Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING THERE & AWAY
The vast majority of travellers arrive in Ethiopia by air at Addis Ababa, but for those with
time and a spirit of adventure it's possible to enter Ethiopia overland via Sudan, Kenya,
Djibouti and even Somaliland. There are no land or air links between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Borders with South Sudan and the rest of Somalia are either closed and/or dangerous.
Flights, tours and rail tickets can be booked at
www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings
.
Entering Ethiopia
Entering Ethiopia by air is painless, even if you have to pick up your visa upon arrival at
Bole International Airport. Visa and document information is found on
Click here
.
Ethiopian border officials at land crossings are more strict. You
must
have a valid visa to
enter overland as none are available at borders. Those entering with vehicles should have
all the necessary paperwork (see the box,
Click here
) and expect a lengthier process.
Air
Airports & Airlines
Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport is the only international airport in Ethiopia. Al-
though modern, upon arrival there's little more than a 24-hour bank, a restaurant and a few
cafes; baggage carts are free. When departing, there's an internet lounge, a bar and duty-
free shops.
Ethiopia's only international and national carrier,
Ethiopian Airlines
(airline code ET;
www.flyethiopian.com
)
, is rated as one of the best airlines in Africa and has a good safety
record. Ethiopian Airlines is also one of the largest African carriers, with a modern fleet of
737s, 757s, 767s and four 787 Dreamliners (with eight more on order). There are 50 or so
offices worldwide, which sell both international and domestic tickets directly. Alternatively
the website is safe and reliable for online bookings.
If you want to fly with a European airline such as Luthansa or KLM, double-check that
you will actually be on one of their planes and not on an Ethiopian Airlines plane. They
route share and commonly bundle their passengers onto Ethiopian Airlines and then kindly
charge you more than you'd have paid if you'd bought directly with Ethiopian Airlines.
