Ethiopia
Visas
Visa collected in Dubai. Standard visa for non-residents of the Emirates is for 7 days only, but after a short conversation with the vice-consul we got 3 months from date of issue (note: not from the day of entry) . Within 1.5 hours we left the consulate with visas in our hands.
Visa extension at the Immigration Office in Addis Ababa ( 9,0219N , 38,7510E ) took a total of 4 hours and 3 visits. Make sure you get there by 8 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the best days. You can collect the passport at 2 pm the next day. We had to see 4 layers of hierarchy to extend the visa 14 days before the old visa expired , normally extensions are only give the last or one-but-last day.
Note: the regulations for visas have recently changed. It is no longer possible to get a visa in neighboring countries such as Kenya or Uganda, but only in the country of residence.
Entry
Entry from Sudan was smooth. Took 1 hour. Much attention for electronics and foreign currency to be imported. Superficial check of car.
Exit
Passport and carnet stamped in Omorate . Went smoothly and quickly . If we had been alone it would have taken less than half an hour.
Carnet
For Ethiopia is a carnet needed.
Fuel
Widely available, except in Lower Omo Valley. Diesel costs about € 0.75 per liter.
Insurance
Covered by TourInsure . Was not asked for.
Money
ATM's accepting VISA in larger towns, but often not operating due to network or electricity issues. Maestro not accepted.
Safety
We were attacked near the hot springs in Wondo Genet by two men, one armed with a large stick and a machete. We were wounded and a camera was stolen. Police and the rest of the community were very much upset and on top of it. The thieves were caught and face long imprisonment. One of them was a repeat offender who was already in prison for 5 years. So it was probably a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Visa collected in Dubai. Standard visa for non-residents of the Emirates is for 7 days only, but after a short conversation with the vice-consul we got 3 months from date of issue (note: not from the day of entry) . Within 1.5 hours we left the consulate with visas in our hands.
Visa extension at the Immigration Office in Addis Ababa ( 9,0219N , 38,7510E ) took a total of 4 hours and 3 visits. Make sure you get there by 8 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the best days. You can collect the passport at 2 pm the next day. We had to see 4 layers of hierarchy to extend the visa 14 days before the old visa expired , normally extensions are only give the last or one-but-last day.
Note: the regulations for visas have recently changed. It is no longer possible to get a visa in neighboring countries such as Kenya or Uganda, but only in the country of residence.
Entry
Entry from Sudan was smooth. Took 1 hour. Much attention for electronics and foreign currency to be imported. Superficial check of car.
Exit
Passport and carnet stamped in Omorate . Went smoothly and quickly . If we had been alone it would have taken less than half an hour.
Carnet
For Ethiopia is a carnet needed.
Fuel
Widely available, except in Lower Omo Valley. Diesel costs about € 0.75 per liter.
Insurance
Covered by TourInsure . Was not asked for.
Money
ATM's accepting VISA in larger towns, but often not operating due to network or electricity issues. Maestro not accepted.
Safety
We were attacked near the hot springs in Wondo Genet by two men, one armed with a large stick and a machete. We were wounded and a camera was stolen. Police and the rest of the community were very much upset and on top of it. The thieves were caught and face long imprisonment. One of them was a repeat offender who was already in prison for 5 years. So it was probably a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.