Travel file
About Ethiopia
Visitors who hope to find a mirror image of their own countries, either as a result of colonisation or through the trend towards cultural standardisation imposed by globalisation, will be disappointed: Ethiopia remains stubbornly Ethiopian, distinct and different from its neighbours.
Ethiopia has its own script, notational system and calendar. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is the oldest in Africa – Christianity was made the state religion in the Axumite Empire in 330 AD, before Rome. Muslim communities were established in Ethiopia before the triumph of Islam in its birth place, the Arabian Peninsula, while Ethiopian Jews, or Bait Israel, date their provenance back to the time of the first temple.
At the time of the scramble for Africa, following the Berlin Congress in 1884, the disparate ethnic groups that make up Ethiopia united to defend the country against foreign invasion: at Adua in 1896 Ethiopian forces under Menelik II delivered a stunning rebuff to the colonial ambitions of Italy. The defeat inflicted on the Italian army was the heaviest suffered by any European army in Africa, and was celebrated not only throughout Africa, but in all countries then suffering under the yoke of colonialism and foreign occupation. The fascist invasion in 1935, “to avenge the stain of Adua” as Mussolini declared, was met with vigorous and continued resistance – the occupation lasted only 6 years and failed to leave any permanent stamp on the character of the country or the psyche of its people.
Ethiopia has the most extensive historic sites in Sub-Saharan Africa, experts estimate that perhaps as little as 10% of the total has so far been discovered and excavated. The oldest hominid remains have been found along the Awash River valley (Lucy, 3.2 million years old, Selam, 3.4 million years old, Ardi, 4.4 million years old) – at any time more than 40 institutions from a dozen countries are excavating in the Afar Region, where most paleo-anthropologists now agree the human race has its origins.
There is every variety of scenery, with tropical rain forests, high moor land with Afro-alpine flora, lakes, savannah and deserts. In elevation it ranges from 120 metres below sea level in the harsh salt flats of the Danakil depression, to the 4624 metre peak of Ras Dashen in the Simien mountains. There are more than 80 ethnic groups and as many languages.
Country topographic profile
With an area of 1,112,000 square kilometres, Ethiopia is as large as France and Spain combined. From the north and running down the centre are the Abyssinian highlands, to the west of the chain the land drops to the grasslands of Sudan, to the east to the deserts of the Afar and the Red Sea. South of Addis Ababa the land is dominated by the Rift Valley Lakes. The main rivers are the Blue Nile, the Tekezze, the Awash, the Wabe Shabele, the Omo, and the Baro.
Population
The current population is about 80 million, making it the second most populated country in Africa.
Government and recent history
In 1974 the imperial government of Haile Selassie I was overthrown by a group of lower ranking officers from the armed forces. During the following 17 years Ethiopia was wracked by civil wars and state sponsored famines. The military regime was finally overthrown in May 1991 by a coalition of rebel groups called the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Font (EPRDF), which continues to dominate the government today. Ethiopia is now a Federal Republic made up of 9 regions, based mainly on ethnicity. The present government was re-elected in May 2005 for a 5-year term. Next elections are due in May 2010.
Economy
85% of the population get their livelihood from the land. Coffee (the word originates from the name of the province of Kaffa, in the south west of Ethiopia, the birth place of coffee) provides the bulk of foreign currency earnings, although both the decline in world coffee prices and the rise in importance of other products has meant a fall in its share. (See the award winning documentary “Black Gold” for an expose of how Ethiopia’s coffee farmers lose out in the world market.) The export of oilseeds, pulses, flowers, livestock, skins and hides (Ethiopia has the largest domestic livestock population in Africa), textiles, chat, and animal feed makes up the rest of Ethiopia’s foreign currency earnings, with tourism making an increasingly important contribution. (Recent estimates now put tourism second after coffee exports on terms of foreign currency earnings.)
The opening up of the economy since the overthrow of the previous government in 1991 has created more favourable grounds for development of Ethiopia’s rich resource base. Ethiopia is the “water tower” of the region (the Blue Nile contributes to 85% of the main Nile flow) and projects are now being implemented to better exploit the country’s water resources both for power generation (up 60% in the last 15 years, and set to increase by 500% by 2010, negotiations are under way with the governments of Djibouti, Kenya and Sudan for the export of hydro power) and to boost agricultural production through irrigation schemes. Mineral exploration and mining has stepped up in recent years - there are reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, gold, copper, tantalum, potash, zinc, iron ore, nickel, marble, precious and semi-precious stones.
Thermal power generation schemes are already operational in Afar and Oromo Regions.
When to come
This can depend on where you are going. In most of the country, the main rainy season runs from June to the end of September, with short rains in March. In the Omo and Mago parks however, in Southern Ethiopia, the seasons are different with the main rains from March to June, and shorter rains in November. (However, in a time of changing global weather patterns it is not longer possible to be absolutely definitive about the rains – in recent years unseasonable rains have made sections of the Omo impassable, for example.)
With the upgrading of the airports along the Historic Route (Axum, Lalibela, Gondar and Bahir Dar), it is now possible to visit the north even in the rainy season. For travellers who do not mind waiting out a downpour (usually followed by brilliant sunshine) there are certain rewards - a green countryside full of crops and flowers and the sites largely to yourselves.
Climate and clothing
Because of the elevation, temperatures rarely exceed 250C in most of the country, although in some of the lower lying areas (Awash, the Afar and Somali Regions, Omo and Mago parks, Gambella) it can get considerably hotter.
Pack light clothes for the day time and a jacket or sweater for the evenings, and a good pair of walking shoes even if you are not going trekking - path ways around historic sites are usually uneven and stony. Trekkers in the Simien and Bale Mountains will need warm clothes, water-proofs and 3-4 season sleeping bags. On a cultural note - Ethiopians are generally modest dressers, and visitors should be sensitive about going underdressed (shorts, tank tops and bare backed) into places of worship. Shoes must always be removed before entering churches and mosques - for getting around sites like Lalibela with its many churches airline socks are very useful.
Health and medical
The possession of a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is no longer mandatory but visitors coming from countries where Yellow Fever has been reported may be asked. Immunisation for Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Typhoid and Polio is recommended.
Malaria: in many sites malaria is not a problem because of the elevation - this is true of Axum, Gondar and Lalibela for example, but it can occur in Bahir Dar at the end of the rainy season and after unseasonable rains. Lowland areas along the Awash River, the Omo Valley, Rift Valley and Gambella are subject to malaria outbreaks. Mosquitoes are constantly improving their resistence to the prophylactics on the market, so you should consult your doctor about the prescription. Alternatively, you can keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay with repellent creams and sprays. (Climatic changes and phenomena such as el-Nino has meant the appearance of malaria at unseasonable times, and its spread to areas previously malaria free.)
Visitors should take a simple first aid pack, which would include: different size plasters, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream and/or tablets for insect bites, aspirin and/or panadol, sun barrier cream (while temperatures are moderate the sun is strong) and anti-diarrhoea tablets such as Immodium for emergencies (they will not cure the problem but will control the symptoms).
There are private clinics in most towns, and pharmacies are considerably better stocked than in the past.
Generally, visitors should take out standard holiday health insurance in their home countries.
Food
The Ethiopian national dish consists of injera, a flat, circular pancake of fermented dough made from a grain seed called tef, on top of which are served different kinds of cooked meats, vegetables and pulses. The sauces are generally spiced with berbere, a blend of herbs and spices (including hot peppers) which gives Ethiopian food its characteristic taste. Vegetarians should try “fasting food” (for devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christians fast days make up more than half the year), a colourful spread of salads, vegetables and pulses, devoid of all meat and animal products.
One eats national dishes with the right hand (water for washing is usually brought to the table before the food is served), tearing off pieces of injera to pick up the “toppings”.
Addis Ababa now boasts a wide variety of restaurants - you can effectively dine out in every continent of the world - and at hotels in tourist sites European style food such as pasta is always available.
While in Addis Ababa, be sure to visit Road Runner Bar and Restaurant, sister company of Ethiopian Quadrants, for good mood, food and music. All kinds of food is served, including Ethiopian dishes and pizzas. Friday night in particular is “networking night”, when all kinds of contacts can be made. Road Runner is situated next to Demberwa Hospital, Haya Hulet.
If you are travelling to remote areas, such as the Omo Valley and parts of southern Ethiopia, it is advisable to stock up with tinned and packet food in Addis Ababa.
Drink
Gassy and still mineral water, along with soft drinks, are now available throughout the country. There are several brands of locally produced beer. Ethiopia produces its own wine and spirits, while imported spirits are also widely available. There are home made alcoholic drinks: tela (home made beer or ale), tej (wine made from honey) and kati kala (distilled liquor from various grains.)
Accommodation
Addis Ababa has two 5 star hotels - the Hilton and the Sheraton (5 star plus) - and a growing number of tourist class hotels. Standards vary outside the capital, but apart from some areas on the west bank of the Omo and in parts of the Afar Region where camping would be necessary, it is generally possible to get relatively clean rooms with en suite toilet and shower.
Travel by air, road and rail
Ethiopian Airlines operates a safe, extensive (43 airports and an additional 21 landing strips) and generally efficient and reliable domestic air service, but cancellations and delays can occur, particularly at peak times, in December and January, or during the rainy season, from June to September. The arrival of new aircraft for the domestic routes in 2010 will lead to improved services. Ethiopian Airlines and currently two private companies offer charter services. Travelling by road allows visitors to experience Ethiopia’s wonderful scenery, but in some areas road conditions are poor, and the mountainous topography in the north will cut speed. The hour flight to Lalibela for example takes nearly two days by road. Railway enthusiasts who wish to travel by train from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa or on to Djibouti should wait until the planned renovation is implemented - passenger service is currently suspended.
Ethiopia has embarked on a massive road renovation and construction programme, and many areas are now accessible by good asphalt roads. Given the size of the country, however, it will take quite some time to upgrade the road network on a country wide basis.
Money matters
It is no longer obligatory for visitors to declare currency in their possession on arrival, but should visitors wish to change money back on departure, it will be necessary to produce receipts from banks and authorised foreign exchange dealers. The Ethiopian currency is the birr, the rate of which against the US dollar is fixed essentially by market demand.
Credit card acceptance is now growing throughout the country, but banks which issue cash withdrawals on cards will only do so to a limit of US$500.00 per day (paid in birr), and this only in Addis Ababa and a few other main cities.
ATMs for Visa and other cards can now be found in some banks, and in some of the main hotels in Addis Ababa, and this service is expected to be available soon in other main urban centres.
Miscellaneous
Visas – citizens of 33 countries can now get visas on arrival, visitors from other countries should obtain visas from the Ethiopian Embassy in the their country of residence. If there is no Ethiopian Embassy in the visitor’s country of origin or residence, visas must be obtained from the nearest country with an Ethiopian Embassy.
Airlines - the following airlines fly into and out of Ethiopia: Egypt Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, Kenya Airways, Saudia, Sudan Airways, Turkish Airlines and Yemenia.
Internet - internet cafes are now available in most of the larger towns, though connecting and downloading can be extremely slow. This will hopefully change soon, when Ethiopia links up with fibre optic networks.
Electricity - 220 volts. Plugs are of the round two-pin variety.
Souvenirs - many antiques cannot be exported and may be confiscated if found in airport searches. The National Museum in Addis Ababa can issue a clearance certificate.
Photography – As a matter of courtesy, permission should be sought before photographing individuals and in many parts of the country, particularly among the ethnic groups living by the Omo River, people will demand a fee. In some sites (in the churches and Blue Nile Falls for example) there is a charge for video photography.
Beggars and begging - Ethiopia’s recent history of civil wars, famines and population displacement, along with poverty and under development generally, has created large numbers of destitutes, particularly noticeable in Addis Ababa. Giving to one often provokes a flood of others and does not really solve the problem – Ethiopian Quadrants is happy to facilitate donations to indigenous organisations working with the needy and to facilities like clinics and schools.
One of the negative impacts of tourism has been to foster a culture of begging, even among those not particularly in need. Generally, visitors should avoid giving pens, clothes and sweets to children – it is better to provide support to local schools, for example.