Ethiopia (Bradt Travel Guide)

I used the Bradt guide during my recent trip to Ethiopia and the print guide is invaluable because internet resources on Ethiopia travel are frankly pretty lacking. The only alternative is Lonely Planet but I never recommend LP except as a last resort if no other guides are out there. The history and culture section was comprehensive enough to get a feel for the background of a lot of the historic sites (Lalibela's rock churches, Gonder's castles, etc.) and understand everything from the love of injera to the different annoyances in each specific location. It is truly comprehensive so even though I had enough information on major tourist points I visited such as Axum and Bahir Dar as a do-it-myself traveler, the guide does detail numerous smaller towns and cities and on-the-road points of interest, so think of it as an investment for multiple trips. The final thing I love about the guide is the honesty about the challenges of traveling in Ethiopia, down to bringing a flashlight to Addis airport if you need to claim a lost bag or young kids sometimes pelting you with stones. That sort of information is probably the most important in mentally preparing to visit.

This is the most thorough travel guide I have ever read. The book is big and somewhat heavy so I bought the Kindle version to take on my trip. The historical section is excellent. This is a real plus as it is so hard to get really good historical coverage of Ethiopia. It also gives you a great deal of information that will help you navigate and understand the country of culture of Ethiopia. A great deal of work and research went into producing this guide and it shows in how well it is put together and how thoroughly things are covered.

Just used this on a 23-day trip to Ethiopia. The background history, political, art and music sections are great. Especially loved the recommendations in the music section. Used it in the north and south of Ethiopia for numerous sites with great success. Compared it to other guide books other travelers had on the trip (Lonely Planet, etc.) and this one seemed the best. Be sure to get the latest version published in December of 2015.

THis book really served us well

I am used to the lonely planet so the format has taken some getting used it. It is by far the most recent of the guides for Ethiopia. Also very helpful there is a blog for updates to the book and I have seen the author chime in on message boards when certain aspects have been mentioned as changing. I really like the idea a person is dedicated to keeping this guide updated and useful not just a staff writer passing through for a bit and moving on.

This is a great guide for many reasons. John Grinling's section on music is essential and enjoyable. Overall, the entire guide belies Briggs' deep respect, fascination and understanding for this incredibly dense and unique subject. From food to history to the current population... you get huge insights here, much moreso than any other guide book that I've ever seen, actually.

I travel to Ethiopia frequently and I often stay for months. I know the county well, but I always use Brigg's Ethiopia guides as a reference while in-country for hotels, restaurants, travel methods, language issues, health matters, cultural matters, and other helpful information. This new 2015 edition of the Ethiopia Bradt Travel Guide by Philip Briggs is the best travel guide available for Ethiopia. I have compared.

Took this all over Ethiopia--a rough country to visit. Useful reference even if you are with a tour group.