1 month in Ethiopia, where should I go??

1977 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by abesha, Nov 8, 2010

Yoniii

Discussion Starter · Nov 4, 2010 (Edited)

Hey guys, I need tips.

I have a month to spend in Ethiopia, traveling with a couple of friends. We will start the trip with the obligatory "relatives-tour" in Addis for a couple of days, but we don't want to "waste" to much time in the city.

We talked about heading North, but I want to do that trip with my parents some day (the religious and historical sites).

The South seem more adventurous. We will probably hire a driver and a jeep and go down to Hawassa, passing Adama and Shashemene. I know that the Bale national park is nearby. We might make it all the way down to Arba Minch if we have enough time.

Are there any other "must-see" places in the area??

Also, any tips about Addis Ababa (good restaurants, night clubs, view points, etc) is appreciated as well!

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Bekele100

· #2 · Nov 4, 2010

Yoniii said:
Hey guys, I need tips.

I have a month to spend in Ethiopia, traveling with a couple of friends. We will start the trip with doing the obligatory "relatives-tour" in Addis for a couple of days, but we don't want to "waste" to much time in the city.

We talked about heading North, but I want to do that trip with my parents some day (the religious and historical sites).

The South seem more adventurous. We will probably hire a driver and a jeep and go down to Hawassa, passing Adama and Shashemene. I know that the Bale national park is nearby. We might make it all the way down to Arba Minch if we have enough time.

Are there any other "must-see" places in the area??

Also, any tips about Addis Ababa (good restaurants, night clubs, view points, etc) is appreciated as well!

I envy you!!! anyway, why not Bahir Dar? In Addis, there is a club know as " Ye Mesafent bet" in Bole. It is a nice night club with a nice band and show. I enjoyed dinning at the Millenium Restaurant. They have good food and entertainment. Awassa is nice for two or three days. I don't know how deep your pocket is, but I stayed at Chambalala hotel. It was $17 USD a night. Queen bed, TV, refrigerator and decent bathroom. You might want to visit Sodore if you like to horse ride for about $2.00USD for one hour, but I didn't go in the pool. Find "Azmari Bet" especially in Addis.....it is always fun.

Please bring tones of picture and share them with us. Enjoy you stay.

Yoniii

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 4, 2010

Thank you for your advice, I'll note everything down.

I was in Addis two years ago, so that part isn't that exciting. But I've never been outside of Addis, so I'm really looking forward to this road trip. I forgot about Sodore, that's a must!

Bahir Dar would be nice, but it's just to far away for the little time we've got. Next time for sure!

I'll bring my camera!

abesha

· #4 · Nov 5, 2010 (Edited)

Heading south, Awassa is definitely a must.
I've never been, but I would go to Arba Minch, Bale Mountains, Nech Sar national park, etc.
How about Wonchi Lake? I think it's a day trip i.e. no overnight hotels. Maybe also Wondo Genet.

If you can make it east, try Harar and Dire, but I think they may be way too far. Perhaps Awash NP is not too far for you. There's also the Babile Elephant sanctuary around there.

In Addis, I haven't gone out clubbing this past time I was there, but from what I remember hearing, Platinum is one of the best spots.

Food, I suggest Yeshi bunna (I love the chechebsa and foul) for a quick meal.

Other than that, I don't remember :lol:

When are you planning to go?

eta: if you have the $, Top View restaurant (or Elfign) are really good, AND you get a spectacular view of the city when you go at night.
Zebra Grill (restaurant) in Bole has great decor and view at night; but back then, the atmosphere was better at the Haya Hulet location.

Also the clubs my friends and I practically lived in a couple of years ago are Fahrenheit, Black Rose (both are more of a lounge), Atmosphere (INSANE Saturday nights; the line outside at 3 am was at least 70 people - great music selection), Illusion (more of hip hop), Alizé (live music), and of course Harlem Jazz. There's a bar right next to it that was hugely popular but I can't remember the name. Amsterdam Bar in Bole is also very popular; so is Wube Bereha in Edna Mall.
If you want African music, there's Tam Tam club as well on Debre Zeit RD.

Basically, you can't go wrong on hanging out around Bole Medhanealem on Saturday nights. There are a dozen places to chill/dance in, and lots of 24 hr food joints, including burgers, injera, bbq, etc.

Then of course, there are all the little bars and azmari bets. Addis is the African city that never sleeps.

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ja'far

· #5 · Nov 5, 2010

Yoniii said:
Hey guys, I need tips.

I have a month to spend in Ethiopia, traveling with a couple of friends. We will start the trip with the obligatory "relatives-tour" in Addis for a couple of days, but we don't want to "waste" to much time in the city.

We talked about heading North, but I want to do that trip with my parents some day (the religious and historical sites).

The South seem more adventurous. We will probably hire a driver and a jeep and go down to Hawassa, passing Adama and Shashemene. I know that the Bale national park is nearby. We might make it all the way down to Arba Minch if we have enough time.

Are there any other "must-see" places in the area??

Also, any tips about Addis Ababa (good restaurants, night clubs, view points, etc) is appreciated as well!

Sounds like the ultimate vacation.

If u are lucky, you may run in to my brother (desert burner).

Anyhow, have a good time.

venezian

· #6 · Nov 5, 2010

Cool, when are you head over there? i'm flying out first week of December.

last time we headed down to wondo genet in the afternoon. first we hiked up the mountain to the source of the natural hot springs water. In the evening we went down to the grassy area with gabi's minamin and they BBQ'd a beg for us and finally had a big bonfire while we all drank and some of my friends chewed chat.

Ahadu

· #7 · Nov 5, 2010

venezian said:
...... and finally had a big bonfire while we all drank and some of my friends chewed chat......

hno:
venezian,
You/ or your friend/s may have a God given constitutional right to chew anything green and emulate a grasshopper..... however, I can't help it but makes me sick to think of how we the Diaspora becoming low with such a wasteful & disgusting evil habit & encourage the locals to do so - Qat chewing!

What is wrong with us?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yonii,
I'm not asking but begging you to do two things for me while you're in Addis:

1) Go and donate $5.00 US dollars (on behalf of all us here @ skyscrapercity) to my favourite local NGO Mary Joy Ethiopia & say BIG thank you to Sister Zebider Zewdie for her effort. Personally, I have a big plan for them, please do some serious detective work on this NGO. Please.....

http://www.ethiotube.net/video/8411/Seeds-of-Diversity

2) Try to meet Mayor Kuma Demeksa and give him a very good fat smack on his face & say to him "Wake up and fix the sidewalks!!!"

Have fun!

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Yoniii

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 5, 2010

Abesha,

Yeah Harar and Dire are too far away for this time, but they're places I really want to visit some day.

Top View sounds really interesting, I will make sure to check it out. We got surprisingly cheap tickets with EA ($850), so that means more to spend in Ethio!

I fly out at the end of December, just before the New Years.

By the way, where's The spot to celebrate ye Ferenj Addis Amet?? Everyone talks about Sheraton, are there better alternatives?

You seem to know your way around Addis at night! Great tips, that will definitely keep us busy for a couple of nights.

You're almost making me wanna stay in Addis lol.

ja'far,

:lol: I doubt that he will ever leave Kenya.

Thank you!

Venezian,

Hiking at the afternoon and finishing it off with BBQ and a cold beer sounds really great! Who arranged all that for you?

Ahadu,

I will see what I can do, but we've been talking about doing something for the homeless (specially the kids) while we are there.

About your second request, I am afraid that my stay in Addis will be a little too long if I do that.

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venezian

· #9 · Nov 5, 2010

Ahadu said:
hno:
venezian,
You/ or your friend/s may have a God given constitutional right to chew anything green and emulate a grasshopper..... however, I can't help it but makes me sick to think of how we the Diaspora becoming low with such a wasteful & disgusting evil habit & encourage the locals to do so - Qat chewing!

I feel you on that I hate that shit, but they're grown ups I can't tell them no. I despise it.

Yoniii said:
Abesha,

Yeah Harar and Dire are too far away for this time, but they're places I really want to visit some day.

Top View sounds really interesting, I will make sure to check it out. We got surprisingly cheap tickets with EA ($850), so that means more to spend in Ethio! I fly out at the end of December, just before the New Years.

By the way, where's The spot to celebrate ye Ferenj Addis Amet?? Everyone talks about Sheraton, are there better alternatives?

You seem to know your way around Addis at night! Great tips, that will definitely keep us busy for a couple of nights. You're almost making me wanna stay in Addis lol.

ja'far,

:lol: I doubt that he will ever leave Kenya.

Thank you!

Venezian,

Hiking at the afternoon and finishing it off with BBQ and a cold beer sounds really great! Who arranged all that for you?

Ahadu,

I will see what I can do, but we've been talking about doing something for the homeless (specially the kids) while we are there.

About your second request, I am afraid that my stay in Addis will be a little too long if I do that.

The hotel arranged it for us. You have to provide your own firewood and there's plenty people selling it on the way to wondo genet. I don't know exactly how much it cost but the more people you have the cheaper.

And damn your $850 lol I paid $1600... That's what you get for living in LA.

Yoniii

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 5, 2010

Ah I see, I guess the hotels co-operates with local travel agencies etc.

lol yeah we were really lucky, some people had just cancelled their tickets. We didn't even plan to check with Ethiopian airlines until we caught ourself walking past their ticket office. Turkish Airlines are usually cheapest alternative. Standard price around the winter holidays from Stockholm is at least around $1200.

Ras Siyan

· #11 · Nov 5, 2010

Acording to my cousin in the South, besides Hawassa, Arba Minch is a must, she talks about it everytime she mentions Ethiopia.

Have fun a bring tons of pictures!!!

lamrof

· #12 · Nov 6, 2010

I heard Sodere sucked. Not the old Sodere you know about. I recommend Bekele Mola at Langano. Kuriftu has visitor days you can get in without the criminal entrance fees. I think its every first Tuesday of each Month. Check with them. Avoid Addisaba like the plauge my man. There is nothing there but, Demolition and construction dust. If you make it Tahisas Gebriel in Kulbie is something to think about, how about you make the trek from Dire to Kulbie? Or may be half or quarter of the way. They have guides and also mule rides. You can go to Shasemene, visit the Rastas there, Awassa the Haile Resort and the lake or the mt Awasa climbing, you can go to Dilla for lunch, then on to Yebello, Megga and Moyale. Quite off the beaten path if you are up to it. You can cross the border to be in Kenyan Moyale for a days shopping there. No questions asked. Arba Minch and Wondo Guenet are like Paradise.

If you told me earlier we would have met there, man what gives? I was thinking to go but couldn't decide when. We could've spent a night out of beer and Kitfo. I am single so you know, I do things that single guys do.

Are you getting the citiznship ID? You got to dish out some $500.00 to get it.

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venezian

· #13 · Nov 6, 2010

Oh ya **** sodere... **** that place for everything it is. Boring expensive and weird spider cockroach hybrid bugs.

nairoberry

· #14 · Nov 6, 2010

so jelous of you. i am planning on spending next year's christmas in kenya.

i like the request to give $5 to an NGO. ahadu you are pure class dude.

i am sure "rich-man" yonii can afford $5 for charity.

safe journey and have fun on your trip

Yoniii

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 6, 2010

lamrof said:
I heard Sodere sucked. Not the old Sodere you know about. I recommend Bekele Mola at Langano. Kuriftu has visitor days you can get in without the criminal entrance fees. I think its every first Tuesday of each Month. Check with them. Avoid Addisaba like the plauge my man. There is nothing there but, Demolition and construction dust. If you make it Tahisas Gebriel in Kulbie is something to think about, how about you make the trek from Dire to Kulbie? Or may be half or quarter of the way. They have guides and also mule rides. You can go to Shasemene, visit the Rastas there, Awassa the Haile Resort and the lake or the mt Awasa climbing, you can go to Dilla for lunch, then on to Yebello, Megga and Moyale. Quite off the beaten path if you are up to it. You can cross the border to be in Kenyan Moyale for a days shopping there. No questions asked. Arba Minch and Wondo Guenet are like Paradise.

If you told me earlier we would have met there, man what gives? I was thinking to go but couldn't decide when. We could've spent a night out of beer and Kitfo. I am single so you know, I do things that single guys do.

Are you getting the citiznship ID? You got to dish out some $500.00 to get it.

Alright, so Sodere won't be a priority. I don't think we will make it all the way to Moyale (is it even worth it unless you continue deep into Kenya?). I've heard a lot of good stuff about Arba Minch and Wondo Guenet from many people now, I won't miss it!

You know what's funny, we decided to do this trip in less than 48 hours lol. The main plan for this winter was SE Asia, but the non-abesha part of our crew hesitated, so we were like "why don't we just go to Ethiopia".

Dual citizenship? Hell no, a EU passport is my safety card!

Yoniii

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 6, 2010

Ras Siyan said:
Acording to my cousin in the South, besides Hawassa, Arba Minch is a must, she talks about it everytime she mentions Ethiopia.

Have fun a bring tons of pictures!!!

Great, another reason to go to Arba Minch!

Thank you, I have lousy camera (and I am a n00b photographer) but I will do my best!

Yoniii

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 6, 2010

nairoberry said:
so jelous of you. i am planning on spending next year's christmas in kenya.

i like the request to give $5 to an NGO. ahadu you are pure class dude.

i am sure "rich-man" yonii can afford $5 for charity.

safe journey and have fun on your trip

That plus some more should fit into my budget.

Thanks a lot! :cheers:

Simfan34

· #18 · Nov 8, 2010

I may be going too, but where should I go if I'm with my mother and kid brother? :lol:

abesha

· #19 · Nov 8, 2010

^^ Bora amusement park

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