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Ethiopian facts and figures

For anyone who is planning a similar journey through Ethiopia in the near future, here are a few helpful Ethiopian facts and figures.

On the road

Our route:      

Metemma, Gorgora, Gondar, Debark, Simien Mountains (Sankaber, Chennek, Mount Bwahit), Debark, Axum, Mekele, The Danekil (Dodom, Erta Ale, Lake Afdera, Abaala, Lake Assale, Hamed Ela, Dallol, Berhale), Mekele, Lalibella, Bahir Dar, Tis Abey, Addis Abeba, Hawassa, Konso, Key Afer, Turmi, Jinka, Omorate.


Kilometers:

3990


Diesel: 

Available everywhere. We made sure that we filled up in larger towns to avoid having to go to the smaller very dodgy “free lancers” inbetween. In Arba Minch only one station had diesel. There are no filling stations in Key Afer, Dimeka, Turmi and Omorate. The nearest stations in that neck of the woods are in Konso and Jinka (and possibly Ganada, at least on our maps, however we had filled up in Konso and so didn’t bother checking that out).


Diesel costs: 

9345,00 ETB (292,03 EUR)


Diesel price: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traffic: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stones:

16,41 ETB (0,51 EUR) on average. Never more than 17,00 ETB (0,53 EUR)

As with Egypt and Sudan, you cannot fill yourself, which by that time we had gotten used to. Most of the time we were directed to the right pump as we drove in, however it’s allways advisable to ask. Diesel? was allways understood. We had no issues with wrong fuel. We have a lockable tank and so had plenty of time to double check and to check that the digits were at zero !!! Tipping is not necessary but we usually would round up. Check your change !!! Usually everyone is very correct and honest, but mistakes can happen.

Drive on the right. The quality of the roads varies from very good to very bad and many minor roads are only dirt tracks. Allways drive cautiously. We had our first accident and our first road kill in Ethiopia and saw many smashed vehicles along the way. Lorries, buses, mini buses, SUVs, pick ups and tuk – tuks are very commen. Private cars aren’t as frequent except in larger towns. Animals and people are allways on the roads.

Speed humps and checkpoints are thank goodness rare. We were only stopped five times near borders and only once in Addis. The police were very polite and correct (I’m not sure about the one at the bridge in Omorate though).

It's a popular myth that stones are frequently thrown by youngsters. That might once have been so or still is the case on certain roads. We experienced nothing of the kind. 


Accomodation

Nights:

 

 

 

 

 

49 (10.06.18 – 28.07.18), including 2 in the Simien Mountains inside the van (price included with the entrance fees), 3 in the Danekil one in a pension dormitory and two under the stars at volcanoes (all inclusive), 7 at a friend of a friend of a friends in Lalibela inside the van without charge, 3 in Addis at the Hilton inside the van without charge, 1 in Tis Abay inside the van without charge (during the day parking costed 5,00 ETB or 0,16 EUR), 7 inside the van on campsites, 16 inside the van in pension and hotel courtyards or in front of them and the rest, 10 in hotel rooms.


Total Costs overnight: 

Average Costs overnight: 

The best: 

The worst: 

10815,00 ETB (337,97 EUR). (excluding the Simien and Danekil excursions) 

6,90 EUR or 3,45 EUR per person.

Without doubt under the stars in the Danakil.

Hotel Milano in Mekele (next to ETT). Filthy but we had to be very close to a toilette. Due to a meal we had in Axum we were both very ill, otherwise we would have slept in the van. To make matters worse there was no water, not even to flush with. We used bottled water to drink and the next day a water tanker arrived which didn’t really help that much. 


Money

Exchange rate: 

ATM:

1,00 EUR = 32,00 ETB, 1,00 ETB = 0,031 EUR 

Available in all larger towns. At banks they were guarded. We preferred using the ATMs at banks because they were guarded and in case of any issues with the machines or cards it’s handy to be able to go inside and have people there to speak to.


Time and date

Ethiopians use a 12 hour clock instead of 24 hours. The day begins at dawn (6 a.m.) and not at midnight, has a first cycle of 12 hours till dusk (6 p.m.) and a second cycle of 12 hours till dawn. When we arranged with our guide Asha to meet one another the following day at 7 a.m. he said "OK at one O'clock".  The Ethiopian calender is based on the Coptic calender and quite different from our Gregorian calender. A year has 12 months with 30 days each and a thirteenth month (Pagume) with 5 days and 6 days in leap years.

Sightseeing

The Simien Mountains:

Park entrance fee 90,00 ETB (2,81 EUR) per person per day...................................................540,00 ETB (16,88 EUR)

The van 20,00 ETB (0,63)per day ………….............................................................................…..60,00 ETB (1,88 EUR)

Our guide Yalo 500,00 ETB (15,63 EUR) per day…................................................................1500,00 ETB (46,88 EUR)

Guide tax 10% ……………………….......................................................................................…..150,00 ETB (4,69 EUR)

Our scout (including rifle and ammunition;-) 400,00 ETB (12,50 EUR) per day…...................1200,00 ETB (37,50 EUR)

The “parking fee” in Sankabar……....................................................................................………200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

Tipp guide……………………………........................................................................................…..200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

Tipp scout……………………………........................................................................................…..200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

  

Total…………………………….......................................................................................……..4050,00 ETB (126,56 EUR)

Axum:

Northen Stellae Field entrance fee 100,00 ETB (3,13 EUR) each…........................................…200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

Our guide……………….........................................................................................................……300,00 ETB (9,38 EUR)

 

 

Total…………………….......................................................................................................…….500,00 ETB (15,63 EUR)

The Danakil:

Ethio travel Tours, 300,00 USD (255,00 EUR) each, we paid with a credit card.....................600,00 USD (510,00 EUR)

Manuel………………………………........................................................….......................….…..500,00 ETB (15,63 EUR)

 

 

Total…………...........................................................................................................................................….525,63 EUR  

Lalibela:

Entrance fee, 50,00 USD (42,37 EUR) each, we paid in Birr.

Valid for all 11 churches and for 4 days!!!…...............................................................................100,00 USD (84,75 EUR)

Guide…….30,00 USD (25,42 EUR) each, paid with Birr…....................................................…..60,00 USD (50,85 EUR)

 

 

Total…………….....................................................................................................................................…….135,60 EUR

Bahir Dar boat trip:

Ticket, 300,00 ETB (9,38 EUR) each……..................................................................................600,00 ETB (18,75 EUR)

Bete Maryam entrance fee, 100,00 ETB (3,13 EUR) each……...................................................200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

 

 

Total…….........................................................................................................................................................…..25 EUR

Blue Nile Falls:

Entrance fee, 50,00 ETB (1,56 EUR) each…...............................................................................100,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

Guide (long route)….....................................................................................................................300,00 ETB (9,38 EUR)

The ferryman……….......................................................................................................................40,00 ETB (1,25 EUR)

Car guard…....................................................................................................................................50,00 ETB (1,56 EUR)

Parking…..........................................................................................................................................5,00 ETB (0,16 EUR)

 

 

Total……...................................................................................................................................................…….18,60 EUR

Omo valley:

Tsamey village entrance fee, 200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR) each......................................................400,00 ETB (12,50 EUR)

Key Afer Market entrance fee, 100,00 ETB (3,13 EUR) each..................................................…200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

Hamar village Engadi dance, 500,00 ETB (15,63 EUR) each..............................................…1000,00 ETB (31,25 EUR)

Banna village Bull jumping, 600,00 ETB (18,75 EUR) each….................................................1200,00 ETB (37,50 EUR)

Majo National Park entrance fee, 800,00 ETB (25 EUR) each............................................….1600,00 ETB (50,00 EUR)

Majo National Park Guard............................................................................................................300,00 ETB (9,38 EUR)

Mursi village entrance fee, 600,00 ETB (18,75 EUR) each…..................................................1200,00 ETB (37,50 EUR)

Mursi gifts (salt and soap) approx….............................................................................................200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

Photos (Mursi, Hamar, Banna, Tsamey) aproxx….....................................................................400,00 ETB (12,50 EUR)

Omorate guide to the border……............................................................................................120,00 USD (101,69 EUR)

Asha….....................................................................................................................................120,00 USD (101,69 EUR)

Asha (rounded up)…....................................................................................................................200,00 ETB (6,25 EUR)

Omorate customs………....................................................................................................................................0,00 EUR

Omorate Immigration…..................................................................................................................................…0,00 EUR

Omorate police…………....................................................................................................................................0,00 EUR

 

 

Total ...............................................................................................................................................................412,76 EUR

Total Sightseeing:

The Simien Mountains……………………..............................................................................…………………126,56 EUR

Axum………………………………………........................................................................................…………….15,63 EUR

The Danakil………………………………...........................................................................................…………525,63 EUR

Lalibela……………………………….......................................................................................…………………135,60 EUR

Bahir Dar boat trip…………………………….....................................................................................................25,00 EUR

Blue Nile falls……………………………...................................................................................................……..18,60 EUR

Omo valley…………..................................................................................................................………………412,76 EUR

 

Total…………………...................................................................................................................….............1259,78 EUR 

Shopping

Eating out………………........................................................................................…………..11908,00 ETB (372,13 EUR)

Food……………..............................................................................................………………..5796,00 ETB (181,13 EUR)

Bits and bobs……..............................................................................................……………….1749,00 ETB (54,65 EUR)

  

Total……………..................................................................................................……………19453,00 ETB (607,91 EUR)

Other costs

Tuk-tuk accident in Gondar….............................................................................................….…500,00 ETB (15,63 EUR)

Taxis and tuk-tuks……….....................................................................................................……810.00 ETB (25,31 EUR)

Oil filter (far too expensive)………...............................................................................………..1000,00 ETB (31,25 EUR)

Differential replacement and motor oil change (including 6 liter oil),

1670,00 ETB rounded up to................................................................................................... 1800,00 ETB  (56,25 EUR)

Sisal (for his time)………………...............................................................................................…300,00 ETB (9,38 EUR)

Visa (obtained in Khartoumb), 60,00 USD each..........................................................................120 USD (101,69 EUR)

  

Total…………………...........................................................................................................................………239,51  EUR

Total costs Ethiopia

Diesel……………............................................................................…………….......................................…. 292,03 EUR

Accomodation………………......................................................................................................................….337,97 EUR

Sightseeing……………….........................................................................................................................…1259,78 EUR

Shopping…………....................................................................................................................................…..607,91 EUR

Other costs……..............................................................................................................................….......…..239,51 EUR

  

Total Ethiopia…………….........................................................................................................................…..2737,80 EUR

In conclusion

Ethiopia is without doubt a very special place with over 100 million inhabitants, above 80 ethnical groups and as many languages. Over 80% of the population live off the land which is still mostly cultivated with ox and plough. The fact that it was never colonized, despite all Italien efforts, makes it unique among African countries (perhaps together with Liberia) and is probably why Ethiopia has been able to maintain its own very iconic appeal. We only had the time and means to catch but a glimpse of this magical land. Hopefully we will be able to return, see and experience more.


  • Thankyou Ethiopia