Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of twelve months of thirty days each and a thirteenth month of five days (six days in a leap year). The calendar is seven years and eight months behind the Western (Gregorian) calendar.

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency imported into Ethiopia, but it must be declared on arrival, using a currency declaration form. Foreign currency may be changed only at authorized banks and hotels. The currency declaration form will be required by Customers on departure. Visitors may change back any excess birr into foreign currency at the airport before departure, but you must, in addition to the currency declaration form, bring with you all receipts for exchange transactions.

Ethiopia uses 220 volts and 50 Hz. It is best to bring your own round, two-prong adapter and transformer if necessary.

The airport departure tax is US$20, Traveler’s cheques are not acceptable. On local flights, there is a ‘boarding charge’ of ten birr of residents and non-residents alike.

Abijatta-Shalla
Lake National Park,
Oromia region
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Awash National Park, Oromia/Afar region
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Bale Mountains National park, Oromia region
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Gambella National Park, Gambella region
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Mago national Park, south Omo region
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Nechisar National park, south Omo region
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Omo National Park, South Omo region
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Simien mountains National Park, Amhara region
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Yangudi-Rassa National Park, Afar region

One of the few African countries never to love its independence, Ethiopia is as large as France and Spain combined and has one of the richest histories on the African continent.

The capital was settled in 1886 and christened by Queen Taytu, consort of Menelik II. The population according to the last official census was 77 million; making it the third most populated country in Africa

The second-largest town in Ethiopia is Dire Dawa, with a population of 99,980 in 1984. Gonder is the third-largest town, with a population of 80,675 in 1984.

The population of Ethiopia today is estimated to be approximately 61 million. Approximately 26 per cent are under the age of 14 and almost half are under 34.

Amaric is the official language of Ethiopia, although English. Italian, French, and Arabic are widely spoken. In areas outside of the larger cities and towns, indigenous languages are likely to be spoken—of which there are eighty-three, with some 2000 dialects. The most common of these are Orominya and Tigrinya.

Despite its proximity to the Equator, Ethiopia’s high altitude ensures a temperate, moderate, even chilly climate—certainly not tropical. There are two rainy season: the irregular short rains from late January to early march, and the long rains form June until mid-September.

Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa; upgraded airports include those at Dire Dawa, Bahar Dar, Gondar, Lalibela Axum and Arba Minch

Ethiopia is an independent republic operating under the federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The president is the head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government.

Moyale (in Kenya), Humera and Metema (in Sudan), and Dewele (in Dijibuti). All have full customs and immigration checks.

Dewele on the Djibouti border. Arrivals undergo full customs and immigration checks. The railway, with day and night trains, runs from Addis Ababa to Djibouti via Nazaret, Awash Station, and Dire Dawa.

Being relatively close to the Equator, there is an almost constant twelve hours of daylight. In Addis Ababa, the sunrise and sunset start at around 06.30 and 18.45 respectively.

All visors (including infants) are required to possess a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or been in transit through a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia. Malaria is endemic throughout the country. Visitors should begin taking a recommended chloroquine-based prophylactic two weeks before their arrival and continue taking them for six weeks after their departure. In addition, medication for chloroquine-resistant malaria is a wise precaution.

Medical facilities are limited and of generally poor standard. Existing facilities are sorely overtaxed. Tourists and non-citizen residents should go to private hospitals and clinics. Contact your embassy for referral to a recommended doctor. Air rescue services are available, and might want to make arrangements with one before your trip.

Ethiopia is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Time remains constant throughout the year. The Ethiopian day is calculated in a manner similar to many equatorial countries, where day and night are always the same length: counting starts at Western 6.00 a.m. and same length: counting starts at Western 6.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. is twelve o’clock midnight, and so on.

Gelada baboon, Starck’s hare, Giant molerat, Simien fox, Menelik’s bushbuck, mountain nyala, Swayne’s hartebeest, Walia ibex.

Telephone, Telex, fax, and airmail services connect Addis Ababa to all parts of the world. Services are available at the General post Office and its many branches, as well as in the main hotels. International direct dialing is available form all major centers in the country.

Drivers require a valid International Driving License, which can be obtained by exchanging your local license at the Transport and communications office on Asmara Road in Addis Ababa. Visitors can recover their original licenses a day or so prior to departure. Those with their own vehicles will require a permit form the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Driving is on the right.

Wattled ibis, blue-winged goose, Harwood’s francolin, Rouget’s rail, spot-breasted plover, white collared pigeon, black-winged loverbird, yellow fronted parrot, prince Ruspoli’s turaco, golden backed woodpecker. Degodi lark, Sidamo long clawed lark, white-tailed swallow, Abyssinian long claw, white winged cliff chat, Ruppell’s chat, Abyssinian catbird, white-backed black tit, yellow throated seed-eater, Ankober seed-eater, Salvadori’s seed-eater, black-headed siskin, White billed starling black-headed forest oriole, Stresemann’s bush crow thick-billed raven.