Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It is an ancient country whose has unique cultural heritage, rich history, and remarkable biodiversity are reflected in nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ethiopia is known for its unusually high level of endemic plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. The country is largely Christian and it is, in fact the second oldest Christian country in the world. Religion is enormously important in Ethiopia, for Christians and Muslims, but also for tourists, who come to admire the impressive rock hewn churches.

Highlights

Religious sites

by Rod Waddington is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

National parks

by Leonard A. Floyd is marked with CC0 1.0.

by Nina R is marked with (CC BY 2.0)

Historical scenes

Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

by Nina R is marked with (CC BY 2.0)

Impressive landscapes

CT Snow from Hsinchu, Taiwan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ethnic groups

by Rod Waddington, (CC BY-SA 2.0)

MauritsV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Ethiopia is a large country and different regions have different seasonal characteristics. The extreme north and east has a desert climate, central Ethiopia is milder and southern Ethiopia is more tropical, but you should avoid the rainy season, which usually starts in June, but peaks over July and August in the central and northern highlands. Much of Ethiopia sits over 1,500m high, so days can be mild and nights cold, especially in the highlands, which soar well over 3,000m.

The best time to visit Ethiopia is from October to April.

Wildlife: animals viewing in Ethiopia is good throughout the year and does not really depend on the seasons. However, Simien and Bale Mountains, the main strongholds of Ethiopia’s endemic wildlife, can be unpleasant to visit when it is raining. The best months are from November to March.

Historical Places: from October to March.

Hiking: the best time for trekking the Simien Mountains of Ethiopia is from October to February. The Bale Mountains are best visited from November to March when the days are generally clear, warm, and dry, but beware as nights are often below freezing. Temperatures during this time can drop to as low as -15° at night, and rise to as high as 25° during the day.

Danakil depression: the best time to visit this area is from November to February when temperatures are mild, and it is not too dry. During these months, daytime temperatures will hover around 35°C, which is mild for the Danakil.

Birdwatching: The driest time of the year is usually October to March when migrants are present. April to September is good for birding too. At this time many resident birds come into breeding plumage and are more vocal and easier to find.

Practical information

Currency

The Birr is the official currency. Typically, 34 to 58 birrs per Euro and 27 to 54 birrs per US Dollar.

Language

Ethiopia has 83 different languages with up to 200 different dialects spoken. The largest ethnic and linguistic groups are the Oromos, Amharas and Tigrayans. Amharic is the official national language of Ethiopia. English, Arabic, Italian and French are widely spoken by many Ethiopians.

Visa

All visitors to Ethiopia require visas. The only exceptions are nationals from Djibouti and Kenya and travellers who arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to catch a connecting flight. Ethiopian Visa can be collected at Ethiopian Embassies and consulates abroad or on arrival. Right now, visa can be obtained with an online application. Check the link for all visa-related details and to apply for an online Visa.

ATM & credit card

The country has a cash-based economy. Currently, cash is the king when it comes to payments in Ethiopia. Even in large cities like Addis Ababa, many gas stations, restaurants, and small shops only accept cash. ATMs are available in cities and major towns. When you are in one of the cities, an ATM can mainly be found outside of a bank branch, hotels, supermarkets, shopping malls, airports, and government buildings in Ethiopia. ATMs are may not be available in smaller towns, villages, and rural areas. We recommend using a credit card only as a backup in your trip (pay hotels, eat in large restaurants, or pay in large supermarkets). Visa and Master cards are the two main types of credit cards accepted in Ethiopia, although it is best to use one of these cards for travel because they are the most widely accepted.

Opening times

Shop opening hours tend to be less fixed. However, most places operate to core opening hours of around 8am to 5pm Monday–Saturday, but some might stay open until as late as 9pm or 10pm, and many also open on Sundays and public holidays. Cafes and restaurants are open from 6am until 10pm.

Time: GMT + 3 hours.

Main airports

Addis Ababa Bole Airport (is in the middle of Ethiopia, southeast of the centre of the capital Addis Ababa, the distance from the airport to the centre is 5 kilometres. By car, it takes 20 minutes), Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport (is in the northwest of the city Dire Dawa, the distance from the airport to the centre is 5 kilometres. By car, it takes 8 minutes), Gonder airport (is in the south of Gonda city, the distance from the airport to the centre is 18 kilometres. By car, it takes 18 minutes).

Public transport

Ethiopia is a vast country and its road infrastructure, though greatly improved in recent years. The most efficient way to get around is by plane, though some sites are accessible only by road. Many visitors prefer to travel by tour with an agency that provides a 4×4 and driver and or a guide.

By bus, buses are a cheap way to get around. Minibuses are best for traveling throughout towns, though you can also take them to go between cities. You can find three bus categories: luxury buses, ordinary buses, and minibuses. All are very affordable, with ordinary bus fares. Luxury buses are two companies Selam Bus and Sky Bus, with comfortable seating, air conditioning. Ordinary buses, are a lot less comfortable and tend to operate to a more haphazard schedule. On routes where there are only one or two buses daily, there is usually a fix. On busier routes, buses usually leave when full, so you might wait anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on how busy the route is and how full the bus is when you arrive. Minibuses operate only on shorter routes covering distances.

By train, rail transport in Ethiopia consists of three electrified standard railway lines: the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway, the Awash–Weldiya Railway and the Weldiya–Mekelle Railway. Other lines are still in the planning phase. There is also an urban light rail system in the country’s capital, the Addis Ababa Light Rail. For more information about timetables, railway map and fares you can check this website.

One of the best ways to get around larger towns is “Bajaj” (the local name for the blue, Indian-made three-wheelers) runs along its trunk roads picking up and dropping passengers along the way. Bajaj, is often the best way to visit sites within a 20km radius of any given town. Fares are negotiable and drivers usually asking a far lower than taxis.

By taxi, you can find two types of taxis: shared and private. Shared taxis will follow certain routes and include multiple passengers in a cab (like a bus), while private taxis do not have fixed destinations. It is best to negotiate the fare at the start of the trip and check around to make sure you are being given a fair price.

Things to avoid

Drinking or brushing your teeth with tap water.

The border with Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Eritrea due to lack of security and a threat of violence and kidnapping.

Giving alms to kids. They are not going to school, pressed by family members or mafias, if you give them money or goods, you are perpetuating this exploitation.

Taking portraits of people without asking first.

Going to religious service without covering your head, shoulders, and knees.

Food

Ethiopian cuisine consists of vegetable and often spicy meat, stews and curries served over a giant pancake called injera, it is a sour fermented teff flour bread where is rolled into a large flatbread and the food is served on top of it.

The main dishes in Ethiopia are: “Tibs” (sliced beef or lamb, pan-fried in butter, garlic and onion, typically, the meat of the tibs that arrives at your table has just been cleaved from carcasses hanging outside), “Beyainatu”( based in piles of tasty and colourful vegetables, potatoes, curries, lentil stews), “Atakilt Wat” (is a vegetable-based side dish, it is a filling mix of potatoes, carrots, and cabbage, slow-cooked in butter and spices), “Buticha” (Ethiopian dip made with chickpeas or fava beans mixed with onions, peppers, lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, cloves, and other spices).

Electricity and plug types

For Ethiopia there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Ethiopia operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Health and insurance

Ethiopia’s healthcare system is still developing, access to medical services is better in cities. However, most towns have a few private clinics and laboratories that can deal with most routine diagnosis and treatment, particularly for common tropical infections, such as malaria or sanitation-related diseases. Addis Ababa has more than ten state hospitals, but in remote regions of the country, the quality of healthcare systems and infrastructure is poor. We recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Ethiopia, since it covers not only the costs medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.

Ensure your inoculations for typhoid, tetanus, polio, and hepatitis A are up to date, mainly if you are traveling out of the capital or you will stay away from the largest hotels. Yellow fever is a mandatory vaccination to have, before you visit Ethiopia, as well as a handful of others travel vaccines (especially if you are travelling from a Western nation where we are not exposed to these diseases). Malaria risk is present throughout the year in all areas below 2000m including some of the Great Rift Valley Lakes. There is no risk in Addis Ababa. Malaria precautions are essential, avoid mosquito bites by covering up with clothing such as long sleeves and long trousers especially after sunset, using insect repellents on exposed skin and, when necessary, sleeping under a mosquito net. Dengue Fever, another viral illness that is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites. The mosquito that spreads dengue bites during the day and is more common in urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, severe joint, bone, and muscular pain. There is no vaccine and prevention are through avoidance of mosquito bites.

Other

Tips are considered a part of everyday life in Ethiopia, for this reason is common in hotels, restaurants, and bars.

Festivals: There are several fantastic festivals in Ethiopia throughout the year, but mostly are in January, September and November. Book early to secure accommodations during different festivals.

Leddet or Genna (Christmas – 7th of January). During Christmas Eve, there is a church service that runs through the night until 9am. If you are travelling during this time, Axum and Lalibela are among the best places to be.

Timkat (Epiphany – 19th/20th January), participants and onlookers typically wear traditional white clothes, but the lavish and ornate umbrellas that the priests carry to protect them from the sun add another burst of colour amongst a sea of white. The best place to be is Gondar, where the festivities culminate. Addis Ababa also provides a unique experience.

Fasika festival (Easter- April/May), is the most important celebration for Ethiopians because it is the last major religious festival of the year. A colourful and cheerful ceremony fills the busy candle-lit church, with locals completing their final rituals as the night is filled with the steady beat from the traditional leather drums. In Lalibela, Fasika is celebrated in every church, and as a visitor you can move from one church to another.

Meskel festival (finding the true cross- September), is one of the biggest religious festivals among Ethiopian Orthodox followers. The traditional, colourful umbrellas appear again, along with a parade of drums and gilded crosses to make this a truly extravagant celebration. The main event is the lighting of a large central bonfire (demera) at dusk, the top of which is decorated by the sunny yellow Meskel flowers that give this festival its name due to their mass blooming currently. The largest Meskel gathering takes place in Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square. There are also equally magnificent celebrations across the country, including in Axum and Gondar.

Enkutatash festival (Ethiopian New Year – September) in many places, children dressed in new clothes dance through the neighbourhood, distributing paintings. They will in turn be given bread or money in return for their New Year wish. During New Year’s Eve, torches of dry wood are burned in front of houses while the crowds sing and dance.