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Out of Ethiopia I will be travelling (with another esteemed Samizdata editor) to Addis Ababa this weekend and stay in Ethiopia for about a week. I have read many fascinating things about the country but I have no idea what to expect. So tips and suggestions are welcome.
I plan to travel outside the capital – it was a toss up between Axum and Lalibela. In the end the latter won as the rock-hewn churches are amazing. Also it is a shorter flight, which given time constraints is preferable.
Thanks to Graham of Noodlepie I have learnt about the vibrant Ethiopian political blogosphere. Any Ethiopian bloggers worthy of note?
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Worth looking up in The CIA World Factbook. Listed as a high risk area for many serious infectious diseases, so hope you have all your shots up to date plus malaria tabs. Not for nothing is the median age only 18 years. Also, for me, it would be no bare feet outdoors and no outdoor bathing – schistosomiasis.
Enjoy the sights.
Read Ethiopundit
Yes, I do have vaccinations sorted, wouldn’t really venture to Africa without them. Don’t need malaria tablets as AA is high enough not to be troubled by the disease.
You made the right choice. Axum is a bit farcical what with the supposed Ark of the Covenant but Lalibela is indeed amazing.
If you are staying in the main hotel (the one with the pool but no water in it), take a tour of the kitchens… a real eye-opener! The tree where Bob Geldof was usually filmed stands at the back of the hotel… now an informal play area for children who will squeak “Money!” at you.
If you want a double bed, ask for a “French bed”. They are quite a rare commodity out there. The water supply is terrible, so when it is hot, use immediately – probably no more than 1/2 hour per day.
In Addis, make sure you have one meal at the Sheraton for relief. Check out the HQ of the African Union for the quintessence of the state Africa is in today (count the Mercs in the carpark). Check out the British Embassy for the quintessence of how it used to be.
Also, I would love to know if there is still a huge, inspirational poster of Haile Gebre Selassie attached to the side of a building with the simple words (in Amharic) “You can.” You can’t miss it if it is there.
Finally, enjoy “injera” – the only meal where the dishcloth is included in the fare.
I would still take anti-malarials. Malraia is not just a tropical disease. It used to be endemic in the subarctic in Canada and the northern US before DDT and better pharmaceuticals. If there are mosquitoes, there can be malaria.
I do not know whether this is different in Africa, but malaria is nasty enough that a few pills is only a mild inconvenience.
FWIW: the US CDC says that malaria is an issue in the entire country, below 2000 meters altitude, and that there’s no risk in Addis Ababa. They don’t recommend one antimalarial over another.
How are you for altitude? I live up at about that 2000 meter line, and out-of-town visitors have a time of it adjusting.
At 6000-7000 feet unacclimatized, you’ll probably get winded relatively easily and have a hangover the first few mornings, even if you haven’t been drinking. However, I’ve never seen an otherwise-healthy person come from sea level to here and have really serious problems.
Acute Mountain Sickness information
General high-altitude health stuff.
Any chance of heading over the border to Somalia? I’d love to see a non BBC/Guardian report on that place.
Good luck, get your shots, take precautions against malaria (at least one G&T per day!) and make sure you travel armed.