Ethiopia

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Overview

Ethiopia is the only country in Africa never to have been fully colonised (with the exception of a five-year occupation by Mussolini's Italy). The 20th-century history of Ethiopia is dominated by the figure of Haile Selassie, who became emperor in 1930 and ruled until the military coup of 1974. The country was occupied by the Italians between 1936 and 1941.

In 1977, a further coup brought Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu to power. Agricultural backwardness was the country's most urgent problem; all attempts at land reform were resisted. The government itself was perhaps too preoccupied with fighting secessionist movements in Tigray and Eritrea, and with occasional border clashes with Somalia (one of which escalated into full-scale war during 1977). This, along with severe drought, economic mismanagement and the mutual mistrust between the government and Western aid agencies contributed to the widespread and heavily-publicised 1983 famine. The civil war continued until May 1991, when President Mengistu fled the country for Zimbabwe.

In June 2001, after 10 separate attempts, the UN finally managed to broker a settlement between Ethiopia and Eritrea. A 4,000-strong peacekeeping force, UNMEE, holds the line between the two sides, but a final resolution of the conflict seems as distant as ever. This was a war that neither side could afford. Ethiopia has been in need of food aid for some years and distribution to the most needy and remote areas was disrupted by the fighting. Large imports of emergency aid were needed during the summer of 2003 to prevent a famine which might otherwise have affected up to 15 million people. In 2005, contested general elections led to more social unrest.

Ethiopia can claim some of the highest and most stunning places on the African continent, such as the jaggedly carved Simien Mountains, and some of the lowest, such as the Danakil Depression, with its sulphur fumaroles and lunar-like landscape. Before travelling however, it is recommended that visitors check the latest travel advice.
Area
1,133,380 sq km (437,600 sq miles).
Population
74.8 million (2006).
Population Density
65.9 per sq km.
Capital
Addis Ababa. Population: 2.7 million (2003).
Government
Federal Republic.
Language
Amharic is the official language, although about 80 other native tongues are spoken including Oromo, Somali and Tigrinya. English and Arabic are widely used and some Italian and French is spoken.
Religion
Ethiopian Orthodox (Tewahido) and Coptic Church, mainly in the north, 40%; Islam, mainly in the east and south, 40%. There are also significant animist, Evangelical, Protestant and Roman Catholic communities.
Time
GMT + 3.

Social Conventions
Casual wear is suitable for most places, but Ethiopians tend to be fairly formal and conservative in their dress. Private informal entertaining is very common. Most religious houses are not open to women.
Photography: In the smaller towns the locals may expect a small payment in return for being photographed. Video photography in famous tourist attractions occasionally carries a small charge. Photography may be prohibited in airports and near military camps.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi since 1995.
Head of State
President Woldegiorgis Girma since 2001.

Culture

Food and Drink
Menus in the best hotels offer international food and Addis Ababa also has a number of good Chinese, Italian and Indian restaurants. Traditional restaurants in larger cities serve food in a grand manner around a brightly coloured basket-weave table called a masob.

Things to know: Traditional Ethiopian food does not use pork because most Ethiopians are Muslim or Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. Before beginning the meal, guests will be given soap, water and a clean towel, and the right hand is used to break off pieces of bread with which the rest of the meal is gathered up. Cutlery is not used.

National specialities:
o Ethiopian food is based on dishes called we't (meat, chicken or vegetables, cooked in a hot pepper sauce) and served with or on injera (a flat spongy bread).
o Shivro and misir (chickpeas and lentils, Ethiopian-style).
o Tibs (crispy fried steak).
o Kitfo (raw or very rare ground beef marinated in a very hot chilli powder).
o There is a wide choice of fish including sole, Red Sea snapper, lake fish, trout and prawns.

National drinks:
o Ethiopian coffee from the province of Kaffa, with a little rue (a sweet herb) added for extra aroma, is called 'health of Adam'.
o Local red and dry white wines are worth trying.
o Tej (an alcoholic drink based on fermented honey).
o Talla (Ethiopian beer).
o Kaitaka (a pure grain alcohol).

Tipping: In most hotels and restaurants, a 10% service charge is added to the bill. Tipping is usual, but amounts are small.
Shopping
Special purchases include local jewellery (sold by the weight of gold or silver), woodcarvings, illuminated manuscripts and prayer scrolls, wood and metal crosses, leather shields, spears, drums and carpets. In marketplaces, bargaining is expected, but prices at shops in towns are fixed. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1300, 1400-2000; Sat 0900-1300, 1500-1900 (with local variations).

Environment

Climate

Hot and humid in the lowlands, warm in the hill country and cool in the uplands. Most rainfall is from June to September.

Required Clothing
The lightest possible clothing in lowland areas; medium- or lightweight in the hill country. Warm clothing may be needed at night to cope with the dramatic temperature change.
Ethiopia is situated in northeast Africa, bordered by Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti. It is about twice the size of France. The central area is a vast highland region of volcanic rock forming a watered, temperate zone surrounded by hot, arid, inhospitable desert. The Great Rift Valley, which starts in Palestine, runs down the Red Sea and diagonally southwest through Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi. The escarpments on either side of the country are steepest in the north where the terrain is very rugged. To the south, the landscape is generally flatter and more suited to agriculture.

Money

Currency
Ethiopian Birr (ETB; symbol Br) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Br100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Currency Exchange
US Dollar bills are the most convenient currency to exchange.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
Diners Club and MasterCard are accepted on a very limited basis.

Traveller's Cheques
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. They are difficult to exchange outside the capital.

Banking Hours
Mon-Thurs 0800-1500; Fri 0800-1100 and 1330-1500; Sat 0830-1100.

Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into Ethiopia without incurring customs duty:

o 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 227g of tobacco.
o 1l of alcoholic beverages.
o Two bottles or 500ml of perfume.
o Gifts up to the value of Br500.

Note: Export certificates are required for skins, hides and antiques.

Traveller's Guide

Passport Note
A yellow fever vaccination, whilst advisable, is not compulsory. Consult the embassy for up-to-date advice on whether applications will be accepted without the certificate. Required by all nationals of Ethiopia and visitors staying more than 30 days.
Passports
Passport valid for six months required.
Visas
Required by all except transit passengers continuing to a third country within 12 hours, provided not leaving the airport and holding valid travel documents for onward destination.

Some tourist visas can be issued on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to:
(a) Foreign nationals coming from countries where there is no Ethiopian mission.
(b) Foreign nationals coming from and who are permanent residents in any of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA.
If applying for a tourist visa on arrival, visitors will require two passport photographs and US$100.
Application can take up to two hours.
Visa Note
An exit permit is required by all nationals of Ethiopia and visitors staying more than 30 days.
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist: £12 (single-entry, one month); £18 (multiple-entry, three months); £24 (multiple-entry, six months). Business: £12 (single-entry, one month); £18 (multiple-entry, three months); £30 (multiple-entry, six months); £60 (multiple-entry, one year). Transit: £12 (single-entry); £18 (double-entry).

Note: 2. The above prices do not apply to US citizens. By special arrangement with the US government, citizens receive a two-year multiple entry visa for both business and tourism for £42.
Validity
Tourist and Business: Single-entry visas are valid for 30 days, multiple-entry visas are valid for three or six months and business visas also up to twelve months. Applications for extensions should be made to the Immigration Department in Ethiopia. Transit: Seven days.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy; see Contact Addresses) in person or by post. For application on arrival, see below.

Working Days Required
Two to three days, longer if application is by post. Applications by journalists and photographers may take longer.

Note: The visa is valid from the date of issue and not the date of entry into Ethiopia. Visas cannot be post-dated.

Contact Addresses

Ethiopian Tourism Commission
PO Box 2183, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: (1) 517 470.
Website: www.tourismethiopia.org

Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in the UK
17 Princes Gate, London SW7 1PZ, UK
Tel: (020) 7589 7212.
Website: www.ethioembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (general); Mon-Fri 0900-1600 (visa applications and collections).

Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in the USA
3506 International Drive, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 364 1200.
Website: www.ethiopianembassy.org

Health Care
Health facilities are extremely limited in Addis Ababa and inadequate outside the city. Travellers should bring their own prescription drugs accompanied by a doctor's note. The high altitude and low oxygen level of much of Ethiopia need time to be acclimatised to. Anyone who suffers from heart ailments or high blood pressure should consult a doctor before travelling. Health insurance is strongly advised.
Note
* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers aged over one year travelling from an infected area. Ethiopia is listed in the endemic zone for yellow fever and travellers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.

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