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When to go · Ethiopia

Ethiopia in August

Avoid month. Still wet across the highlands; only the east and Omo stay workable.

Key facts

Verdict
Avoid
Crowds
Low
Ethiopia
Prices
Low
Ethiopia

Verdict

AvoidVoykit month rating for Ethiopia

Still wet across the highlands; only the east and Omo stay workable.

Is another month better than August?

August is rated avoid. These months rate higher:

Weather in August

  • Central highlands · Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, Bale Mountains, and the northern plateaurainy

    Mild all year at altitude (days 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), cold nights); the big rains (kiremt) run June to September, with short rains around March–April.

  • Rift Valley lakes · Ziway, Langano, Hawassa, Arba Minchfine

    Warmer than Addis; two rainy spells in many years (April–May and October).

  • South Omo lowlands · Jinka, Turmi, Omorate, Konsofine

    Hot and dusty; April–May and October rains turn tracks to mud and can cut off villages.

  • Eastern escarpment · Harar, Dire Dawa, Jijigahot

    Harar is mild at about 1,900 m; Dire Dawa below it is hot from May to September.

  • Danakil and Afar lowlands · Afar region, Dallol, Erta Ale, Awashhot

    Among the hottest places on earth; in 2026 largely covered by advice against travel.

  • Central Ethiopia: Addis Ababa and the Shewa plateau · Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, Tiya, Melka Awashrainy

    Highland climate: mild days, cold nights. The main rains run June to September; October to March is the dry window, with clear mornings and afternoon cloud.

  • Central Ethiopia: Rift Valley floor · Adama, Sodere, the Awash corridorrainy

    Hotter and lower than Addis; the wet season is shorter and the heat is the bigger issue — start early.

  • Eastern Ethiopia: Harar and the eastern highlands · Harar, Dire Dawa escarpmentrainy

    Main rains June–September; the short rains (belg) fall March–May. Harar is mild year-round at about 1,900 m; Dire Dawa is hotter and drier.

  • Eastern Ethiopia: Lowlands toward Jijiga and the Ogaden · Somali Regionrainy

    Hot and dry most of the year; the rains make dirt roads impassable. Not a leisure destination in 2026.

  • Northern Ethiopia: Highlands (Gondar, Lalibela, Axum) · Amhara and Tigray plateaus, 1,900–2,500 mrainy

    Main rains June to September; October to February is dry with cold nights at altitude. March and April are hot and hazy before the rains.

  • Northern Ethiopia: Afar lowlands (Danakil) · Danakil Depression and the eastern lowlandshot

    Among the hottest places on earth; trips run in the cooler months and are still 40 °C (104 °F)+ by day.

  • Southern Ethiopia: Rift Valley lakes (Hawassa, Ziway, Arba Minch) · Valley floor, about 1,200–1,700 mrainy

    Main rains June–September; the 'small rains' can bring afternoon showers in March–May. Warm year-round.

  • Southern Ethiopia: Highlands (Bale, Wondo Genet, Konso escarpment) · Above about 1,800 mrainy

    Cooler and wetter; the Bale Mountains can be cold and misty any month — take a fleece and rain shell.

  • Western Ethiopia: Jimma and the coffee belt · Oromia highlands, 1,500–2,000 mrainy

    One of the wettest parts of Ethiopia; the main rains run June–September, with showers from April.

  • Western Ethiopia: Gambella lowlands · Baro river plain, about 500 mrainy

    Hot year-round; the wet season floods the park and some roads, roughly June–October.

  • Addis Ababa20 °C (68 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 23 rain days
  • Adama30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Adigrat22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 13 rain days
  • Adwa27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 7 rain days
  • Agaro25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 20 rain days
  • Arba Minch33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days
  • Axum23 °C (73 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 14 rain days
  • Bahir Dar26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 20 rain days
  • Bishoftu23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 20 rain days
  • Dire Dawa38 °C (100 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days
  • Gambela35 °C (95 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 13 rain days
  • Gondar22 °C (72 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 18 rain days
  • Harar34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days
  • Hawassa25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 15 rain days
  • Hawzien30 °C (86 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days
  • Jijiga34 °C (93 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 7 rain days
  • Jimma24 °C (75 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 20 rain days
  • Konso26 °C (79 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days
  • Lalibela22 °C (72 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 13 rain days
  • Mekele33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days
  • Melka Awash24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 15 rain days
  • Shashemene22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 17 rain days
  • Sodere25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 14 rain days
  • Tiya23 °C (73 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 16 rain days
  • Wolaita Sodo28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 13 rain days
  • Wondo Genet23 °C (73 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 14 rain days
  • Wukro24 °C (75 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 11 rain days
  • Yabelo26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 5 rain days
  • Ziway26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 9 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • Mawlid

    Aug–Sep (lunar — check)

    Prophet's birthday; public holiday.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Ethiopia
Low
Prices · Ethiopia
Low

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Ethiopia, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Aug: Avoid

    Jan: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Aug: Low

    Jan: High

  • Prices

    Aug: Low

    Jan: High

  • Festivals listed

    Aug: 1

    Jan: 3

August: Still wet across the highlands; only the east and Omo stay workable.

January: Dry and clear; Genna (7 Jan) and Timkat (19 Jan) fill churches and festival towns. Book early.

Ethiopia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in August

Better another month