'''Dire-Dawa''' is a charted town in Ethiopia.

Understand

Dire-Dawa (which means _gthe place that Dir conquered or hit with his spear_h) is one of two chartered cities in Ethiopia (the other being the capital, Addis Ababa). With a latitude and longitude of 9__35__N 41__52__E, this city is placed in the occupied somali territory curently under dispute.

The city is an industrial center, home to several markets and the Aba Tenna D. Yilma International airport. Dire Dawa lies in the east of the nation, on the Dechatu River, at the foot of a ring of cliffs that has been described as "somewhat like a cluster of tea-leaves in the bottom of a slop-basin. Dire Dawa was founded in 1902 after the Addis Ababa - Djibouti Railway reached the area. The railroad could not reach the city of Harar at its higher elevation, so Dire Dawa was built nearby.

Get in

By plane

  • Dire-Dawa has an international airport. Few international flights (mostly from small airlines in Arab countries including Air Djibouti and Somaliland) Fly to Dire-Dawa's Aba Tenna D. Yilma International airport. Ethiopian Airlines also has several flights a day.
  • Get around

  • The blue minibuses provide a very efficient service.
  • Small taxis also, could be contracted for a day, a week or several days.
  • There is no reliable bus service that serves the city.
  • '''CAUTION''': Most Dire-Dawa taxi drivers seem not to have a sense of time. If you tell your contracted taxi driver to pick you up or drop you off at a certain time, expect him to be late an hour or two.

    See

  • The French-built train station can give you a 19th centuary feeling.
  • At night and early in the morning, the Dechatu river basin has a heart warming sunset and sunrise scene.
  • Do

    Most of the residents of the city chew the traditional stimulant leaves known as "chat". In the afternoon, in many places, Dire-Dawans sit in circles and consume chat with several cups of coffee. During this time there could be a heated discussion. (Avoid political topics, especially, with the Somalis or Somali aboo (aka oromo people)). Other than that, you could have an interesting experience observing Dire-Dawans.

    Buy

    Eat

    Drink

    Sleep

    Basic accommodations are in abundance.

    Mid Range

    Ras Hotel is located close to the main train station in downtown.

    Stay safe

    Generally safe. However, you need to pay attention to your belongings. Your backpacks, camera, and other shiny tourist items can attract pickpockets and con artists. Also staying lice free proved some what difficult due to the high numbers of ethnic Ethiopian people who live in this multi-ethnic town.

    Get out