South Africa

he excitement of booking my first safari came with something I wasn't expecting.

Nerves.

Not about the wildlife.

Not about travelling to Africa.

But about the journey itself.

Like many first-time safari travellers, I found myself researching flights for hours. I wanted a route that made sense, offered good value and got me to South Africa comfortably. Eventually, I settled on Ethiopian Airlines.

If I'm honest, I'd never flown with them before.

Whenever you're travelling somewhere completely new, it's natural to have questions. I found myself wondering what the airline would be like, what the service would be like and whether I'd made the right decision.

As it turns out…

I needn't have worried.

First Impressions

From the moment I boarded, I was pleasantly surprised.

The aircraft was clean, modern and well looked after. The cabin crew were welcoming and professional, and the whole experience felt calm, organised and reassuring.

There was a great selection of films and entertainment to keep me occupied, and before I knew it we were beginning our deployment into Addis Ababa for my stopover.

Sometimes the unknown feels much bigger than the reality.

This was definitely one of those moments.

A Stopover I Didn't Expect to Enjoy

I'll admit, before planning my safari I didn't know much about Addis Ababa.

I expected it to simply be somewhere I'd change planes before continuing my journey.

Instead, it became part of the adventure.

One of the things that immediately caught my eye was the number of jewellery shops showcasing beautiful Ethiopian opals. I had no idea Ethiopia was known for these incredible gemstones, and it was a lovely surprise to spend a little time browsing while waiting for my connecting flight.

It's funny how travel teaches you things you weren't even looking to learn.

Sometimes the journey itself becomes part of the experience.

The Moment It Started to Feel Real

As I sat waiting to board my connecting flight, something had changed.

The nerves I'd felt weeks earlier had quietly disappeared.

Instead, I was filled with excitement.

In just a few hours I'd be arriving in South Africa.

I'd spent months dreaming about elephants, lions and open savannahs.

Now it was actually happening.

The safari no longer felt like an idea.

It had become real.

Would I Fly Ethiopian Airlines Again?

Without hesitation.

As someone flying with Ethiopian Airlines for the very first time, my experience exceeded every expectation I had.

The aircraft was clean, the service was excellent, the journey was comfortable, and the stopover in Addis Ababa was an unexpected highlight.

If you're planning your own first safari and wondering whether Ethiopian Airlines is a good choice, I genuinely wouldn't hesitate to recommend them based on my experience.

Thinking about your own first safari?

Planning your first safari can feel overwhelming, especially when you're making decisions about flights, destinations and where to begin.

That's exactly why I started Safari With Erica.

If you'd like someone to guide you through the process and create a safari that's completely tailored to you, I'd love to help.