Border Crossing from Ileret ( Kenya)  to Omorate ( Ethiopia):

Here there is no border fence, gate or border post in the remote area north of Lake Turkama.

This was where we crossed the border at the mud puddle !

Exit from Kenya must be done in Nairobi. (See Kenya Overland)

Entry into Ethiopia is done in the town of Oromate some 35 kms from the actual border.

The location of this is: turn right just before the bridge over the Omo River and 600 metres on the left.

The Customs guy did not use the Carnet but sighted it only. A sort of ‘temporary Import’ document filled out using our registration/ownership papers. They also wanted to put the computer and mobile phone on this but did not worry about the serial numbers.

Immigration just next door filled out some internal paperwork and stamped the passports. - All for no charge.

There is no ATM in town but the customs guy did change some small US$ for Ethiopian Birr  just in case we needed it.  Turmi also has no ATM.

Payment for most things ( camping etc) can be done in US$, be it at a lousy rate.

3rd Party Insurance:

Was not asked about but we do have it with Comesa.

Ethiopia to Kenya via Moyale:

In September 2017 both sides of the border we in the process of moving into then new buildings. It was very confusing and in a few weeks would not be the same anyway, hence I do not list.

Into Kenya we had to pay a foreign vehicle transit fee: 1 month KS4150 ( US$41)

also road toll tax KS 4040 ( US$40 ). Should have said we were only transiting for less than 2 weeks then we would not have had to pay anything.

Border Crossing at Moyale Kenya to Ethiopia: March 2018

Now both sides are in the new buildings but still function with some disorganisation.

On Kenya side park up and go upstairs for immigration. Over the road is the “Customs Warehouse’ here inside is the office that stamps your carnet. Be sure you have paid your road tax. The officer there is very officious and knows all the rules.

On the Ethiopian side, drive round the left side of the building and around to the front and park up. First immigration on the top floor. At this time there was no power so no electronic processing. It was some time before they decided to just stamp the passport manually. Customs for the carnet is on the ground floor first door on the left. Here they will fill out a temporary Import for the vehicle AND stamp the Carnet.

As there was no power on the Ethiopian side hence no ATM’s and most Fuel stations could not pump. The first ATM is on the left as your pass through the gate.

Fuel is much cheaper here than Kenya. At Moyale Birr18/Lt but further north it is Birr16/Lt

Travel in Ethiopia:

You drive on the RIGHT side.

Watch for cattle, goats, camels, donkey carts and people on the roads.

Driving at night is dangerous as the cattle like to sleep on the black top as it is warm.

Many roads have serious big pot holes and sharp deep edges.

During 4 weeks and 5,000kms in Ethiopia we were never stopped by police, just a friendly wave from them a couple of times.

Most roads in the north are mountainous and the trucks and particularly the commuter busses and mini busses cut blind corners.

We saw many crashed buses and trucks

To pass indicate to the right, if unsafe indicate to the left. For dangers on the road, like cattle crossing, or pot holes, vehicles put on their warning blinkers.

Speed limit in country towns is 35KPH but never seems to be observed.

Camping & Park Entry:

Actual camping places are rare, mostly we camped in hotel car parks, very occasionally wild camped.

I-Overlander, and PocketEarth was helpful in finding these places.

Omo Valley:

You have to have a village guide for each different village. There is also normally a fee for entry. We found it much easier to also have a general guide, as even to visit some of the markets you need a guide.

For  a guide for the Omo valley we can highly recommend:

Degu Ashenafi.

Degu is a student, speaks good english, and he seems to have a lot of contacts, both within the villages and towns, but also repair shops etc etc.

What we liked is that he not only worked for us but worked with us, listening to our requests and it was a great week.

You can contact Degu at:

Tel: (+251) 937318180

E-Mail: deguashenafi8@gmail.com

Facebook: degu.ashenafi.9

See our web page on the Omo Valley

Denakil Depression:

This is an absolute must if you came to Ethiopia.

ETT - Ethiopia Travel and Tours - G.Manager is Bisirat.

Really helpful in every respect.

See:  http://www.ethiotravelandtours.com

http://www.ethiotravelandtours.com/tours/danakil-depression-4-days/

For the Danakil valley trip we left our truck in Mek’ele at hotel Milano where the office of ETT is situated.

Perhaps we could have taken the truck as 90% of the driving is on black top, however the last 12kms to the volcano would not have done the tyres any good, because of the sharp lava rocks.

We also camped in the truck at the rear of the Hotel before and after the trip. No charge.

See our web page on the Danakil Depression

People:

We hear a lot about the dangers of Ethiopia, we had no such problems.

The Australian government says “Reconsider your need to Travel”

People were friendly, smiling, and waving. Yes there was a bit of “give me money”, which can be annoying, but we just waved or ignored it.

The locals call out ‘You You’ all the time. I think it means foreigner.

We were warned of stone throwing, but experienced none.

The police NEVER pulled us up.

HINT: We always wave and smile at everyone, you just never know what it could lead to or save you from.

Food:

We were well stocked from Nariobi because some items are difficult to find.

Do not expect a western style supermarket, even though they are called supermarkets. Mostly just small one room shops.

Easy was breakfast cereal, UHT Milk, biscuits, paste, rice, jams, and tined foods.

Bananas, oranges, avocados, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, was all we really saw.

Difficult was meat, ( beaf and chicken), eggs ( sometimes on the side of the road).

We found nice bread rolls at some bakeries.

Fuel:

Fuel stations are in most bigger towns, but occasionally there was no fuel.

Diesel we paid in 2017/2018 - Bir16.50/litre ( A$0.86c). More at Moyale ( Birr18/Lt)

Once I think there was 30lts already on the pump before they started to fill, so watch !

On our second visit I now know that they try to leave the last sale on the pump. I caught them at it.

DO NOT open your fuel cap until you see the metre is zeroed !

Water:

From some hotel car parks was not a real problem

Internet:

Ethio Telecom is the only real supplier of telecommunications.

For data we paid Br 320 (US$16) for 2.4Gb

Towers are everywhere and data speed is OK

You can sometimes get from hotels.

In 2018 for “security reasons” the internet/data was not available, but you could access WiFi at some hotels for e-mails etc.

For our actual Travel Diary through X see: GoannaTracks Ethiopia

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