Best Time To Visit Ethiopia.

Northern Historic Circuit and to its Highlands

The October to February dry season is the best time to plan a trip to the ancient rock-cut churches of Ethiopia's stunning Northern Highlands. However, even during the wet season, rains rarely last all day. If you're looking to save money, consider booking a trip in March or April, when the rains are light and prices for accommodation and tours are generally lower. Usually, it's best to avoid traveling in June and July, when the rains in this region are at their most extreme.  EXPLORE NORTHERN HISTORIC TOURS

Trekking to Simien Mountains National Park

The Simien Mountains are a vast mountain range whose highest peak stands at 14,872 feet, making it one of the highest mountains in Africa.  Trekking here is fantastic, not only because of the scenery, gorges, and streams but also because you get a chance to look for endemic wildlife like the Gelada Baboon and the Walia Ibex. The best time to trek is from September to November, when it's dry, green, and relatively dust-free. October, in particular, can be spectacular because this is when the mountain wildflowers are in full bloom. SIMIEN TREKKING

Best time to visit Bale Park

November to February is generally considered the best time to visit Bale Mountains National Park. This is the Dry season and conditions are ideal for hiking. Traveling in the Wet season months can be a bit more of an adventure as downpours can interrupt activities. Lush vegetation, clear views and wildflowers are characteristic of this time.  TREKKING IN BALE PARK

Best Time to visit the Omo Valley

The best time to visit the Omo Valley is during the dry season, which typically spans from November to March. This period offers the most comfortable weather, with cooler temperatures and less rainfall, making it easier to navigate the rugged terrain and remote villages of the region. The dry season also ensures that river crossings are more manageable, allowing for better access to remote tribal communities.

During the dry season, the Omo Valley is endowed with cultural events and ceremonies. Many tribes hold exuberant festivals which showcases their cultural traditions and offer a unique vantage point to experience these ancient customs.

It’s important to note that the Omo Valley lowlands can become excruciatingly hot during the dry season, particularly in January and February, so we highly recommend that you come fully prepared with appropriate clothing and methods to stay hydrated during your trip. TOUR TO OMO VALLEY

Best Time to Visit the Danakil Depression

Danakil is one of the hottest places on earth, with daytime temperatures easily reaching 122 degrees Fahrenheit.4 It's a fascinating destination where you can witness the age-old tradition of salt caravans, experience Afar culture, and marvel at a myriad of active volcanoes. If you've ever felt the urge to visit another planet, you'll love the extraordinary landscapes of this region. To avoid feeling like you're boiling alive, however, make sure to visit during the cooler months of November to March.  ADVENTURE TOUR TO DALLOL AND ERTAL

Best Time for Experiencing Ethiopia's Festivals

Ethiopian festivals are certainly worth planning a trip around. Mostly religious, festivals generally last several days. Orthodox Christian festivals are the most prominent and visible in Ethiopia and are celebrated according to the Ethiopian calendar. For example, Ethiopian Christmas (known as Ganna) is celebrated on January 7, rather than December 25. Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year, is celebrated on September 11.

If you're keen to experience Ethiopian festivities at their most colorful, consider planning your trip around Meskel or Timkat, but be prepared to book your domestic flights and hotels well in advance.

Key Festivals & Events

Timkat, the Feast of Epiphany held on January 19, is Ethiopia's biggest festival, celebrating the baptism of Jesus. The festival lasts for three days, and includes a procession of the church's tabot, or consecrated replica of the Arc of the Covenant; and ritual re-enactments of the baptism. When the more solemn aspects of the festival are over, participants enjoy feasting, music, and dancing. The best places to enjoy the festival are Gondar, Lalibela, and Addis Ababa. It is worth joining a tour, just to make sure that you are able to reserve accommodation. It's also good to have a guide who can tell you exactly what is going on during the processions.

Later in the year, the country celebrates Meskel on September 27. Meskel is an old Christian festival that has been celebrated in Ethiopia for over 1,600 years. It commemorates the discovery of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. Some pieces of the cross are thought to have been brought to Ethiopia. The best place to celebrate the festival is in Addis Ababa's Meskel Square, where a colorful procession of priests, deacons, and choir singers walk around a huge pyre, bearing ceremonial crosses and wooden torches decorated with olive leaves. The torch-bearers set the pyre alight, and the next day people go to the bonfire and use the ash to make the sign of the cross on their foreheads before spending the rest of the day feasting.