Hospitalities and Facilities
Ethiopians are known for their hospitality; they are polite, considerate, deliberately empathic, apologetic, affectionately smiling, minding their manners, beautiful, and emotionally intelligent enough to bring together multiple perspectives. Their moral worth is incalculable.
Where to Stay
The hotel supply in Addis Ababa is growing quickly with an increasing number of properties offering international standards including several apartment hotels and branded hotels: Sheraton, Hilton, Radisson Blue, Golden Tulip, Marriott, Ellile, Capital hotel and spa, Hyatt Regency and Ramada are among the five-star hotels. Smaller hotels and cosy guest-houses are also available in abundances.
In the main tourist destinations, there is a range of accommodation available including urban hotels as well as smaller properties with local charm and lodges in national parks and other unique locations.
Travelling to Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, is the fastest growing airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.
It also offers the continent’s most extensive flight network, with international routings connecting Addis Ababa to more than 90 cities outside Ethiopia, as well as 20 domestic destinations.
Getting around
Ethiopian Airlines operates a daily “Historic Route Service” for tourists connecting Addis Ababa to the historic cities of the northern circuit i.e. Aksum, Bahir Dar, Gondar and Lalibela. Connecting flights also run daily between these northern cities.
There are also domestic flights to several other key centres including Arba Minch, Assosa, Dire Dawa, Gambella, Gondar, Jijiga, Jimma, Mekele and Semera.
An increasingly popular option with tourists is to travel overland with one of many reliable operators in Addis Ababa offering group tours and a range of bespoke 4×4 itineraries.
More remote parts of the country, such as the Danakil Depression and Erta Ale, or the tribal lands of South Omo, can only realistically be visited on an organised 4×4 expedition with a specialist local operator.
