Ethiopia : Why go there?

Museums, archaeological sites and churches generally open at the same times as in France. Remember to call the priest on his telephone (local guides have everyone's number) or have children fetch him a little early to visit the churches perched in the mountains.

Remember to plan your visits to religious sites with a guide well in advance during major festivities: Fasika, Timkat or Christmas, especially in Lalibela, especially if you're looking for a French-speaking guide as they are rare and in high demand.

Visiting the churches is not cheap (400 birr for the entrance, but then you have to pay the priest, sometimes the scout, sometimes the people guarding the car in the parking lot, etc.). The tribes of the Omo valley are also quite expensive if you're two people, less so if you're with a large group, and the local guide, in addition to the individual entrance fee, is quite expensive, and compulsory even if you have your own guide in the car. The Danakil desert tour is also quite expensive, but off-season you can negotiate prices more easily.

In Lalibela, watch out for children offering you cheaper entry to the churches (the pass has been raised from US$50 to US$100 per person for three days). Admittedly, you may enter through another entrance, but there are plenty of checks inside and you're bound to get caught! It's also unethical not to pay the official entrance fee, which is also used to fund the conservation of the churches.

In the case of a service, it's essential to agree on everyone's role and to agree on the price beforehand, as it's not uncommon for people to follow you without having been asked for anything, to be totally useless and then ask for something.

When it comes to tips for drivers and guides, it's always difficult to give a precise price, and it's up to each individual to judge according to the quality of the service provided and the price negotiated at the outset. The rule is to try to find the right proportion on every occasion. More often than not, Ethiopians will pretend to be disappointed by what they are offered, which is fair enough, but tipping should remain what it is: a spontaneous gesture, not a systematic due. However, there's nothing to stop you being generous with a guide, driver or other person who has been particularly kind and helpful.