Think twice.
Ethiopia's risk score climbed to 44 today, and you are facing a mix of US and Canadian level 3 travel advisories alongside active global polio and measles notices.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Ethiopia
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Checkpoint identity requirements
Expect a heightened security presence and carry your identity and travel documents at all times. Remain calm and follow all instructions at road blocks.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Polio
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •There are many ongoing inter-ethnic conflicts. Borders between ethnic regions tend to be high-risk areas. In addition, many groups are in conflict with the government.
- •Due to the general security situation, expect a heightened security presence.
- •Communications and availability of food, water and other necessities can be disrupted. Have a contingency plan.
- •Landmines are a threat in some regions.
- •See also War zone safety.
Staying healthy
- •Don't drink the tap water.
- •Consult a doctor before going to Ethiopia about what vaccinations against infectious diseases you should consider.
- •If you get sick, go to one of the big private hospitals, e.g., Korean, Hayat, St Gabriels.
- •A large part of Ethiopia is at a high elevation.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers currently lack consensus on the safety of Ethiopia, as government assessments for regions like the Bale Zone vary significantly. While individuals express interest in visiting Addis Ababa and the Bale Mountains National Park, they remain cautious due to security concerns and the rapid volatility of the region. No specific reports of violent crime, scams, or street-level safety incidents are documented in these discussions. The available information focuses entirely on prospective travel planning and uncertainty regarding the current security climate, leaving travelers to navigate conflicting official warnings without the benefit of shared, on-the-ground experiences regarding actual threats or safe practices.
“Different governments seem to have varying assessments of safety in the Bale Zone (where the park is located), which is why I was wondering.
— r/travel
“However, I'm also aware there are potential safety and security implications here.
— r/travel
“Also I know things can change quickly in this part of the world, and this trip would be at the end of 2025.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / E / F / L · 220V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 911 / ambulance: 911 / fire: 911
Zoom in
One Ethiopia city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12