Obtaining a Visa

A visa is required to enter the country. Some tourist visas can be issued on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport for Foreign nationals coming from countries where there is no Ethiopian mission; for Foreign nationals coming from and who are permanent residents in any of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA.

If applying for a tourist visa on arrival, visitors will require two passport photographs and US$20; application can take up to two hours.

Various visa costs are: Tourist: £14 (single-entry, one month); £22 (multiple-entry, three months); £30 (multiple-entry, six months). Business: £14 (single-entry, one month); £22 (multiple-entry, three months); £36 (multiple-entry, six months); £72 (multiple-entry, one year). Transit: £14 (single-entry); £22 (double-entry).

Housing

Addis Ababa has hotels that cater to all budgets, from the luxurious Sheraton and Hilton hotels to the tourist class hotels. All tourist resorts offer a choice of modern hotels.

Hotels http://www.tourismethiopia.org/pages/reservations.asp

Homes and hotels: http://www.ezega.com/RealEstate/

Health

Prior to entry, visitors should be in possession of a valid health certificate for yellow fever. Vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia.

Health facilities are extremely limited in Addis Ababa and inadequate outside the city. Travellers should bring their own prescription drugs accompanied by a doctor's note. The high altitude and low oxygen level of much of Ethiopia need time to be acclimatized to.

Example of student Insurance offered: http://www.studyabroad.com/pages/sitecontent/marketplace_insurance.aspx

Money

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. They are difficult to exchange outside the capital.

Transportation

Roads: There are some 4,100 kilometers of asphalt roads with a further 19,000 kilometers of gravel and dry-weather roads. Railway: A 778 kilometers railway line links Addis Ababa with Djibouti, and carries both freight and passengers.

Taxis are available in cities and major towns. These include the blue-and-white mini buses, pickups with a closed Canopy or Saloon Cars. They normally operate on a fixed rate and standard route. Personalized and specific trips should be negotiated with the driver in advance. In the Capital, there are Luxury Mercedes Benz taxis operated by National Tour Operation (NTO). They are stationed outside major hotels and at the airport. They also do not have meters. In addition, there are yellow taxis stationed at the airport for special hire which necessitates a prior negotiation with the driver for the price.