Health
Reference only, not medical advice. Use safe water and careful food hygiene; CDC notes active cholera transmission, so handwashing matters. Prevent mosquito, tick and sand-fly bites; malaria risk exists in areas below 2,500 m, and dengue/leishmaniasis also occur. Avoid swimming/wading in untreated freshwater. Addis Ababa is high altitude, so pace arrivals; lowlands can be very hot and dehydrating.
Vaccinations
Consult a doctor or travel clinic at least a month before travel. Be up to date on routine vaccines, including MMR, polio, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, flu, varicella, shingles where relevant, and COVID-19. CDC commonly recommends hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, polio booster considerations, malaria prevention for risk areas, and rabies for higher-risk trips. Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for many travelers; a certificate is required if arriving from a yellow-fever-risk country or after a >12-hour transit there.
eSIM / connectivity
eSIM is available but should not be assumed frictionless everywhere. Ethio telecom advertises eSIM activation by QR code at service centers and has an International Visitors Plan for prepaid SIM users. The main local mobile networks are Ethio telecom and Safaricom Ethiopia; verify current eSIM/tourist options and phone compatibility before arrival. Coverage is best in Addis Ababa and major towns, with patchier service on rural or mountain routes.
Health/vaccine info is reference only, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic; defer to CDC/WHO and official sources (as of 2026-06-20).