Travelling by car in Addis Ababa
Ring route in Addis Ababa
One of the interesting – and challenging – aspects of visiting a city like Addis Ababa in Ethiopia is travelling by car in the streets of the city. Because I was only staying for a few weeks last December I never applied for an international licence. Consequently I never had the opportunity to actually take the wheel of a car while there. I did, however, travel many times in cars with other drivers. Like most developing countries, driving in the traffic conditions in Addis Ababa is quite an experience.
In the photo above I have shown a part of the major ring route around the city. At the time this photo was taken the traffic was very light. All seems very organised and safe. All is not what it seems.
You will observe lanes marked on the road. This is not only misleading, it is totally inconsequential. Few drivers, if any, actually drive in the marked lanes. I quickly figured out that the markings were suggestions only; no-one actually drove within the lane markings. It is quite amazing that they don’t have far more serious accidents.
Cars, trucks, buses and other vehicles do not seem to be the major hazards when driving in Ethiopia. Two hazards stood out for me: pedestrians and donkeys – see the photo below. Pedestrians tend to use the road as a footpath. Not surprising – footpaths are so poorly maintained that no-one would want to walk on them. Or are they are totally non-existent.
And there seemed to be random donkeys crossing roads everywhere.
Donkey crossing the street in Addis Ababa
Animal market in the streets of Addis Ababa
Animal market in the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
One of the features of travelling around the city of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia is seeing animals everywhere. Donkeys are common beast of burden and drivers have to be especially wary of them. Cattle are found in various parts of the city and we passed several markets where they were for sale.
By far the most common animals would have to be sheep and goats. They all looked the same to me, but my daughter assures me, after talking to the locals while she was teaching there, that the tails of goats stick up and the tails of sheep hang down. I never had the opportunity to really put this to the definitive test. Had I shown more than a passing interest in the animals I would have found myself having to buy one. Not sure what I would have done with it had this occurred.
Animal market in the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Scenes in the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Street scene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is much like many large cities in Africa, Asia and anywhere in the developing world.
Chaotic.
Somehow in all that chaos people move around, do their jobs, raise their families and eke out a living. Traffic congestion can seem overwhelming to a first time visitor and no rules seem to apply anywhere. I’d experienced Bangkok and Kathmandu previously so it was no real surprise to me though the occasional sight like the van in the picture above was noteworthy.
Street scene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
In many places as we travelled along we could see craftsmen making a range of items for sale, from tailors with their sewing machines on the footpath, to carpenters making furniture though to mechanics repairing all sorts of vehicles.
Street scene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Street scene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Hamlin College of Midwives, Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Ethiopia
During our short stay in Ethiopia last December we visited the inspiring Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. You can read about our visit here. This wonderful work not only provides life-changing operations for women suffering terribly with obstetric fistula, the hospital also provides a comprehensive training programme for midwives. These nurses then work with women in rural areas where the problems occur due to lack of medical help during child birth. In many cases the women being trained are former patients of the hospital.
My wife and I were most impressed with the amazing humanitarian work being undertaken here. We have supported it in the past and will continue to do so. I challenge my readers to do likewise: click here for more information.
Entrance to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital part 3
Garden of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Ethiopia
I have to admit that Addis Ababa is not the most beautiful city I’ve ever visited. In fact, many parts are quite dirty with much rubbish lying around in streets and on construction sites, poorly maintained roads, less than beautiful buildings and plenty of pollution in the air and waterways. I sensed during my visit there last December that attempts are being made to clean up the environment and general facilities but the sheer mass of people they are dealing with makes this a mammoth task.
It was therefore a very pleasant surprise to visit some private homes to see what could be achieved. Even more delightful was our visit to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital (click here to read what I wrote last week about our visit). The buildings in this wonderful hospital are extremely well maintained, clean and inviting to the traumatised patients. The grounds and gardens are a haven providing a serene environment for the women recovering from obstetric fistula, one of the most distressing medical conditions I have ever read about.
Here is my challenge: you can help these women to recover by donating to the work. Click here for more details.
Garden of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Ethiopia
Garden of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Ethiopia