Traveler's Guide

🤝 Greetings take time

Greetings are warm and unhurried — people ask about your health, your family and your work. Handshakes are common, and friends often add a light shoulder bump. Close friends and family may kiss on the cheeks three times. Saying “Selam” first always earns a smile.

🍽️ Eating together

Food is shared from one large plate. Wash your hands, eat with your right hand, and take from the part of the platter in front of you. If someone offers you a gursha, accept it — it is a sign of affection. Expect your hosts to insist you eat more; “Beka” means “enough”.

☕ The coffee ceremony

Being invited to a coffee ceremony is an honour. It can last an hour or more, and it is polite to stay for all three rounds if you can. Compliment the coffee — and the person who made it.

⛪ Visiting churches and mosques

Take off your shoes, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and women may be asked to cover their hair. Men and women sometimes enter by different doors. Ethiopia is home to large Christian and Muslim communities, both with very long histories — be respectful at every place of worship.

🥗 Fasting days

Many Orthodox Christians fast (no meat or dairy) on Wednesdays and Fridays and in the weeks before Easter. Muslims fast in daylight during Ramadan. Fasting food is delicious, so it's a great time to try vegan dishes.

📷 Ask before you photograph

Always ask before taking photos of people, especially priests, worshippers, and people in rural areas. Some churches charge a small fee for photography. Don't photograph military or government sites.

🕖 Ethiopian time and calendar

The day starts at dawn on the Ethiopian clock, and the calendar is about seven to eight years behind the Gregorian one. When making plans, check whether a time or date is Ethiopian or international.

⛰️ Altitude

Addis Ababa is about 2,350 metres high. Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol and exercise for the first day or two, and use sunscreen — the sun is strong up here.

💵 Money and tipping

The currency is the Ethiopian birr. Rounding up or leaving around 10% in restaurants is appreciated. In markets, friendly bargaining is normal — smile, ask “Wagaw sint new?” and enjoy it.

🧭 Hunting safely and kindly

• Never enter private property, compounds or church grounds to search — caches are always in public places.
• Put each card back exactly where you found it, for the next traveler.
• Hunt in daylight and keep your phone and bag close in busy areas.
• If someone asks what you're doing, tell them! Many locals love the story.