I plan to travel overland all the way from Egypt to Ethiopia and then to Dijbouti in order to take a boat to Yemen, and do not plan on taking any flights at all. However, accroding to my LP guidebook the Ethiopian embassies in Cairo and Khartoum require applicants to provide the following: letter of recommendation, health certificate, proof of sufficient funds and an onward air ticket, "EVEN IF YOU INTEND traveling overland."

The most problematic of these requirements is presentation of 'an onward air ticket'. Since I do not want to fly out of Ethiopia, does this mean I have no chance of getting an Ethiopian visa in Cairo or Khartoum? Or is there a possible 'loophole' for getting around this? What exactly can serve as 'proof of sufficient funds'; is a bank statement sufficient, or?

And also are LOIs and health certificates still required in either Cairo or Khartoum? US embassies do not issue LOIs so all I can get are papers from them stating that they do not issue LOIs! As for health certificates what exactly are they supposed to show, I'm not sure since I've never been to a country that requires these. I hope I don't have to present health records from my birth? Can somebody PLEASE help answer these questions? Thank you!