Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia.

Culture and History

With over 4 million people, the city is located in the geographic center of the country. The city's population is divided by class, with the majority of the wealthiest people living in the Southeast and Southwest parts of town. There are more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis-Ababa, making the city a fore front for international diplomacy concerning Africa. The headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa can both be found in the city. The United States has decided to open a second embassy responsible to African Union. That would make Addis Ababa the only city in Africa to host two US embassies.

Climate

Because of its high elevation, Addis can get chilly at night. Save your T-Shirts only for day time.

Travel to Addis_Ababa, visa requirements

Flights to Addis_Ababa, airtickets

Bole International Airport, ADD is serviced by several international airlines with daily flights to Europe, United States, and Asia as well as inter-African destinations including Accra, Bamako, Brazzaville, Cairo, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Khartoum, Harare, Johannesburg, Nairobi.

• British Airways,
• Ethiopian Airlines, +251-11-661-6161, +251-11-661 6666, [1]. This airport is their primary hub. Offers domestic, continental and worldwide flights.
• Emirates,[2]
• Egypt Air,
• KLM,
• Kenya Airways,
• Lufthansa,
• Sudan Airways,
• Turkish Airlines[3] and
• Yemenia.

By train

• Arrive via Djibouti. Over 700km trip that takes approximately 24 hour trip from point to point, stopping about halfway in Dire Dawa. Reservations are strongly recommended.

By car

• Some of the roads are in pretty poor condition, so keep this in mind when estimating time between destinations.

Buses to Addis_Ababa

• Bus terminals:
  • Autobus Terra near Mercato. This is the main bus terminal where most of the national buses arrive and depart.
  • Ras Mekonin Avenue near the railway station. Buses to/from Adama (Nazret) and Debre Zeyit are here.

Get around

• Very few streets have names and when they do, they may not be named correctly on a map; use landmarks to navigate the city.
• Blue and white minibuses travel quite efficiently around the town. To catch a minibus stand on the side of the road and hail it. This can be done anywhere it is possible for the bus to stop. The conductor inside will call out the destination, and you get on. The cost ranges from .65 ETB for a short trip, to 1.20ETB or more. It is worth having an Ethiopian guide with you if it is your first time using these taxis.
• Small blue colored taxis are more expensive. They range from 10ETB for a very short journey, to about 35ETB for a cross town trek. Negotiation is the norm and you often have to press quite hard to get a bargain as a foreigner. They can be contracted for a full day, just negotiate.
• Walking in Addis Ababa is a pleasant and sensible way of getting around, however beggars and other hangers-on will most likely bother you.

Addis_Ababa attractions and sightseeing

• Ethiopian National Museum. See a plaster replica of Lucy, an early hominid. The museum is located between Arat Kilo Avenue and the University of Addis Ababa Graduate School. Walking along the street starting from Meskel Sq. to Sidest Kilo is very comfortable and entertaining. It will give you the chance to see the Africa Hall, the places and the Parliament building, the Hilton Hotel, the marvelous architectural adventure of a building hosting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sheraton Hotel, the surrounding historical hot spring water public bath known as Fil-wuha, the first modern school (which Menelik the II built in the 1880s), the Orthodox cathedral, the National Museum, and the Addis Ababa University (which also hosts a former palace and museum). Arat Kilo Avenue is marked by a statue built in commemoration of the Ethiopian V-day during the Second World War, while Sidest Kilo Avenue is marked by a statue commemorating the ~39,000 residents of Addis Ababa killed by Italian fascist troops. Around Arat Kilo, you will find part of an old town known as Serategna Sefer (literally, the residential area of laborers). If you want to proceed past Sidest Kilo, the road becomes steeper and much of the attractions will be on the right side of the road. The Entoto college (previously Teferi Mekonnen School) and the American Embassy are found on this side of the street. After the American Embassy there is an open market called Shiro Meda where traditional craftsmen sell their home made fabrics, pots and other crafts. The market place is at the foot of the Entoto Mountains that rises up to 3,300m above see level. You can take a taxi or a bus to the mountain unless you are of a mind to try it yourself. On the mountain, you will find the first churches of Addis Ababa called St. Mary and St. Raguel as well as smaller palace of Menelik the II. Walking on the mountain, especially between the churches is refreshing and gives you the chance to see rural life, the city itself, forest and unbelievably beautiful landscape intersected by farmlands and trails of farmers. It is from here that Menelik II and Queen Taitu conceived of the establishment Addis Ababa. You can get a sense of the city plan yourself by looking from here at the current city.

• Africa Hall is located across Menelik II avenue from this Palace and is where the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is headquartered as well as most UN offices in Ethiopia. It is also the site of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) which eventually became the African Union.

• Near Holy Trinity Cathedral is the Parliament building, built during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, with its clock tower. It continues to serve as the seat of Parliament today.

• Shengo Hall, built by the Derg regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam as its new parliament hall. The Shengo Hall was the world's largest pre-fabricated building, which was constructed in Finland before being assembled in Addis Ababa. It is used for large meetings and conventions.

• Near Bole International Airport is the new Medhane Alem (Savior of the World) Cathedral, which is the second largest in Africa.

• In the Merkato district, which happens to be the largest open market in Africa, is the impressive Anwar Mosque. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family is also in the Merkato district.

Other features of the city include the large Merkato market, the Jan Meda Race Ground racecourse, Bihere Tsige Recreation Centre and a railway line to Djibouti, while the Entoto Mountains start among the northern suburbs.

• Suburbs of the city include Shiro Meda and Entoto in the north, Urael and Bole (home to Bole International Airport) in the east, Nifas Silk in the south-east, Mekanisa in the south, and Keraniyo and Kolfe in the west.

• Menelik's old Imperial Palace which remains the official seat of government
• National Palace formerly known as the Jubilee Palace, built to mark Emperor Haile Selassie's Silver Jubilee in 1955, which is the residence of the President of Ethiopia.

• The Hager Fikir Theatre, the oldest theater in Ethiopia, is located at the Piazza district.
• Ethiopian National Library.
• Ethiopian Ethnological Museum.
• Addis Ababa Museum.
• Ethiopian National History Museum.
• Ethiopian Railway Museum
• National Postal Museum.
• St George's Cathedral, North end of Churchill Road. Built in 1896 to commemorate Ethiopia's victory over the Italians. Open 8am - 9am, Noon - 2pm. Also houses a museum.
• Holy Trinity Cathedral. The burial place for many famous people and once the largest Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral. Built to commemorate the country's liberation from the Italian.
• National Palace. Once known as the Jubilee Palace, the National Palace is the President's residence.
• Africa Hall, Menelik II Avenue. The headquarters of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
• Bole Medhane-Alem, The second largest Cathedral in Africa.

City tours

• Jan Moda Race Ground.
• Bihere Tsige Recreation Center.
• Addis Ababa Golf Club.
• Entoto Mountain: walk from St. Marry church, the first church of Addis and St Urael church and see the city itself from the top of the mountain.

Learn

Addis Ababa University is the largest and the oldest university in Ethiopia. It was originally named "University College of Addis Ababa" at its founding, then renamed for the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I in 1962, receiving its current name in 1975.

Although the university has six of its seven campuses within Addis Ababa (the seventh is located in Debre Zeit, about 45 kilometers away), it also maintains branches in many cities throughout Ethiopia, leading to the claim of being "the largest university in Africa." The government assigns qualified students to these universities upon completion of secondary school. Students also attend other private colleges, such as Unity College. Addis Ababa University was founded in 1950 at the request of Haile Selassie by a Canadian Jesuit, Dr Lucien Matte as a two-year college, and began operations the next year. Over the following two years an affiliation with the University of London was developed. There is also Theological College of the Holy Trinity, a theological school of higher education located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It provides religious and secular education to both clergy and lay members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, as well seeking to be a center of theological and ecclesiastical study for all Oriental Orthodox Churches as well.

Originally founded as a high school by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1942, the college division was added in 5 October 1960, and the elementary education section eliminated on 18 December 1961 and the college became one of the chartered units of this first National University of Ethiopia.

Work

• There is a high demand for IT professionals.
• Many start-up companies search for individuals with computer networking and consulting background.
• Addis-Ababa has the highest number of NGO's in Africa, and possibly in entire third world countries in the globe. They are well known for paying good salaries for their employees.
• The unemployment rate in Addis is extremely high. Especially, to those unskilled young men and women.
• Many expatriates work in NGO's and small start-up IT companies.
• Comparing to other African cities, Addis-Ababa has a high number of big, medium and small sized computer training schools, governmental and private learning institutions. Many students who attend there hope to land an IT or consulting job, in the very scarce job market of the city.

Shopping, Addis_Ababa souvenirs

• Merkato. The merkato is the largest outdoor market in the world, and you can get anything from tourist goods (t-shirts, wood crafts, etc.) to fabric to metal goods there. Haggling and bargaining are standard procedure, and foreigners (especially those of European ancestry) should expect to be charged higher prices. To ensure a positive experience, maintain a sense of humor, don't be afraid to negotiate aggressively, and above all don't let yourself be bullied by the many "brokers" who frequent the market, and will try to steer you towards certain stores in exchange for a kick-back from the merchant. You will be able to negotiate lower prices if you can avoid brokers, and especially if you have a local friend or guide to buy things on your behalf.

Good restaurants and cheap meals

Budget

The cafes along Bole Road and around the Piassa area are of a high standard and relatively inexpensive. Most are very similar to each other. Most cafes serve the common drink called 'juice spritz' which is fruit pulp served in layers in a glass. There are usually 3 layers from a selection of avocado, mango, papaya, banana, guava etc. The juice is eaten with a spoon. It is colorful and tastes delicious.

Cafe Chocolata on Victory Road (near Shoppers Mart supermarket) serves drinks and snacks and is very nice. All the staff are former street girls and prostitutes who are trying to make something of their lives.

City Cafe on Bole has delicious cakes and pastries as well as high quality Ethiopian espresso coffees. You can sit on the porch and watch the activity on one of the main roads in Addis.

Mid-range

• Habesha Bole Road. This cultural restaurant has traditional singing and dancing at night. If you're feeling brave, try the gored gored (cubes of heavily salted and spiced raw beef).
• Team Mini Bole Road. This friendly, high quality "cultural" restaurant serving traditional Ethiopian food. Be sure to try the mesir besiga (ground meat with lentils). At night, Team Mini features performances by traditional singers and dancers. The entertainment is not as good as that at Habesha, but the food is generally better.
• The Limetree Bole Road, Boston Partners Building. While Ethiopian food is delicious there comes a time when you will crave western fare. The Limetree provides a beautiful range including gourmet sandwiches, pasta and arabic beef. A favorite hangout of ex-pats and NGO workers, the Limetree is nevertheless one of the best (and surprisingly affordable) resautrant/cafes in Addis.

Splurge

• Fisherman Restaurant Mickey Leland Street, Near Atlas Hotel. Is a half Chinese half Tibetan restaurant serving an excellent range of Asian cuisine and specializing in seafood.

• Aladdin Restaurant Bole Rwanda. Serves Middle-Eastern food. Very expensive but authentic and delicious.

Nightlife

If you want to drink the national drink of Ethiopia, you have to try the 'tej' which brewed from honey. You can also try 'tela' which is like a beer. All kind of drinks are available in all the bars, from blue label to vodka. A warning to male travellers, outside of the Gaslight, The Blackrose and other expat haunts, women in Ethiopian nightclubs are almost all prostitutes. The Concorde and Memos are particularly famous in this regard.

• Gaslight is the fancy nightclub at the Sheraton. If the famous owner Al Moudi is in town, you may catch a glimpse of him here. Inside, it feels like an upscale Western disco. Be sure not to wear jeans or sneakers, as they have a fairly strict dress code.
• Memo is a seedy nightclub with a pretty good dance floor. Be sure to try the bozena shiro in the outdoor courtyard.
• Club Deep is the best in Addis. There is a cover charge but the drinks inside are very inexpensive. The music and dancing is great. Like usual, the main problem is the bathrooms.
• Meda Sports Bar and Grill has a large, spacious bar which is comfortable for chatting or watching a game. The downstairs lounge provides a more intimate setting for quiet conversations. And upstairs, the loft has a relaxed, casual dining atmosphere – all the best of Ballston, VA in one convenient stop!
• The Black Rose The energetic atmosphere is both comfortable and fashionable, and the bar serves a variety of drinks. The bartenders mix the best Cosmo this side of the Nile.
• Divine On Bole Road on the top floor of Sheger House, is currently one of the coolest clubs in Addis. It features a very western-oriented playlist along with ample space for relaxing and a pumping dance floor on weekends.
• Bailamos On the top floor of the Novis building on Bole Road is a new (2007) club which features a surprisingly vibrant salsa scene in the Weekends. The club also offers salsa classes.

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

Budget

• Park Hotel, a cheapy starting at 20 Birr
• Filwoha Hotel, near the hot springs, tel 511404.
• Fin-Fin Hotel, opposite the Filwoha Hotel.
• Hawi, Debre Zeit Road, south of the city center.
• Holidar Hotel, Asmara Road near the Plaza Hotel.
• Yordanos Hotel, Asmara Road, tel 515711, fax 516655.
• Taitu Hotel, Piazza, opposite the National Lottery Authority Head Quarters
• Worku Bikila Hotel, about 20 kilometers south-west of Addis Ababa, in Dukem, thriving hotel for budget to mid-range travellers.

Mid-range

• Axum, Asmara Road, tel 188832.
• Balu, Near Piazza.
• Buffet de la Gare, tel 517888, 517125, fax 515959.
• Desalegn Hotel, tel 1624524, email: desalegn@telecom.net.et
• Maskal Flower Hotel, near Debre Zeit Road, tel 517187.
• Tourist, near the Grand Palace and Trinity Cathedral.
• Martin's Cozy Place: German Guesthouse Located near the Atlas (almost opposite) is a favorite for bussiness people or expats having to base themselves in Addis. Martin offers a range of services for tourists and it is a homely place to shack up for a few nights. It costs around 80 ETB a night for a double.
• Yilma Hotel: Located in the "Mekanessa" area of Addis, this hotel is about $25 USD per night for tourists. They have an excellent restaurant/cafe with cable television that plays news and sports channels and serve food until 10-11PM. The staff is very nice and friendly. They have room service for no added charge. The rooms are minimal but have decent bathrooms with hot water heaters for the shower, flush toilets, and tiled floors. Ask for "Fish" the manager and you will surely be treated well.

Splurge

• Addis Ababa Hilton, central Menelik Ave, tel. 518400, fax 510064. The Hilton has many of the amenities you'd expect at an international hotel (airline agents, money changing, restaurant, bar, gym, sauna, swimming pool, high speed internet access), but it's rather mediocre, so you never forget you're still in the developing world.
• Sheraton Addis, central Yohanis St, tel 517138, fax 514029. This obscenely luxurious hotel was built by a Saudi/Ethiopian billionaire, who is also Ethiopia's largest employer after the government. This is the place to go for 5-star opulence. It also one of very few places in Addis where you can get cash from an ATM or credit card.
• Carrera Lodge, Rossevelt St, tel 517400, 447400.
• Ghion, central Menelik Ave near Revolution Square, tel 513222, 443170.
• Ras, Church Rd just North of the railway station, tel 517060, 447060. One of the oldest hotels in Addis.
• International Hotel, Located downtown near beginning of Bole Road. About $40 USD per night. Clean and rooms are HUGE with living room, separate bedroom, many bathrooms include large tub. Staff is very nice and rooms have enormous balconies overlooking the green open areas of the Sheraton hotel as well as views of Mt. Entoto. A great place to stay if you need easy access to the Bole Airport without risking traffic delays.

Contact

Stay safe

• Addis is safer than most cities in Africa. Gang violence is unusual. However, you may encounter some pick-pockets and con-artists around Mercato and Piazza areas. Keep your belongings close, and pay attention to your surroundings. The good news is most of these pick-pockets are unarmed and very young boys. If they know that you are aware of what they are up to, they get intimidated and go away.

• The major and important roads and areas are patrolled by the 'Federal Police' or, as the city residents refer them Federal. They have a reputation of being merciless with suspected criminals. In contrast, the Addis-Ababa city police, who most of the time patrol the less important city streets, markets and neighborhoods are more tolerant and less respected police officers.

• There is also, a phone emergency line in Addis. For a traveler from US, it is easy to remember the emergency line, because it is 9-1. (Compares to US' 9-1-1) Major streets are generally safe at night.

• If you see anything suspicious or threatening, notify a city policeman.

• In a total difference of other African cities, in Addis-Ababa, police officers NEVER approach foreigners to ask them to present a passport, ID or "legal" papers. Once you show your passport at the airport, you are free to move around pretty much anywhere. The only time you need your passport or ID is, for hotel registration (booking) and other similar and few instances. (It is important to have your ID with you at all times, however) Many visitors appreciate that they don't have to be questioned who they are or where they are from by a police officer who wants to extract bribe money from them, every time they turn around. This could be one of Addis-Ababa's appeal.

Cope

Watch what you drink or you WILL be sick! It is important to remember to only drink bottled water- Highland brand is most trusted. ALWAYS check the plastic seal on all bottles before paying any vendor. Most travelers cannot handle the water from faucets even for brushing their teeth and should be warned against eating vegetables such as those in salads that may have been washed in water. Try limiting fruits and vegetables to those you "peel" such as oranges, mangos, etc.

Be prepared for culture shock - If you take photos of the people, ask first and offer to show them their picture if you have a digital camera with a display screen. Children enjoy seeing their pictures a lot of the time!

Your emotions are real- it is okay to feel overwhelmed if you have not experienced this type of culture difference before. If you are NOT effected by the poverty, then there is something wrong! Be polite but not intrusive. It is OK to ask questions of the locals, but you should be prepared to be hassled a LOT of the time if you are white. Remember that you are a guest in their country. This is not like a "vacation" you may have had in the past—don't expect to be treated like a king/queen because you are foreign. Addis Ababa and the country of Ethiopia as a whole is NOT a tourist "hub" and therefore they do not view foreigners as tourists whom they are ready to please and serve on hand and foot. If you prepare your mindset before arrival, you will be better able to cope.

Get out

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