Important Information Before Your Arrival in Ethiopia

Please find below some important information you should be familiar with, before your arrival to Ethiopia. For more detailed information, you may download the Welcome to Addis Information Booklet or ask a printed version at the ECCO office upon arrival. Please note that although we do our best to maintain the quality and validity of the information on this Web page, there are instances where some addresses and phone numbers could be changed between updates.

We kindly request all our customers to fill the ECCO Service Quality Evaluation form, in order to help us improve our service. To access the form please click here.

Visa Requirements

Visas are required for all visitors to Ethiopia. If you are arriving from Canada they should be obtained from the Ethiopian diplomatic mission in Toronto. Although not the best option, visas can also be obtained at the airport but we cannot confirm the cost which must be paid in US currency only.

Consulate of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

3080 Yonge Street,
Suite 5080 M4N 3N1
Toronto, Ontario
Tel.: 416-482-6637
Fax: 416-486-9175
Email: info@ethioconsulatecanada.com
Website: www.ethioconsulatecanada.com

•  Vaccinations for Ethiopia should be arranged prior to travel and should include tetanus, diphtheria, polio, meningitis, typhoid, hepatitis A&B, yellow fever, and others as recommended by your doctor.
  
•  Be sure to have a valid health certificate for yellow fever. Proof of immunization may be requested upon arrival at the airport.
  
•  A vaccination against cholera (or a note to the effect that it is contraindicated) is also required for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia. Proof of immunization (or contraindication) may be requested at the airport upon arrival.
  
• Malaria is not common in Addis Ababa because of the high altitude. However, if you are planning to go out of Addis, it is advisable to take precautions. You may want to consult a travel clinic before arrival. Remember that most prophylactics need to be taken 2 weeks before entering a malaria area.
  
• Some drugs are not available in Ethiopia. If you have any special needs, it is advisable to bring a supply with you. A supply of malaria prophylaxis is also recommended for travellers.
  
• Hand wipes and hand-sanitizing waterless agents are useful, since adequate hand washing facilities are not always available, especially outside of Addis.

Temperature and Clothing:

In Ethiopia, temperatures depend upon season and altitude. The temperature in Addis Ababa during the summer months varies from 15 to 25 degrees centigrade. During the rainy and winter months, the temperature can drop to near zero degree centigrade, especially in higher elevations. It is acceptable for woman to wear pants but, similar to many work environments, jeans are not recommended in a formal work setting. The following is advisable:

• A sweater or jacket.
• A rain jacket or umbrella.
• Comfortable long skirts or pants for travel.
• Sweater or pullover that can be removed when it warms up in the afternoon.
• A bathing suit; there are a number of heated pools.

Money matters

• It is suggested that you bring US Traveller's cheques or cash; old US$ bills (pre-1994) are not accepted.
• When exchanging traveller's cheques for birr, the bank will charge US $1 per $100. (You might not be able to change for US$) The exchange rate is approximately 1 $US = 16.6373 Birr (OANDA, April 2011). It is difficult to exchange money outside of Addis. Visa and Master Card are accepted in some of the higher standing hotels. American Express is also accepted in some of the most luxurious hotels.
• There are ATM terminals in several locations in Addis. When they work, cash withdrawals can be made from banking institutions using debit and credit cards. However, we recommend to use ATMs located in or near a bank, during bank working hours, in case of problems.
• It is possible to exchange money at the airport after Immigration, before going through Customs. The Bank booth is to the far left of the baggage collection area. Major hotel in Addis also have convenient money exchange facilities.

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Airport Customs & Immigration

• You may be asked to declare all foreign currency on the blue currency declaration form upon arrival at Bole International Airport.
• There is no restriction on the import of foreign currency into Ethiopia. There are, however, tightly controlled export rules.
• When you change money, you are strongly advised to keep the exchange forms in case you want to change money back into US$ upon leaving, although we cannot guarantee that it will be possible.
• If you are carrying a laptop computer, video cameras or other electronic equipment, Customs may register it in your passport upon arrival. This is a simple procedure. Upon departure, Customs will check to see that you are leaving the country with the same equipment registered upon arrival

Communication matters

• The mobile telephone system in Ethiopia is GSM. If your SIM card is from a GSM operator, roaming will work but the cost is very high. It is best to use a local SIM card from the government operated telephone network ETC.
• Internet connectivity is possible in most hotels. Some of them have free Wi-Fi. It is also possible to buy CDMA from the ETC. Do not expect the speed of fast internet.
  

Airport Pickup

• Access to the airport Arrival Terminal is restricted.
• Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, you should exit the secure area, where an ECCO driver will be waiting.
• The ECCO driver will be holding a sign with your name and a red maple leaf on it.

Electricity

Ethiopia uses 220 volts 50 cycles AC. Regular outlets have two round prongs, similar to those used in France and England. The electricity frequently goes off, and power surges are common. If you are bringing a laptop, you may wish to bring an adapter and a small surge protector. Most laptops are designed for 110 and 220 volts; if in doubt, ask your local computer store.

Contact numbers and addresses

Telephone numbers:

Ethiopia's country code is 251

ECCO: +251 11 371 5600
Hilton: +251 11 517 0000
Sheraton: +251 11 517-1717