Information about  travelling to Ethiopia

The following is information about Ethiopia.  If you plan to travel, it is very beautiful country no doubt you will have fun.

Land

Ethiopia, as large as France and Spain combined, has an area of 1,112,000  square kilometers. About 65 percent of the land is arable, with 15 percent presently  cultivated.

Climate

There are two  seasons: the dry season prevails from October
through May; the wet season  runs from June to September.

Topography

Ethiopia has an  elevated central plateau varying in height between 2,000 and 3,000 meters.  In the north and centre of the country there are some 25 mountains whose  peaks rise over 4,000 meters. The most famous Ethiopian river is the Blue  Nile (or Abbay), which runs a distance of 1,450 kilometres from its source in Lake Tana, to join the White Nile at Khartoum.

Transport
Roads : There are some 4,100 kilometres of asphalt roads with a further 19,000 kilometres of gravel and dry-weather  roads.
Railway : A 778-kilometre long railway line links Addis Ababa with Djibouti, and carries both freight and passengers.
Air:  Ethiopian Airlines has an extensive domestic network flying to 43 airfields  and an additional 21 landing strips.

Economy

About 90 percent of  the population earn their living from the land,
mainly as subsistence  farmers. Agriculture is the backbone of the
national economy and the principal exports from this sector are coffee, oil seeds, pulses, flowers,  vegetables, sugar and foodstuffs for animals. There is also a thriving livestock sector, exporting cattle on the hoof and hides and skins.

Language

Ethiopia is a  multi-ethnic state with a great variety of languages spoken in the country, of which there are 83 with 200 dialects. The main three languages are Amharic, Tigrigna and Oromigna. English is also widely spoken.

Electric supply

Ethiopia uses 220  volts 50 cycles AC.

Time

Ethiopia is in the GMT + 3 hours time zone. Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of twelve months of 30 days each and a thirteenth month of five or  six days.

People

The population is  estimated at 65.3 Million , over 50 percent of whom are under 20 years old. The average number of inhabitants per square kilometer is 49. The ancient  Ethiopians were of Hamitic stock who later intermingled with Sematic  immigrants from southern Arabia.

Excursions

Excursions within  Ethiopia, whether for a day or for a month, may be organized for you by any  of the travel agencies or by the National Tour Operation.

Hotels

Addis Ababa has  hotels that cater for all pockets, from the  luxurious Sheraton and Hilton  hotels to the tourist-class hotels such as the Ghion, The Ethiopia and the  Wabi Shebelle. All tourist resorts offer a choice of Modern hotels.

Visa requirements
Visas are required for all visitors to Ethiopia (except nationals of Djibouti and Kenya) and can be obtained from Ethiopian diplomatic missions abroad. Except in the case of a few nationals, passengers transiting Ethiopia within 72 hours only for connection purpose, holding confirmed onward booking and entry visa on arrival.

Currency
The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr, made up of 100 cents. Visitors may import an unlimited amount of foreign currency, providing declaration of such currency is made to Customs on arrival. Foreign currency may only be changed at authorized banks and hotels. The currency declaration form must be retained as this will be required by Customs on departure. Visitors, however, will be able to change back any excess Ethiopian  Birr to foreign currency at the airport before departure. If you do have Ethiopian Birr cash in at the airport, you must, in addition to the  currency declaration form, bring with you all receipts for exchange transactions.

Customs
Duty-free import is permitted up to:

a) 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or ½ lb of tobacco
b) 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
c) ½ liter, or two bottles, of perfumes.
Visitors may export souvenirs with a value not exceeding E. Birr 500, although some
Articles (such as animal skins and antiques) require an export permit.

Health requirements
Prior to entry, visitors should be in possession of a  valid health certificate for yellow fever. Vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival in  Ethiopia.