Ethiopia in September

Rain tails off; Enkutatash (11 Sep) and Meskel (27 Sep) bonfires. Green hills, yellow meskel daisies.

September is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• DecemberGreatDry season peak; Christmas–New Year holiday flights fill up.
• JanuaryGreatDry and clear; Genna (7 Jan) and Timkat (19 Jan) fill churches and festival towns. Book early.
• FebruaryGreatDry, warm days; good for the south and Bale.
• OctoberGoodStart of the dry season; Irreecha (Oromo thanksgiving) in Bishoftu and Addis early in the month.

• 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.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, Jijigafine

  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 corridorfine

  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 escarpmentfine

  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 Regionhot

  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.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 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 Ababa21 °C (70 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 14 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 14 rain days
• Adama30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 5 rain days
• Adigrat23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 8 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 8 rain days
• Adwa26 °C (79 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 6 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 6 rain days
• Agaro26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 17 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 17 rain days
• Arba Minch32 °C (90 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 9 rain days
• Axum25 °C (77 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 8 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 8 rain days
• Bahir Dar27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 14 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 14 rain days
• Bishoftu24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 15 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 15 rain days
• Dire Dawa36 °C (97 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 7 rain days
• Gambela34 °C (93 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Gondar23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 13 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 13 rain days
• Harar33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
• Hawassa26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 13 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 13 rain days
• Hawzien28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 5 rain days
• Jijiga33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
• Jimma25 °C (77 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 16 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 16 rain days
• Konso27 °C (81 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 6 rain days
• Lalibela23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 10 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 10 rain days
• Mekele31 °C (88 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Melka Awash25 °C (77 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 11 rain days
• Shashemene23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 15 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 15 rain days
• Sodere26 °C (79 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 11 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 11 rain days
• Tiya24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 13 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 13 rain days
• Wolaita Sodo29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 9 rain days
• Wondo Genet24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 12 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 12 rain days
• Wukro25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 5 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 5 rain days
• Yabelo27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days
• Ziway27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 6 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 6 rain days

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.

• Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year)

  11 Sep (12 Sep in some years)

  Offices close; flowers and new clothes; the year 2019 began in September 2026.

• Meskel (Finding of the True Cross) big impact

  27 Sep (28 Sep in some years)

  Huge demera bonfire on Meskel Square in Addis the evening before; UNESCO-listed.

• Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)

  11 September (12 in leap years) · Addis Ababa

  Yellow daisies (adey abeba) bloom around this time; families gather, songs and new clothes.

Crowds · Ethiopia

Medium

Prices · Ethiopia

Medium

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

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

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