Ethiopia Transportation Tips by frockland

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: To travel in Ethiopia means to travel with a lot of time, except you will use Ethiopian Airways. It’s the oldest African Airline and they have a good network that covers all the main place of interest. Tickets are not expensive and the safety standards are good. Overbooking is not uncommon, better check twice instead of relying on your ticket.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Probably most people travel at least once by bus, which is an experience by it self. Busses always leave early in the morning sometimes as early as 5 am. There are no busses driving through the night. The luggage is stored on the roof and somebody will ask to get paid for the service of carrying it up there. Tickets are usually cheap!

For some reason the Ethiopians are paranoiac in closing the windows. `Immediately after the bus departs all windows are closed and fellow passengers will be very reluctant to open them. Even if half the passengers are graphically suffering from motion sickness, merely cracking open your window will cause pandemonium in the rows behind you! And do you want to know why? Health. Health! Its beyond me why a nation that cheerfully tolerates pissing and ***ting in the middle of the streets should be terrified of a bit of fresh air, but that’s Ethiopia!(Bradt Guidt 3rd)

Its true! There is saw dust spread out on the floor of the busses to soak up the vomit! Often the drivers have plastic bags handy.

The seats are very narrow and not comfortable. The positive thing about public transport is that by law every passenger needs to be seated. In most of the busses the seats 1 – 6 are the best! Don´t think about stretching out your legs!Whenever buy a ticket insist on a seat number!*

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Mini busses either go on certain routes in the cities or cover shorter overland routes than busses do. They are faster with fixed rates (which are probably higher for Faranjis!)

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: In the bigger cities there are taxis available. Check about the price before getting into the cab and check if the given price is per person or per cab! Generally you should bargain!

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Hitchhiking is an option but not easy because not too many people speak English and often you need someone to translate. But guess what: This guy might realise the situation and become a brocker and will ask for a commission for his service.

Truckers employed by the government owned companies are not allowed to take passengers. If they do and they will be stopped by the police they risk getting fined (40 Birr).

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