Ethiopia Packing List

The quick answer

Pack for cold nights and strong sun on the same day, pack modest clothing you can wear into a church or a mosque, and pack a real medical kit. Then check the restricted list before you close the bag, because Ethiopia controls the import of several things travelers carry without thinking.

Clothing: layers, because altitude decides

Most of where you will go is high. Addis Ababa is at 2,400 m and much of the highland north is higher. Days are mild, nights are cold, and buildings are generally not heated.

• A genuine insulating layer. A fleece is the minimum; a light down or synthetic jacket is better, especially for the mountains.
• Long trousers and long sleeves for evenings, which also serve for mosquito hours and for religious sites.
• A windproof shell. Highland weather turns quickly and the escarpment country is exposed.
• Broken-in walking shoes with grip. Rock-cut and hillside sites involve uneven stone, and the FCDO notes that protective railings at historical sites are rarely in place.
• Warm socks and something to sleep in. Unheated rooms at altitude are colder than the daytime suggests.

Sun, at height

At this altitude the sun burns faster than the air temperature suggests, and the mismatch catches people out on cool, breezy days. Pack high-factor sunscreen, a brimmed hat, sunglasses and lip balm with sun protection.

Modest dress, and how to make it easy

The FCDO advises dressing conservatively and observing local customs, with particular care at Ethiopian Orthodox sites, outside Addis Ababa and in rural areas, and it notes that women are expected to dress conservatively especially when visiting religious sites.

The practical solution is a large light scarf or shawl. It covers hair and shoulders on demand, weighs nothing and doubles as a wrap on a cold morning. Also pack socks you do not mind walking in: shoes come off at Orthodox churches, and stone floors are cold and rough.

The medical pack

This is not the usual boilerplate. The FCDO's position is that only private hospitals in Addis Ababa offer a reasonable standard of basic care, that ambulance services are limited, that dentistry is especially scarce, and that outside the capital medical facilities are extremely poor. Its instruction is to carry a comprehensive medical pack when traveling out of Addis Ababa.

• Your prescription medicines in their original labeled packaging, in more than one bag, with a copy of the prescription.
• Oral rehydration salts. Water-borne illness is common and this is the thing most likely to be needed and hardest to improvise.
• Antimalarials as prescribed. The FCDO gives malaria as common up to 2,000 m; the CDC gives transmission in all areas below 2,500 m. Ask your doctor with your actual itinerary in hand.
• Insect repellent with DEET, and treated clothing if you are going into lowland areas.
• A water treatment method as backup. Drink boiled or bottled water and avoid ice.
• Wound care, blister care, painkillers, antihistamine and any personal items you would struggle to buy.
• Hand sanitizer. Cholera transmission is described by the CDC as widespread and hand washing is the main defense.

Note also that the CDC records that rabies vaccines are typically not readily available in Ethiopia if an exposure occurs, which is worth raising at your travel clinic before you go.

Documents and money

• A printed copy of your passport photo page, visa and entry stamp. The FCDO says to carry a copy rather than the original.
• Your yellow fever certificate, physically, if you have one.
• Cash, in more than one place, plus a second card from a second issuer. Ethiopia is a cash-based society and ATMs are unreliable outside cities.
• A folder for exchange receipts, which you need to change birr back.

What not to pack, or to clear first

Ethiopian customs restricts several ordinary travel items, and unapproved ones can be confiscated.

• Binoculars, satellite phones and drones may not be imported or exported without prior approval from the Customs and Information Network and Security Agency. Binoculars are the one that surprises people. Ask your operator well before departure.
• Specialist filming or audio equipment may fall under special customs rules.
• Ivory is illegal to possess, including pieces you brought in yourself.

Full detail is in Ethiopia Visa and Entry Requirements.

Power and connectivity

Bring a power bank and charge everything when you have the chance. The State Department lists communications disruptions among its concerns, and power is not continuous everywhere. A headlamp is more useful here than in most places, both for unlit stairs at religious sites and for a room without power.

A note on where you are going

Pack for the regions you can actually visit. Both governments advise against all travel to several regions, including Tigray and Amhara, which is where much of the high mountain country and the historic north sit. Settle the itinerary against Ethiopia Travel Safety Guide before you pack for it.

Sources

• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Ethiopia safety and security: terrorism, kidnap, crime, road travel, local laws and the Ethiopian calendar. Accessed 14 September 2026.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Ethiopia health advice, including the end of the Marburg outbreak and the standard of healthcare. Accessed 14 September 2026.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Ethiopia entry requirements: passport validity, the e-visa, the yellow fever certificate and the currency limits. Accessed 14 September 2026.
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Travelers’ Health, Ethiopia: vaccination guidance, malaria, cholera and rabies. Accessed 14 September 2026.