Travel Tips

Climate

Ethiopia’s diverse geography is reflected in its marked climatic variation and, contrary to the image of popular imagination, Ethiopia receives abundant rainfall in many areas.

Generally, the highlands, including the Historic circuit, have a temperate climate; the eastern lowlands and far south are dry and hot; the western lowlands are moist and hot, and the southern Rift Valley is temperate to hot and seasonally moist.

In the highlands, the climate is favourable with daytime temperatures ranging from about 14 – 25 degrees C. Rain tends to be more abundant in the South West Highlands while in the North East the rains fail altogether every decade or so, perhaps giving rise to the misleading images which tend to be associated with the whole of Ethiopia. Generally, the rainy season is a three month period from mid-June to late September. The rain falls in brief, dramatic and heavy bursts and although this is preferable to protracted drizzle, most tourists tend to avoid this period as travel can be adversely affected. The most popular period for travel to the Historic Circuit is in the period following the rainy season as this is when the area is at its greenest and, in many people’s opinions, most beautiful.

The Rift Valley’s wet season usually starts and finishes a few weeks earlier than the highland’s with slightly higher temperatures and Oromo in the South receives most precipitation in March, April and May. Lowland areas, lacking the elevation which keeps most of the country at a comfortable temperature, are more affected by Ethiopia’s proximity to the equator. In the Danakil Depression and to a slightly lesser extent the Somali region, the desert conditions mean very little rain falls and temperatures range from 25 – 50 degrees C. Gambella, in the west of the country receives substantial rainfall during the rainy season but this is accompanied by temperatures of 25 degrees C plus, resulting in a tropical feel.

Language

In most places likely to be visited by tourists, it is possible to get by with English. However, learning some of the native tongues could be very handy and will be appreciated greatly by the locals.

Of the roughly 70 (yes 70!) languages spoken in Ethiopia, Amharic (Amarigna) is by far the most important as it is the lingua franca of the government and of most places likely to be visited by tourists. So from a traveller’s perspective, it is usually best to learn some Amharic in order to enhance your experience. Tigrigna is the second most important and is spoken in the northern region of Tigray which is where Axum, for instance, is situated.

Most of Ethiopia’s dialects belong to the Semitic or Cushitic branches of the Afro-Asiatic family. Amharic and Tigrigna are both Semitic and descend from Ge’ez, the language of Ancient Axum, which is still used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church today. When you hear priests in church they will sometimes be using Ge’ez rather than modern-day languages. Ethiopia’s Semitic languages are transcribed in a script that is unique to the country. This consists of over 200 characters, each of which denotes a syllable as opposed to a letter.

Cushitic languages are dominant in southern and eastern Ethiopia and are used by the Oromo and Somali peoples. Cushitic speakers use the same Roman alphabet that we do.

In the Omo River Valley a localised group of languages of Afro-Asiatic origin is spoken. These are known as Omotic languages, and are quite closely affiliated to the Cushitic group.

English, which is used for upper primary education through to university, is the most widely spoken European language. French and Italian are occasionally heard.

Embassies

Some of the countries with Ethiopian diplomatic representation include Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Ethiopian Embassy in the UK is at 17 Princes Gate, London, SW7 1PZ, telephone 020 7589 7212, fax 020 7221 3780.

The Ethiopian Embassy in the USA is at 3506 International Drive, NW Washington DC, 20008, telephone 202 364 1200, fax 202 686 9551.

There are many countries with diplomatic representation in Addis Ababa. The UK Embassy can be contacted by telephone on 61-23-54 and the USA Embassy is on 55-10-02.

A comprehensive listing of embassies can be found in the Bradt Guide to Ethiopia by Philip Briggs.

Time

Ethiopia is never more individual than in its keeping of time and dates.

Firstly, while most countries adopted the Gregorian calendar some time ago, Ethiopia continues to use the Julian calendar. This means that Ethiopia is seven years and eight months ‘behind’ the majority of the world. Therefore, the country celebrated its new millennium on 12th September 2007, their new year’s day. Under this system there are thirteen months in a calendar year, 12 of 30 days each, usually starting on September 11, and one month of 5 or 6 days.

Time-keeping sometimes feels designed expressly to make sure the traveller misses their next bus! Since there are twelve hours of sunlight and twelve hours of dark all year round, Ethiopians use dawn and dusk to determine the time of day. The ‘clock’ starts counting at sunrise (our 6am) and continues until sundown (our 6pm). Thus, essentially, if you add or subtract 6 hours you will convert Ethiopian time into international time. For example, 10am international time will be 4 o’clock in the Ethiopian system.

Pretty straightforward really, but don’t forget that Ethiopia is either 2 or 3 hours ‘ahead’ of the UK in international time. Thus you have to adjust your watch once for this, then again to be in line with the local method of time-keeping. So 10am in Britain will be 1pm in Ethiopia in international time but 7 o’clock when converted into Ethiopian time!

Locals usually understand that they are on a different time to foreigners and clearly stipulate which system they are using. Ethiopian Airlines will always talk in terms of world time, as will modern businesses.

Health

Preparations

Travel Insurance
Don’t think about visiting Ethiopia without a comprehensive medical travel insurance, one that will fly you home in an emergency.

Immunisations
It is strongly advisable to be vaccinated against yellow fever, typhoid, meningitis, polio, tetanus-diptheria and Hepatitis A. You should also consider measles, mumps, rubella and Hepatitis B. You may be required to show an international immunisation certificate as proof of your yellow fever vaccination. If you intend travelling far from medical facilities, consider rabies immunisation.

A useful starting point for British travellers are the British Airways Travel Clinics, telephone 01276 685 040.

Medical kit
Take a small medical kit with you. This should contain malaria tablets, soluble aspirin, plasters, potassium permanganate crystals or another drying antiseptic, iodine for sterilising water and cleaning wounds, sunblock, and condoms or femidoms.

Diseases

Diarrhoea and related illnesses
The best solution for diarrhoea is to rest up for a day, and to stop eating your normal diet, avoid alcohol, and take lots of clear fluids. If you are hungry take bland light food, e.g. plain biscuits and boiled potatoes.

Blockers such as Imodium should only be taken if you have no access to sanitation, for instance, if you have to travel by bus. This is because blockers generally keep the poisons in your system, and so make you feel bad for longer.

When you have diarrhoea, it is important you drink a lot. Paediatric oral rehydration salts (ORS) such as Dioralyte are excellent, or you can make your own salt and sugar rehydration fluid.

In Ethiopia, diarrhoea that persists beyond 48 hours could be giardia, a protozoan infection that, in addition to diarrhoea, often causes severe flatulence, abdominal distension and sulphurous belching. Although it is not a serious illness, it is unpleasant enough that you will want treatment as quickly as possible.

Salads are a likely source of diarrhoea, as is tap water. In Ethiopia, one should tend to assume that all tap water is unsafe to drink, except perhaps in Addis Ababa. Cheap bottled mineral water is available everywhere, and as far as one is aware, is perfectly safe.

Malaria
Malaria is present in most parts of tropical Africa below 1800-2000m, and the Anopheles mosquito which transmits the malaria parasite is most abundant near the marshes and still water in which it breeds. In other words, malaria is most prevalent in low-lying areas where there is water, and especially after rain.

Malaria is often considered absent from the Ethiopian Plateau, which includes the Bale Highlands, the central highlands around Addis Ababa, the western highlands around Jimma, and the northern historical circuit. A tourist who flies into Addis Ababa (2400m), then travels by plane around the historical circuit of Lake Tana (1830m), Gondar (2223m), Axum (2133m) and Lalibela (2630m) is at no significant risk, with the only place to be conscious of mosquitoes being near the lake in Bahir Dar.

Malaria is present in most parts of Ethiopia that lie below 1800m. In the Rift Valley, malaria is generally seasonal, with spasmodic and localised outbreaks taking place during the rainy season (roughly between June and October).

The two areas of Ethiopia that are most likely to be visited by tourists and where malaria is a definite threat are the Omo Valley (Omo and Mago National Parks) and the western lowlands around Gambela.

So do you take malaria pills or not? Definitely, if you are visiting a high risk area like the Omo Valley or Gambela at any time of the year, or if you are travelling in the Rift Valley during the wet season. On the other hand, if your travels will be restricted to highland areas, or you visit in the dry season and avoid high-risk areas, there is a case for not taking them.

The malaria tablets which are generally recommended for use in East Africa are Doxycycline or Malarone. Larium (Mefloquine) used to be the preferred choice but it has received a lot of bad press in Britain due to side effects which, if they occur, can be severe, so only take it on a doctor’s recommendation.

Equally as important as taking malaria pills is making every reasonable effort not to be bitten by mosquitoes.

The Anopheles mosquito which spreads malaria emerges at dusk, as do sandflies and most other disease-carrying mosquitoes. You will thus greatly reduce your chances of being bitten and contracting insect-borne diseases if you wear long trousers and socks in the evening and cover exposed parts of your body with insect repellent, preferably a DEET-based preparation such as Jungle Jell. Sprays of this sort are not available in Ethiopia; bring one with you.

Bilharzia or schistosomiasis
This is carried by a worm which spends part of its life inside freshwater snails, and infects people when they swim or paddle in still or slow-moving, well-oxygenated, well-vegetated fresh water. As a rule, a fast-flowing mountain stream is very low risk, while a sluggish river or lake is high risk. If you dry off promptly after spending ten minutes or less in the water, the parasite does not have time to penetrate your skin and so cannot infect you.

AIDS and venereal disease
HIV and other venereal diseases are, by all accounts, widespread in Ethiopia.

Meningitis
A vaccination protects against the common and serious bacterial form in Africa, but not against all of the many kinds of meningitis.

Rabies
Rabies can be carried by any mammal. The domestic dog is the species which most often passes it to humans. The most common route of infection is a bite from an infected animal, but a scratch or a lick on an open wound can do it too.

Tetanus
Tetanus is caught through deep, dirty wounds, so ensure that any wounds are thoroughly cleaned.

Medical facilities

Most doctors in Ethiopia speak good English and are very helpful. In most larger towns there are hospitals where outpatients can be treated and they have basic laboratory facilities for blood and stool tests.

Outdoor health

Sun and heat
The equatorial sun is vicious. Although it is impossible to avoid some exposure to the sun, it would be foolish to sun-bathe needlessly. If you are coming to Ethiopia from a less harsh climate, let your body get used to the sunlight gradually or you will end up with sunburn. Wear sunscreen and build up your exposure gradually, starting with no more than 20 minutes a day.

Always wear clothes made from natural fabrics such as 100% cotton. These help to prevent fungal infections and other rashes.

Even small cuts are inclined to go septic in the tropics. Clean any lesion with a dilute solution of potassium permanganate or iodine 2-3 times daily.

Dangerous animals
There are very few parts of Ethiopia where you are likely to come into contact with potentially dangerous large animals. The large mammal that you need most concern yourself with is the hippopotamus, which is reportedly responsible for more human deaths than any other African mammal. You should be cautious around any lake or large river.

Another animal you should watch out for near water is the crocodile, although only a very large croc is likely to attack a person, and then only if you are actually in the water or standing right on the shore.

Although poisonous snakes are present throughout Ethiopia, they pose little real threat to humans. The reason for this is that most snakes are very shy and secretive, and will move off at the slightest sign of human activity.

The one place where you should be conscious of the possible presence of snakes is on rocky slopes and cliffs, particularly where you are scrambling up or down using your hands. As a general rule, you should wear trousers, socks and solid boots when you walk in the bush.

Documents

A valid passport is required to enter Ethiopia. The expiry date should be at least six months after you intend to leave Ethiopia.

Visas are required by all visitors to Ethiopia. They can be purchased prior to your arrival in Ethiopia from an Ethiopian Embassy. The start date on your visa will be the date that it is issued, so while it is advisable to process your visa sufficiently in advance of your departure, you don’t want to apply so early that it will expire during your visit.

In recent years it has been possible for travellers holding certain passports (mainly European and North American) to obtain their visas on arrival at Bole Airport in Addis Ababa. Indeed it can be cheaper than getting a visa processed in advance. Contact your Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate to find out if you are eligible. Your visa will generally be stamped for up to one month on arrival. If you intend to spend longer than a month in Ethiopia you can usually extend your visa for up to three months. The only place in the country where visas may be extended is the Immigration Office in Addis (on Churchill Avenue, near the post office), where they are reluctant to grant extensions until five days before your visa expires. Visa extensions usually take 24 hours to be processed.

Check to see if a Yellow Fever certificate is also needed for entry. A valid certificate used to be compulsory but is not always necessary today.

It is highly advisable to buy travel insurance and to take the policy documents with you. Don’t forget all your tickets too!

Money

When travelling to Ethiopia the best bet is to have a mixture of cash, traveller’s cheques and a cash card for emergencies.

The safest way to take money to Ethiopia is in the form of traveller’s cheques, as they can be refunded if stolen. Most major currencies are acceptable in banks, but US Dollar traveller’s cheques will be the most readily accepted. Some banks, however, offer less favourable exchange rates for travellers cheques compared to cash notes and they can take a while to process. Also note that when heading off the beaten track it becomes impossible to exchange traveller’s cheques, or indeed foreign cash – take Birr with you.

Try to take cash in US Dollars, British Pounds or Euros, although most major currencies are accepted in big banks, especially in Addis Ababa.

ATM cash machines are available in larger towns, sometimes located within banks, however do not depend on them! If they do exist they are sometimes out of use.

The unit of currency in Ethiopia is the Birr. Notes are printed in denominations of 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 birr. 50 cent, 25 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent and 1 cent coins are minted.

The Ethiopian Birr (ETB) exchange rates for US Dollars (USD), British Pounds (GBP) and Euros (EUR) are currently:

Currency data courtesy of coinmill.com.

Accommodation

This section provides an overview of accommodation in Ethiopia. You will find specific recommendations for accommodation at the various specific places of interest dealt with throughout Link Ethiopia’s Traveller’s Guide. We have tried to focus on basic and cheap options as well as including more comfortable choices where they exist.

Hotels are found in most towns in Ethiopia, but especially in places where there is a growing local tourist industry. Government owned hotels normally come with private showers and ‘western’ toilets. Cleanliness is not too bad in most cases and is infinitely better than many budget privately owned places where it is often not a priority; the average place has yet to learn what decent toilet facilities and clean bed linen really mean to a traveller! However they do the job and you could consider bringing your own sleeping sheet in your backpack. If hygiene is important to you it is possible to pay extra for added comfort in most places likely to be on the itinerary.

The budget end of the scale can provide perfectly adequate lodgings (as long as you’re not too picky about cleanliness!) and you can pay as little as £3 a night rising to around £8 before you hit the mid-range. As the standards rise the price rises too and you can end up staying somewhere like the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa which ranks among the finest hotels in Africa but costs around £200 per night. So be warned, the price often rises disproportionately as you move up the scale. Remember that you should pay far less for the equivalent standard in the West. Government hotels should have a fixed and reasonable price. Outside Addis they shouldn’t cost more than £15-20.

Variety is increasing and most towns can come up with decent options, though this is not always the case, like for example in Gorgora. Ethiopian hotels have a reputation for being friendly places that often make up for a lack of comfort and efficiency with the warm and smiling welcome that they offer. This is largely warranted, however be careful of paying too much – it is common for tourists to be on the receiving end of some interesting prices! Stand your ground and go somewhere else if this occurs.

The guide books do not always recommend the best accommodation and the information can be inaccurate or outdated. However, anywhere recommended by them will be a safe-bet at the very least.

For those thinking about camping note that, except in South Omo, opportunities for organised camping are very limited. You may be able to camp in the grounds of some government hotels, but this may be more expensive than finding a room.

Hassles

Hassle and unwanted attention will probably play a role in a trip to Ethiopia. However, Ethiopia’s reputation as a difficult country in which to travel is misleading since the problems here are not generally serious issues like bribery, overt hostility or life-threatening crimes. Rather, the hassle is usually just irritating or tiring at worst. Some visitors quite enjoy, and find endearing, what others might consider hassles.

When in public be prepared for the things you do to be met with occasional comments and staring. In less touristy areas prepare for bands of children to follow and want to talk to you. This phenomenon is often referred to as ‘farengi hysteria’ and, while not unique to Ethiopia, is more potent here since there are fewer tourists to share the load!

It is certainly possible to enjoy this attention though and have fun with people. Getting angry or visibly agitated will probably do nothing to help the situation. If you need to be left alone, just firmly tell the kids to go away.

Young adults, invariably males, may try to befriend you and ask for financial or material support. These guys often have fairly good English as they will have had the same conversations with dozens of travellers before you. Some people’s stories will be genuine and some will be designed to pull a few heart strings and get you to buy text books or similar items which they say they need for school but will be sold back to the shop the following day. It’s all harmless enough and you can be friendly and enjoy their company and local knowledge without giving anything. Just remember that if you want to support those who really need it the best way is to give money to charity organisations working locally rather than give to these rather entrepreneurial youngsters.

In urban areas, especially Addis Ababa, beggars are a common sight and you may be asked for a birr or two. How you respond is a personal thing but it is not advisable to hand out large amounts of cash.

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. Try to avoid putting cameras and valuables in easily accessible pockets. Money belts will ensure you are protected from most thieves. If you keep your wits about you and don’t flash the cash you’ll be fine in general. Ethiopia is no worse than many other countries.

In parts of Ethiopia there is an unofficial system of charging one price for locals and another (higher!) for foreigners (farengis). Sometimes this makes justified sense, for example when paying castle entrance fees, however in other situations there doesn’t seem to be any logic and negotiating to get the local price can be a bit wearing after a while. Restaurants, shops and hotels are sometimes guilty of this. Transport is less likely to adopt this policy. It would certainly be unfair to tar everyone with the same brush though and as you venture further away from touristy areas this happens less often. It must also be remembered that poorer market sellers, for example, see farengi buyers as an opportunity to earn a day’s living above the bread line.

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’!

Lone female travellers are more likely to be hassled than male travellers, but this attention is not usually malicious in nature. Some areas, such as the Mercato in Addis, are worse than others. Overall, female travellers should face no real difficulties in Ethiopia simply because of their sex as long as common-sense is used.

Hassle and ‘special treatment’ is part of the Ethiopian experience, but most people would agree that overall it is a particularly friendly country. Bus conductors, hotel owners and total strangers often go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Indeed many Ethiopians are very proud of their culture of hospitality and adhere to it faithfully.

Food

For more information about the culture of food see the food section of the culture section. Here will focus on food advice specifically for travellers.

Most of the main towns in Ethiopia have a plethora of small restaurants to cater for the traveller and some good pointers are given in the Traveller’s Guide of this website under each of the main tourist area sections.

Most people are pleasantly surprised by the quality and abundance of food in Ethiopia. In Addis Ababa the choice is as wide as you would find in any international city, although you won’t find any international chain restaurants anywhere in the country. Outside Addis there is less Western style food variety, however, the Italian influence is never clearer than on restaurant menus where pasta is very common indeed. It comes with bolognaise or tomato source and sometimes Carbonara is an option. Pizza too can increasingly be found. Burgers, omelettes, egg sandwiches and bean stews known as ‘fool’ are also likely to please the Western palate.

Habesha (Ethiopian) food usually consists of injera served with various wats, or stews. Injera is best-described as a slightly sour pancake. It is usually made from the endemic crop tef (which some claim is the most nutritious grain in the world) and is ubiquitous in Ethiopia. Injera is an acquired taste for some people, and some will never acquire the taste! However, if you like it you will have no problem satisfying your hunger at a very low cost. This pancake is accompanied by various sauces. These range from ‘shiro’ (ground chick pea sauce) to lentil sauces, to meat based sauces. You tear off pieces of injera with your hand then wrap the sauce in it. Eating in Ethiopia is a shared experience and you will often eat from the same injera and total strangers may invite you to eat their food as well.

For the vegetarian visitor, there should be no problem in Ethiopia. Many Ethiopians cannot afford to eat meat regularly which means that meat-free dishes are very common. The ‘bayeaneuto’, or ‘fasting food’, is served on Wednesdays and Fridays for religious reasons and is a superb variety of veggie dishes with injera. During Lent, which is generally in March and April, the number of meat options in restaurants decreases as Ethiopian Orthodox Christians don’t eat animal products at this time.

In terms of hygiene, the lack of refrigeration in some eateries means anyone who eats meat is taking a risk. However, the meat is almost invariably fresh – usually it was alive that day – and cooked to sizzling point. Chicken is safer than other meats because it’s more likely to have been running around the same day that it appears on your plate. The national dish, Doro Wat, is made with chicken. Fish is usually cooked thoroughly enough to be fine but the further you get from lakes the more likely it is to be contaminated. Upmarket hotels and restaurants do not guarantee to safeguard your stomach but certainly reduce the risks further.

Good personal hygiene is critical to reduce the risk of an upset stomach. Washing your hands before eating is essential. There are taps and soap in most eateries and it is recommended to buy anti-bacterial hand gel before you travel to Ethiopia. Using some common sense will mean you can enjoy the cuisine safe in the knowledge it won’t be making a quick exit from you!

Cakes and even ice cream are available, again in towns of a fair size. Perhaps be wary of ice-cream as power cuts, which affect freezers, could affect their safety, and cakes with fresh cream perhaps should be avoided later in the day.

Fruit is found everywhere. Bananas and oranges seem to be around for most of the year, with mangos, papayas, avocados and several other fruits available in season.

Drinks wise, coffee is a national treasure and comes in various forms, including the sweet milky macchiato which pleases most Westerners. Coffee served in the home is usually better than that served in cafes. ‘Shai’ (tea) is served sweet in little glasses. A request for a milky tea will result in a large cup of hot milk with a tiny side cup of shai! Ethiopians have very sweet teeth it seems so if you don’t like too much sugar make sure to say this to the café staff!

Fruit juices are superb in Ethiopia as the fruit is fresh. Take care with the local water. Stick, as a rule, to bottled water, water you’ve boiled, or water you’ve purified with tablets. Ambo, sparkling water, is found everywhere, as is Pepsi and Mirinda (orange).

Alcohol is readily available in most places the traveller will head to. Alongside the ubiquitous t’eller and t’ej (see Culture & Religion), bottled beers are remarkably good and cheap in Ethiopia, with ‘draft’ finding its way into more and more towns. Wine varies widely in its quality!

Etiquette

A true feeling for the country one is in and the expected awareness involved for foreign travellers are difficult to identify in a brief page of writing. Ethiopians will usually understand and accept bad etiquette born out of a lack of understanding. But learning about and respecting the local culture is important and will be really appreciated.

Here is a bulleted list of some points that have been gleaned by Link Ethiopia visitors to Ethiopia during the past 15+ years. It is in no way a definitive or complete picture and the points are not in any particular order.

• Shake hands frequently on meeting people, accompanied by slight forward bending of the body and repeated questions as to the health and welfare of that person and their family (some conversations seem to consist of nothing other than greetings!).
• Trousers for men are more preferable to shorts, as are shirts to t-shirts. In official surroundings, a standard collar and tie is the expected norm.
• Ladies should wear skirts well below the knee and likewise avoid shorts. The upper body should be demurely covered, including the shoulders.
• Shoes are removed to enter all churches and monasteries.
• If invited into homes, visitors can expect to eat and drink on every occasion (unless a regular friendship is involved). The guests and the master of the house will usually eat first, while the women and older children serve the food and keep to the background.
• Try to use your right hand alone for eating (no knives and forks will be used in a home). The washing of hands, usually with a bowl that is brought to the table, precedes a meal.
• Expect the children in a home to speak quietly and shyly to visitors (unlike the bolder kids out in the street!).
• If you wish, give a ten-cent coin or two to street beggars. Offer the children some bread or a drink.
• Do not give excessively as if money is no object.
• Tipping in ordinary local restaurants is not common and should be limited to a birr or two if you wish. Likewise in taxis.
• You may receive special, kind, treatment in queues or while mounting buses, but don’t expect it.
• Behave as everyone else does and find your seat.
• Bargaining is acceptable in markets, taxis, garis (horse drawn carts) and hotels, although you may find people can be surprisingly stubborn, sometimes preferring no sale to a non-farengi price.
• Don’t be stingy when it comes to driving down prices, unless you’re staying for a prolonged period of time and know what the locals pay. If you’re ‘offered’ highly inflated prices just walk away.
• Eating food while out in the street is not common. Eat your snack in quieter surroundings.
• Sharing food, even with complete strangers, is commonplace. Reciprocate where appropriate.
• Some of the culture may offend the Western tourist. For example, there are many monasteries in Ethiopia where female travellers may not enter.