus, listen to the destinations screamed by the
woyala
(attend-
ants) hanging out the windows. 'Bole!', 'Piazza!' and 'Arat Kilo!' are the most useful to
travellers. If confused, ask and someone will point you in the right direction.
Taxi
Most taxis operate from 6am to 11pm. Short journeys (up to 3km) usually cost foreigners
Birr40 to Birr50 (more at night). Medium/long journeys cost Birr80/100. If you share a
taxi, the normal fare is split between each person.
