Topographic profile
The topography of Ethiopia ranges from 4600 meters a.s.l to the lowest 116 meters below sea level (the lowest in Africa) both found in the northern Ethiopia. Generally speaking Ethiopia is a country of mountains (hence called the Roof of Africa) and hills also rolling valleys and flat lands with astounding beauty. As we travel towards the south of Addis Ababa the capital, we will find the Great Rift Valley region of Ethiopia. This region is studded with various lakes of exceptional appeal for recreation. In the Northern Ethiopia, we find the largest lake in the country, Lake Tana, where the Blue Nile River originates and starts its long journey to Mediterranean Sea. Ethiopia is also endowed with big and many rivers. The major rivers are the Blue Nile, Tekeze, Awash, Wabe Shebelle, Omo and Baro.
Climate and Clothing
Because of elevation, the temperature rarely exceed 25°C (77°F) in most of the country, although in some of the lower altitude areas (Awash, Omo and Mago parks and the likes) it can get considerably warm. Pack light clothes for the daytime and jacket or sweater for the evenings, and a good pair of walking shoes even if you are not going trekking. Trekkers in the Simian and Bale Mountains will need warm clothes, waterproofs jackets and 3-4 season sleeping bags.
Population
Population The current population of Ethiopia is estimated to be around 100 million, making it the second most populous country in Africa. More than half of the population is youngsters. And the ratio between men and women is almost half –half.
Language
Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic and multi lingual country. There are over 83 languages spoken in the country with 200 dialects. Amharic is the working language in Ethiopia. Other major languages include Afan Oromo, Somali and Tigrigna. English is also widely spoken.
Local Food and drinks
The fasting dish of Ethiopian cuisine is suitable for almost all cultures of mankind. There are numerous selections including salads, vegetables, pulses, and vegetarian sauces devoid of meat and dairy products. This is meant to accommodate devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, which have 196 fasting days in a year where they do not eat meat or any dairy product. Meat lovers can also enjoy Ethiopian food as there are several dishes made up of beef, lamb and chicken. Along with the traditional Ethiopian meal, it is a customary to drink T’ej, a type of honey wine, or a local beer called T’ella. Ethiopia also produces its own wine from its wineries. There are a variety of them in the names of Dukam, Gouder Axumite, Rift Valley and Acacia. These brands come both as red and white wine. The food served at hotels, lodges and tented camps is almost exclusively continental cuisine, and universally ample and healthy.
Local Customs
We highly encourage our visitors to respect the cultures and customs of the indigenous people. For example, Smoking is not popular outside of the major cities and it might be perceived as inappropriate to smoke in front of priests or the elderly. We also want to highlight that tour members should respect the privacy of individuals (especially when taking photographs) and not make promises unless they are certain to keep it. In the same token bargaining is a serious matter in most destinations and it is really not fair to bargain unless there is a genuine interest to buy. For example, if you are not interested in buying something then simply say “No” because in many places “Maybe” means “Yes”.
A cultural note: Ethiopians are generally modest dressers and visitors should be sensitive about going underdressed into places of worship. Shoes must always be removed before entering churches and mosques.
Unique festivals
Ethiopia has many enchanting festivals of its own. Meskel (the finding of the true cross is celebrated on September 27 every year with a bon fire. Timket (Epiphany): Celebrated on the 19th of January every year, it involves a colorful procession of priests and followers singing and dancing. The priests carry Tabots (replicas of the Holy Ark of the Covenant) from their sanctuaries overnight. Timket is one of the most popular national holidays among Ethiopian Christians. The best places to celebrate Timket are Gondar and Addis Ababa. Lalibela is known for its celebration of Ethiopian Christmas. There are also several ceremonies in many places in Ethiopia. Bull jumping and many other fascinating rituals, ceremonies and celebrations are performed by various tribal groups of the Omo in southwest Ethiopia. Another ceremony is Irecha. It is celebrated in many parts of Ethiopia and the most popular one takes place at Bishoftu (Debre Zeit) town 44km south-east of Addis Ababa and by the shores of Lake Hora. Jimma town is another place of Erecha celebration. This celebration is like thanks giving for coming into the New Year in wealth and health. It is also an occasion where Oromo people of Christian, Muslim and Animist faith groups come together to participate.
Accommodation
Addis Ababa has numerous hotels that can cater for all pockets. From the luxurious Sheraton, Hilton, Radisson Blu, Marriott Executive Apartments, Elilly International hotel, Capital hotel and spa, to tourist – class hotels such as Jupiter, and Nexus. You will have wide range of selections. There are also several budget hotels and guest houses in the city. Hotel standards outside of Addis vary considerably. However, we accommodate our clients at the best available hotels even outside of capital. Ethiopia has shown tremendous growth in new number of hotel and lodges both within Addis Ababa and outside. As a result, the standard is increasing significantly and we make sure our clients get the very best for their money.
Electricity
Electricity in Ethiopia is mostly generated from hydro power. Recently wind power has also joined the grid. The country is using clean and green energy. For visitors to Ethiopia and gadgets they are bringing with them, the voltage is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Ethiopia with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need to purchase a voltage converter. Electric outlets in Ethiopia generally accept 2 types of plug: Three round pins arranged in a triangle, or two round pins. If your appliances plug has a different shape, you will need a plug adapter. Please be aware that the electricity service can sometimes be erratic. You should always travel with a flashlight and spare batteries, and do not always rely on an electric razor or hairdryer while traveling in rural Ethiopia.
Documents for Visa processing
In order for visa to be processed, the following are prerequisites.
- Current passport, valid for at least six months and
- One recent passport-size photograph.
Tourist Visa on Arrival
Tourist visa, can be obtained for three months on arrival at Bole International Airport for nationals and residents of the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Democratic people’s Republic of Korea (northern Korea), Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (South Korea), the Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.
Health and Medical
While every effort is made to safeguard your health during on our tour, we also advise you to take some precautions as any traveler on uncharted journeys. However, for any emergency situation there are hospitals or health centers in all of the places you visit and/or in a short distance thereof. We advise that you bring the common over the counter medicines and any medicine you are regularly taking (as you might not find it here) with you. We also strongly advise visitors take out standard holiday health insurance in their home countries.
Photography and Filming tours
Film crews interested in visiting Ethiopia must submit a media accreditation application to the Federal Communication Affairs Office. www.gcao.gov.et and follow the guidelines for filming in Ethiopia. When you submit the application on the email address listed on the application, please remember to include us on the email shibboleth.travels@gmail.com so that we can follow up on your application with you.
When to Come
In most part of the country, the main rainy season runs from June to the end of September, with short rains in March. In the Omo valley, the southern tourism route, the seasons are different with the main rains from March to June and shorter rains in November. Despite the rain, due to the roads being upgraded to all weather and for some paved roads, it is now possible to visit places in the Southern Ethiopia with different scenic rewards.
The northern tourist route is also very much accessible during the rainy season more than ever before due to the upgrading of the airports along the historic route (Axum, Lalibela, Gondar and Bahir Dar). The rainy season visits are unique with the rains usually followed by brilliant sunshine; provide certain rewards of green countryside full of crops and wild flowers.