Carrying things both ways between worlds

Send it home.
The real way.

Real people flying your route carry your package — or you carry theirs. Cheaper than any courier. Trusted by the Ethiopian diaspora worldwide.

Send a package

Find a traveller flying your route

Package weight10 kg
1 kg23 kg

Shanta estimate

$90

Save $190

vs DHL

$280

Free to browse · Pay only when you match

List your trip

Earn money with your spare luggage space

Luggage space available15 kg · $9/kg
1 kg23 kg

You could earn

$122

15 kg × $9

after 10% shantaXPRESS fee

Free to list · Paid when delivered

0+

Packages delivered

$0

Lost in transit

0.00

Average traveller rating

0 days

Average delivery time

How it works

Simple for everyone

Whether you are sending a package or carrying one, the whole process takes minutes to set up.

01

Post or browse

Package senders post what they need delivered. Travellers post their upcoming trips with spare kg. The match is instant.

02

Match & agree

Package sender requests a traveller. Traveller reviews and accepts. Both sides agree on weight, price, and pickup details.

03

Pay into escrow

Package sender pays securely. Funds are held by Shanta — not released until the package is confirmed delivered.

04

Traveller delivers

The traveller flies, hands the package to the recipient in Addis. Recipient confirms. Traveller gets paid instantly.

"The diaspora has always found a way to take care of each other. We just made it easier."

Live trips

Travellers flying this month

Browse real trips posted by verified travellers. Book the one that fits.

Filter
Min kg: any
MT

Meron T.

4.97 · 23 trips

$8/kg

LHR

London

ADD

Addis Ababa

18 kg available23 kg total
fragile-okelectronics-ok

22 Mar

DA

Dawit A.

5 · 41 trips

$9/kg

IAD

Washington DC

ADD

Addis Ababa

12 kg available20 kg total
food-ok

24 Mar

SG

Sara G.

4.88 · 9 trips

$10/kg

YYZ

Toronto

ADD

Addis Ababa

20 kg available23 kg total
fragile-ok

26 Mar

AK

Abel K.

4.95 · 17 trips

$7/kg

DXB

Dubai

ADD

Addis Ababa

8 kg available15 kg total
electronics-okfragile-ok

28 Mar

Built for trust

Safe from first message
to front door

We built Shanta for a community that runs on trust. Every feature exists to protect both sides of the transaction.

Identity verified

Every traveller uploads a government ID and live selfie before their first trip. We cross-check with flight booking data.

Escrow payments

Your money sits in escrow until the traveller delivers and you confirm receipt. Nobody gets paid until the job is done.

Real-time tracking

Flight-linked status updates from check-in to delivery. You and your recipient always know exactly where the package is.

Prohibited items list

Clear rules on what can and cannot travel. Travellers set their own restrictions too — no surprises at the airport.

Verified reviews

Every review is tied to a completed delivery. No fake stars — only package senders and travellers who actually transacted can leave feedback.

24/7 support

Something go wrong? Our team is reachable by WhatsApp and email around the clock. Real humans, not bots.

$0 lost across 2,400+ deliveries

For travellers

Your empty kilos are money

The average Ethiopian diaspora traveler flies with 8–12 kg of unused allowance. At $9/kg that is up to $108 per trip — just for luggage you were already not using.

Example payout — London to Addis

$144per trip

16 kg spare x $9/kg, after Shanta fee

Avg trip frequency

3x per year

Annual extra income

~$430

Start as a traveller
01

Post your trip

Enter your flight details and how many kg you have free. Takes 2 minutes.

02

Accept a request

Package senders browse your listing and request a match. You review and accept who you want.

03

Meet, pack, fly

Meet the package sender at the airport or arrange a dropoff. Carry the bag. Done.

04

Get paid

Money releases the moment the recipient confirms delivery. Straight to your bank or Telebirr.

Real people, real deliveries

The community speaks

I sent my mother's medication from London. It arrived in 3 days, still cold. DHL wanted 5 days and 3x the price. Shanta is the real deal.

TA

Tigist Alemu

Sender — London to Addis

I fly home every 4 months. I used to just carry extra clothes to fill the weight. Now I earn $120 each trip and someone's family gets what they need. Win-win.

DM

Dawit Mekonnen

Carrier — Washington DC

The carrier met me at Heathrow two hours before the flight. Professional, kind, and my sister got her package the next morning. I cried.

HB

Hana Bekele

Sender — London to Addis

I was nervous the first time but the ID verification made me trust it. The escrow system means no one can disappear with your money.

AG

Abel Girma

Carrier — Dubai

4.92

Average carrier rating

Based on 2,400+ completed deliveries

across 13 cities worldwide

Transparent pricing

Up to 70% cheaper
than courier services

Same item. Same destination. Fraction of the cost.

London to Addis Ababa
Shanta
DHL
Aramex
5 kg parcel
$45
$189
$162
10 kg parcel
$90
$312
$274
20 kg parcel
$160
$541
$498

Shanta prices are estimates at $9/kg traveller rate. Courier prices sourced March 2026. All prices in USD.

Common questions

We charge a small platform fee (10%) on top of the traveller's rate. This is included in the price you see — no surprises at checkout.

Your payment is held in escrow and fully refunded. We also flag the traveller's account and investigate.

Each traveller sets their own limit based on their spare allowance. You will see exactly how many kg are available before booking.

Many travellers allow it — filter by 'food-ok' or check the traveller's item policy on their listing. Always declare items honestly.

Ready?

Send something home
today.

Join thousands of Ethiopian families who trust Shanta to move what matters most — affordably, safely, and with care.

No subscriptionPay only when you sendMoney-back guarantee