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Ethiopia - Things to Do in Ethiopia in February

Things to Do in Ethiopia in February

February weather, activities, events & insider tips

February Weather in Ethiopia

23°C (73°F) High Temp
6°C (43°F) Low Temp
40 mm (1.6 inches) Rainfall
45% Humidity

Is February Right for You?

Advantages

  • Peak dry season means clear blue skies for the Simien Mountains and Danakil Depression - you'll actually see the landscape without cloud cover obscuring those famous escarpments. Visibility can reach 50+ km (31+ miles) on good days.
  • Timkat Festival (Ethiopian Epiphany) happens mid-February and it's genuinely the most spectacular cultural event of the year. Gondar and Lalibela transform completely - we're talking tens of thousands of white-robed pilgrims, all-night vigils, and processions you won't see anywhere else on earth.
  • Comfortable hiking temperatures in the highlands - mornings start around 6-8°C (43-46°F) but by midday you're at a perfect 20-23°C (68-73°F) for trekking. The gelada baboons are active all day in this weather, not hiding from heat.
  • Post-harvest season means fresh teff and barley, so the injera is actually better quality right now. Markets in Addis Ababa and regional towns are loaded with produce, honey from the October harvest has settled, and coffee ceremony coffee is from the recent crop.

Considerations

  • Timkat week (typically February 10-20) means hotel prices in Lalibela and Gondar triple or quadruple, and you'll need to book 4-6 months ahead minimum. If you're not specifically coming for Timkat, avoid those towns during that week entirely.
  • The Danakil Depression, while accessible, hits 35-42°C (95-108°F) during the day even in February - that's actually cooler than other months but still brutal. You'll need to start treks at 4am and be done by 11am.
  • High season crowds mean the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela get genuinely packed between 9am-2pm. You might wait 20-30 minutes just to enter Bet Giyorgis during peak hours, and the experience loses something when you're shoulder-to-shoulder with tour groups.

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Best Activities in February

Simien Mountains National Park trekking

February is arguably the single best month for the Simiens - trails are completely dry, morning frost burns off by 9am, and afternoon temperatures stay comfortable for hiking at 3,000-4,000 m (9,840-13,120 ft) elevation. The endemic gelada baboons are everywhere since the grass is still green from the rainy season. You'll see herds of 200-300 animals. The escarpment views are crystal clear - on good days you can see 80 km (50 miles) across the valleys. This is peak season though, so trails around Sankaber and Chenek camps see 30-50 trekkers daily.

Booking Tip: Book through licensed operators in Debark town (park headquarters) or arrange beforehand through Gondar. Multi-day treks typically cost 3,500-6,000 birr per person per day (roughly 65-110 USD) including guide, scout, cook, and mule. Book at least 3-4 weeks ahead for February. You'll need the park entrance fee separately - 200 birr per day for foreigners. See current tour options in the booking section below.

Danakil Depression geological tours

February is one of only two truly manageable months for Danakil (the other is January) - daytime temps are still 35-42°C (95-108°F) but that's actually 10-15°C cooler than the May-September furnace. The salt flats are completely dry and accessible by 4WD. Erta Ale lava lake is most active during the dry season, and you can actually stand at the crater rim without being driven back by heat. The sulfur springs at Dallol are vivid yellow and orange against blue skies. That said, this is still one of the hottest places on earth - you'll drink 6-8 liters (1.6-2.1 gallons) of water daily and start hikes at 4am.

Booking Tip: This requires organized tours from Mekele - you cannot go independently for safety and permit reasons. Tours typically cost 12,000-18,000 birr (220-330 USD) for 3-4 days including 4WD, guide, permits, camping gear, and food. Book 4-6 weeks ahead minimum. Look for operators with recent safety records and proper communication equipment. See current tour options in the booking section below.

Lalibela rock-hewn churches pilgrimage

If you time it for Timkat (around February 19), you'll witness Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity in full ceremonial glory - all-night vigils, priests in full regalia, and the Tabot (replica Ark of Covenant) procession. Even outside Timkat week, February's dry weather means you can explore all 11 churches without mud, and morning temperatures around 8-10°C (46-50°F) make the uphill walks between church clusters comfortable. The churches themselves maintain a steady 15°C (59°F) year-round. Downside: this is absolute peak season, so expect crowds and inflated prices.

Booking Tip: Entry ticket is 50 USD for foreigners (paid once, valid for multiple days). Hire guides at the ticket office - typically 500-800 birr for a half-day. For Timkat week specifically, book hotels by October or you'll pay premium rates for basic rooms. Outside Timkat, 2-3 weeks advance booking is fine. Visit churches before 9am or after 3pm to avoid tour group rushes. See current tour options in the booking section below.

Bale Mountains wildlife tracking

February is prime time for the endemic Ethiopian wolf - they're most active in the cool morning hours on the Sanetti Plateau, and you might spot 8-12 individuals if you're on the plateau by 7am. The Afroalpine moorland is dry and accessible by vehicle up to 4,000 m (13,120 ft), and the Harenna Forest on the southern slopes is lush without being muddy. Mountain nyala are easier to spot in the dry season since they come to remaining water sources. The high-altitude hiking is comfortable - daytime temps around 12-18°C (54-64°F) at 3,000-4,000 m elevation.

Booking Tip: Base yourself in Dinsho or Rira for park access. Park fees are 200 birr per day for foreigners. Guide fees run 300-500 birr per day. Multi-day treks with camping cost 4,000-7,000 birr total (75-130 USD) including guide, cook, mules, and camping gear. Book 2-3 weeks ahead through operators in Dinsho. February is less crowded than Simiens - you might see only 5-10 other visitors daily. See current tour options in the booking section below.

Addis Ababa coffee ceremony experiences

February coffee is from the October-December harvest, so it's recently processed and at peak flavor. The coffee ceremony is a 45-60 minute ritual you'll find in traditional restaurants and cultural centers - beans are roasted on charcoal, hand-ground in a mortar, and brewed three times with increasing strength. In February's cool evenings (dropping to 6-8°C or 43-46°F), the ceremony happens indoors with incense, and locals actually linger longer than in hot season. Pair it with fresh injera and wot - the post-harvest teff makes noticeably better injera right now.

Booking Tip: Traditional coffee ceremonies happen at cultural restaurants throughout Addis, particularly in the Bole and Piazza areas. Expect to pay 200-400 birr (4-7 USD) for the full ceremony with snacks. Some hotels offer evening ceremonies for guests. You can also arrange home-visit ceremonies through cultural tour operators - typically 800-1,200 birr (15-22 USD) including a meal. No advance booking needed for restaurant ceremonies, but home visits should be arranged 3-5 days ahead. See current cultural tour options in the booking section below.

Omo Valley cultural village visits

February is dry season in the south, so the roads to Omo Valley villages (Mursi, Hamer, Karo) are actually passable without getting stuck in mud. Daytime temperatures reach 30-35°C (86-95°F) but it's less humid than the rainy months. The Omo River is lower, making it easier to cross and visit settlements on both banks. That said, this is ethically complicated tourism - some villages have become performative, and photography fees can feel transactional. If you go, do it with a guide who has genuine relationships with communities and explains the cultural context properly.

Booking Tip: This requires organized tours from Arba Minch or Jinka - you'll need 4WD and a guide who speaks local languages. Tours typically cost 8,000-15,000 birr (150-280 USD) for 3-4 days including vehicle, guide, camping or basic lodges, and village entry fees. Photography fees are separate and negotiated per person - typically 100-200 birr per photo. Book 3-4 weeks ahead. Look for operators who emphasize cultural respect over photo opportunities. See current tour options in the booking section below.

February Events & Festivals

Mid February

Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany)

This is the big one - Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Jesus's baptism, and it's a two-day spectacle unlike anything else. On the eve (typically January 19 in the Western calendar, but falls in early February some years due to the Ethiopian calendar being 7-8 years behind), priests carry Tabots (replicas of the Ark of Covenant) wrapped in ornate cloth to nearby water sources, accompanied by thousands of white-robed pilgrims singing and chanting. All-night vigils follow, then at dawn the water is blessed and sprinkled on the crowd. Lalibela and Gondar are the most famous locations - Lalibela's celebration happens around the rock-hewn churches with priests in full ceremonial robes. Gondar's happens at Fasilides Bath, which is actually filled with water for this one day of the year. If you're anywhere near Ethiopia in mid-February, build your entire trip around this.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Layering system for extreme temperature swings - you'll go from 6°C (43°F) at dawn in Lalibela to 23°C (73°F) by noon, then back down at night. Bring a warm fleece or down jacket for mornings and evenings, plus lightweight long-sleeve shirts for midday.
Serious sun protection - UV index hits 9 at high altitude and the thin air at 2,500+ m (8,200+ ft) means you'll burn faster than you expect. SPF 50+ sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses are non-negotiable. Reapply every 2 hours when hiking.
Broken-in hiking boots with ankle support - trails in Simiens and Bale involve loose rock and steep grades at altitude. Your ankles will thank you. If you're only doing city tourism, comfortable walking shoes are fine.
Modest clothing for church visits - shoulders and knees must be covered, and women should bring a scarf for head covering in some churches. Lightweight cotton pants and long-sleeve shirts work better than trying to layer in the heat.
High-altitude medication if you're sensitive - Lalibela sits at 2,500 m (8,200 ft), Simiens go above 4,000 m (13,120 ft), and some people feel it. Bring Diamox if you've had altitude issues before. Drink absurd amounts of water.
Dust masks or buff for Danakil and rural roads - the dry season means fine dust on unpaved roads, and Danakil has sulfur fumes around Dallol. A simple cloth mask makes a huge difference.
Water purification tablets or SteriPEN - tap water is not safe to drink outside major hotels. You'll go through 3-4 liters (0.8-1.1 gallons) daily, more in Danakil or during hikes. Buying bottled water constantly gets expensive and creates plastic waste.
Power adapter for Type C, E, F sockets (European style) - Ethiopia uses 220V. Bring a universal adapter and check if your electronics can handle the voltage.
Small bills in birr - rural areas and markets don't break 100 or 500 birr notes easily. ATMs in Addis dispense mostly large bills, so break them at hotels or larger shops before heading to villages.
Headlamp with extra batteries - power cuts happen in smaller towns, and if you're doing Erta Ale volcano you'll be hiking in complete darkness. Phone flashlights drain batteries too fast.

Insider Knowledge

The Ethiopian calendar is 7-8 years behind the Western calendar AND has 13 months, so when locals say a date, clarify which calendar they mean. Timkat falls on 'Terr 11' in the Ethiopian calendar, which is usually January 19-20 Western but can shift. Always confirm dates in both systems.
Altitude hits harder than you expect - Addis Ababa is already at 2,400 m (7,870 ft), and most highland destinations are higher. Spend your first day in Addis doing easy activities and drinking water constantly before flying to Lalibela or heading to Simiens. The thin air makes everything more tiring.
Coffee ceremony etiquette: you're expected to drink all three rounds (abol, tona, baraka) even if you're jittering from caffeine. The third round is considered a blessing. If you genuinely can't handle more caffeine, explain apologetically after the second round, but staying for the full ceremony shows respect.
Prices for foreigners are often 3-5x local prices for everything from hotel rooms to guide fees - this is standard practice, not a scam. That said, you can negotiate, especially for multi-day services. Hotels during Timkat are the exception - those prices are take-it-or-leave-it because demand is insane.
The dry season means water shortages in smaller towns - hotels in Lalibela and Gondar sometimes have water only during certain hours (usually 6-9am and 6-9pm). Fill your water bottle when it's available. Showers might be cold or low-pressure.
Injera takes getting used to - the sour fermented teff flavor surprises first-timers. Give it three meals before deciding you hate it. By day three, most people are craving it. If you genuinely can't handle it, larger restaurants in Addis offer rice or pasta, but you'll miss out on the full experience.
Photography restrictions are serious at churches and some cultural sites - always ask permission before photographing people, and expect to pay 50-200 birr for portraits in villages. Inside churches, photography is often forbidden entirely or requires a separate permit. Respect this or risk genuine offense.

Avoid These Mistakes

Underestimating travel times between destinations - roads in Ethiopia are rough and slow. Addis to Lalibela is technically 700 km (435 miles) but takes 12+ hours by bus on winding mountain roads. Always fly if you have limited time, or budget 2-3x longer than Google Maps suggests for driving.
Not booking Timkat accommodations early enough - if you want to be in Lalibela or Gondar during Timkat week, you need to book by October at the latest. By December, everything decent is full and you're looking at overpriced homestays or sleeping in your tour vehicle. If you miss the booking window, consider watching Timkat in Addis instead, where accommodation is easier.
Trying to do too much too fast - Ethiopia is huge and infrastructure is slow. First-timers try to hit Lalibela, Simiens, Danakil, and Omo Valley in 10 days and end up exhausted and frustrated. Pick 2-3 regions maximum and actually experience them. A week in the north (Lalibela, Gondar, Simiens) is far better than a rushed countrywide sprint.
Not carrying small bills - rural areas and markets can't break 100 or 500 birr notes. You'll stand there awkwardly while they try to find change or just give up on the transaction. Break large bills at hotels and supermarkets in cities before heading to villages or parks.
Expecting Western-style infrastructure outside Addis - most towns have intermittent electricity, cold showers, and squat toilets. If you need consistent hot water and Western toilets, stay in higher-end hotels and adjust expectations for everywhere else. This is part of the experience, not a failure of the destination.

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March

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Weather and seasonal patterns for Ethiopia

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