Ethiopia: Travelling

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service: Main Department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs e-Visa service

For Further Information: List of diplomatic missions of Ethiopia

Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.

Organising Your Trip

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Addis Ababa Airport - ADD	8 km/5 miles	Tuk Tuk - ETB 200-300/10-15 min Taxi ETB 30/15-20 min	ETB 5/20-25 min	not available	available

Major airlines

Name	Type	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Ethiopian Airlines	Major	Yes	Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical: Ethiopia currently has 9 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including: the Ruins of Aksum (one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Africa), Rock-Hewn Churches at Lalibela, Fasil Ghebbi (the remains of a fortress city), Harar Jugol (a fortified historic town), and the city of Tiya.
Cultural: Some of the main museums of the country include the National Museum of Ethiopia, the Red Terror Martyrs Memorial Museum, the Zoological Natural History Museum in Addis Ababa and the Rimbaud Museum in Harar.
Nature: Ethiopia offers a wide variety of landscapes, with mountains, lakes, savannah and rivers. Volcanic lakes can be found in the unique Rift Valley, which is also famous for its collections of birdlife. The waterfall of Tisisat, on the blue Nile falls, is considered as one of the greatest natural spectacles in Africa. Ethiopia also counts 14 major wildlife reserves and national parks, including the Awash National Park, the Simien Mountains National Park, the Omo National Park and the Bale Mountains National Park.
Religious: Ethiopia is a country where several religions coexist, thus there are several points of interest for tourists too, including: the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa, the Azwa Mariam Monastery in Bahir Dar, the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela and the New Church of St. Mary of Zion Axum.
Thermal: The country has many hot springs, such as those in Filwoha (with public baths and showers), Wondo Genet (outside of Addis Ababa), Woliso and the Lakes Abijata and Shala.
Beach: Ethiopia is a landlocked country, thus has no beaches by the sea. However, the country has several lake, both with salt and freshwater (like lakes Abaya, Tana and Langano).
Winter Sports: Being a tropical country, Ethiopia does not offer winter sports activities, though it is one of the few countries in Africa where it may occasionally snow.
Outdoor Activities: Ethiopia has a rich natural variety in terms of landscapes, flora and fauna. In the country, there are several national parks, Awash National Park is the oldest and most developed wildlife reserve in Ethiopia. Other ideal parks for sightseeing include: Omo National Park, Gambela National Park, Bale Mountains National Park and the Simien Mountains National Park.
Shopping: The widest range of local products can be found in the capital Addis Ababa, but all the main tourist destinations have their own handcrafts and markets.
The Merkado market in Addis Ababa is possibly the biggest in Africa, while the Shiromeda market is also famous (especially for traditional clothing). Gallery 21 and Alert Handicraft Shop are more adapt for high-end products.
Generally, bargaining is normal in market places, but not in standard shops.

Tourism Organisations: Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions: Besides normal vaccines (measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella, polio), it is advisable to get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B, Yellow fever and Thypoid. Vaccine against cholera is advised for individuals at highest risk (i.e. humanitarian aid workers or those working in refugee camps or slums; those caring for people with cholera or after a natural disaster, etc.).
For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions: Fit to Travel website
For Further Information on Safety Conditions: Gov.uk guide to Ethiopia
Contact Your Embassy: Mauritian Embassy in Ethiopia
P.O Box 200222, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
Tel: 020 25111 661 5997 (PABX)
Fax: 020 25111 661 4704
Contact the Embassy per Email.

Emergency Numbers

Police	999
Ambulance	997
Fire	998

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference: It is %T:%M %A In Addis Ababa (GMT+3)
Summer Time Period: June to August (rainy season)

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate: Ethiopia is in the tropical zone laying between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. The country has three different climate zones according to elevation:
Tropical zone (Kolla), with an average annual temperature of about 27 degree Celsius and annual rainfall of about 510 millimetres. The Danakil Depression (also known as Danakil Desert), which is about 125 metres below sea level, is the hottest region, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees;
Subtropical zone (Woina dega) - includes the highlands areas of 1830 - 2440 metres in elevation has an average annual temperature of about 22 degrees, with annual rainfall between 510 and 1530 millimetres;
Cool zone (Dega) - above 2440 metres in elevation, with an average annual temperature of about 16 degree and annual rainfall around 1280 millimetres.
Hotel reservation websites: National Meteorology Agency

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

Eating

Food Specialties: The Ethiopian cuisine is much varied, but usually consists of vegetables and very spicy meat dishes. Meals are often served atop injera, a large sourdough flatbread, which is about 50 centimetres in diameter and made out of fermented teff flour. Pieces of injera are used to pick up bites of entrées and side dishes. Some of the typical dishes include: Tibs (sautéed meat chunks), Shiro be Kibbe (legume stew),
Berbere (typical spice blend), Kitfo (Ethiopian beef tartare) and Doro wat (chicken stew), Waadii, Anchotte and Baduu.
A typical breakfast includes of fit-fit, or chechebsa, made with kitcha (unleavened bread), niter kibbeh (seasoned clarified butter) and berbere (spice).
A famous tradition is called “gursha,” and it consists of feeding close friends and family a bite during the meal.
Drinks: Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and grows hundreds of varieties. Coffee is often served after a ceremony which involves the use of incense, while other times espresso is brewed over a charcoal brazier in a clay urn.
A typical drink is the Tej, a honey wine beverage.
Dietary Restrictions: Fasting days are observed pretty religiously in Ethiopia: on Wednesdays and Fridays almost everyone eats a vegan diet. Lately, the upper classes started having fish on fasting days, but still no dairy.

Muslims and people following the Ethiopian Eastern Orthodox religion have some dietary restrictions (no pork). According to the national census conducted in 2007, 43.5% of the population were reported to be Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, and 33.9% were reported to be Muslim.

Paying

Domestic Currency: Ethiopian Birr
ISO Code: ETB
To Obtain Domestic Currency: It is possible to withdraw the local currency directly from banks’ ATMs (fees apply). There is an array of currency exchange companies in bigger cities.
It is illegal to carry more than ETB 1000 when entering or leaving Ethiopia.
Possible Means of Payment: Payments are generally in cash. Hotels and bigger establishments may accept credit cards.

Speaking

Official Language: Amharic is the official working language in which all federal laws are published, and it is spoken by millions of Ethiopians as a second language.
Other Languages Spoken: There are 88 individual languages of Ethiopia. Most of these languages belong to the Afroasiatic family.
These languages include: Oromigna, Tigrigna Somaligna Guaragigna, Sidamigna, Hadiyigna, others.
English is a major foreign language taught in schools.
Business Language: Amharic and English

Useful Resources

To Find a Job: Ethiojobs
Ezega

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