Traveler's Tips

Geography

Ethiopia is geographical located in the horn of Africa to the proximity of tropics of Capricorn at 3degree-15degree-north latitude and 35deg 48deg east longitude along the equator. Ethiopia covers total surface area of 12million square km with an average elevation ranging from the very deep elevation up to the highest sheer escarpment reaches up to more than 4000masl. The country is bounded by Eretria in the north, Kenya in the south, Sudan in the west, and Somalia in the east and Djibouti in Northeast, out of which the longest boundary share is with the Sudan.

In terms of size, Ethiopia is the 10^th largest in the whole Africa and the 2^nd largest country in east Africa with area coverage of 1,104,300km2 (one million one hundred four thousand three hundred km2). As a result, this topography and largest surface area, encompasses some of the very enticing landscapes, unique biodiversity, stunning natures, Parks that are rich in both faunal and floral distributions, border-crossing rivers and fresh water as well as Saline lakes.

Climate

Because of its proximity to the Equator, Ethiopia experiences all types of climates from cold to hot and mild to warm. There are 4 seasons with 5 climatic zones in the year. Out of which, we call summer the wet season, prevails from June to half of September and winter the dry season runs from end of October to the beginning of June. The other 2 are spring and autumn respectively.

Language

About more than 83 languages with 200 dialects are spoken in the country. These languages are encompassed in to two major language families, The Afro Ascetic and Nilo Saharan. Out of which, the main three languages such, as Amharic, Oromifa and Tigregna are widely spoken. Amharic is the National language of the state and English is served as the 2^nd. Others like, French, Italian, German Arabic and Spanish languages are also some time spoken by few people, especially who are close to the travel industry.

Economy

Ethiopia’s Economy is mainly based on rain fed agriculture, produced once in a year. This covers about 90 percent of the total earn of the populations. Nomadic and Agro-pastoralist are also practiced in some parts of the country. Coffee, Oil seeds, skin and hide with live cattle are the main export items that support the Agriculture, out of which, Coffee stands 1^st and takes the lions share. These days “Chat or Cat became the most important export plant that enables the country to earn a foreign currency.

Health Requirement

All Travelers are strictly advised to hold an up dated Yellow fever certificate from a country you are living. Additional vaccinations for transmitted diseases like Cholera, Malaria and so on are also recommended for those Tourist and transit passengers in Ethiopia.

Visa Conditions

Visa is a mandatory document for any one who want to travel or stay in the country. It could be obtained from the country where Ethiopian embassies, consular and diplomatic mission offices are located. For travelers of exceptional countries listed in here under, visa can be claimed up on arrival at Bole international Airport, Addis Ababa. France, Germany, Greek, Ireland, Belgium, Argentina, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Israel, Kuwait, Luxemburg, Mexico, Poland, Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Spain, South Africa, Taiwan, Switzerland, and United States of America.

Time Calendar

Ethiopia is a GMT+3 time zone following the Julian calendar. The year is divided in to 13months, of which the 12 months each have 30 equal days. But the last or the 13^th month that we call it “Pagumen” has 5 or 6 days based on the leap year. Each year also assigned by the 4 Gospels; Mathew, Mark, John and Luke. Like, the year of St. Mark, the year of St. Mathew and on.

Here are lists of months in Amharic and English words.

Meskerem - September
Tikimt - October
Hidar - November
Tahsas - December
Tir - January
Yekatit - February
Megabit - March

Time Calendar

Here are lists of months in Amharic and English words.

Meskerem - September
Tikimt - October
Hidar - November
Tahsas - December
Tir - January
Yekatit - February
Megabit - March

Currency

The name of Ethiopia’s currency is called BIRR, consists of both Paper notes and Coins with a category of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 200 birr notes and 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents.

Travelers can carry with them any amount of their local money and changed it in Hotels, Banks and Authorized dealers at Bole international airport, in Addis Ababa and major cities in the country.

Communications

Communication service is now at its encouraging status, though not as well developed as the modern world. Mobile/ Cell phone, cable Telephone, Internet, Fax and Skype services are available in major cities including Addis Ababa. Both Gravel and tarmac roads that covers more than 35,000kms connect major cities and villages.

Food and Beverage

Most of Ethiopia’s Foods are eaten using the five fingers of either Hand, not with forks, especially, “Injera”. Injera is a flat sour spongy like slim bread made from an indigenous tiny cereal called “Teff or Eragrostis teff” and is a steeple traditional meal of the maxim people. It could be served in many ways; like with meat, Bean, pea, chickpea stew and with dairy products. In addition, “Doro Wot or Chicken soup” is a national stew that usually be served with Injera. Beverages like Tella, which is brewed from the fermentation of Cereals like, Barley, Sorghum, Maize, Finger millet with Malt and Hops/ rammus pyrenoid; Teje/ Honey wine (made from Honey, hoops and malt); Araki, Jin or Ouzo like drink prepared by a

Festivals

Numbers of festivals are celebrated in Ethiopia throughout the year. Before the actual day of the celebration comes on, special arrangements are start to be performed since a month or so. Then at the exact day of the feast, new clothes are worn; traditional Food staffs and local beverages are prepared; well fatten Oxen, sheep or Goats are slaughtered; finally, Families, Neighboring and Friends are summoned in turn from one house to the next for Eating, Drinking Dancing and enjoying each other for the following days.

Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)

Ethiopia has its own calendar and time calculation that late behind 8 years from the other world. Therefore, our New Year rests on the 1^st of September E.C (Ethiopian Calendar) or 11^th of September G.C (Gregorian Calendar). On the 11^th of September, the day locally known as St. John’s day or “Enkutatash”. It is one of the national festivals of Ethiopia lies in between the end of the big rainy season and beginning of the new bright season.

Meskel

Ethiopia has 2 big open-air religious festivities effectuated by Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Meskel Celebration is one among them and Commemorates the finding of the true cross in which Christ was nailed against. Queen Helena, mother of Constantinople commissioned the event in the 4th CAD (After Christ) to unearth the cross from the place where it had been buried under. As a result, Ethiopia recalls this event on the 26/27 of September every year. On the day of Meskel celebration, a big bonfire toped with flower-cross is erected up at the center of public areas where people go together and attend the ceremony. In Addis Ababa, the feast is taking place at the main Meskel square in which colorful processional dances of church Priests, Deacons and Choirs are underway starting mid day. Late in the evening, after a ritual prayer, high clergy of the churches and other invited guests are walking closer to the bonfire and torched it with wooden pyres. Then when the bonfire changed in to an ash, the crowed began to paint their body with it as to full fill their belief of the ash will heal them form any disease they would suffer from.

Meskel

Ethiopian X-Mas (Gena)

Is one of the major open air religious ceremonies in Ethiopia recalling the birth of Jesus Chris in Betelhem. It falls every year on the 29th of December in our calendar or 6th of January in the European calendar. The feast observed after long and strict fasting of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians exempted from animal products for about 45 days just to remind the fasting of Prophets of Christ before his birth. Myriads of pilgrimages are traveling from far and wide corners of the country and come together in the town of Lalibela where it colorfully honored every year. On the eve of the day, long mass service and ecclesiastical activities are performing throughout the night then early in the morning, which is on the actual day of the festival, all the pilgrims are heading to wards a specific church of St. Mary of Zion where colorfully attired priests and church choirs are showcasing religious songs using cistern, prayer sticks and drums. This time the Tabots or the Ark of the covenants are temporarily removed from their Chapple and carried around the church compound accompanied by great adulation and religious dances. After such colorful event, Archbishop of the Dioses raps up the day by prayer and blessing of the crowed. Finally, up in the next day, all the faithful shall heading back to their home by vowing that they would return again if they would peacefully alive for the next year.
We are here to arrange tours to this colorful festival combined with the other stunning holiday of Timket or Ethiopian Epiphany in Gondar being held on the 19th/20th of January along with historic route or Omo valley tribes.

Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket)

Is the second out door religious festival colorfully recalled on the 19^th or 20^th of January in the leap year. The day commemorates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan river by St. John the Baptist. On the eve of the holiday, the sacred “Tabots” (the replica of Ark of the Covenants /Tabernacles) are temporarily taken out form every church in the country and carried to a River or any water body where they spend for one night with great processional accompanying. Early morning in the following day, high clergy of the churches, performs a vibrant Mass-service around the holy ‘Tabots’ then the Archbishop of the parish blesses the cistern and splash holy water over the crowed, finally the attendees are allowed to swim or wash their body from the blessed water. As soon as the ceremony over, all the Arks are carried back to their respective churches with similar dancing and chanting.<br We are here to arrange tours to this colourful festival combined with the other stunning holiday of Timket or Ethiopian Epiphany in Gondar being held on the 19th/20th of Januray along with historic route or Omo valley tribes

Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket)

Dallol (Danakil Depression)

Ethiopia is the land of wonders and mystics endowed with mind blowing nature and stunning landscape, characterized by high rising rock pillars pinnacles, plain landscapes, rugged mountain escarpments, river valleys and gorges, lakes and geologically unique land masses. Of which the land mass of Danakil depression with the most inhospitable and harsh environment but a must to see places in our planet is one among the many earthly features. It is surrounded by an active geological events, geothermal spots, far and wide salt deposits and minerals of different kinds that all located at -120mbsl. This made Danakil depression the 2nd lowest point on earth next to the dead sea-728mbsl situated between Jordan and Israel.
We arrange tailored or custom-made tours to this part of Ethiopia direct or combined with the historic route and Tigray rock hewn churches or Omo valley ethnic groups.

Religion

Two major religions are observed in Ethiopia Christianity and Islam. Christianity was 1^st introduced to Ethiopia in about 34/35 C AD then officially accepted in the 4^th C AD by the reign of 2 brothers of Aksumite kings, Ezana and Sayzana both baptized by Christians came from the Roman empire. A certain Fermi nates who later became the 1^st Archbishop of the country was responsible for the converting of the two kings. Then the 9 saints persecuted form Syria in the 6^thC AD who took shelter in Aksum played a profound role in the spread of the new faith in north Ethiopia. Islamic religion arrived in Ethiopia much later than Christianity which is in the beginning of 7 C AD after prophet Mohamed sent his wife and family to Ethiopia sought for refugee from the persecution of the Quraysh. The Judaic belief and culture was also strongly practiced before and after Christianity.