• Official Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• Head of state: President Sahle-Work Zewde.
• Head of government: Prime Minister Dr.Abiy Ahmed
• Capital City: Addis Ababa
• Location: Ethiopia is located in the northern part of Africa known as the ‘Horn of Africa’. It is bordered by Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, and Kenya to the south.
• Geographic coordinates: Ethiopia extends from 3^o – 15^o north of the equator, and 33^o– 48^oeast of the Greenwich Meridian.
• Area: -1.14 million Sq.km.
• Demography
  • Total population: about 95 million
  • Population growth rate: 2.73% /year
  • Population density: 72.5 per sq.k
  • Life expectancy
    • Male: 62 years
    • Female:66 years
  • Languages : Four major language families which altogether constitute about 80 languages
    • Official Language: Amharic
    • English is also widely spoken in business transactions, particularly in banking and insurance firms. It is also the -medium of instruction in secondary and higher education institutions.
  • Predominant Religions : Christianity and Islam
  • Form of State : Federal, comprising the Federal Government, nine Regional States and two chartered cities
  • National Legislation : Bicameral parliament; the house of peoples’ representative and House of federation
    • Election: Every five years.
  • Altitude: It ranges from 148 meters below sea level at the Dallol Depression, in the east, to 4620 meters above sea level on the Ras Dashen in the north.
  • Climate:Temperate in the highland and hot in the lowland. Temperature ranges from 20^oC to 30^oRainfall ranges from 200mm to 2000mm per year.
  • Time Zone:GMT+3
  • Rainy seasons: Ethiopia receives big rains in June, July, and August; and small rains in February and March.
  • Currency:
    • Currency unit: Birr
    • 1birr= 100cents
    • Currency notes: 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100Birr.
    • Copper coins: 1,5,10,25,and 50 cents
    • Foreign currency can be exchanged at the Airport on arrival, at banks, or licensed hotels

History

Ethiopia’s colorful and fascinating history may be said to be about 4.4 million years old- the age of ‘Homo Ramidus Afarensis’, the world’s oldest known upright walking hominid.

Ethiopia is known to have had one of the longest ruling dynasties of the world: the Axum Empire that started in 3rd century BC lasted till 1974. The first king of the Axum dynasty is said to be Cush, the grandson of Noah, or Menelik I, the son of Queen Sheba and King Solomon and the last emperor was Haile Selassie whose rule ended in 1974.

Christianity came to Axum through the Saint Frumentius during King Ezana’s reign in the 4th century AD. The Axums managed to remain good Christians even after the rise of Islam and the waves of Islamic armies that emerged from Mecca in the 7th century.

After Haile Selassie was deposed in 1974, the kingdom was plunged into military dictatorship with Mengitsu taking charge. He introduced very radical political and economic policies. In 1991, Mengitsu was forced to flee the country.

However the after effects of the World War 2 resulted in Ethiopia’s course as an independent nation which continued, although the province of Eritrea remained under British control until 1952 when it was federated with Ethiopia, a result of a plebiscite, organised by the UN.

The new government inherited six million people facing famine, a shattered economy and no funds. Presently, Ethiopia is regaining back its financial position and improving relations its neighbouring countries.

Geography

Ethiopia is situated in northeast Africa, in the area known as ‘The Horn of Africa’. It is bordered by Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, the self-proclaimed separatist territory of Somaliland, and Djibouti. Encompassing an area of 1,104,300 sq km (426,372 sq miles), it is roughly twice the size of France and is completely landlocked.

The central area is a vast highland region of volcanic rock forming a watered, temperate zone surrounded by hot, arid, inhospitable desert. The Great Rift Valley (which starts in Palestine, runs down the Red Sea and diagonally southwest through Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi) slices through the central mountain ranges. The escarpments on either side of the country are steepest in the north where the terrain is very rugged.

Within the country there is a huge diversity in altitude. The highest point is at Ras Dashen in the Simien Mountains, which at 4,543m (14,905 ft) is Africa’s 10th tallest mountain. The lowest point is inside the Danakil Depression which reaches 125m (410ft) below sea level. To the south, the landscape is generally flatter and much of the east and southeast is taken over by semi-arid scrubland. Although mass- deforestation has been a problem since the Middle Ages, the lowlands are still noted for their verdant evergreen forests. Ethiopia is home to four major river systems, the most important being the Blue Nile which begins at Lake Tana.

Economy

The Ethiopian economy is dominated by the agriculture and services sectors-with each accounting for about 45 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), leaving only about 10 percent for industry, of which manufacturing accounts for about 6–7 percent. Exports are highly concentrated, with coffee alone accounting for more than 60 percent of the total. Moreover, Ethiopia could hardly be located in the international market for manufacturing exports, having an industrial export share much less than the already minuscule median for Africa. The limited change in the structure of the economy, especially with regard to manufacturing, is partly explained by the low levels of investment flows and the sluggish growth of the private sector, which was too little to affect its historically low share in labor-intensive manufactures.

 

Ethiopian Calendar

While much of the world marks the passing of days according to the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopia has its own calendar, which is also known as the Ge’ez Calendar. Based upon the ancient Coptic Calendar, the Ethiopian Calendar is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar, owing to alternate calculations in determining the date of the annunciation of the birth of Jesus.
The Ethiopian Calendar has 12 months of 30 days each, plus five or six additional days (sometimes known as the 13th month), which are added at the end of the year to match the calendar to the solar cycle.
The year is currently 2010, according to the Ethiopian Calendar. Ethiopia celebrated the millennium at midnight on September 12, 2007. The year 2001 began in Ethiopia on September 11, 2008 of the Gregorian calendar

Best Time to Visit - Take into account the seasons in Ethiopia when planning your tour. In Addis Ababa and Ethiopia’s northern highlands, the rainy season begins at the end of May and continues to mid-September. The greenness and splashes of color brought on by the rains linger into November making September through November a good period to be in Ethiopia for its colorful landscapes with less chance of rain.The big rainy season in the South Omo Valley region occurs between March and June with a short rainy season occurring the end of September to the beginning of November. Recently, weather patterns have become less predictable but you are less likely to encounter rain if you visit the South Omo between July and August and December through February.

 

Clothing - Due to vast altitude differences between highland and lowland areas, if you are intent on exploring Ethiopia fully you should prepare for a wide range of temperature differences. Bringing clothes that can be easily layered is the obvious choice. You will need lightweight clothing for the lowlands and medium weight for the hill country. At least one warm jumper or pullover should be brought along to cope with dramatic temperature drops once the sun goes down

Visa

Visa is required for all visitors to Ethiopia and they can get from Ethiopian Diplomatic Mission abroad ,Visitors from the countries listed below can obtain visa on arrival at Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa): Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea Republic, Kuwait, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, and US.

Ethiopia offers 1 and 3 month as well as multiple entry visas. The multiple entry and sometimes the 3-month visas are not available at the airport. When applying for your Ethiopian visa, make sure you get the appropriate amount of time for your travel period. If you plan to travel to Somaliland from Ethiopia, it is advisable to get a multiple entry visa before you come as getting a return visa in Somaliland is usually time consuming.

Health

With proper precautions, visitors to Ethiopia can enjoy a healthy stay. All visitors are recommended to have travel insurance, and First class ethiopien Tours operates under the assumption that all of its clients have current policies.

It is recommended to obtain recommended vaccinations before arrival, including Yellow Fever, which is required. Malaria is present in low-lying areas, so proper precautions should be taken. There is no malaria in Addis Ababa and most highland locations in the northern part of Ethiopia (except Bahir Dar, where there is a malaria risk).

Water should always be boiled or treated before drinking. Alternatively, bottled water is always safe. Visitors may be cautious when eating raw vegetables or salads that may have been washed in local water. Food should always be eaten freshly cooked. Remember the traveler’s mantra: “Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.”

Other Risks

Diarrheal diseases, including giardiasis, and typhoid fevers are common. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present; avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Hepatitis E is widespread; hepatitis B is hyper endemic. Meningococcal meningitis risk is present, particularly in dry areas and during the dry season. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.

The high altitude and low oxygen level of much of Ethiopia need time to be acclimatised to. Anyone who suffers from heart ailments or high blood pressure should consult a doctor before travelling.

Hospitals will vary greatly in quality throughout the country. In Addis Ababa, recommended hospitals include: St. Gabriel Hospital, Bethzatha Hospital and Myunsung Christian Medical Center (Korean Hospital).

To Get Ethiopia

· By Air

Flights to Ethiopia are served by the national airline, Ethiopian Airlines (www.flyethiopian.com), which has regular flights to Addis Ababa from all of the major European capitals including Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Paris, Rome, and Stockholm. There are also routes from Toronto and Washington in North America.

Apart from Lufthansa (www.lufthansa.com), which has direct departures from Frankfurt Airport, flying with any other European or North American airline requires a stopover. Regional airlines which have direct flights to Addis Ababa include Egypt Air (www.egyptair.com) from Cairo, Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dubai, Kenya Airways (www.kenya-airways.com) from Nairobi, and Turkish Airlines (www.turkishairlines.com) from Istanbul.

• Flight prices
  Flight prices are highest during the Easter, Christmas and New Year holiday periods as well as during the month of August.
• Air notes:
  Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is Ethiopia’s only international hub. It is located 6km from the capital Addis Ababa.
• Flight times:
  The flight time from London to Addis Ababa is 8 hours. From Washington DC a direct flight takes 15 hours.
• Departure tax
  There is an airport departure tax of US$20 (payable only in US dollars) at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
• Airport guides
  • Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
  • Airport Code: ADD. Location: Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is located in Bole, 8km southeast of Addis Ababa…
  • Money: A bank and bureau change desk is available at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

· Travel by Rail

A rail line between Djibouti City (in Djibouti) and Dire Dawa (in Ethiopia) is available

· Driving to Ethiopia

Ethiopia borders Sudan and South Sudan to its west, Kenya to its south, Somalia, the self-proclaimed separatist territory of Somaliland, and Djibouti to its east and Eritrea to its north.

You cannot enter Ethiopia by road from Eritrea, Somalia or South Sudan at the current time.

Driving from Kenya, the main border crossing is Moyale on the main A2 highway, 800km (500 miles) from Nairobi.

If crossing by land from Sudan, you can only use the Gallabat/Metema border crossing, 548km (340 miles) from Khartoum.

Djibouti has two border crossings with Ethiopia. The Galafi border is 187km (116 miles) from Djibouti City on the N1 and N8 highways. The Gelille border on the N5 road runs via Ali Sabieh, 105 km (65 miles) from Djibouti City. The route via Galafi is sealed the entire way on both sides of the border so is the easiest route if you are self-driving.

The Somaliland border crossing is at Wajaale/Togo-Wuchale, 93km (58 miles) from the capital Hargeisa.

• By road note:
  A border crossing between South Sudan and Ethiopia at the town of Jikiwo may open in the near future.
  Visas for Ethiopia are not available at any of the land borders mentioned above so must be procured in advance from an Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate.
  Travellers should note that the road between Nairobi and the Moyale border is unsealed for most of the way and should not be undertaken without a 4WD. Although banditry along this route is no longer a regular problem, incidents of robbery do still occur. Sporadic incidents of inter-tribal fighting also occasionally break out in the area around Moyale (on both sides of the border). Before travelling along this route it is recommended to pay attention to current government travel advisories.

 

Money and Duty Free

Exchange rates: Ethiopian Birr (Note: the exchange rate is not constant)

• €1 = Br33.32
• £1 = Br37.87
• US$1 = Br27.21

Currency & Money Currency information:
Ethiopian Birr (ETB; symbol Br) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Br100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Credit cards:
Diners Club and in the hotels MasterCard,Visa are accepted.

Travellers’ cheques:
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. They are difficult to exchange outside the capital.

Banking hours:

• Mon-Thurs 08:00-17:00;
• Fri 0800 -17:00
• Sat 08:00-17:00

Currency restriction:

The import of local currency is limited to Br100. The export of local currency up to Br100 is permitted, provided the traveler holds a re-entry permit. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration on arrival.

Ethiopia duty free

The following goods may be imported into Ethiopia by passengers aged 18 and over without incurring customs duty:

• 2 packets of cigarettes.
• 2 bottles of alcoholic drinks.
• 600 ml of perfume.

Banned imports:

Prohibited imports include narcotics, firearms, explosives, counterfeit currency, pornography and materials which infringe upon intellectual property rights.

Restricted imports requiring permits include hunting guns, air guns, swords, endangered plants and animals, live plants and animals, fruit and vegetables, seeds, ivory, medicines and satellite cameras.

Banned exports:

Prohibited or restricted exports include ivory (even if already processed into jewelry), precious metals, precious gems, religious artifacts, antiques and animal hides.

Communication

Ethio Telecom is the sole provider of phone, mobile and internet services. SIM cards are easy to obtain and are cheap. Roaming services using international mobile SIM cards will work with some carriers. Mobile phone networks are now available in most areas served my tourism. Guests using pre-paid mobile service within Ethiopia should know that international phone calls are expensive and users may run out of credit quickly. Fax services are available in Addis Ababa and various locations around the country.

Internet cafes are widespread throughout the country. Wifi internet access is not always available in hotels and, but is becoming more widespread. Guests should be aware that there are still many areas of the country (particularly in the south Omo Valley and in remote areas) where internet access is not available. 3G service is under installation in most of big cities. Connection speed and quality may vary.

Ethiopia’s postal service is reliable, though can be slow. Post offices are generally open Monday – Friday from 8:30am to 5 or 6pm, but desks may actually close at 4pm and during lunch time. They are usually open on Saturday mornings as well.

Electricity

Ethiopia runs on 220V, and uses 2 round prongs (such as those in Europe). However, this may vary from time to time (size of prongs and/or width between prongs). An adapter is advised, and are widely available throughout Ethiopia.

Food and Drink

Ethiopian food is like nothing you’ve ever tried before. Having evolved mostly in isolation from neighboring cultures, the cuisine is different to both the standard dishes found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and also to the Middle Eastern basics of Northern Africa.

Meals are based around injera (slightly sour, pancake-thin and crumpet-textured bread) which is made from an endemic grain called tef. Portions of food are then placed on the injera instead of on a plate and the injera is torn off from the edges and used instead of cutlery to eat the food. The most common form of dishes served up is a wat (spicy stews made from meat, chicken or vegetables). Spiciness of wats vary according to the amount of berbere (Ethiopia’s famed spice-mix) used by the cook.

Restaurants serving traditional Ethiopian food are called ‘national food restaurants’ and can be found everywhere. All towns of a decent size also have one or two restaurants with menus featuring Ethiopian versions of Italian pastas and pizza. In Addis Ababa there are plentiful restaurants offering menus of international cuisine – particularly Indian, Italian and Chinese.

Specialties:

• Asa wat (fish stew).
• Doro wat (chicken stew).
• Dulet (breakfast dish of pan-fried minced tripe, liver, beef, and chili).
• Enkulal tips (breakfast dish of scrambled eggs with peppers and tomatoes).
• Kai wat (very spicy beef, goat or lamb stew).
• Kitfo (raw or very rare ground beef marinated in a very hot chili powder).
• Messer (lentil curry).
• Shiro (chickpea puree)
• Tere sega (raw meat, considered a delicacy)
• Tibs (pan-fried lamb cooked with garlic, butter and vegetables)

 

Tipping

In most hotels and restaurants a 10% service charge is added to the bill. It is customary to tip a small amount.