When to go
January to March is an especially popular time to go to Ethiopia as the weather is warm and pleasant, making the country ideal for touring. The largest Ethiopian festival, Timkat, is held in January and we run a small group tour that also takes in the historical sites.
Throughout most of Ethiopia the rainy season runs from July to August. In the Omo Valley, however, the main rains fall from end March to early June and again in November. With the upgrading of the airports along the Historic Route, it is now possible to visit the north throughout the year. (Avoid both the Simien and Bale mountains in July-August).

Getting there
Ethiopian Airlines operates daily London Heathrow to Addis Ababa flights (direct). Flying time is approximately 8 hours. They also operate 5 flights a week from Manchester to Addis Ababa. (2019 update). Alternatively, Emirates operates flights to Addis Ababa via Dubai.
Time Zone
GMT +3 hours
Visas
UPDATE All visitors require visas. A single entry 1 month visa is also issued on arrival at Bole Interntional Airport for US$50 (cash).
Health
Parts of Ethiopia (Rift Valley and far South) are malarial and precautions should be taken. Yellow fever certificates are no longer requested on entry. Always consult your doctor at least six weeks before travel and refer to this useful NHS website, Fit For Travel for details of recommended vaccinations for your destination. Zika virus has been identified in Ethiopia so we advise pregnant women not to travel there.