About Ethiopia

ETHIOPIA

A landlocked country covering over one million square miles and with close to one hundred million people, Ethiopia shares its borders with Djibouti, Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan.

CAPITAL: Addis Ababa

INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE CODE: +251

CURRENCY   The unit of currency is the Ethiopian Birr. See today's exchange rate.

 

CULTURE

Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group is the Oromo (34%), followed closely by the Amhara (27%), with Tigrayans, Somalis and others making up the rest of the population. The two main religions are Ethiopian Orthodox and Islam. The official language is Amharic, though many urban people understand and speak English because it is spoken in schools.

Ethiopia uses the Julian calendar which is 7 years behind the Western Gregorian calendar. The year consists of 13 months and the new year starts on 11 September, (according to the Western calendar). The feasts of Christmas and Easter are later than in the West.  Both are important days in the Orthodox calendar.

The staple food is injera, a spongy bread made from a millet-like cereal called teff, which is dipped into a sauce, which may contain meat as well as vegetables.  It is traditional to share an injera meal and to eat with your hands. The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is an integral part of social life.

CLIMATE

Ethiopia is in the northern hemisphere. The altitude ranges from 125 metres at the lowest point in the Danakil Depression to 4,500 metres in the highlands. Addis Ababa nights can be chilly, especially in the colder season from October to March, while the Somali region in the east is mostly hot and dry. There is one rainy season, which lasts from June until September.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 

•  7 Jan                                 Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)
•  19 Jan                               Ethiopian Epiphany (Timkat)
•  2 Mar                                Victory of Adwa Day
•  Varies                                Good Friday
• Varies                                 Ethiopian Easter Sunday
•  1 May                                May Day
•  5 May                                Patriots Victory Day
•  28 May                              Downfall of the Derg
•  Varies                                Eid al-Fitre (End of Ramadan)
•  11 Sep                              Ethiopian New Year
•  26 Sep                              Meskel (the Finding of the True Cross)
•  Varies                                Eid Al Adaha (Arefa)
•  Varies                                Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed

 

VISAS

Your passport should be valid for a minimum  of 6 months from the date of entry into Ethiopia and it should have at least two blank pages on arrival. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers who are arriving from countries at risk of yellow fever transmission. Visas are available online, in advance. For VISA information see https://ethiopia.visahq.com/

 

AIRPORTS

Bole Airport in Addis Ababa is just a few km from the centre of town. It has a domestic and an international terminal. Immigration controls at Bole are generally efficient and if you are arriving for an international conference you may be fast tracked. Bole Airport is a popular transit point for flights from all over Africa and can be very busy at night when passengers change aircraft. When arriving at Bole, after you have cleared immigration and collected your luggage, you will be screened at a security point before you leave the terminal. If visitors are being met they should agree on a meeting point outside as there is a restriction on meeting passengers within the terminal. Taxis are readily available in the car park outside the terminal. Money can be changed at the bank in the arrivals hall. For useful taxi information see: http://addisairport.com/to-from-airport/

Most major towns and cities have a nearby airport. Ethiopia’s domestic flights are generally safe and reliable. If time permits it is worth visiting some of Ethiopia’s historic sites.

TRAVEL TIPS

People  travelling to Jigjigga or Gode in the south-east should note that the population there is predominantly ethnic Somali. While it is still Ethiopia, dress styles may be more conservative than in Addis.

Taxis are a convenient ways of getting around the cities. See link above.  It is usually safe to walk in Ethiopian towns after dark, but always be aware of potential dangers.