From Wikitravel

Dire-Dawa is a charted town in Ethiopia.

[edit] Understand

Dire-Dawa (which means “empty plain”) 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 the second largest in Ethiopia.

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.

[edit] Get in

[edit] 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.

[edit] By Car

[edit] 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.

[edit][add listing] 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.

[edit][add listing] Do

Most of the residents of the city chew the narcotic 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 Ethiopian Somalis or Somali refugees.) Other than that, you could have an interesting experience observing Dire-Dawans. CAUTION: "Chat" is illegal in the US and EU. DO NOT TRY TO EXPORT IT OUT OF ETHIOPIA TO EUROPE OR USA.

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

poooop

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Basic accommodations are in abundance.

[edit] Mid Range

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

[edit] 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. (Recently, due to increasing immigration of Somalians, and a tension that may have created with locals the city is being heavily policed.) CAUTION: Avoid political discussions, especially in regards to Somalia.

[edit] Get out

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