Make sure your passport is in good standing and valid for at least six more months after your arrival day to Ethiopia. Visas can be obtained on arrival only at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. If you’re arriving in Ethiopia by ground transportation or through a different airport, you will need to get a visa in advance.
Visit WorldTravelGuide.com or a similar travel website to learn more about the specifics of the area you want to visit. Ethiopia is a large country of over 1 million km² (426,371 sq mi), so you’re likely to stick to a specific city or region. There are also lots of areas in Ethiopia that are still not completely colonized, so you should keep this in mind when making travel arrangements.
Arrange transportation in advance or at least figure out how you want to travel. Since the country is still largely underdeveloped, local means of transportation are sometimes unreliable. If you’re traveling on your own rather than with an organized group, you should make sure your destination city has a network of buses and taxis. If you’re traveling outside of the main cities, your best bet is to hire your own car (with driver).
Find out what the specific weather of the area you’re visiting is like. While Ethiopia in general has an arid, hot climate, strong rains can happen at different times of the year, depending on your final destination.
Book a hotel in the city center, which is generally safe, no matter its size and location. The Addis Ababa area is especially popular with tourists because this is where most international flights arrive to. Prices don’t vary much from town to town, so if you’re considering booking accommodations outside of the city in order to save money, don’t. You will end up spending the same (or more) in transportation.
