I was warned NOT to take the Sleeper Train in Ethiopia?

After being on hundred of sleeper trains in the past around the world I figured it would be only fair to see how they were in Ethiopia. I travelled from Addis Ababa to the east side of Ethiopia to a city called Dire Dawa for around $20, this was not first class this was second. The journey would take 12 hours 'apparently' but lady's and gentlemen this is Ethiopia.
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#Ethiopia #Train #AddisAbaba

[@amanuelfekadu7301]

I'm Ethiopian there many Ethiopian trip videos but you catch my attention.... Your videos are simple not boring catchy and interesting... I will definitely subscribe your channel to see your videos.

[@BackpackerBen]

comment pinned ;)

[@eyasulamessa9043]

@@BackpackerBen YOU ARE IN THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTRY ooooooooooooo dont forget also to check the hyenas as of Harar

[@solinekahiwot2212]

i couldn't agree more

[@amanuelfekadu7301]

@@BackpackerBen Thank you Amigo its grate to be noticed by KZbinr 🙂

[@BackpackerBen]

Done ✅

[@almansouri100]

Happy Easter from Sudan to my Ethiopian brothers and sisters. 🇪🇹❤️🇸🇩

[@honeyb4984]

Thanks 🙏🏽💖

[@BackpackerBen]

Sudan! Hoping to come soon

[@ambessashield9360]

Thank you!❤️❤️❤️

[@almansouri100]

@i i I’m muslim

[@meskerem6234]

Thank you brother !

[@deadpool8465]

We are celebrating our easter today so happy easter everyone

[@BackpackerBen]

oh yessss, happy easter!

[@selinalakew7049]

Happy easter! 😊

[@yohannesandualem7376]

We r celebrating it too happy easter bro

[@RajeshNayak-os5fg]

Happy Easter brother Amen

[@ibrahimkrama1711]

Hello happy Easter but can I know what it for

[@swalehelshabiby5915]

I LOVE ETHIOPIA 😘🤝🖐From Mombasa with LOVE

[@BackpackerBen]

Mombassa 🙌🏼

[@siryet1234]

Haha, I just left mombasa and now Im in ethiopia

[@honeyb4984]

I'm Ethiopian and I'm surprised to see such a train or never been to that part of ethi :( I appreciate your videos. Thanks for visiting ethiopia. Happy Easter Ben! 🙏🏽💖❤️

[@BackpackerBen]

Happy Easter 😄

[@honeyb4984]

@@BackpackerBen 👍🏽🙏🏽

[@melikmike2898]

one of the cool thing about @backpacker Ben is he did not brag or complain about every single thing he sees rather he try to vibe with the environment and take the positive....keep it up the constructive critic and advices

[@BackpackerBen]

i do complain hahahaha but yeah got to show posstive

[@NewZman23]

He did complain a little on the train in Tanzania: "the worst night of my life" 😆 but hey, I'm not complaining now because it was fun for us to watch from the comfort of our armchair. I really enjoyed the video - a great travel experience that Ben will remember for the rest of his life. 🚂🚂

[@Sidetracked_in_Macau]

Ethiopia - "What a Place!" - I love that line!

[@BackpackerBen]

🤝

[@shambelovely4398]

East Africa

[@xiaofanchen5800]

As a rail lover from Shanghai who frequently travel on these trains and high-speed rail in China. The reason why u cannot use toilet during stop of the train is because your poop directly goes to track when u flush them. The train may not have a sewage system collector. It means if u use bathroom when train stops at station, the poop would be stay on the track of station and it smells.

[@basleals7285]

Oh waw thats kinda filthy tho, thanks for the info

[@Isochest]

Same here in the UK. I remember seeing orange peel on the track in open country which must have been flushed from a train toilet.

[@habeshalife9269]

I’m grew up in Addis, never knew there was train like this. Amazed

[@BackpackerBen]

Many say this hahaha

[@biniget3734]

Me too

[@Isochest]

The station is on the outskirts. Ticket touts want you buy a ticket from them to travel on a rickety bus

[@pauljones3557]

Ethiopian railways looks good. Thanks for always showing the accommodation.

[@BackpackerBen]

What a place 😎

[@merafterouni9904]

Happy Easter ETHIOPIA 🇪🇹.....

[@BackpackerBen]

HAPPY EASTER

[@ma.gildaquitua2165]

Give my regards to that lady, she's very friendly and beautiful!

[@BackpackerBen]

Done :)

[@Erm6575]

Very informative and interesting video again. Thank you Ben. I’m an Ethiopian but didn’t know about this night train very cool!!! Happy Ethiopian Easter!!!

[@BackpackerBen]

Give it a go 😎

[@nebiyuasfaw985]

Wow! This is a better train than the ones in the United States. Way to go Ethiopia! I'm very impressed.

[@BackpackerBen]

yesss

[@BillAnt]

At 0:15 looks like Ben is performing in a bad porno movie. ha-ha-ha

[@bondmood]

Except for the toilet! 🚽🪠🧻

[@Bekyj]

Thank you for showing beautiful Ethiopia 🇪🇹❤ Ethiopiaዬ raise up and shine.

[@R.Daneel]

The doors to the bathroom don't unlock until you're moving so that you're not crapping on the tracks right in the train station.

[@bosshoggish1]

I remember going to Ethiopia(Jigjiga) for the first time over a decade ago to visit my parents homeland. Although we are Somali, Ethiopia is such a beautiful diverse country. Harrer and Dire Dawa were two of my favorite cities. I remember waiting for our flight in my parents small village and I came across this white guy who was from where I stay in California...what a small world. Needless to say, that was the shortest plane ride due to the good conversations we had.

[@eirmeas]

Thank you for showing the good parts of my country! Your videos are awesome and informative. Keep it up brother.

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks mate

[@edtad9549]

The best travel video of Ethiopia EVER! Ben you captured the moment so good it made me wanna pick up and travel right now!

[@ketemamisirach4724]

Your video still showing well inside and out looks of the city very well. Brilliant 👍 Happy Easter

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks, you too!

[@rutha137]

Waiting till the morning to watch this vid with my family (they'll kill me if I watch without them lol), but I already know it's going to be a great one! Thank you for keeping us entertained, Ben. Stay safe and happy Easter!! God bless.

[@BackpackerBen]

You and your family are the best ❤️

[@volavecmoi]

Thanks you so much dude, and thanks to youtube to have suggest me your video. I was looking for an overview of this trip

[@dwamburu1]

One more new that I have learnt through your vlog now is that I can take a train from Addis to Dire Dawa . I will definitely do this when I visit Ethiopia next time. Thanks 🙏

[@BackpackerBen]

Have fun! I enjoyed

[@khadijah2570]

ኢትዮጵያ ሀገሬ ኩሪ በልጆችሽ እንሻአላህ 🇪🇹💚🤗🇪🇹🤗🤲🤗🤲🤗🇪🇹🤗🇪🇹💚🇪🇹 May Allah bless all Ethiopian Ameen 🤲🤲🤲🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹 and may einglsh brother

[@arsemabamkaku3275]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Tselotachenen Egzabher yesman 😭😭😭😭

[@zaratube608]

በዚህ የት ነው የሚሄደው

[@weyzer4642]

ኢንሻአላህ

[@ma.gildaquitua2165]

Keep safe Ben. The lady in the coffee spa is still with your company. Godbless Ben! 🙏

[@BackpackerBen]

She’s great company 🙂 she also has a channel coming soon!

[@maab5093]

In Ethiopia things will be changing soon for a better. Thanks take care

[@jonnnyz9519]

How??

[@maab5093]

@@jonnnyz9519 by hardworking people

[@ethiopia6030]

Am Ethiopian but didn’t know we have a night train and have never been in a train in Ethiopia your Video inspired me to try and know about them. Thank you for sharing and absolutely deserve to be subscribed

[@BackpackerBen]

That's great! thank you :)

[@gggg-fr5qp]

An informative video, thanks Ben

[@yigermalmetew4360]

Some forty nine years ago as a twenty year old newly minted government health inspector; I boarded this night train called 'loterina' in Addis Abeba ensconced in a second class bunk like your surrounded by coach class merchants, some riding the roof illegally selling cintroband items and arrived in Dire Dawa the next morning. In spite of the cacophony; for a young highlander like me; it was a trip of a life time to the warmer, sandier and friutted plains of eastern Ethiopia. Forty nine years later; after riding Amtrak trains and NYC subways; to me this was my maiden voyage to our Ethiopian orient. Thanks for the memory Ben.

[@snowangelnc]

Thanks Ben! If all goes well, I'll be in Ethiopia next month. Your videos have been helpful. :)

[@BackpackerBen]

Amazing! Enjoy 😉

[@abuyousefali]

I've learned to appreciate the "hole in the ground" toilet. The problem is having to take off your pants but it's better than sitting where someone else has sat. Better for your system too.

[@invalidavatar]

true, they're less likely to give you hemorroids

[@abuyousefali]

@@invalidavatar yeah, I heard that before. It's how we take a #2 naturally as children. And something about the alignment of our internals.

[@Sami-dp5ss]

You totally deserve my subscription because your videos are spot on!! Enjoy 😊 your trip mate!!

[@BackpackerBen]

Legend!

[@samumele5467]

thank you bro for introducing the positive side of Ethiopia!

[@jahstafari4606]

...i dont comment much but all i want to say is thank you for putting yourself through all this comfortable travelling ...we could never see all this places without it ...great videos ....nice wiev and perspective and picture we see of places u visit

[@BackpackerBen]

You're the best!

[@OrliandeGray]

@@BackpackerBen it's true. I wanted to try the train with my kids(have a trainer). And now I see what to expect. So thanks

[@BackpackerBen]

My pleasure 😎

[@aronjohns4662]

That end hotel is lovely

[@zartes2076]

the way man said "dire dewa" ... I'm dead 🤣🤣

[@fodraco4414]

I literally saw it then saw ur comment

[@tombimashri8149]

Ben your vloggs are all so interesting love them. X you keep safe

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@animalproductionhacksethiopia]

I always like your videos Ben. Welcome to Harar, to the city of love and hospitality.

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks mate! Had an amazing time

[@peaceforall8032]

Happy Easter everyone! Harare the city of Love 😍

[@BackpackerBen]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@bargepoled]

Took a train up the coast of Kenya many years ago. 1st class was silver service! Amazing journey

[@edw5437]

I'm Ethiopian and I've never been to Harar! Harar is so cool from the looks of it! and the train! I heard about it but I've never been in it that is amazing train! and the price is fair! love your videos! keep them coming!

[@Isochest]

It sounds like ERC is not advertising its services well enough. This railway is a real asset and GDP booster and the US Government (its corporate backers) actively fears it

[@callysun]

This is good information. I been to that new train station in Addis, just to see. Now we know how to go about it if we actually book a ticket. Will definately have a bed. Good filming. People seem to accept it. Thanks! Melkam Fasika! (Happy Easter!)

[@BackpackerBen]

amazing thanks :)

[@habeshalaughs9487]

HI Ben nice video😁 If u come back to Addis you should go to Friendship square around 4 kilo area. I think they're open after 2 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends...entrance is 10 USD

[@BackpackerBen]

What can I do there? :)

[@habeshalaughs9487]

@@BackpackerBen Nothing much to do😅 but it's a beautiful place...also very near to Unity park which you should definitely see

[@leylahayat]

Wow thank you so much for sharing

[@BackpackerBen]

No problem 😊

[@samz3028]

Ear plugs, eye mask, neck support pillow, air pillow, face towel, polarised sunglasses. Useful travel accessories.

[@bondmood]

My favorite of your videos are when you're in a bus, train, etc. Especially the one where you had to cling for dear life on the top bunk. Not sure what that says about me? I guess I just keep thanking God it's not me. Lol. I feel sooo bad for you, though. What a trooper you are! Also, I cringed when you showed another hole-in-the-floor toilet. I couldn't do it. The people in those countries seem more fit and healthy than the states. My first ever experience with a toilet like that was along a highway rest stop in Italy. I had never seen one beforehand. I'll stop blabbing now. 😅

[@Baxnaanshe]

Waaw this video very ameize and i learned more information .keep going bro ,I AM SOMALIA. GOOD LUKY.

[@sachinvishwadnya1337]

really did not expect this from ethiopian rail.very nice train.i cam here rit after ur tanzanaian trip video.expected nothing more than tanzanian rail but i was wrong

[@Loneranger670]

Reason why toilet doors are locked while train is stationary is a preventative measure against stowaways boarding the train at stops.

[@ugandabiker1932]

Am definitely coming to Ethiopia

[@BackpackerBen]

Dooooo it

[@deega1234]

awesome vid. Mark Wiens stayed @ that hostel in Harar - it was featured in one of his cooking shows.

[@BackpackerBen]

Incredible!

[@Actuallynahom]

Happy Easter fasica for everyone happy Easter fasica Ben thx😀

[@BackpackerBen]

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@talkingeez3512]

Christ is Risen!!! Happy Easter to the Orthodox Christians all over the world!!!

[@BackpackerBen]

🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@afroman4035]

What about the rest of Christians?

[@mercym1733]

@@afroman4035 I was wondering the same

[@aifaasmith.]

The hotel is indeed very nice, love the bright blue colour! 😍😍😍

[@BackpackerBen]

It really is!

[@helenashow1296]

I highly recommend you to make a shirt that says “what a place” lol 😂 that’s yr fav words in ALL your videos:)

[@BackpackerBen]

Good idea!! hhhahahaha

[@sumernegusse6319]

I never knew we have this

[@amiattractive2293]

🤣😂🤣 ben I swear you are so funny...you can be comedian 😂🤣😂✌️

[@BackpackerBen]

hehehehehhee

[@romangoshu8510]

Thank you bro.for showing our country

[@BackpackerBen]

:) thanks

[@mikeatsibha7835]

I Hope you are celebrating Eastern with us Ben

[@BackpackerBen]

I am hoping to go somewhere today but no idea where

[@mikeatsibha7835]

@@BackpackerBen for you I recommend Ethiopian traditional azmari bet "night club".

[@ambessashield9360]

@@BackpackerBen christians are a minority in eastern Ethiopia but you should be able to find an orthodox church somewhere.. Good luck 😄

[@eastafricana8334]

Love your videos!!! You remind me of that show Idiot Abroad with Ricky Gervais and his friend haha- but thanks for showing that it is possible to travel in Africa! Can't wait to go back to Ethiopia and actually travel as well as see family :) መልካም ፋሲካ!

[@BackpackerBen]

Hahahha I get that a lot 😅

[@mekonnenmekonnen6531]

bro I love your vids. keep it up.

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@yaredalmaw6644]

You taught how to travel and manage life thank you

[@BackpackerBen]

It's my pleasure my friend

[@hailuayano3953]

Wow ,so that is what first class looks like in The Ethiopian train .I took the same train last year from Dire Dawa to Addis in economy class.It was so full we ride it in the dining fargo :( and people were throwing trash everywhere it was so messy.The toilet also was so bad and out of water. Beside that the train ride was so smooth and it was the afternoon train ,so I enjoy the beautifull scenery.When you come back from Dire Dawa take the morning train ,less passengers and you will enjoy the scenery all the way to Addis Ababa .

[@BackpackerBen]

That sucks!!! Hate people who litter

[@mounasaleh182]

I was in ethiopia 2 months ago , especially in harar. I love this city ❤️

[@Black-2024]

Compared to Indian trains, this Ethiopian train looks much nicer...loved your videos...happy Ethiopian Easter 🥂👍

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks for watching 😬

[@AbhayKumar-rs8hm]

Sorry Indian trains are much better u r mug

[@Black-2024]

@@AbhayKumar-rs8hm ... I've traveled with Indian trains from Kashmir to Chennai & from Hyderabad to Goa & etc ...Btw, I love & admire Indian trains & I've lots of memories on them...I've never traveled with these Ethiopian trains, but from what we saw on this video, they obviously look more new & modern. Cheers "mera behay" ;)

[@BackpackerBen]

@@AbhayKumar-rs8hm they defo are not

[@dylanlewis3668]

Love your videos mate! What do you use to put all your clips together before posting the video?

[@Jadani-vp1lj]

Great footage

[@BackpackerBen]

🙂

[@kidus5431]

Love your videos. Keep up the great work. Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here. Here's a suggestion. Check out a song by Red Hot Chili Peppers called Ethiopia. They wrote it after Flea got lost while they were visiting Harar. Great song.

[@BackpackerBen]

I shall check it now! 🙌🏼😅

[@kidus5431]

@@BackpackerBen Nice track, isn't it? Especially the bass.

[@petermurage8685]

The train is heaven. Try taking a bus or minivan from Addis to Harrar.

[@nostredamos1808]

That was fun 🤠 that friendly lady too ........

[@BackpackerBen]

Amazing 😄

[@freesociety684]

Thanks for sharing

[@BackpackerBen]

🙏🏼

[@bena5264]

WhatsApp Mokshe(namesake) You inspired me to travel with in Ethiopia. I haven't seen half of the places you have seen and I am Ethiopian. Happy Easter bro huge fan

[@BackpackerBen]

Great comment 😁 thank you so much! Have a great Easter

[@TheDivora123]

Firs time watch your videos and it's so cool and fun miss my country land Ethiopia ;)

[@BackpackerBen]

thanks for watching :)

[@jossylove914]

100..00 birr is almost 2.50€--3.00€ good price and nice comfortable 🚆 train, nice trip

[@BackpackerBen]

This was 900 👀

[@leosangtea871]

Hi Ben 🙋 Big fan from Lunglei Mizoram❤️

[@Iso98520]

Finally you go to Harar I hope it's me who convinced you...☺️ this place was one of the city’s of the Adal Empire (Like the Ottoman Empire) Before with Sultan Mehmet ll in the 14th and 15th centurys with Zeila on the (Awdal) Region the north of Somaliland can’t wait for the episode of Djibouti 🇩🇯🔥😍 first of All try to not film local population you should be smart with them 😂 but when you will go for tourism I mean out of the downtown you can film whatever you want of the capital Djibouti City but after it’s depend that which place that you filming by example down town 🙆🏽‍♂️ people doesn’t like 🎥 but now we are in 2021 I don’t if people are different now, and also I saw that you got a small camera...😉 enjoy Djibouti is just lit actually people are kind. I’m sure that you will appreciate the landscape. Lac Assal Lac Abbé Grand Bara Tadjourah Arta Etc..etc... Waiting my country 🇩🇯🔥🤣

[@OdetteBoone]

make a video about a day in my life while abroad. It will be interesting to watch 😁

[@heartsandpearls239]

Your intro had me laughing soo hard! This my first tym watching u. Subscribed seems like a ride on this chanel😁

[@BackpackerBen]

Enjoy 😎👏🏼

[@chutulotanbaro2507]

Still in Ethiopia? Amazing!

[@maab5093]

Thanks Ben🙏🙏🙏 and u are more that welcome to ur second country Ethiopia, anytime if u would like to come 😍 bless u.

[@BackpackerBen]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@omeral-shareqi6236]

Nice video! I’m wondering why it takes 12 hours from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa. The distance is only 456 km!

[@etegegigi1321]

It used to take way less time but the cattles and wild animals keep getting in the trail and getting hit so it had to slow down

[@Athrunwong]

@@etegegigi1321 just kill the stupid animals!

[@bchanel5898]

I only had 9 hours sleep as if it is not enough 🤣🤣 it is a nice short video, thank you for posting.

[@BackpackerBen]

Thanks for watching 😎

[@tsedalefikadu1686]

First thanks to visited Ethiopia. But i think something wrong with the history you heard about the building of Ethio _Djiobuti Railway(EDR). You said that the design of the building is taken from Italy. First Ethiopia was not colonized by any, but Italy stayed for only five years. The design of the building is taken from Jimma Abajifar building, which had been exist since in 19th century.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

my experience was similar in terms of the general design, but it was definitely a much older car... looked like yours was a bit of a premium train maybe....

[@phoenix0000]

I feel you about the lights😀

[@yabesraewnetu4486]

Melkam Fasica. I am so happy to see people enjoying all the beauty that Ethiopia had to offer and really bringing light to the diamond. Many don’t know that Ethiopia is the only uncolonized country with over 100 languages and a majority of the worlds tribes still there as a result. Have fun there mate and keep posting these vids

[@BackpackerBen]

thanks for watching :)

[@ron-waynehoekstra7007]

Seat belts ? Where r u heading into ? A hostel ? Not mentioned in film . How much and all . Safety is like for foreigners ?

[@benjaminlonyaman1233]

I need to try this when I go to Ethiopia.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

This may be the only sleeping car on the line or in Ethiopian Railways passenger fleet. Keep in mind this is a new line opened only in the last decade after being built by Chinese interests. Kenya has a similar new line between Mombasa and Nairobi with three passenger trips each way. daily.

[@tezetaaschalew6468]

Derey dewa ! That part is really funny 🤣 when you thought you reached the place and relaysed you haven't 🤣 I couldn't stop laughing, are you from England?

[@lemmeng96]

oh gosh that cut to the toilet at 5:42 had me dying XD that was my exact reaction during my first trip to ethiopia from the states xP

[@BackpackerBen]

I was dying for a dump all night but no chance am I going there

[@mohinderkaur7867]

Good VDO thanks

[@BackpackerBen]

Welcome 👍

[@kind03cn]

not sure why they keep the light on. In China lights will be turned off in the sleeper car (since the train is imported from China and the crew is also trained by Chinese company)

[@tkgb1528]

Ethiopians are very polite and welcoming people

[@axelpembele386]

I saw the place you were staying at in a BBC documentary on the history of Ethiopia

[@lilyhk701]

Great video, Haha that was the train for me from Germany to Denmark, they automatically unlock only when they start moving 😊

[@abelkibebe577]

damn i love this guy ,,, i felt like i was with u the whole time

[@senda9782]

Thank you for new information....please tell us the price in Ethiopian Birr for everything you paid (hotel or motel & transportation) so we can come Ethiopia ready Thanks again and you are a lucky guy

[@samumele5467]

one dollar is equivalent to 42 eth birr legally.I think it is cheap for a dollar

[@_AloS]

The Bed, It feels like climbing 🧗‍♂️ 🤣

[@yabseralamasgen6771]

Tnxs bro