Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reservations
»Tickets for most long-distance journeys (over 250km) can usually be bought in advance.
If you can, do: it guarantees a seat (though not a specific seat number on private buses)
and cuts out the touts who sometimes snap up the remaining tickets to resell for double
the price to latecomers. Most government ticket offices are open daily from 5.30am to
5.30pm. For short distances (less than 250km), tickets can usually only be bought on the
day. For Sky and Selam buses, tickets should be booked as far ahead as possible (a week
is a good idea).
»If you would like a whiff of fresh air on your journey, get a seat behind the driver as he
tends to buck the Ethiopian trend of keeping windows firmly closed and keeps his win-
dow cracked open. Though on the flip side, if there's an accident these are often the worst
seats to be in!
Car & Motorcycle
Bringing Your Own Vehicle
If you're bringing your own 4WD or motorcycle, you'll need a
carnet de passage
(a guar-
antee issued by your own national motoring association that you won't sell your vehicle in
the country you are travelling), the vehicle's registration papers and proof of third-party
insurance that covers Ethiopia.
Driving Licence
Tourists are allowed three months of using their international driving licence, after which
you need an Ethiopian one.
This is rarely enforced and most overlanders we met hadn't bothered with the convo-
luted process of obtaining an Ethiopian licence and had yet to encounter any problems -
roll the dice if you so please.
Fuel & Spare Parts
»Fuel (both petrol and diesel) is quite widely available, apart from the more remote re-
gions such as the southwest. Unleaded petrol is not available. Diesel costs from around
Birr16.91 per litre, while petrol (called Benzene in Ethiopia) costs around Birr18.78 per
litre. These are Addis prices, so expect to pay a little more in more remote areas. Note that
