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Best time to visit Ethiopia: month by month
Short answer
October to March, the dry season, is best: highs of about 20–23°C in Addis Ababa, clear skies and very little rain. The main rains run from June to September, when the data shows rain on most days in July and August, roads turn muddy and the mountains cloud over.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°C | 8°C | 1 | high |
| Feb | 22°C | 9°C | 4 | medium |
| Mar | 23°C | 10°C | 8 | medium |
| Apr | 22°C | 10°C | 16 | low |
| May | 22°C | 10°C | 12 | low |
| Jun | 21°C | 10°C | 19 | low |
| Jul | 19°C | 10°C | 31 | low |
| Aug | 19°C | 10°C | 31 | low |
| Sep | 19°C | 9°C | 25 | medium |
| Oct | 20°C | 8°C | 7 | medium |
| Nov | 21°C | 8°C | 2 | medium |
| Dec | 21°C | 8°C | 1 | high |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Warm, about 22–23°C by day; the short rains bring showers on about 8–16 days a month, especially in April.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
The main rainy season, about 19–21°C with rain on most days in July and August; muddy roads and cloudy highlands.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Rain eases through September; October and November are green, clear and dry, about 20–21°C. Meskel falls in late September.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Dry and sunny, about 21–22°C by day and 8–9°C at night in Addis Ababa, colder in the Simiens; Genna and Timkat bring huge crowds of pilgrims.
Events worth planning around
- Genna, Ethiopian Christmas, especially in Lalibela (7 January)
- Timkat, Epiphany, with processions and Fasilides' Bath in Gondar (19–20 January)
- Enkutatash, Ethiopian New Year (11 September)
- Meskel, the Finding of the True Cross, with bonfires (27 September)
When to avoid
Avoid July and August if you want clear mountain views and dry roads; around Genna and Timkat, go only if you have booked flights and rooms well in advance.
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Common questions
What is the best time to visit Ethiopia?
October to March, the dry season.
When is Timkat?
19 January (20 January in leap years), with the biggest celebrations in Gondar and Lalibela.
Should I avoid the rainy season?
June to September brings rain on most days in the highlands, muddy roads and cloudy mountains, though the landscape is very green.