1. Ethiopia is, generally speaking, a safe country, but there are areas that tourists should refrain from visiting or visit them with extreme caution and only together with a guide. This is particularly true about the border with Somali and regions in the south-east of Ethiopia.
2. The country has a relatively low crime level, but there are still swindlers and robbers. The concentration of criminals is higher close to the borders with Sudan and Kenya. Tourists shouldn’t visit these parts of the country after sunset.
3. Ethiopia is a secular country, but local people don’t pay much attention to this fact. Many of them are very religious people. Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Sunni Islam are the dominating religions here, and their rules may be applied to tourists as well.
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5. That being said, heterosexual couples should also not kiss or hug each other when they are on the street or in a café.
6. In order to protect yourself from potential problems, never tell openly what you think about local customs, traditions, and beliefs no matter how savage and immoral they might look to you. Ethiopians consider their beliefs true and correct, so there can be no critics and discussions.
8. Tourists must be very careful when they choose food because unsanitary conditions and wrong storage methods are typical for the country.
9. Never drink tap water, and always stock up on bottled water. This rule concerns tooth cleaning too.
10. Tourists should leave tips in large hotel chains and popular cafes. A reward of 10% of the total is enough. Tips are not mandatory in small cafes, but waiters will always be happy to get some extra money.
11. It is always a good idea to make vaccines against malaria and yellow fever before a vacation in Ethiopia. Don’t forget that AIDS is very widespread in the country.
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13. It is a good idea to get not only banknotes in high denominations but also coins. Many shops and cafes can have no change.
14. It is almost impossible to pay with a bank card.