When to go · Ethiopia
Ethiopia in November
Good month. Dry, green and clear; one of the best months overall.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Crowds
- Medium
- Ethiopia
- Prices
- Medium
- Ethiopia
Verdict
Dry, green and clear; one of the best months overall.
Is another month better than November?
November is rated good. These months rate higher:
Weather in November
- Central highlands · Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, Bale Mountains, and the northern plateaubest weather
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.Mild all year at altitude (days 68–77 °F (20–25 °C), 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, Jijigabest weather
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, Awashfine
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 Awashbest weather
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 corridorbest weather
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 escarpmentbest weather
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 Regionfine
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 mdry
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.Among the hottest places on earth; trips run in the cooler months and are still 104 °F (40 °C)+ by day.
- Southern Ethiopia: Rift Valley lakes (Hawassa, Ziway, Arba Minch) · Valley floor, about 1,200–1,700 mbest weather
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 mbest weather
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 mfine
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 mbest weather
Hot year-round; the wet season floods the park and some roads, roughly June–October.
- Addis Ababa22 °C (72 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 1 rain days
- Adama28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
- Adigrat22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
- Adwa22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- Agaro27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 6 rain days
- Arba Minch28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 5 rain days
- Axum26 °C (79 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
- Bahir Dar29 °C (84 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
- Bishoftu26 °C (79 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 3 rain days
- Dire Dawa31 °C (88 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 3 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 3 rain days
- Gambela31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
- Gondar25 °C (77 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
- Harar29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 3 rain days
- Hawassa28 °C (82 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 4 rain days
- Hawzien24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 2 rain days
- Jijiga30 °C (86 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 3 rain days
- Jimma27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 8 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 8 rain days
- Konso29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 4 rain days
- Lalibela24 °C (75 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
- Mekele25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
- Melka Awash27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- Shashemene25 °C (77 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 4 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 4 rain days
- Sodere27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- Tiya26 °C (79 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 3 rain days
- Wolaita Sodo29 °C (84 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 3 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 3 rain days
- Wondo Genet26 °C (79 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
- Wukro23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 1 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 1 rain days
- Yabelo28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 6 rain days
- Ziway26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 3 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 3 rain days
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Ethiopia
- Medium
- Prices · Ethiopia
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Ethiopia, side by side.
Verdict
Nov: Good
Jan: Great (better)
Crowds
Nov: Medium
Jan: High
Prices
Nov: Medium
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Nov: 0
Jan: 3
November: Dry, green and clear; one of the best months overall.
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
Nothing unusual for the weather this month.
Where to go in November
Rated best or good this month
Central highlands
Best weather of the year (Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, Bale Mountains, and the northern plateau)
Eastern escarpment
Best weather of the year (Harar, Dire Dawa, Jijiga)
Dry, clear and cool.
Best months: Oct–Mar
Best months: Oct–Mar
Best months: Oct–Mar
Best months: Oct–Mar
Best months: Oct–Mar
Best months: Oct–Feb
Best months: Oct–Mar (dry, clear)
Best months: Oct–May
Best months: Oct–Mar (dry, cooler)