Ethiopia in September

Rain tails off; Enkutatash (11 Sep) and Meskel (27 Sep) bonfires. Green hills, yellow meskel daisies.

• Central highlands · Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, Bale Mountains, and the northern plateaurainy

  Mild all year at altitude (days 20–25 °C, cold nights); the big rains (kiremt) run June to September, with short rains around March–April.

• Rift Valley lakes · Ziway, Langano, Hawassa, Arba Minchfine

  Warmer than Addis; two rainy spells in many years (April–May and October).

• South Omo lowlands · Jinka, Turmi, Omorate, Konsofine

  Hot and dusty; April–May and October rains turn tracks to mud and can cut off villages.

• Eastern escarpment · Harar, Dire Dawa, Jijigafine

  Harar is mild at about 1,900 m; Dire Dawa below it is hot from May to September.

• Danakil and Afar lowlands · Afar region, Dallol, Erta Ale, Awashhot

  Among the hottest places on earth; in 2026 largely covered by advice against travel.

• Addis Ababa21° / 10°, 14 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Mawlid

  Aug–Sep (lunar — check)

  Prophet's birthday; public holiday.

• Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year)

  11 Sep (12 Sep in some years)

  Offices close; flowers and new clothes; the year 2019 began in September 2026.

• Meskel (Finding of the True Cross) big impact

  27 Sep (28 Sep in some years)

  Huge demera bonfire on Meskel Square in Addis the evening before; UNESCO-listed.

• Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)

  11 September (12 in leap years) · Addis Ababa

  Yellow daisies (adey abeba) bloom around this time; families gather, songs and new clothes.

Crowds · Ethiopia

Medium

Prices · Ethiopia

Medium

• Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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