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 | Ethiopia Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 8 of 8 |  | ||
Popular Tourist Traps | Miscellaneous Tourist Traps Tips | All Tips (8)
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 | Guides |   |  |
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 |  on August 25, 2006 |
Not a tourist trap really but you should be warned. While walking by the streets in touristic places, many young men and kids will approach to you offering themselves as guides. There are some "official" guides here and there (Gonder, This abay...) but most of them are just kids that wanna earn some extra money. If you don't need much info (dates, history...) is a good option to take one, as they will guide you around in the city and talk with the priests etc. Besides, they will take other guides away. The one I took in Gonder even invited me home and prepared a coffee ceremony with his family. Expect to pay them 3-5 USD per whole day. |
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| Don't get taken for "a ride" |  | |
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 |  on September 10, 2003 |
Garis (horse carts) are the usual mode of transportation (there are taxi vans but they get stuffed full). Ethiopians pay 1 Birr to go just about anywhere in the town by gari. Fringee (foreigners) will be told the price is 10 Birr. It's only around 1 USD but I hate that much of a mark-up! When the driver tells you 10 Birr (or more) - look incredulas and say "No Way!" and start walking. Very quickly his price will come down to 5 Birr (which I found acceptable). If he doesn't come down, somebody listening in will! You can walk just about anywhere in town. |
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| DON' GET CAUGHT SHORT | | |
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 |  on May 27, 2007 |
I would suggest that you travel with some of those baby wipes and/or toilet tissue or just plain paper tissue. All too often you will find modern flush toilets, but no paper! You will see all sorts of substitutes that have been used by your fellow humans in the waste basket. Be prepared and you will never be caught out. |
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| SAVE YOUR CURRENCY RECEIPTS ! | | |
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| on May 27, 2007 |
If you are flying out of Bole Airport is Addis Ababa, you will need to show your receipt(s) if you want to change Birr back to your chosen currency. Make sure you keep your receipts from anywhere you have bought Birr as they will ask to see them. If you go over the amount of currency they allow to be changed back – do not panic. Just find ANYONE with a passport and they can change the rest for you. I had a fellow traveller ask me for help and the man in the exchange office took note of my passport and then exchanged a further amount for my now grateful fellow traveller. |
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| THE POST OFFICE | | |
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| on May 27, 2007 |
If you are thinking about sending someone in Ethiopia items by the post – watch out! The official duty rates in Ethiopia for the importation of goods is generally 100%! Be careful what you send or the person receiving any goods or gifts may not be able to afford to receive it! If it is a used item, declare this clearly on the Customs Declaration. They pay less tax. It is often better to send cash and let your friends source the item locally. You can use Western Union for larger money transfers. Find the bad news on duty here: http://www.mor.gov.et/ecaweb/l |
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| Don't buy the Simien Mts trip in an agency | | |
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 |  on December 2, 2007 |
The prices of trips to the Simien Mts in travel agencies in Gonder are much more expensive than what you would pay when organising this in Debark yourself. The travel agents rent the same guides that you will get in Debark. The only difference is that they will probably ensure transportation and have the whole products well "packed" and "sold";). On the photo I enclosed the rates for renting people and stuff for trips to the Simien Mountains. The whole process is quick and straightforward and takes less than an hour. Remember to bring your food and buy water for the duration of the trip. If you find some travel agencies on the web you can calculate and compare the total prices. |
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| GUIDES | | |
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 |  on May 19, 2007 |
There are plenty of guides in Harar. Mainly are boys who don't want to go to school becuase it's convenient to eat with and be with a tourist for two of 5 dollars tip. The selp-employed guides speak reasonable English and ther European languages including German + Italian. Please don't knock them down, some of them are really good to have specially when you are shopping in the market. My suggestion to you is to hire a licenced tour guide, just to be in the safe side. You can book a tour at the you hotel. Tourism in Ehtiopia is a bread winner for the country. The locals know not to mess with the tourists. Having said that, there people whjo can find themselves in bad situation. Never ever go with a stranger's homes, that is a non-starter. Take little money always, leave your passport and ticket in a safe place and make sure you walk about very light. You make sure you are not worth more than 350 dollars in total when you add your clothing, money, phone and camera. You need a phone and camera, yes ? heep them safe in your bag and don't leave them everywhere. The trap comes to you most of the time. You must avoid people talking to you trying to get close to you. Be polite, Ehiopians don't like visitors with bad language; avoid all kinds of arguments. Watch you language, it's worth makiing a loss of 50 Dollars than having a fight with someone in Ethiopia. The taxi driver ask you too much money to a ride, never jump on a taxi without agrteement of a fare prior to the journey. |
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| blue nile falls | | |
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 on September 1, 2006 |
the government has built a dam at the blue nile falls and most tourist who come to see the massive falls are highly dissapointed! people will tell you that the dam will be off on the weekends but they wont be. there are still plenty of great things to do in this area if you are planning to be there. i highly suggest visiting the monasteries on lake tana. you can get a great boat tour!!!! |
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More Ethiopia Tips
| Overview | General Tips Tips: 58 - Photos: 50 |
| Restaurants Tips: 31 - Photos: 19 | Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 35 - Photos: 16 |
| Things To Do Tips: 122 - Photos: 111 | Nightlife Tips: 6 - Photos: 2 |
| Off the Beaten Path Tips: 25 - Photos: 18 | Tourist Traps Tips: 8 - Photos: 6 |
| Warnings or Dangers Tips: 27 - Photos: 15 | Transportation Tips: 51 - Photos: 36 |
| Local Customs Tips: 71 - Photos: 68 | Packing Lists Tips: 15 - Photos: 10 |
| Shopping Tips: 6 - Photos: 3 | Sports Travel Tips: 2 - Photos: 2 |
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