Ethiopia on a Budget: 15 Days for $500

🌍 Route Breakdown 1️⃣ Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Museum + Entoto Mountain 2️⃣ Mekele → Axum: Abuna Yemata Guh (cliff church) + Obelisk + Ark of the Covenant 3️⃣ 3-Day Danakil Tour (from Addis): Erta Ale volcano + sulfur lakes 4️⃣ Yirgacheffe: Coffee farm visits 5️⃣ Arba Minch: Dorze elephant-hut villages 6️⃣ Jinka: Mursi lip-plate tribe 7️⃣ Kayafer: Thursday Bana Market Hamer bull-jumping ceremony Banna stilt-walking kids 🚌 Transportation Hacks City Minibuses: 10-15 ETB (ask routes before boarding). Tuk-tuks/Bikes: Negotiate for tribal day trips. Intercity Buses: Addis: Buy tickets at Meskel Square, depart from Lamberet Menaharia. Elsewhere: Search "bus station" locally. ⚠️ Time Alert: Confirm if schedules use local or international time! 🛏️ Budget Stays (Walk-In "Pensions") Addis: Lotus Building (650 ETB) Mekele: Whitney Hotel (400 ETB) Yirgacheffe: Lesiwon Hotel (800 ETB) Kayafer: Sami Hotel (600 ETB) 💵 Money & SIM Currency: Exchange at Addis (Rwanda Market’s Haiyan Supermarket). Rate: ~15.9 ETB/¥1 (negotiable). SIM: Ethio Telecom – 1-week unlimited data (300 ETB). #EthiopiaTravel #BudgetAfrica #DanakilDepression #TribalCulture #Backpacking