The old name of Abyssinia indicates the nature of the terrain - a cool mountain strong-hold riven by countless abysses down which tumble mighty rivers to the warm lowlands and sweltering deserts. It is a land too of lakes and forests, of moorland and savanna, a land of pastoralists and tribesmen, nomads and farmers.

Only too many tour companies give precedence to the scenic and historic heritage over contacting the people, understanding what motivates their lives, what are their joys and sorrows. At Abyssinian Tours & Travel we believe that you will enjoy meeting Ethiopians, just as they by long tradition delight in and prize the company of those who have come from afar. Whether that means a friendly greeting at the wayside, an invitation to coffee, or a convivial traditional meal and dance. 

To get the most out of your stay here you will need a sense of humor and fun, innate to Ethiopia's, a real love of travel and endless curiosity. For your interests and enthusiasms matter to us. We value the freshness with which your eyes see our country, and the exciting dialogues which always grow spontaneously when travelers, hosts and citizens meet. 

Where Exactly?

Loving this country as we do, we wish we had time to show you everything. Here are just some of the exciting programs we offer:

• The Historic Route- Bahar Dar (Blue Nile Falls, boat trips to the ancient monasteries of Lake Tana); Gonder (splendid castles dating from the seventeenth century); Axum (historic capital of the great Axumite civilization); lalibela (world famous subterranean churches carved from solid rock). 

• Camping and trekking in the Bale and Simyen Mountains, sanctuaries of flora and fauna unique to Ethiopia in a dramatic landscape of peaks, ravines and Afro-Alpine moorland.

• Rift Valley Adventure - we explore its startling lakes, deserts, volcanoes, dramatic escarpments and profuse wildlife-from the comfort of all terrain vehicles and luxurious tented camps. We meet the proud Afar of the desert.

• People and wildlife of the South- we take you to the remote areas of Omo and Sidamo, visit the Hadar Valley "Cradle of Mankind", shoot (photos of !) elephant and buffalo, lion and croc; talk to the tribes people (through an interpreter!) about tradition and change in their daily lives.

Few Information About Ethiopia

Ethiopia offers a wide scope for enjoying an invigorating climate and has excellent facilities for sight seeing. mountaineering, hunting, fishing, motoring, photography, swimming, and sun bathing. 

Ethiopia is one of the most colorful countries in the world. It has towering mountains, cool temperate uplands, tropical lowlands, hot deserts, lakes forests full of wild game, ruins of monuments dating from the past 2000 years, rock-hewn churches ancient monasteries, fashionable spas, picturesque native life and nomadic culture in its most natural background. 

Physical Features 
The structure is unique. The central region is a vast plateau with an altitude varying from 6000 to 9000 ft. topped by heights reaching up to 15,000ft. it is cool and well watered. On the west and northeast, the land is low-lying and dry. 

Religion
Ethiopia is among the first Christian countries in the world. The Christian faith was introduced in the country in 333 AD. Islam was introduced in the life time of Mohammed. Christianity and Islam are, therefore, the two dominant religions.

Language
The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic; English and French are widely spoken.

 Food
The national food of Ethiopia consists of "Injera and Wot", a spicy curry prepared with meat. The local beverages are "Tella" (local beer), "Tej" (Honey beer) and "Arekie (liquor).

Dress
Ethiopia has a national dress of its own style. Men wear white cotton or khaki trousers which are tight fitting from knee to ankle, with a white long "Shemma" thrown over the shoulders. Women wear long dresses with full skirts made of white cotton with colored borders. Ethiopia style of clothing is commonly worn nowadays by most Ethiopian ladies.

Climate
The climate of the central highlands is temperate. These highlands are cool while the low-lying areas are hot. There are intermittent small rains from April to May and the rainy season runs from June to September.

The rainfall decrease northwards. On the eastern and central parts of the plateau, the temperature is uniform throughout the year with little variations.

History
Ethiopia is an independent  African county with a long history. The forerunner of modern Ethiopia was the kingdom of Axum which flourished in northern Ethiopia in the first century AD.

The Ethiopian new year begins on the first day of the month of Meskerm which falls on September. 

The year is divided into 12 months of 30 days each, the remaining five days (or six in leap year) become the thirteenth month of the year-thus, depicting the country's tourist maxim: "Thirteen Months of Sunshine". The day of 24 hours begins at sunset and divisions of the day and night are reckoned from sunrise to sunset. For example, 7 a.m. European reckoning is 1 O'clock.

Location 

Boundaries
On the north and northeast, Eritrea, on the east and southeast, Somalia, on the south, Kenya, on the northwest and west, the Sudan. 

Extent
30 15' 180 North and 330 to 480 East.

Electricity
380/220 volts

Time
GMT + 3  

Weights and Measures 
The metric system is in use. 

Entry Requirements
Visa can be obtained from any Ethiopian Diplomatic Mission abroad.

Health
A valid Health Certificate for Yellow Fever and Cholera is required if coming from infected area.