Some of our Ethiopia holiday ideas

View All Holidays

Our expertise in Ethiopia

Derek Schuurman

I’d love to create your perfect destination experience to Ethiopia . Give me a call and I’ll share my first-hand expertise so you get the most from your trip.

Derek
Travel Specialist

Derek's review

This landlocked country is packed with things to see and experience: a big selling point for me is that the international flight from London to Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines is just under 8 hours in duration. Once there, you can savour what many connoisseurs regard as the world’s finest coffee. While a good 70%+ of our clients are attracted by the truly astonishing attractions along the ‘Historical Route’, increasingly, nature enthusiasts are visiting the country for its endemic mammals and birds. Those are mostly sought in the Simien and Bale Mountains, where trekking opportunities are arguably without equal in Africa. People who are keen to learn about tribal culture would do well to incorporate a visit to the South Omo & Konso region into their itineraries: meeting people such as the Mursi and Hamar, is an unforgettable experience. And finally, there are two spectacular annual festivals which are worth attending if you can – we regularly send our guests to attend Timket in January and also, Meskel in September, when endemic, yellow Meskel daisies create floral displays in the Highlands. 

Derek's Top Tips

  1. Avoid both Bale and Simien Mountains National Parks in July-August, as the rain is often bucketing down; roads are often impassable and visibility poor.
  2. If you want to try to attend a Hamar bull-jumping ceremony, which is one of the most memorable Africa travel experiences one can have, plan your Omo adventure from June to September.
  3. A great location at which to relax after a busy Ethiopia itinerary is Lake Langano in the Rift Valley. Sunsets are magical, with the evening chorus of birds cross-fading into the sound of innumerable frogs.

Best Time To Visit Ethiopia

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Best time

Good time

Average time

Quick Country Facts

Time Zone:GMT +3 hours

Captial:Addis Ababa

Currency:Ethiopian Birr

Our tailor-made private Ethiopia holidays are guided by exceptionally knowledgeable English-speaking guides and capable drivers. A number of tastefully designed lodges and hotels have opened across the country in recent years. These include the Kuriftu Resorts and Spas in Bahir Dar and Bale Mountains Lodge in Harenna Forest. While most do not compare with lodges in more conventional East African destinations such as Kenya, they certainly now make travel in Ethiopia considerably more comfortable.

 

Important Notification

The Tigray region of Northern Ethiopia has been experiencing significant and prolonged unrest, so the FCDO is advising against all travel to that particular region, as well as all but essential travel to the rest of the popular northern Historical Route. We are monitoring the situation with our excellent Ethiopian partners and hope to resume arranging memorable tours for our clients from 2024, if not earlier.

Derek Schuurman

Travel Specialist

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

Twenty peaks in the central mountainous plateau rise to 4,000 metres or more whereas the Danakil Depression is the lowest point on the African continent. The Rift Valley Lakes add to the country's captivating scenery and the Blue Nile Falls near Lake Tana are the continent’s second largest waterfalls (when not diverted for hydroelectric purposes). Home to 102 million people, making up over 80 ethnic groups, Amharic is the first language of Ethiopia but English is widely spoken. The extraordinary people of South Omo merit special mention: the area is still about as close as one can get to an 'Africa untouched'.  

The breathtaking historic sites, mostly found in the north of the country, have attracted travellers to Ethiopia for centuries. The Solomonic dynasty is said to have originated with the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon in the 10th century BC. She returned to Ethiopia where their child, Menelik I, was born. The dynasty’s last ruler, Haile Selassie, was deposed in 1974. Among the most famous historical sites, all of which are included in most Ethiopia holiday itineraries, are the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the obelisks at Axum and the ancient monasteries of Bahir Dar.

Ethiopia is a very interesting wildlife destination, with a fair number of endemic mammals. Notable among these are the critically endangered Simien wolf (less than 400 remaining in August 2017) and large ungulates including the endangered Walia ibex and Mountain Nyala. There are two endemic primates, the iconic Gelada monkey and the localised and poorly-known Bale monkey. Birders will be in their element  - Ethiopia has one of the largest concentrations of endemics, most sought after of which include the stunning Ruspoli’s turacou and the range-restricted Harwood’s francolin.

All our Ethiopia holidays and tours can be tailor-made to suit special interests and dates. Just get in touch and we can help you to plan your trip so that you get the most from your holiday to Ethiopia. It's always best to ring at the outset as this helps to ensure we understand exactly the sort of holiday and activities that you enjoy. It is vital to note that for the most part, accommodation in Ethiopia is not of the same standard as is the case in better-known/more developed East African destinations.

Our Ethiopia itineraries are best suited for active and fit, healthy travellers who are not limited by mobility restrictions or high elevations. You should be able to walk unassisted for at least 2 miles over uneven terrain. Walks can be 2 - 3 hours in duration and at elevations of between 3,000 and 4,400 meters above sea level. If you are on a set departure, we do recommend arriving in Addis Ababa a day before the start of the tour, so you have the chance to acclimatise.
 
You need to be able to to handle uneven, fairly steep set of steps without handrails, notably in Lalibela.  Here, some of the churches are cut deep into the mountainsides and others are located in caves. Touring these churches involves generally easy walking over rocky surfaces and negotiating some dark tunnels. Ethiopia itineraries are for the most part, busy with many early morning starts and not much in the way of down time 
 
To get to the Bale and Simien Mountains entails drives along roads that have some rough sections and in drier months, can be dusty. 4-wheel drive vehicles are not designed as well for rugged terrain as the vehicles used for safaris in the better-known Eastern African destinations. 

Every January, we offer a small group departure (maximum 12 participants), which is centred around the Ethiopian Epiphany or Timket, the most impressive event of the social calendar. (Where there are more than 12 participants, we will run two or more departures). These small group holidays are very sociable and a fun way to go on holiday to Ethiopia and we highly recommend them if you enjoy travelling as part of a group.

Ethiopian Airlines flies to Zanzibar every day of the week, so you can combine most Ethiopia holidays with time to relax on the beach as well. Zanzibar has an excellent range of places to stay from small, simple beach-side hotels to up-market resorts.

Looking for inspiration?

You'll find expert travel guides, holiday ideas and insider tips now on the Rainbow blog

Why Choose Us?

Passionate travel experts

  • We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
  • Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
  • We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences

Personal & tailor-made

  • You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
  • We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
  • Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love

Responsible by nature

  • We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
  • For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
  • We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
British Travel Awards Crest
ATOL Protected ABTA Protected IATA Protected
Trust Pilot LATA Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware

Stay in Touch

Subscribe for our newsletter and to hear about exciting offers and experiences

By clicking ‘accept’, you consent to our use of cookies to improve our website experience. See our privacy policy for full information.
Accept