Nairobi to Karthoum, which route ?
 

Hi folks !

Will be continueing my trip next week after chillin´ out a bit on the Kenyan coastline.

Which route through Ethiopia can you recommend ? I am a bit in a rush, so what would be the best compromise between making some distance and still seeing the stuff you shouldn´t miss ?

How many kilometers am i looking at ?

Any advice appreciated.

greetings from Mombasa,

Chris

Hi Chris,

my information dates from the end of 2010. This is what I would recommend to you.

1. From Nairobi up north: the A2 over Isiolo to Moyale at the Ethiopian border. The road from Nairobi to Isiolo is OK, about 300 km. North of Isiolo, from Losai NP, road is very bad untill Moyale (about 400 km). However roadworks were in preparation. You can stay in Marsabit and in Torbi is a small hotel too.
2. From Moyale over Dilla to Addis Abeba is a good road; 850 km. A bit south of Dilla are two "stelae"-fields which are worth visiting.
3. Addis Abeba is a nice city for a few days. Visit the National Museum if you want to see the skulls of your ancestors.
4. From Addis Abeba you can take the direct road over Debre Markos to Bahir Dar and Gondar. It is a good road with stunning views; unfortunately I forgot the distance. Visit the monastery and churches on the islands in Lake Tana and don't forget the royal palaces in Gondar.
5. Alternatively, if you want to visit Lalibela, take the road from Addis over Dessie to Weldiya and from Weldiya the east-west road over Debre Tabor to Lake Tana. If you follow that road you will pass the village of Gashena were the road to Lalibela starts. It is only about 40 km from Gashena to Lalibela. All roads are Ok except the road from Gashena to Lalibela.
6. From Gondar (a bit south of Gondar) you take the road to Metema at the Sudanese border. This road is in good condition and has stunning views as you descend from the Ethiopian highland to the sudanese plains.
7. The road from Metema over Qadarif and Wad Madani is in good condition too but exceptionally boring and dusty. Qadarif and Wad Madani are not tourist places but there are some hotels which you will not like to remember. From Gondar to Qadarif is about 370 km, from Qadarif to Khartoum is 450 km.

Have a nice trip.

Thanks for the tipps.

How is the recent security situation at the Marsabit-Moyale road ? Reasons to worry after crossing the drc west/east ?

An iranian hippie guy i met here in Mombasa hitchhiked down that way some month ago told me some funky stories ...

cheers,

Chris