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Thoughts on Relocating to Ethiopia

Relocating to another country is an exciting and enriching experience. Whilst it is undoubtedly a poor country, Ethiopia is on the whole a safe and inviting country where foreigners are welcomed.

The capital city Adds Abeba has a large ex-patriot community and a number of international schools are available for families moving with children. Because of the large number of foreign nationals living in Addis Abeba, the cost of living in the city is a great deal higher than in other areas of Ethiopia. However, anyone living and working in Ethiopia on a Western salary can expect to enjoy a high standard of living and become part of a large and vibrant ex-patriot community.

Finding accommodation

Few people arriving in Ethiopia arrange somewhere permanent to live before arriving in the country. Most immigrants choose to stay in a hotel or apartment upon arrival and search for somewhere to live while staying there. This allows you to explore a little and decide which area you would like to live in before committing to a rental contract.

Using a broker is the easiest way to find somewhere to live. Known as delalas, they can advise you on properties to rent in their area and help you negotiate fees with the landlord. Brokers typically charge around 10% of the initial rental payment as a fee and it is normal to pay around six months rent up front.

Relocation specialists such as Addis Agents (addisagents.com) manage an extensive network of delalas or real estate agents working allover Addis Ababa; hence you can save a lot of time and money as well as increase your options quite dramatically by working with relocation specialists rather than working with individual delalas.

Other ways to find accommodation in Ethiopia include checking classified adverts in newspapers and posting on internet forums. Once you have found somewhere to live, hiring domestic staff such as cleaners and security guards is fairly common for anyone on a reasonable salary.

Health

Given that few people travelling to Ethiopia will have natural immunity to endemic diseases, it is essential to ensure you have the necessary immunisations before you leave. Visit your doctor or local travel health centre to obtain advice on immunisations for diseases such as yellow fever and typhoid.

Although mosquitoes are not usually a problem in Addis Abeba, in other areas of the country they can be a nuisance. Taking steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes will help reduce the chances of contracting serious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Use a mosquito net at night and wear insect repellent at all times.

Settling In

The range of food and drink available in Ethiopian supermarkets is limited compared to that available in Europe or North America. A number of "ferengi" or "foreigners" supermarkets in big towns and cities cater to the ex-patriot market and sell a wider choice of goods. These supermarkets are generally the only place to buy safe, fresh milk as well as luxury items including chocolate and cheese. A number of internet cafés can be found in the larger towns and dial-up internet access is common in houses and apartments.

Driving

Most ex-patriots choose to buy a car after arriving in Ethiopia rather than hire a driver or pay for taxis long-term. Companies which offer cheap car hire Cyprus may be able to advise on rental rates for long term car hire, but buying a second hand car will usually work out more cost-effective in the long run.