Official Name: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ethiopia is an ancient country with roots in prehistory; Ethiopia has long been a crossroads for trade and diverse cultures.
Capital: Addis Ababa The altitude of Addis Ababa ranges from 7,000-8,500 feet (2,200-2,600 meters). It is the third highest capital city in the world (La Paz, Bolivia, is first at 11,913 feet/3,631 meters and Quito, Ecuador, is second at 9,360 feet/2,850 meters). Addis Ababa is set against the backdrop of the Entoto mountain range and is home to an estimated 4million people.
Location: 3-12 north latitude and 35-38 east longitude. Time: GMT +3 hour’s time zone.
Population: around 103 million
Government: The country is divided into ten ethnically-based states plus two self-governing administrations (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa), each with a right to self-determination.
Country topographic profile: Ethiopia is located in the northeastern part (popularly known as the Horn) of Africa. Ethiopia is bounded on the east by Djibouti and Somalia, on the north and northeast by Eritrea, on the south by Kenya and on the west by the Sudan. With an area of 1,112,000 km2, Ethiopia is as large as France and Spain combined. From the north and running down the centre are the Abyssinian highlands, to the west of the chain the land drops to the grasslands of Sudan, to the east to the deserts of the Afar and the Red Sea. South of Addis Ababa the land is dominated by the Rift Valley Lakes. The main rivers are the Blue Nile, the Tekezze, the Awash, the WabeShabele, the Omo, and the Baro. The major lakes are Abaya, Abiyata, Awasa, Chamo, Hayk, Langano, Shala, Tana&Ziway. As the country is located within the tropics, its physical conditions and variations in altitude have resulted in great diversity of terrain, climate, soil, flora and fauna. .....
People and Languages: There are over 80 ethnic groups who speak over 80 different languages consisting 12 Semitic, 22 Cushitic, 18 Omotic and 18 Nilo-Saharan languages. The Amharas and the Tigreans, both of Semitic origin, account for 37% of the population. The people of Oromo descent account for 40% of the population of Ethiopia, and are the country’s largest ethnic group. Mor than half of the ethinic groups live in the southern part of the country including the Sidamas and Gurages.
Amharic (also known as Amharigna) is the official language and the lingua franca spoken throughout most parts of the country where tourists are likely to visit.
Economy:85% of the population gets their livelihood from the land. Coffee (the word originates from the name of the province of Kaffa, in the south west of Ethiopia) provides the bulk of foreign currency earnings. The export of livestock, skins and hides (Ethiopia has the largest domestic livestock population in Africa), chat, oilseeds, textiles, pulses, flowers and animal feed makes up the rest of Ethiopia’s foreign currency earnings, with tourism set to make an increasingly important contribution.
The opening up of the economy since the overthrow of the previous government in 1991 has created more favorable grounds for development of Ethiopia’s rich resource base. Ethiopia is the “water tower” of the region (the Blue Nile contributes to 85% of the main Nile flow) and projects are now being implemented to better exploit the country’s water resources both for power generation and to boost agricultural production through irrigation schemes. Mineral exploration and mining has stepped up in recent years – there are reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, gold, copper, tantalum, potash, zinc, iron ore, nickel, marble, precious and semi-precious stones.
Religion: The major religions in Ethiopia are Ethiopian Christianity, Muslim and animist. Old Testament Judaism is apparent in Ethiopian Orthodox religious customs and each Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a “Tabot” that represents the Ark of the Covenant. The Israeli government evacuated most of Ethiopia’s small Jewish (Falasha or Beta Israel) community in May 1991, though some of its members have begun returning to Ethiopia.
Fasting is a big part of the Ethiopian Orthodox religion. Traditionally there are 250 days of fasting in the Orthodox calendar. Wednesdays and Fridays are fasting days. The most serious fasting time is the eight-week period prior to Easter. Fasting requires that no meat products, eggs or dairy products be consumed – essentially a vegan diet –In addition, during the period of Lent, no food is taken until after church services in the afternoon. Muslims also fast during the period of Ramadan, eating only after sundown. Both Ethiopian Orthodox and Muslims avoid eating pork.
Groups holding animist beliefs have influenced both Christian and Muslim religions in Ethiopia. There also are Evangelical Protestant and Roman Catholic communities.
Food & drinks: There are several dishes of nations and nationalities. However, Injera is known in most part of the country. Injera is a flat, sour dough pancake made of mostly small seed grain called Teff. Injera is served with sauce (meat or vegetable). Doro watt – chicken stew is the most delicious national sauce to eat injera with. Vegetarians could enjoy fasting – vegetable dishes anytime but more verities during the Orthodox Christian fasting periods.
Italian, French, German, Arabic, Indian, Greek, Chinese and other specialty cuisines are available in Addis Ababa.
As for drinks, gaseous and still water, along with other soft drinks and several brands of locally brewed beers are available throughout the country. Wines & spirits are produced in the country and also imported ones are wildly available. Locally homemade Tela - home made beer and Tej – honey wine are common during the holiday period.
Accommodation: Following a recent hotel starring process, Addis Ababa now has five 5 star hotels –There is also a growing number of tourist class hotels.
Standards vary outside the capital (there have been marked improvements in recent years), but apart from some areas on the west bank of the Omo and in parts of the Afar Region where camping would be necessary, it is generally possible to get relatively clean rooms with en suite toilet and shower.
Climate: There are two main seasons: the dry season prevails from October through May; the wet season runs from June to September.There are four seasons in Ethiopia.
From February until mid-June, the weather is more unpredictable with a short rainy season (known as belge) usually coming in March or April. It is much warmer during this period. The days are hot and the nights are less cold than during the dry season.
The long rainy season (known as meher) is from mid-June until the end of September. During this period, it rains intermittently throughout the day most days and it is generally damp and chilly. During both the belg and the meher rainy seasons, it sometimes hails in Addis Ababa.
There are three principal climate groups in Ethiopia, tropical rainy climate, dry climate and warm temperate rainy climate. Locally named, Dega (cool temprete highlands over2, 500m absl), Weynadega (moderate warm lands lying between 1500-2500m absl) and Kolla (hot lowlands lying below 1500m absl).
Calendar and Time: Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of twelve months of 30days each and a thirteenth month of five days (six in a leap year). The Ethiopian Calendar is seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian calendar. Throughout most of the world, the day begins at midnight. However, in Ethiopia, the day begins at sunrise or 6:00 AM and Ethiopians begin counting the hours from this point. For example, 8:00 AM is 2:00 AM to an Ethiopian; 10:00 AM is 4:00 AM. This continues until 6:00 PM, which is 12:00 PM and then the counting begins again: 7:00 PM is 1:00 PM; 10:00 PM is 4:00 PM, etc.
Travel by air and road: Ethiopian Airlines operates a safe and generally efficient and reliable domestic air service. It has acquired a good reputation in its over 50 years of service also plays a vital role in linking Ethiopia to the rest of the world through its international flights, the airline reaches almost 50cities globally and provide domestic flight services through 26 airports and airfields across the country, Ethiopian Airlines and private companies offer charter services. Travelling by road allows visitors to experience Ethiopia’s wonderful scenery.
Ethiopia has embarked on a massive road renovation and construction program, and many areas are now accessible by good asphalt roads. Given the size of the country, however, it will take quite some time to upgrade the road network on a country wide basis.
When to come: This can depend on where you are going. In most of the country, the main rainy season runs from June to the end of September, with short rains in March. In the Omo and Mago parks however, in Southern Ethiopia, the seasons are different with the main rains from March to June, and shorter rains in November. (However, in a time of changing global weather patterns it is not longer possible to be absolutely definitive about the rains – in recent years unseasonable rains have made sections of the Omo impassable, for example.)
With the upgrading of 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 largely to yourselves.
Health and medical: The possession of a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is no longer mandatory but visitors coming from countries where Yellow Fever has been reported may be asked. (Some countries, such as Australia and Thailand, will ask for a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you have visited Ethiopia in the previous 6 months.) Immunization for Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Typhoid and Polio is recommended.
Malaria: in many sites malaria is not a problem because of the elevation – this is true of Axum, Gondar and Lalibela for example, but it can occur in Bahir Dar at the end of the rainy season and after unseasonable rains. Lowland areas along the Awash River, the Omo Valley, Rift Valley and Gambella are subject to malaria outbreaks.
Mosquitoes are constantly improving their resistance to the prophylactics on the market, so you should consult your doctor about the prescription. Alternatively, you can keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay with repellent creams and sprays. (Climatic changes and phenomena such as el-Nino have meant the appearance of malaria at unseasonable times, and its spread to areas previously malaria free.)
Visitors should take a simple first aid pack, which would include: different size plasters, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream and/or tablets for insect bites, aspirin and/or panadol, sun barrier cream (while temperatures are moderate the sun is strong) and anti-diarrhea tablets such as Imodium for emergencies (they will not cure the problem but will control the symptoms).
Generally, visitors should take out standard holiday health insurance in their home countries.
National Carrier: Is Ethiopian Air Lines. British Midland, Lufthansa, Emirates, Turkish, Egypt Airways, Kenyan air ways, KLM are frequently flying in and out
Money matters: Unless one is carrying very large sums, it is no longer obligatory for visitors to declare currency in their possession on arrival, but should visitors wish to change money back on departure, it will be necessary to produce receipts from banks and authorized foreign exchange dealers. The Ethiopian currency is the birr, the rate of which against the US dollar is fixed essentially by market demand.
Credit card acceptance is now growing throughout the country, but banks which issue cash withdrawals on cards will only do so to a limit of US$500.00 per day (paid in birr), and this only in Addis Ababa and a few other main cities.
ATMs for Visa and other cards can now be found in most banks, and in most of the main hotels in Addis Ababa, and this service has recently been extended to other main urban centres.
Miscellaneous
Visa: If you are coming from the countries whose citizens are allowed to get visa on arrival, you can get it by payment based on the purpose you are coming for, if you are coming for tourism purpose the payment is US$40.00 for 30 days and US$60.00 for three month for single entry visa; and US$70.00 for three month and US$80.00 for six month for multiple entry visa.
Internet: internet cafes are now available in most of the larger towns, though connecting and downloading can be extremely slow. This will hopefully change soon, when Ethiopia links up with fiber optic networks.
Electricity: 220 volts. Plugs are of the round two-pin variety.
Souvenirs: Many antiques cannot be exported and may be confiscated if found in airport searches. The National Museum in Addis Ababa can issue a clearance certificate.
Photography: As a matter of courtesy, permission should be sought before photographing individuals and in many parts of the country, particularly among the ethnic groups living by the Omo River, people will demand a fee. In some sites (in the churches and Blue Nile Falls for example) there is a charge for video photography.
Visitors with a lot of camera equipment may be asked by airport Customs to get a permit from the Government Communication Affairs Office – our office can assist with this process prior to our clients’ arrival.
Noise and earplugs: Over the last 10 years churches and mosques have installed increasingly powerful loudspeakers. Ethiopian Christian Orthodox ceremonies can start at 0300 and continue for 5 to 6 hours, making it impossible to sleep if your hotel happens to be near a church. Ethiopian Airlines Cloud 9 earplugs are particularly effective.
Beggars and begging – Ethiopia’s recent history of civil wars, famines and population displacement, along with poverty and under development generally, has created large numbers of destitutes, particularly noticeable in Addis Ababa. Giving to one often provokes a flood of others and does not really solve the problem – our office is happy to facilitate donations to indigenous organizations working with the needy and to facilities like clinics and schools.
One of the negative impacts of tourism has been to foster a culture of begging, even among those not particularly in need. Generally, visitors should avoid giving pens, clothes and sweets to children – it is better to provide support to local schools, for example.
Bibliography
Guide books The Bradt Guide to Ethiopia
The Lonely Planet Guide to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti
Collins Birds of East Africa
Where to Watch Birds in Ethiopia, by Claire Spottiswoode, Merid Gabremichael and Julian Francis
Important Bird Areas of Ethiopia – Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society
Collins Flowers and Plants of East Africa
Ethiopian Amharic Phrasebook – Lonely Planet
History, Geology and Economics Layers of Time – Paul Henze
A History of Modern Ethiopia – Bahru Zewde
Axum: An African Civilisation of Late Antiquity – Stuart Monroe Hay
The Blue Nile – Alan Morehead
The Sign and the Seal – Graham Hancock
The Survival of Ethiopian Independence – Sven Rubenson
Ethiopian Civilisation – Belay Giday
The Ethiopians – Edward Ullendorf
The Scramble for Africa – Thomas Packenham
Made in Africa-Industrial Policy in Ethiopia- Dr. Arkebe Oqubay
Understanding Ethiopia – Frances M. Williams Art books African Zion: The Sacred Art of Ethiopia
African Ark: People of the Horn
Black Angels: The Art and Spirituality of Ethiopia
Ethiopia Photographed – Richard Pankhurst and Denis Gerard.
Ethiopia Engraved – Richard Pankhurst and Leila Ingrams
Churches of Ethiopia - The Living Churches of an Ancient Kingdom.
Birding reports African Bird Club
Glossary
Communicating
There is no space here for a definitive glossary – Ethiopia has 83 languages and more than 200 dialects! Fortunately, Amharic or Amarigna is widely spoken through the country. Tenastilign – Hello/how are you?
Ciao! – Good bye
Sintino? – How much is it?
Widdino – It’s expensive
Efellegalow – I want
Alfellegum – I don’t want
Tiru no – It’s good
Tiru aydellem – It’s not good
Simeh man no? – (Masc) What’s your name?
Simesh man no? – (Fem) What’s your name?
Leselassa – Soft drink
Amboha – Mineral water
Birra – Beer
Wuha – Water
Ow (as in how) – Yes
Ishi – OK
Aydellem – No
Shintibait – Toilet
Buna – Coffee
Shai – Tea
Injera – Sour dough pancake
Wot – Sauce or stew
Tela – Local beer
Tej – Honey wine
Yekirta – Excuse me
Amesegenalo – Thank you
Na! – Come!
Hid! – Go!
Chiger yellem – No problem
Beka – Enough
Bewhala – Afterwards/later
Qonjo – Beautiful