Ethiopia Travel TIPS
 

Ethiopia may feel like a different world to you when you arrive.  It is easy to become critical of the differences. Every country has its own problems, but you will gain so much more from the experience if you remain open and flexible.

We really think this is unnecessary, but we have been asked by families who have recently traveled to Ethiopia to remind our families the importance of being polite and respectful when traveling to Ethiopia. Your behavior is a reflection upon your agency (Children's Hope International), your country and most importantly, yourself.

TIME DIFFERENCE

For convenience, you may want to wear two watches. Keep one on your home town time and adjust the other to the actual time. Ethiopia is 9 hours ahead of Central Standard Time and 8 hours ahead during Central Daylight Savings Time.

WATER

DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER.  Drink only boiled or bottled water.  DO NOT USE THE TAP WATER TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH.  You may want to place a washcloth over the water faucet as a reminder.

ELECTRICITY

In Ethiopia 220 volts AC, 50 HZ is standard.  If you take an appliance, take a universal mode or a voltage converter.  Ethiopia has its own type of socket.  Take an adapter.

PHONE CALLS / E-MAILS / INTERNET

You may want to set up a "portable-free" email account (Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) from your home computer before you leave. Before you leave enter the email addresses of the people to whom you want to correspond in your account's address book. You will then be able to choose those addresses from the address-book "pick list" anywhere in the world. Internet service is available in the business centers at the hotels and at the House of Hope and many cities have internet bars. BE AWARE THAT CONNECTIONS ARE VERY SLOW AND UNRELIABLE.

You might want to create a ?Blog? website to share news and photos with family and friends. Phone calls from Ethiopia to the U.S. are expensive (around $3 per minute, plus a luxury tax surcharge if you are calling from hotels).  Check before leaving home about purchasing a special international calling card (you will still pay a fee if calling from a hotel and not all U.S. calling cards work in Ethiopia). Most hotels have business centers where they will give you internet access for an hourly fee. The Ghion has a business center which charges per minute for an internet connection, but the connection is quite slow.  Calling cards can be purchased in Ethiopia as well, and are generally more reliable then those that you might purchase in the states.

When calling back to the U.S. dial:  00 + 1 + area code + number

METRIC CONVERSIONS

Centimeters to inches -  centimeters divided by 2.5 = inches
Kilograms to pounds - kilograms multiplied by 2.2 = pounds

AIRLINE INFORMATION

Please allow enough time to check in for your international flight.  Refer to the information sent to you by the international travel agency. 

If you are prone to motion sickness, ask for a seat over the wheel or wings.  The tail section gets the bumps.  Keep air vents pointed toward your face.  Relax.  Ask your physician about anti-nausea medication.

LUGGAGE

Most items that are absolutely essential (clothing, shoes for children and adults, baby formula, bottles/nipples, diapers, snacks, candy, toys, etc.) are somewhat available in Ethiopia, although they require a trip to the market are not easily obtainable. Medicines and personal items are less easy to find (and may not be the same as those you are used to in the U.S.) We suggest the following: (With thanks to our friends at CHSFM for this list and suggestions)

Adult Clothing/Supplies: Women MUST NOT wear shorts in public because Ethiopia is too conservative for such attire. Slacks are preferred for men. Short-sleeved shirts are no problem when paired with slacks or skirts with conservative hems. You may want one or more long-sleeved shirts for cool airplane rides, to protect against mosquitoes in the evening, or to guard against sunburn if you will be out for long periods during the day. Think about keeping cool, with cotton and other fabrics that breathe. You may need a sweater or light jacket for evenings; layering is also recommended.

You may do a lot of walking on uneven or non-smooth surfaces, so try to be comfortable. Please leave all extra and expensive jewelry at home; you are an easy target otherwise. You won't necessarily be harmed physically but you will have many eyes watching. Be cautious when paying for items; do not convert too much US currency in advance. Your US money will not necessarily be the ?target? however birr are very much in demand.

If you are staying in a hotel with a pool, you may want to bring a bathing suit to cool off. Don't forget your socks, sandals, tennis shoes and sunglasses/sun hats to protect against the Ethiopian sun. If you are going during the rainy season, be sure to bring an umbrella. It will be necessary to bring something nice to wear for the meeting with the U.S. Embassy; however, other than that it isn't necessary to bring any other dress shoes/clothes, unless you plan some formal occasion while you are there.   You'll need as much room in your luggage as possible for your child's things or take a small backpack (depending on your child's age) for him/her to carry.

Adult Toiletries/Medical Packing List

Soap, shampoo, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, vitamins, razors, Kleenex, brush/comb, sunscreen, moisturizer, band-aids, deodorant, tampons and/or sanitary pads, insect repellent, first aid kit, toilet paper, Tylenol, Advil, Pepto-Bismol, acidophilus tablets/capsules (for healthy balance of intestinal flora, helps to ward off diarrhea ? usually available at health food stores, etc.), decongestant tablets, antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrhea medicine, anti-diarrhea antibiotic (must be prescribed), antiseptic wipes and/or liquid antibacterial hand wash that doesn't require water (useful in toilets that don't have sinks or towels), any prescription drugs that you take, an extra pair of glasses.

Baby/Child Clothing/Supplies: Disposable diapers/pull-ups, baby wipes, waterproof lap pad, baby clothes (remember some things for hot weather, as well as sleepers, socks, sweater and socks/booties for plane rides or air-conditioned hotel rooms), sun hat, burp cloths, bibs, receiving blanket, pacifier, ?Snuggli? front pack or stroller, baby toys (soft teething ring, rattles, soft stuffed toys, board books). If you need to convert European shoe sizes to US, here is a good link: http://www.ptoes.com/sizes/default.htm.

Baby Food & Supplies: Bottles with inserts (easier to keep clean on the go) and a packet of silicone nipples (not the "nuk" shaped nipples), soy infant formula to be exchanged for the formula your child is on, rice cereal and/or baby food, plastic bowls and utensils. Make sure to keep a bottle of sanitized water handy with you to make safe formula whenever needed. Bring a bottle with you, as airlines are sometimes reluctant to provide a bottle of water on the plane. Bananas - a baby favorite - are usually readily available at the hotel's breakfast buffet or at the market. Please note that the children are on a milk-based formula similar to Similac or Enfamil called Bebelac or Nan (in both regular and lactose free) but occasionally babies need soy formula that is not readily available in Ethiopia. We recommend purchasing baby formula in country for your baby and not switching formula until your pediatrician has given you the o.k.

Child's Toiletries/Medical: Baby thermometer (there are thermometer pacifiers also), toothbrush, comb, washcloth, baby powder, baby soap and shampoo (mild), baby lotion, baby sunscreen, baby insect repellent, baby liquid Tylenol, baby cough syrup, diapers or pull-ups (plan on 10 per day and then bring extras), diaper rash cream, waterproof changing pad and  Elimite (prescription for scabies).

Other: Pens and notebook, small laundry soap, camera and film, video camera and videotapes, snacks (pretzels and dried fruit-items that don't melt in the heat), books and guide books, games, puzzles, alarm clock, Ziploc and/or plastic bags for dirty laundry (very handy) business cards, journal, calculator, umbrella, Walkman and tapes or CD's, diaper and/or baby bag, money belts, waist or fanny packs, extra bag to carry home souvenirs.

LUGGAGE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS

US Domestic and international flights allow two (2) checked bags per person up to 50 pounds per bag, and one carry-on bag per person (no larger than 14"x9"x22").  For any recent changes, please check with your airline carrier.

WEATHER

The best time to visit the highlands (Addis Ababa) is October-June. From July-September, it's hotter by about 10 F/5 C and can rain in strong (though infrequent) downpours (called "the big rains"). Around Addis, it can also rain a bit February-June ("the little rains"). Temperatures range 77-59 F/25-15 C. Because of the elevation of most of the country, it's advisable to bring a sweater year-round. Be sure to check the weather forecast on line before you travel. We recommend checking the Ethiopia weather forecasts online before you travel:  www.weather.com

VIEW MORE TIPS IN YOUR ETHIOPIA TRAVEL GUIDE