Bahir Dar Transportation

Just remember the taxis here are as untrustworthy as taxi drivers anywhere. Expect them to tell you, a foreigner, a rate between 25% and 60% higher than for a local. Expect to pay $1 for every 3-4 kilometres. Always argue with them and the price will always come down. Be polite but firm and walk away if you think they are being silly.

These distinctive blue and white minivans only go on local routes in and around Bahir Dar. To catch the right one you need to listen to the Conductor shouting out the destination(s). Expect to pay between 65 cents and 1 Birr 50.

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These are amazing little taxis. They are slightly cheaper than the normal car taxis and you get fresh air you can’t in normal taxis. These motorcycles with seat attached can seat up to 6 people.

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Because Bahir Dar is so flat, it is a city ideally suited for bicycles. In fact its one of the few flat places in Ethiopia. Local people love their bikes and you will happily see people travelling around in this environmentally friendly mode.

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This is relatively cheap and ‘quick’ way to get to Gonder. They say it’s about 4 hours, but it can be 5 ½ hours. You pay a little over $10. It’s a great way to see local life, in and outside of the minivan. If you want to take pictures along you journey, clean the windows first! You will also stop at several villages and in the middle of nowhere to pick up and drop people off. Just organise it the night before.

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This is a fascinating and cheap local way to transport goods and people. It is also painfully slow. They are all built from hand and some are more barges than boats for heavier jobs. You will see this all over Lake Tana.

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We took a half day boat trip organized by Ghion Hotel, it can cost from 70-150 Birr depending on how many people in the group and your bargaining skills. We visited 4 monasteries including one on Zege Peninsula. We started from 8am and got back around 12.

We took a minibus from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar. A very good thing about minibuses is that they pick you up from wherever you want to. I stayed with a friend in Addis Ababa and that was where they picked us up. The cost was 120 Birr. They picked us up at 3.30am and we arrived in Bahir Dar(the also dropped you off where you need to get to, Ghion Hotel in my case) around 4pm. The ride was quite fine. I slept pretty much the whole time. I think I got a very good seat, the only one that stands out on its own on the very right side just a bit behind the door so I had all the leg space I needed.