Ethiopia Requires a Deposit (no Carnet or TIP)
 

just a quick warning, people on FB reporting that Ethiopia now requires a cash deposit.

No TIP or carnet accepted

Original post here

East Route of Africa in trouble: Ethopia: Carnet / TIP not accepted
 

Unfortunately, the issues already outlined on the eastern route of Africa, more precisely when entering Ethiopia, have been confirmed. The carnet will not be accepted and no tip will be issued. A substantial deposit must be deposited upon entry.

Over $82,000 was required for a rather aged pickup with a cabin. You can find more prices on my german blog

https://www.4x4tripping.com/2022/11/...schfunk-3.html

A refund on departure can be questioned, a "copycat" is known. How the payment will be made in the future - and in which currency, is now unclear even 10 days later.

This was confirmed when Sean posted it.

The Overlanding Association are working with the authorities to try and resolve it.

In my german Blog Article Buschfunk #4 I did collect news about the guide topic for Ethiopia, and the links to the first travellers who are currently driving around Ethiopia (Sudan/Chad).

Surfy

The Guide solution for Ethiopia that was posted today hasn't gone down well if you read the comments and isn't really a solution for most travellers.

That Facebook group is a copycat group for the Overlanding Association's original Overlanding Africa Group and associated WhatsApp group.

"hasn`t gone well"?

Well... If shipping around by container for approx 7`000$ smells better, this option didnt disappers and is still there. Together with the "new" driving around option (I did show at #Buschfunk ..)

Yes, we overlanders would like to drive free and unrestricted. But on a extened journey like a transafrica, silkroad or panamericana - one single country is just a chapter.

On the silkroad the guide thing is not uncommon, at least if myanmars border are open. It is not nice, not good, but it is just a chapter.

We can still decide to stay at home, to avoid any hassle who can appers on extended journeys.

On the east side of africa you can drive again, that was important to tell.

Surfy

Theres been over 100 responses to the proposed solution, all saying the same thing, no its not a solutions and people will just go round (not exactly a safe option) either shipping or otherwise.

The person who proposed and agreed the guide option is the chairman for the association of national guides in Ethiopia so stands to make money out of the latest development. Not exactly providing a service to travellers !

I haven't seen a single comment agreeing its a good idea or wanting to go ahead with paying for a unknown guide.

The Overlanding Association are still trying to progress a sensible option such as Ethiopia accepting a CDP.

As I am planning to go from Saudie Arabia to Sudan and then South (I am already in the emirates). I would like to read bit more.

I did some searching on Facebook but did not find the group. Is there (other than the German blog) any sources where those information can be found? (like the proposals mentioned in this thread?)

Ethiopia is a bit crucial in my trip south.

Thanks.

The only reason you wont be able to find the facebook groups is if you have been blocked by the groups.

The one with the white pickup tuck on the profile picture is a copycat fake group designed to encroach and divert traffic from the Overlanding Associations Overlanding Africa group with a red sunset profile picture. The original group is better run and moderated without all the businesses spam posting constantly.

Sorry, this thread not clear at all.

What do you mean with:
Where is this posted? where can I read those comments. Please provide a link. Thanks.

Or because I don't know the name of the group and there are many overlander groups on Facebook. Anyone knows the name of the facebook group mentioned in the first post.

Thanks

-Roland-, I don't have any skin in this game, but out of curiosity I did a search on Facebook groups for "Overlanding Africa" and got two results which fit the descriptions given above perfectly. And I assume that one of the earlier posts in this thread described a guided alternative for Ethiopia, but that's just an assumption.

If English is not your first language, these posts might give you some difficulty. If so, I'd suggest making it clear by indicating your home country, so that folks can make an effort to be extra clear. You can do that by editing your profile so that each of your posts gives a "location."

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

My Article is now available too in english language. There you find thoose links:

https://vanlife.4x4tripping.com/2022...vel-world.html

Too with direct links to the travellers and relevant postings. Probably those links to FB are even better, specially if you got a ban on the official channel. I dont give very much about the overlanding association - but I do follow those groups too.

Surfy

Thanks Mark! I probably searched on other words. Probably also not help that Facebook is not my cup of tea. I will check both groups.

I am Dutch but lived abroad for years so my English should be sufficient. Anyway, I googled a lot and so far the only reference I found on this issue is this thread. I would like more validated information on this issue before I change plans.

I have send some emails to a few Ethiopian authorities (though, not expecting any replies) and will keep researching. I will report back here with what I found.

Your English sounds perfect--it was just a thought.

FWIW, Google doesn't search Facebook well (or at all). It's one of the tremendous disadvantages of Facebook groups compared to web forums--information is posted, then rapidly disappears forever. And this means if someone refers you to a Facebook group, you need to go on Facebook to search, and even then your best bet is to do it immediately.

(Someone will be sure to correct me if I'm wrong about any of the above, or if there's a way to search Facebook group content.)

I look forward to hearing about your journey! I'm always plotting to get back to Ethiopia to do some more exploring, now that the infrastructure has improved from the mid-nineties when I was there.

Mark

As likely, the problem is caused by the people in front of the monitors. Often so called as a "layer 8" issue.

Google did crawl at Facebook, you can google stuff also inside of FB. Facebook has a own search function, too in groups. And there are also #hashtags available.

I guess it is not FB`s fault, when we users are creating closed groups. Are discussing stuff only behind "have to "register" first" wall.

That way it is not visible what happens inside. No search engine can read there.

Too bad when even the "overlanding association" try to trap the information in such mudholes. Guess they want to provide insider informations out of travellers who are itself travelling with livetracking and a public social media profile :clap:

Surfy

Forums are indeed an easier to search, repository for information. But as we've seen here over the years more and more people have switched to social media from forums.

Private well moderated groups, have significant advantages over the public groups in that the content is kept on topic and the scam accounts and spam is kept to a minimum. Use of hastags helps search within the group but many users don't add them to posts.

Private groups also keep out the people who don't contribute but harvest information to repost on their own websites/blogs etc without crediting the sources in an effort to make the owners of those websites look knowledgeable and informed. Something that is a bit underhand.

Along with the regional facebook groups the Overlanding Associations WhatsApp group provide a constant feed of valuable upto date and verified information. They als do a huge amount of work behind the scenes working with governments etc to resolve situations such as the border issues in Ethiopia providing, assistance to travellers in difficulty etc. During COVID lockdowns the global safe havens network they instigated was a big help to many people stuck with closed borders. There is no "trapping of information in mudholes"doh rather its the opposite.

And of course much like the HuBB its all not for profit and run by volunteers who give their time freely to help the overlanding community.

I dont see that value. Specially not in that group(s) you did mention. It is even more dangerous, to let travellers start without the helpful informations.

Let me bring an example: panamtravelers

The most valuable group on FB for the panamericana did show, how good it can work, with to be "open" too for the public for readers. They shows too, how FB Groups should or can be used in a better way.

- listed at google
- Any FB User can read the group (but have to had a FB Account)
(have to be member to write or give comments)
- The Files Sections in well maintained
- The featured Section shows Articles from special interets
- Lead people into the use of specific travel Apps (public) not Whatsapp

It is like it is since years. Works... All the travellers keep it alive.

But anyway - it is not my job to judge over the work of others they did for the community. But your arguments was unfortunately very old-fashioned and short-sighted, and did ask for a comment.

Probably the discussion also shows, that the overlanding assocciation is looking to get more attention, but didnt find their place jet. That they talk with the gouverment is nice. But is too not very important, in comparison with the regular diplomatic way of handle such topics.

That there are TIP / Carnet in most country`s of the world isnt the outcome of the "overlanding assocciation", if my memories are right.

So probably it would be more helpful, when the travellers would talk to their embassys. Better than hoping that the "overlanding assocciation" will be able to solve anything. It's well intentioned. Doesn't hurt either, as long as the travelers ALSO involve their embassy.

But that are just my thoughts. that being said, we should all be happy that there are people out there who want to help other travelers in their free time!

Surfy

To join a private group you just need to meet the criteria for eligibility and you get access to a wealth of valuable information.

Its quite simple to compare the original Overlanding Africa with the Fake one a see the difference in the quality of the information. The original group has valuable up to date information, well documented files section and isn't swamped with local businesses and want-to-be influencers trying to drive traffic to their campsite/restaurant or instagram account.

Throughout the COVID restrictions the Overlanding Association groups provided the most reliable and accurate information about border restrictions and lockdowns available anywhere, regularly before government travel advise was updated, information that was often copied and reposted elsewhere by some individuals

WhatsApp group are kept private for security of the members as often people are travelling in the more dangerous parts of the world sharing real time information and locations which is best not to be available to people outside of the group. You might not agree with that approach, but the group members requested that the group is private and moderated.

Individual travellers approaching embassies to resolve issues at borders isnt very effective (although sometimes depends or the embassy in question as we saw earlier in the year with travellers in Algeria) But an someone representing several hundred travellers liaising directly with contacts they have in a particular government can achieve more effective results.

Certainly UK citizens trapped in Morocco during 2020 knew only too well that speaking directly the embassy gained nothing. As one of those stuck there for a few months, I acted as the contact for between a group of 30people and the embassy. The embassy staff and the group both found it much easier to have a single point of contact.

With over 110 000 members across the world the groups work very well in that format. Certainly not looking for attention, its not needed.

TheWarden: are you really really serious about that topic?

Yes - and any traveller without FB and knowing about that specific group - should run into trouble at the etiopia border? All those travellers will thank you for that excellent service!

That is something what does NOT happen at the group I did mention (panamtravelers). The Group is moderated, violations lead to a ban (read only anymore).

Just while there is a non-or-less moderated group for africa, this argument dont gets better!

And you dont have to explain me, why the "Overlanding Association" are using public groups for other destinations (like north america). Are they more or less capable to handle it? If they would have a principle out of a (stupid) reason, it is one thing, when they use different rules per area - their own "reasons"....

When Members have to be Member to get informations, well.. And when the panamtravelers Group for just the Panam has 51.480 Members, then is 110`000 for the world probably less as it may sound in your ears. Specially because some groups (like for the american continent) - dont are able to be "very" useful for us travellers.

But anyway, probably we should help here in this thread with updated and new informations for other travellers about the topic, not a discussion about the requirement of a international "overlanding association".

Surfy

I really cant work out why you have such an issue with private groups? and particularly the Overlanding Association, as seen in your post yesterday about them trapping information in mudholes. When I tried to clarify the situation about how the groups are operated, you decide to try and provoke an argument.

You also seemed to get very touchy when, after mentioning the proposed solution put forward by an Ethiopian tour guide, I reported that the comments indicated that most people don't see paying for a tour guide as a solution to the problem. After all, the Ethiopian government could simply reinstate the old system or use the Carnet system, a solution that is currently being pushed for by people who support the overlanding community.

Panam travellers or any other regional group has no relation to this thread about Ethiopia and the current border restrictions.