"A quick visit to Ethiopia's capital city" Addis Ababa by angiebabe

Addis Ababa Travel Guide: 378 reviews and 1,112 photos

Airport Transit

this was our first introduction to Ethiopia and mid Africa having landed here in the early hours of the morning from London on our way to Burundi - we had a few hours until our connecting plane, which went via Kilgali in Rwanda, to get excited over the big advertising signs and photos of Ethiopia, and the shops that were full of very colourful and rather different items particularly Ethiopian.

and very nice coffee! - this was a nice forerunner of wonderful coffee experiences ahead - (after leaving the horrors of UK coffee!)

A night in Addis Ababa

Addis at night - with too many wild dogs about!

On our way back from our amazing week or so in Burundi, and more excellent views over Rwanda and Kilgali from our planes both on the way to Burundi and returning from Burundi, we had an overnight in a hotel in the city courtesy of Ethiopian Airlines because there were no connecting flights on the same day to take us on to London.

Getting caught up in the Africa way of doing things created a bit of a nightmare when experiencing the long wait that involved getting the transit visas and hotel vouchers that took approximately 2 and a half hours before we were on a bus leaving the airport!

But luckily the hotel that was provided was quite okay - unlike the couple sitting next to me the next day on our way to London who had said the hotel they were placed in courtesy of E.Airlines was another nightmare!

After about half an hour of negotiations for price to haggle his request for 100 us dollars for one and a half hours, with a taxi driver for 4 of us in his 4 seater 'car' he was adamant that he could fit 5 passengers - of which it was eventually proved to be totally impossible - and the 3 of us in the backseat rather uncomfortable not only with the squashing of hips but also the lack of suspension and the fight for fresh air from the aroma of pure exhaust along with the frequent pain when trying to use the window winder.

I dont really think he was a particularly knowledgeable person - and we didnt really get to see a lot - it was dark of course being an almost midnight tour! - but it was a chance to see something of Addis Ababa and we did get to see the life of the place at night - that many people live on the streets! - we saw even whole families huddling up on concrete outside shop fronts and a church we stopped at - in addition to a 4x4 load of automatic rifled policemen jump out and hassle our driver! there were about 10 people along the dirt front of the church under whatever they were under to spend the night on the dirt.

There were also a lot of dogs seen running around and several that came running barking wildly at our taxi!

along the road on Tues morning

Last visit to Addis Ababa: Apr 2009
Intro Updated Sep 7, 2009
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Reviews (1)

Ethiopian art on the walls at Ararat hotel - Addis Ababa

courtesy of Ethiopian Airlines Hotels (1)

The service was pretty good really - the staff were friendly enough and helpful to the degree of which they could... more travel advice

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Travelogues (2)

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Comments (9)

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DAO Aug 1, 2012 at 12:21 PM

I hope you get to stay longer next time. I think you will like Ethiopia.
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  angiebabe Jan 28, 2013 at 11:48 AM
  
  Hi thanks Dao...I had intended to stop off and see Ethiopia on the way back from Burundi but it was a missions trip and the leader did not want to have anything go wrong to put a damper on our amazing time in Burundi so had to finish the trip in London with the group....so next time will be to see Ethiopia as the objective! dont know when Im going to fit it in but Im looking forward to it!
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  angiebabe Jan 28, 2013 at 11:48 AM
  
  Hi thanks Dao...I had intended to stop off and see Ethiopia on the way back from Burundi but it was a missions trip and the leader did not want to have anything go wrong to put a damper on our amazing time in Burundi so had to finish the trip in London with the group....so next time will be to see Ethiopia as the objective! dont know when Im going to fit it in but Im looking forward to it!
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Nemorino Oct 18, 2011 at 8:34 AM

Interesting photos in your two travelogues of people by the roadside on a Tuesday morning.
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mtncorg Jul 12, 2011 at 6:03 PM

Just think what you could see with a proper layover ;-]
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tiabunna Sep 5, 2010 at 6:59 AM

An interesting 'stopover' and chance to view the local lifestyle. Hadn't realised that you're another coffee enthusiast. :)
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  angiebabe Jan 28, 2013 at 11:49 AM
  
  One of the highlights of escaping London and being in MOrocco was the fantastic coffee in MOrocco and having a break from the gross coffee in London - Ive since sussed out which coffee to buy in London and am happy with great coffee in both places these days lol!
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gilabrand Nov 10, 2009 at 4:50 AM

Ararat hotel - hmmm..Isn't that supposed to be the mountain where Noah's ark landed?
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volopolo Sep 10, 2009 at 10:53 AM

Comming back to see more tips
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balhannah Jun 26, 2009 at 5:13 AM

Sounds like you have some stories to tell. Have heard and seen on TV that Ethiopia is quite pretty.
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lynnehamman May 5, 2009 at 2:21 AM

There is time- then there is Africa time. The hotel looks quite unusual (design) . Pictures are as usual excellent.
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Herwig1961 Apr 28, 2009 at 1:44 AM

Glad that you got a glimpse of Addis!Greetings