Ethiopia Warnings Or Dangers

  HANDLE REMOVED!
by DAO
 
  • HANDLE REMOVED!
      HANDLE REMOVED!
    by DAO
  • he had $ in his eyes!
      he had $ in his eyes!
    by Elisabcn
  • DON'T SPLASH THE WATER !
      DON'T SPLASH THE WATER !
    by DAO
  • INSIDE A SHOWER !
      INSIDE A SHOWER !
    by DAO
  •   Warnings Or Dangers
    by Sami29
 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

NO DIET SODA !

by DAO

Despite having a burgeoning Tourist Market and having a thriving import market, you will be unable to find Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, Diet 7-Up or any diet soda drinks. Coca-Cola first licensed a bottler in 1959 to produce Coca-Cola and now has 2 plants employing 700 people. Still no Diet Coke! Why? I have no idea. I have been to Ethiopia more than 5 times now and have NEVER found diet drinks in any bar, restaurant, supermarket or corner shop.If you really need it: B.Y.O.B. Bring your own supply of diet drinks or switch to fruit juice. That can be found cheaply and easily everywhere!

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General warnings in brief...

by elsadran

Don't give anything to children---parents are neither happy nor proud of this. I myself saw many fathers and mothers giving a spank to their offspring for this. Don't give anything (lonely planet says,too) It is too egoistic because we do it mostly for us, I know because I enjoyed it ,too. Give to the schools, to the parents or the teacher! Don't make them beggars, don't make them get used to easy money because they often leave school just to run after tourist buses and ask for money. It's a great pity!!Instead give something to old and invalid...Be very careful of thieves in the market. They distract you or hold your legs and grab your camera or money. "Lonely Riders" don't trust girls who come to your room for a "ride". They very often drug you and rip you off. They themselves told me they are ingenious at finding your money no matter how well you have hidden it. Give it to your...

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Sob stories

by elsadran

Unfortunately there are a lot of small children in Ethiopia who will approach you with a sorrowful look and start telling their weepy stories. They have invented very big and plausible lies and sometimes they will convince you they are telling the truth. It's their big beautiful innocent eyes and their convincing way they are talking. Well, don't believe them. They are lying. Very few of them are really in need and their parents are not always proud of this practice. But who can stop them. They are used to getting easy money from tourists and they practice a lot becoming better and better ...“I need a uniform for school... / I am a student and my family lives in the country/ I want to be a doctor/ I have no parents/ my mother is sick and my father is dead, we have no food” are the usual stories but they are so clever that sometimes you want to give them something even though you are sure...

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Safety

by elsadran

Ethiopia is not only a very safe country, it is also a place where you feel very welcome. No one will attack you, or try to take your belongings by force. But of course you should always use your common sense which means that you never leave your bags unattended, never take out the whole bunch of your money, never show off expensive jewellery or electronic equipment unless you are in a safe place, like a hotel or with the company of local people that you trust as real friends. And don't be surprised if you come to have many of them. They are such a warm and open people!

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fake tour guides

by bada-bing

one of our main reasons travelling to ethiopia was a desire to hike around in the simean mountains for a few days, looking for gelada baboons and other native species. However by the time we had travelled that far north we had already decided that it would be madness to travel without a guide as we had already had more than our fair share of sticky situations. So when we found a tour operator who was running a day trip up there the next day (from Gondar) we said we would go suss it out with the group that day and see what we thought. So there was an italien couple supposedly going and we were to half the cost with them (of course we never actually met this couple!) we discussed prices etc and pick up drop off points and after a small bit of haggling a price was agreed. he said the tour included getting to the mountain range, a guided tour of the area during which he would show us the...

THE CULTURAL SHOW SCAM

by DAO

The is known as “Fird Bet” and seems to only happen in Addis Ababa. What happens? You will be approached on the street by a nice looking gentleman or even a kid. They tell you that the local community are putting on a Cultural Show and they would like to invite you. There will be traditional dancing, including the snake dance, by dancers in authentic costumes. It sounds great doesn’t it? Well, it’s a scam. A complete fraud and criminal enterprise. I used to watch one man, who looked like a school teacher, work the streets near a tourist hotel everyday. There is a teenager who works outside the Sheraton who runs away now when he sees me. Why? Because I know and now – so do you. I learned this from someone who once worked this scam. How does it work? They take you somewhere and a few dances are performed. You are offered drinks. You are then asked at the end for $100 per person or even...

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PEEING IN PUBLIC

by DAO

Unfortunately men (and boys) have a very cavalier attitude towards public urination. The first couple of times I watched this somewhat alarming behaviour I thought it was only truly homeless men in Addis Ababa who did this. It’s not. A lot of men do it and they definitely do this in the countryside. They just turn their back on even the busiest roads and go for it. Many toilets in bars and restaurants enforce this odd behaviour. Sometimes they have a urinal just outside the ladies toilet cubicle so they may have to see this twice! Any of you guys ever thought about going behind the tree/bush 2 meters away? No. Obviously not.

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Begging kids!!!!& may be adults

by choco15_2008

Begging kids are usually seen in shopping areas and other major areas. I dont think that you would see people begging in a local street expecially in smaller towns.Dont give themanything they could easilly returne and get the money back.In jijiga, dire dawa and more places you would see beggers around early in the begging for breakfast. It's pretty good if you give them some food expecially home cooked things since they cant re-sell it and it's home cooked.

Everywhere!!

by choco15_2008

When traveling by foot becareful of drivers as in some towns they drive all over the place.2. also dont take pictures with out permissoin of the people.You may wind up getting arested or having your camera confisated.3. Beware of scams--people will scam you if you look like a foreigner.scams could range from over payment to trying to tell you a sad story that is possibly not true. 4.when staing at a hotel watch out for creepy crawler,insects and carry bug spray around.

ROAD SAFETY

by DAO

Driving yourself is a bit unknown in Ethiopia. Most places that actually rent cars will only let you drive in Addis Ababa and on sealed roads. That leaves out a lot of the good bits of the country. Driving is no worse than many places in Africa, but this is a lot higher. That means instead of being run off the road, you may be run off the side of a steep cliff that will certainly leave loved one looking at your will. If you do drive – drive defensively. Very defensively! Just remember that Road Safety is optional.

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Safety Tips in Ethiopia

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Reviews and photos of Ethiopia attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Ethiopia sightseeing.

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Warnings Or Dangers: Cities in Ethiopia
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  2. Bahir Dar Warnings Or Dangers
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Questions and Answers

clarkekarina profile photo

Q:  Hello, I am going to Ethiopia February 8th till 27th. I am going for a friend's wedding at the start of the trip, then free to... 

angiebabe profile photo

A: Hi, im unfortunately not going for a while yet but when I had thought I was going to travel around I found that Ethiopian airlines internal prices were pretty good - have... 

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