Ethiopia travel and tour tips
Popular Sites
Most Popular Sites:
Ethiopia offers several untouched historical and natural sites. Every site has
got its uniqueness depending upon the interest of the tourist. However, the
most famous sight is perhaps Lalibela rock-hewn church and Axum steles, rock churches
of Tigray, the castle city of Gondar , Semien Mountains, Harar city of the
Jugol wall. Other famous areas include the southern area of the Omo people,the
Rift valley region, the Sof Omar cave in Bale, the Ertale volcano and Dallol
region, Jimma area is of interest for those who are eager to know the origin of
Coffee.
Accommodation
Addis Ababa has two 5
star hotels- the Hilton and the Sheraton (Luxury collection) and a growing
number of tourist class hotels. Standards vary outside the capital, but apart
from the Omo and Mago areas where camping is unavoidable it is generally
possible to get relatively clean rooms with en suite toilet and shower.
Calendar & Time
Calendar and Time:
Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which has 12 months of 30 days and a 13th
month of five of six days. New Year starts on September 11th. The Ethiopian
calendar is 7 years and 8 months behind the Gregorian calendar.
Ethiopia is in GMT+3
hours zone; days starting at sunrise; dawn being 12 AM, middy 6 PM, dusk 12 PM
Ethiopian time etc.
Safety
Ethiopia is a safe
destination; nevertheless, when traveling in any developing country, common
sense is a traveler's best friend. Safety is one of the main factors that are
considered while we organize our trips.
Visa
Visa applications may be
obtained at Ethiopia’s diplomatic missions overseas. However, national of 33
countries are now allowed to receive their tourist visas on arrival in Ethiopia
at the regular charge. The list includes Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greek, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Citizens of United Kingdom and
United States. For China including passports issued in Hong Kong (SAR China)
and MACAO (SAR China), Visa is available on arrival.
Food
The national dish for
most Ethiopians is injera, a flat, sour dough pancake make from a special grain
called teff, which is served with either meat of vegetable sauces. When eating
national food Ethiopians eat together, off one large circular plate. Visitors
and guests will have choice morsels and pieces of meat placed in front of them,
and when eating doro wot, chicken stew, the pieces of meat are eaten last,
after one has filled up on injera and sauce.
Vegetarians should try
“fasting food”, what Orthodox Christians eat during lent and other fasting
periods, and which is free of meat and animal products. For those who find
Ethiopian food too spicy, in Addis Ababa there are Greek, Chinese, Armenian,
Indian, Hong Kong, Arabic, French and Italian restaurants. Outside Addis Ababa,
European style food, particularly spaghetti (pasta), is available in all the large
hotels.
Drink
Tella, a traditional
beer brewed from barely or corn and hops, is a local drink generally
unavailable in modern hotels and restaurants. Fermented sorghum known as borde
is a dual-purpose food- drink among Ethiopia’s lowland peoples and pastoralists.
In Addition, there are bottled Ethiopian beers, local wine and mineral water
that most find to their liking.
Topography
Ethiopia has an
elevated central plateau varying in height between 2,000 and 3,000 meters. In
the north and center of the country there are some mountains whose peaks rise
over 4,000 meters. The most famous Ethiopian river is the Blue Nile (or Abbay),
which runs a distance of 1,450 kilometers from its source in Lake Tana, to join
the White Nile at Khartoum.
Climate
Throughout most of the
country there are two seasons: the dry season prevails from October through
May; the wet season runs from June to September. Temperate in the highlands;
hot in the lowlands.
Clothing
Visitors should take
light, summer clothes for the day time and something warm for the evenings,
like a sweater or jacket. The temperature drops quite rapidly towards sunset.
Simian or Bale Mountains trekkers should bring warm clothes and water proofs
for un seasonal rains. Shoes must always be removed before entering churches
and mosques.
People
Ethiopia’s population
is estimated around 80 million (2007). Ethiopia is composed of about 83 ethnic
groups with its 200 dialects. Based on the language they speak, they can be
divided into Semitic, Cushitic, Nilotic and Omotic stocks. Amharic with its
unique alphabet is the official language of Ethiopia; however English, Italian,
French and Arabic are widely spoken.
Currency
The local currency is
Birr, and 1 USD is approximately equivalent to 14 birr. Information of foreign
currency by visitors is unlimited; but declaration must be made at the point of
entry. Foreign currency may only be changed at authorized banks and hotels. The
currency declaration form must be retained as this will be required by customs
on departure.
Photography
In the smaller towns
the locals may expect a small payment in return for being photographed. Video
photography in famous tourist attractions occasionally carries a small charge.
Photography may be prohibited on the bridge and near military camps.
Health
All visitors are
required to posses a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate. Vaccination
against Cholera is also required for any person who visited or transited a
cholera- infected area within six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia. Malaria occurs
in most parts of the country, especially when visiting the lowland; visitors
should take preventive dose against malaria before, during and after the tour.
Communication
Telephone, Tele fax,
Internet, e-mail and postal facilities are available in the country. Internet
services are available in major cities and towns only. The international
dialing code for Ethiopia is +251.
Airport
Airport: The main
Airport is Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. It has various
international connections. Domestic flights are also available to various
regions of the country. The Historic route has daily flights from Addis Ababa,
in the sites as Bahir Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, Axum and Dire Dawa South
(Arbaminch and Jinka and South-west some cities are also connected (Jimma, and
Gambella).
There is USD 20 departure tax for international flights.
There is USD 20 departure tax for international flights.
Economy
About 85 percent of
the populations earn their living from the land, mainly as subsistence farmers.
Agriculture is the backbone of the national economy and the principal exports
from the sector are coffee, chat, oil seeds, pulses, flowers, vegetables, sugar
and foodstuffs for animals. There is also thriving livestock sector, exporting
cattle on the hoof and hides of skins.
Religion
Three of the world’s
major religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam have had their followers here
since they were founded and thus have grown with indigenous expressions and
protected in Ethiopia before anywhere else. Religions (est.): Ethiopian
Orthodox Christian 40%, Sunni Muslim 45-50%, Protestant 5%, remainder
indigenous beliefs. Today, almost 99 % of Ethiopians are adherents of one of
these three main religions with the rest followers of animist traditional sprit
or ancestral worship of one kind or another.
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