What is the best time to visit Ethiopia?

Best Time to Visit Ethiopia

The best time to travel to Ethiopia is during the dry season (October to May) and the shoulder season (June to September).

Dry Season in Ethiopia

The dry season in Ethiopia runs from October to May and is the most popular time to visit. During this time, travelers can expect warm days and cool nights. The countryside is lush and green, and the skies are clear and blue. This season is also the best time to visit the Simien Mountains, as the weather is dry and the views are spectacular. Other attractions include the ancient rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the Blue Nile Falls, and the castles of Gondar. Visitors can also take part in festivals such as Timkat, which celebrates Epiphany, and Irreecha, which celebrates the end of the rainy season.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Ethiopia

Ethiopia in January

Weather

January in Ethiopia is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is low, with occasional showers in the northern and western parts of the country.

Events

• Timket: Timket is a traditional Ethiopian Epiphany celebration that takes place on January 19th. It is marked by colorful processions, singing, and dancing.
• Ethiopian New Year: The Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash) is celebrated on September 11th (or September 12th in a leap year). It is marked by exchanging gifts and decorating homes with colorful flowers.
• Meskel: Meskel is a religious festival celebrated on September 27th. It commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Helena. It is marked by bonfires, processions, and feasting.
• Irreecha: Irreecha is a traditional Oromo thanksgiving festival celebrated on the first Sunday of October. It is marked by colorful processions and feasting.
• Christmas: Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in Ethiopia. It is marked by church services, feasting, and gift-giving.

Ethiopia in January

Weather

January in Ethiopia is characterized by mild temperatures and occasional rain showers. The average temperature is around 25°C (77°F) during the day, with the nighttime temperature dropping to an average of 10°C (50°F).

Events

• Timkat: Timkat is the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany. It is celebrated every year on January 19th and is the most important religious holiday in Ethiopia.
• Ethiopian New Year: The Ethiopian New Year is celebrated on September 11th every year. It is a time of celebration and reflection, and many people take time off work to spend with family and friends.
• Meskel: Meskel is a religious holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is celebrated on September 27th every year and is a time of prayer and reflection.
• Enkutatash: Enkutatash is the Ethiopian New Year and is celebrated on September 11th every year. It is a time of celebration and reflection, and many people take time off work to spend with family and friends.
• Genna: Genna is a traditional Ethiopian Christmas celebration that takes place on January 7th. It is a time of celebration, with singing, dancing, and feasting.

Ethiopia in March

Weather

March in Ethiopia is generally warm and dry. Temperatures range from highs of 30°C (86°F) to lows of 15°C (59°F). Rainfall is minimal and mostly occurs in the highlands.

Events

• Timket, or Epiphany, is a three-day celebration of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. It is celebrated in January, and is one of the most important holidays in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
• The Ethiopian New Year, or Enkutatash, is celebrated on September 11th and marks the start of the new year in the Ethiopian calendar.
• The Genna Festival is celebrated in December and marks the end of the Christmas season in Ethiopia.
• The Meskel Festival is celebrated in September and commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Helena of Constantinople.
• The Irreecha Festival is celebrated in October and marks the end of the rainy season in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia in April

Weather

April in Ethiopia is generally warm and dry. Average temperatures range from the low 70s to the mid 80s Fahrenheit, with occasional showers in some areas.

Events

• The Ethiopian New Year, or Enkutatash, is celebrated on April 11th. This holiday marks the beginning of the solar year and is celebrated with feasts, dancing, and traditional music.
• The Timkat Festival is held in January or February, depending on the Ethiopian calendar. This festival celebrates the baptism of Jesus Christ and is marked by colorful processions and traditional singing and dancing.
• The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) celebrates its founding day on April 22nd. This day marks the beginning of the OLF’s struggle for freedom and independence.
• The Genna Festival is held in January or February, depending on the Ethiopian calendar. This festival celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is marked by traditional singing and dancing.
• The Meskel Festival is held in September or October, depending on the Ethiopian calendar. This festival celebrates the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Helena of Constantinople and is marked by colorful processions and traditional singing and dancing.

Ethiopia in May

Weather

In May, Ethiopia experiences warm weather with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The weather is usually sunny with occasional rain showers.

Events

• Timket: Timket is a religious festival celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is held on January 19th and marks the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
• Genna: Genna is a traditional Ethiopian Christmas celebration that takes place on January 7th. It is celebrated with singing, dancing, and feasting.
• Ethiopian New Year: Ethiopian New Year is celebrated on September 11th and marks the beginning of a new year in the Ethiopian calendar.
• Meskel: Meskel is a religious festival celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church on September 27th. It commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Empress Helena in the 4th century.
• Irreecha: Irreecha is a traditional harvest festival celebrated by the Oromo people in Ethiopia. It takes place on the first Sunday of October and is celebrated with singing, dancing, and feasting.

Ethiopia in June

Weather

June is the start of the dry season in Ethiopia. Temperatures are generally warm to hot, with average highs ranging from 25-30°C (77-86°F). The country experiences plenty of sunshine, with an average of 8-9 hours of sunshine per day.

Events

• Timket: Timket is a major religious festival in Ethiopia that celebrates the baptism of Jesus. It takes place on January 19th and is celebrated with colorful parades, traditional dancing, and feasting.
• Meskel: Meskel is a religious festival that marks the finding of the True Cross by Queen Helena. It takes place on September 27th and is celebrated with bonfires, processions, and feasting.
• Enkutatash: Enkutatash is the Ethiopian New Year, celebrated on September 11th. It is celebrated with traditional dancing, feasting, and exchanging of gifts.
• Irreecha: Irreecha is a harvest festival celebrated by the Oromo people. It takes place in October and is celebrated with traditional dancing, feasting, and giving thanks to God.
• Fasika: Fasika is a religious festival celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It takes place on Easter Sunday and is celebrated with colorful parades, traditional dancing, and feasting.

Ethiopia in July

Weather

July is the start of the dry season in Ethiopia, and the temperatures are generally warm. Daytime temperatures average around 25-27°C (77-81°F) and nighttime temperatures average around 17-18°C (63-64°F). The humidity is low, and there is very little rainfall.

Events

• Timkat, or Epiphany, is a major religious holiday in Ethiopia celebrated on January 19th. This holiday commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. It is celebrated with colorful processions and traditional music.
• The Omo River Festival is a traditional celebration that takes place in July in the Lower Omo Valley. During this festival, the local tribes come together to celebrate with traditional music and dancing.
• The Gondar International Music Festival is an annual event held in Gondar. This festival brings together musicians from all over the world to perform traditional Ethiopian music.
• The Great Ethiopian Run is an annual 10K race held in Addis Ababa. This race is one of the largest 10K races in Africa and attracts runners from all over the world.
• The Ethiopian International Film Festival is an annual event held in Addis Ababa. This festival showcases films from all over the world and provides a platform for filmmakers to share their work.

Ethiopia in August

Weather

August in Ethiopia is hot and humid, with temperatures reaching up to 30°C (86°F). This is the peak of the rainy season, with the majority of the country receiving between 200-400mm of rain.

Events

• Timkat: This is the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 19th. It is a colorful event that includes processions, singing, and dancing.
• Irreecha: This is a traditional Oromo festival that is celebrated in August. It is a harvest festival that includes traditional music, dancing, and feasting.
• Meskel: This is a religious festival that celebrates the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Helena. It is celebrated with bonfires, singing, and dancing.
• Genna: This is a traditional Ethiopian Christmas celebration that is celebrated on January 7th. It is a festive event that includes singing, dancing, and feasting.
• Enkutatash: This is the Ethiopian New Year, which is celebrated on September 11th. It is a festive event that includes singing, dancing, and feasting.

Ethiopia in September

Weather

September in Ethiopia is the start of the dry season, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. Rainfall is minimal, but humidity is high.

Events

• Timkat (Epiphany): This religious holiday celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River and is celebrated with colorful parades and processions.
• Enkutatash: This holiday marks the start of the Ethiopian New Year and is celebrated with gift-giving and traditional music and dance.
• Meskel: This religious holiday celebrates the discovery of the True Cross by Empress Helena and is celebrated with bonfires and processions.
• Irreecha: This holiday celebrates the coming of the rains and is celebrated with colorful parades and traditional music and dance.
• Genna: This holiday marks the start of the Ethiopian Christmas season and is celebrated with gift-giving and traditional music and dance.

Ethiopia in October

Weather

October in Ethiopia is generally hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to the low 30s Celsius. The occasional rain shower may occur, but rainfall is generally low during this month.

Events

• The Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrates Meskel, a religious festival, on October 27th. This festival commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Eleni in the 4th century.
• The Ethiopian New Year is celebrated on September 11th. This is a time of celebration and reflection, and is marked by traditional dancing, feasting, and gift-giving.
• The Timkat festival takes place in January. This is a three-day celebration of the baptism of Jesus, and is marked by colorful processions, singing, and dancing.
• The Oromo Cultural Festival is held in October. This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Oromo people, and includes traditional music, dancing, and storytelling.
• The Ethiopian International Film Festival is held in October. This festival showcases films from around the world, and includes screenings, workshops, and panel discussions.

Ethiopia in November

Weather

November in Ethiopia is generally dry and warm, with temperatures ranging from 18 to 30 degrees Celsius (64 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). The days are mostly sunny, with occasional rain showers.

Events

• The Ethiopian Coffee Festival is held in November in Addis Ababa. It is a celebration of the country’s coffee culture, featuring tastings, live music, and traditional coffee ceremonies.
• The Meskel Festival is held in November in Addis Ababa. It is a religious holiday commemorating the finding of the True Cross and includes colorful processions, traditional dancing, and feasting.
• The Gondar International Music Festival is held in November in Gondar. It is a celebration of Ethiopian music, featuring performances by local and international artists.
• The Omo Valley Festival is held in November in the Omo Valley. It is a celebration of the region’s diverse cultures, featuring traditional music, dance, and art.
• The Ethiopian Marathon is held in November in Addis Ababa. It is a 42-kilometer race through the city’s streets, with thousands of participants from around the world.

Ethiopia in December

Weather

December is the start of the dry season in Ethiopia, with temperatures ranging from the high 70s to the low 80s Fahrenheit. December is typically the driest month of the year, with very little rain.

Events

• Timkat: Timkat is the Ethiopian Orthodox festival that celebrates the baptism of Jesus. It takes place on January 19th and is celebrated with colorful processions, singing, and dancing.
• Christmas: Christmas is celebrated in Ethiopia on January 7th, as the country follows the Julian calendar. Churches will be decorated with colorful lights and decorations, and families will gather for special meals.
• Oromo Music Festival: The Oromo Music Festival is held in Addis Ababa in December and celebrates the traditional music of the Oromo people. It features traditional music, dance, and art.
• Ethiopian New Year: The Ethiopian New Year is celebrated on September 11th and marks the beginning of a new year in the Ethiopian calendar. It is celebrated with traditional music, dancing, and feasting.
• Ethiopian Marathon: The Ethiopian Marathon is held in Addis Ababa in December and is a popular event for both locals and tourists. It is a challenging course that takes runners through the city’s streets and parks.