Ethiopia

Ethiopia Briefing

Capital City–Addis Ababa

Languages– Official language is Amharic, Oromiffa, Tigrinya, Somali and other local languages totalling some eighty-three, plus dialects. 

Government– Federal dominant-party parliamentary republic

Legislature– Federal Parliamentary Assembly, Upper-House-House of Federation, Lower House- House of People’s Representatives. 

Formation

  • D’mt 980 BC
  • KingdomofAxum c100 AD
  • ZagweDynasty 900
  • Ethiopian Empire 1137
  • Derg 1974
  • People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

1987

  • CurrentConstitution August 1995

Area– 1.12 million km sq, Ethiopia is the size of France and Spain together.

Population– 110.9 million (midyear
2021 est). 

Religions– Ethiopian Orthodox Christian 44 %, Protestant 22.1%, Islam 31%, traditional beliefs 2.6%, Catholic 0.7%, Others 0.6%.

Currency– Ethiopian Birr.

Time difference– GMT +3 hours.

Driving– on the right.

International Dialing Code– +251

Internet, email and Wi-Fi widely available.

Voltage– 240, European two-pin plug.

 

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN ETHIOPIA

The year of the Ethiopian calendar contains 365 days to which is added every fourth year an extra day. Each year in this four-year period is dedicated to one of the four Evangelists who come in the following order: Mathew, Mark, Luke and John. The year of Luke is the Ethiopian Leap year and is the year which precedes the western leap year.   Each year is divided into 12 months of 30 days. The extra 5 days are placed at the end of the year and known as Pagumen. In the leap year the extra day is added to these five days making the Pagumen of this year a period of 6 days.

  The following are public holidays in Ethiopia. Many holidays follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

  • September 11 Ethiopian New Year
  • September 27 The finding of the True Cross (Meskal)
  • October 28 Birth of Prophet Mohammed (Mauwlid)
  • January 8 Ethiopian Christmas
  • January 20 EthiopianEpiphany (Timkat)
  • March 2 VictoryofAdwa
  • March 20 April 17 EthiopianGoodFriday (in 2020)
  • April 19 EthiopianEaster(Fasika) (in 2020)
  • May 1 International Labour Day
  • May 5 Ethiopian Patriot’s victory day
  • May 23 Eid ul Fitr
  • May 28 Downfall of the Dergue Regime
  • Jul 30 Ed al-Adha

Easter is a “movable feast” and does not have a fixed date; however, it is always held on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25 in Gregorian calendar.

Many Eastern Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar and Ethiopian Orthodox church follow the Ethiopian(Enoch) calendar rather than the Gregorian. In this case, the observance of Easter can occur between April 4 and May 8.

      Islamic holidays (exact date is subject to moon–sighting)

TRAVEL TIPS

For the most part, traveling in Ethiopia is safe, Ethiopia is known to be still one of the safest places in Africa. Violent crimes are very rare. You should be aware of pickpockets at the Mercato in Addis Ababa and other main touristic areas and it is better not to show off valuables and money. In some overland regions, it is recommended not to drive after dusk. Make sure you have a copy of your passport and keep it in your luggage.

Customs

Duty-free imports are permitted for up to:

  1. 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 1/2 lb of tobacco
  2. 2 litersofalcoholicbeverages 3.Half-liter or two bottles of perfume.

4.Goodsfor personal use.

    You may want to consult your local Ethiopian Embassy if you want to bring high standard equipment. In many places, small fees are charged for photos taken of people, especially in the southern tribal areas of Ethiopia. Video fees can be very high in national parks and other guarded places.

VISA AND IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS

Foreign visitors must have entry visas. Entry visas can be obtained from Ethiopian Diplomatic and consular missions abroad. For visa and immigration requirement of Ethiopia please visit the website on the below link.  https://www.evisa.gov.et/#/home

Best time to travel

The best time to come to Ethiopia is depends on what you’re planning to do when you get here. The best time to come to the highlands of Ethiopia is the end of September. The long rains begin in June and last through September, with sporadic rainfall and fog. After mid-September, Mountains are green and attractive. At high altitude above 3000 meters, nightly low temperatures can drop to -5 °C, while daily high rises to 17°C -20°C.  The short rains are from mid-February to April.  In recent times, the short rains do not always occur.  Seasonal weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable. The best time to visit The Omo Valley tribes is June to September coinciding with many of the important tribal festivals. The dry season from January to February is best for wildlife. The rainy season early March – end of May and during November is best avoided.

Money

Money can be exchanged, in hotels in the airport and banks. Exchange requires a passport and the receipts should be kept, as re-exchanging back into foreign currency is difficult otherwise. The Ethiopian currency is called Birr VISA and MASTERCARD are accepted at the major hotels. ATM’s are available in throughout Addis Ababa and most of bigger towns.

Food

Cooking is a high art with a huge variety of dishes. Most dishes are infused with a very hot chili pepper. The staple grain is ‘‘Teff’’, which is made up into a giant pancake (Injera) that covers a two–foot diameter plate. 

The ‘‘Wot’’ is cooked stew made out of meat including chicken (Doro Wot),

Mutton (Yebeg wot), and commonly fried meat (Tibs). There are a number of vegetarian options in traditional Ethiopian cuisine. International restaurants are available in Addis Ababa and other cities of the country. 

Immunizations

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is not mandatory in order to enter Ethiopia, but if you’ve recently travelled to a country where it is present you will need proof of immunization. 

Immunization are recommended when traveling to Ethiopia, they include:

  • Yellow Fever
  • Typhoid
  • Hepatitis A
  • Diphtheria
  • Meningococcal
  • Make sure you start getting your vaccinations at least 8 weeks before you travel.

Malaria

The Highlands and Addis Ababa are not a problem for malaria. 

High Altitude

The altitude of the Mountains of Ethiopia are 3000 to 4543 meters above sea level. Many people experience altitude sickness above 3000 meters. Some of the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness are headache, loss of appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness and difficulty sleeping. Please make sure that you visit a doctor before trekking and that your health insurance is adequate. Using an appropriate trekking shoe is important. The temperature in the dry season (November to April) drops down to -5 degrees Celsius (23 F) at night, so you should bring a very warm jacket.  During the rainy season, waterproof clothes are strongly recommended. You need comfortable, sturdy trekking shoes.  Last but not least please do not forget a first aid kit and any medications that you may require. 

 

Photography

In the smaller towns the locals may expect a small payment in return for being photographed. Especially in the southern tribal areas of Ethiopia. You may want to consult your local Ethiopian Embassy if you are bringing high standard equipment. Video fees in popular tourist attractions can be very high.

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