Travel Information

Topography

• With an area of 1,194,000 square kilometres, Ethiopia is the tenth-largest country in Africa. It is approximately two times the size of Kenya or five times the size of the UK. From the north and running down the center are the Abyssinian highlands. To the west of the mountain range, the land drops to the grasslands of Sudan, to the east to the deserts of the Afar depression. The Rift valley Lakes dominate the South of Addis Ababa, the land. The principal rivers are the Blue Nile, the Tekezze, the Awash, the Wabe Shabelle, the Omo, and the Baro. The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa which lies in the heart of the country at an altitude of 2300 m.

Population

• With a population of about 100 million people, Ethiopia is the second most populated country in Africa. After the downfall of Derg (the military regime), the country has now a federal Republic government made up of 9 regions based on ethnicity; with regional administrations. Additionally, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa are under federal administration.

Economy

• The country's economy is based on agriculture, and about 85% of the population is subsistence farmers. Coffee (the word originates from the name of the province of kaffa, in the south-west of Ethiopia) provides the foreign currency earnings of about 50 %, the export of livestock and skins chat, oilseeds, textiles, pulses, flowers and animal feed makes up the rest of Ethiopia's foreign currency earnings.

When to come

• This can depend on where you are going. In most of the country, the primary rainy season runs from June to the end of September, with short rains in March. In Southern Ethiopia, the Omo and Mago parks, the seasons are different from the main rains from March to June and shorter rains in November. (However, it is not possible to be definitive about the rains – in recent years, unseasonable rains have made sections of the Omo impassable, for example). With upgrading the airports along the Historic Route (Axum, Lalibela, Gondar, and Bahir Dar ), it is now possible to visit the north even in the rainy season. For travellers who do not mind waiting out a downpour (usually followed by brilliant sunshine ), there are certain rewards – a green countryside full of crops and flowers and the sites primarily to yourselves.

Climate and clothing

• Because of the elevation, temperatures rarely exceed 250C in most of the country, although it can get considerably hot in some of the lower-lying areas (Awash, Omo and Mago parks ). Pack light clothes for the daytime, a jacket or sweater for the evenings, and a good pair of walking shoes even if you are not going trekking –pathways around historic sites are usually uneven and stony. In the Simien and Bale Mountains, Trekkers will need warm clothes, waterproofs, and 3-4 season sleeping bags. On a cultural note – Ethiopians are generally modest dressers, and visitors should be sensitive about going underdressed (shorts, tank tops, and barebacked) into places of worship. Shoes must permanently be removed before entering churches and mosques-for getting around sites like Lalibela and many churches.

Health

• Visitors must have a valid health certificate for yellow fever before entry. If a visitor transited or visited cholera reported area within six days before arrival in Ethiopia, vaccination against cholera is required.

Currency exchange

• Official currency: 1 birr cents

• Bank Hours: open from 08:30 in the morning to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and half-day on Saturdays. However, banks at Addis Ababa Hilton and Sheraton Hotels are open daily, including holidays from 0600-2300 hours. You can also cash visas & Master Card at the banks or use the ATM inside the hotels.

• Traveller’s' cheque is best taken in US Dollars or pounds sterling, and cash is best taken in US dollars or Euro. 

• Some credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, American Express and Dinners club are accepted at major hotels.

Time and electricity

• Ethiopia is three hours ahead of GMT(+3 GMT).

• The electric supply is 220 volts, 50 cycles AC.

CALENDAR

• Ethiopia follows its calendar, "13 months of sunshine,” consisting of 12 months of 30 days each. And the 13th month of 5 or 6 days in a leap year. The Ethiopian Calendar is seven years and eight days behind the Gregorian calendar. The country also has its way of telling time.