Ethiopia Travel Guide Best Time To Visit
Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Ethiopia.
Watching wildlife in Ethiopia is not very season dependent. However, July and August are the wettest months and travel over that period isn’t recommended (especially if you intend to do some hiking or camping). Ethiopia’s spectacular scenery is at its best from September to December, when days are sunny, the landscape is green and lush and the sky is free of haze after the rains.
May to October Dry Season
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Days are mostly dry and sunny
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Scenery is lush from October to December after the rains
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Conditions are perfect for hiking and camping
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Best time for bird watching and migratory birds are present
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Main tourist sites get busy from October to April
November to April Wet Season
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Scenery is at its best
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There are many wild flowers in September
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Many overcast and rainy days in July and August
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Cold and wet in Bale and Simien Mountains
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July and August are not recommended for hiking and camping
Wildlife Photos
Ethiopian wolf eating a mole-rat
© Ariadne van ZandbergenMale gelada monkey portrait
© Ariadne van ZandbergenAfrican elephants in thick bush
© Ariadne van ZandbergenWalia ibex, an Ethiopian endemic
© Ariadne van ZandbergenPlains zebras
© Ariadne van ZandbergenSwayne's hartebeest
© Ariadne van ZandbergenHerd of defassa waterbuck
© Ariadne van ZandbergenOlive baboon
© Homo CosmicosSwayne's hartebeest walking through long grass
© Ariadne van ZandbergenNile crocodile swimming in Lake Chamo
© Ariadne van ZandbergenHamadryas baboon sitting in the shade
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBeisa oryx
© Ariadne van ZandbergenSoemmerring's gazelle
© Bora IncirMale lesser kudu
© Bora IncirLesser kudus
© Ariadne van ZandbergenHerd of female mountain nyalas
© Ariadne van ZandbergenGiant forest hog in Harenna Forest
© Ariadne van ZandbergenGolden jackal in Harenna Forest
© Ariadne van ZandbergenHippopotamus in Lake Chamo
© AL-TravelpictureStarck's hare on Sanetti Plateau
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBushpig
© Ariadne van ZandbergenOribi pair
© Ariadne van ZandbergenWarthog
© Ariadne van ZandbergenEthiopian wolves greeting on Sanetti Plateau
© Ariadne van ZandbergenPlains zebras
© BremecR Best Time To Go by Major Park
Most of Ethiopia’s parks can be visited throughout the year. You’ll see animals at any time. However, the scenery, which is a huge attraction of the parks, is at its best after the rains from October to December. The higher slopes of Bale and Simien Mountains NP can be very cold and unpleasant in the rains. April and August to October are generally less favorable for Bale Mountains, and the wettest months in the Simiens are July and August.