| Guide to Ethiopia |
|---|
| Traveller's Guide |
| Addis Ababa |
| Historic Route |
| East to Harar |
| Rift Valley Lakes |
| Travel Tips |
| Ethiopia Info |
| History |
| Geography |
| Wildlife |
| Culture |
| Religion |
| Facts & Figures |
| Links |
Information supplied by the Bradt Guide To Ethiopia third edition
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Ethiopia is a very friendly country; as a foreigner you will find that officials, bus conductors and hotel owners often go out of their way to make you feel welcome.
The exhausting and rather dehumanising aspect of Ethiopian travel is that your every move is accompanied by comment, staring and by screaming children. This phenomenon - 'farengi hysteria' - is not unique to Ethiopia, but it feels worse than in most other African countries, I think because there are so few other travellers around to give you a break from it. Try to laugh it off if you can - getting angry will probably do nothing to help the situation.
Otherwise, hassles are remarkably few. The occasional beggar will ask you for money, but you need not assume in Ethiopia that anyone who helps you on your way is doing so to gain a birr or two. That is certainly not the case.
Casual theft and pick pocketing are quite common in Ethiopia, especially in Addis Ababa and to some extent in the other larger towns. Markets and bus-stations are particular areas in which you should be wary.
Violent crimes such as mugging are not a serious cause for concern, even in Addis Ababa. Yet the obvious precautions should be taken - hide your money, do not carry it around in excess, do not wear expensive jewellery or watches, use taxis if you arrive after dark, etc.
There is a tradition of shiftas (bandits) on the roads in Ethiopia but this does not seem to be a major concern in recent times and there would be very little one could do anyway apart from hand over 'the goods'!
Otherwise, expect to be charged a little over the odds in towns where farengis are commonplace, although this is certainly not very likely in shops or on public transport.
Women travellers should face no real difficulties in Ethiopia simply because of their sex. However some women have found that males have shouted obscenities at them across the street, and especially in the Mercato in Addis.