REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

Facts

Former Name: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa

Official Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Independence: Ethiopia, is oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world 

Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia 

Capital:  Addis Ababa 

Size:  1, 127, 130 sq. km

Population: 61, 095, 000 growing 2.7% p.a.

Ethnic Groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1% 

Religion: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%

Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools) 

Local Time: GMT + 3 

Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of twelve months of 30 days each and a thirteenth month of five or six days. In addition Ethiopia reckons the day in two 12-hour cycles (as in much of East Africa).

Legal System: currently transitional mix of national and regional courts 

Driving:  Ethiopia drives on the right. A valid international driving license is required.

The Terrain of Ethiopia is mostly high plateau divided by the Great Rift Valley into two main plateaux. It includes lowlands, steppes and semidesert. Great terrain diversity determines wide variations in climate, soils, natural vegetation, and settlement patterns.

Ethiopia has two main seasons, the dry season from October through to May, and the rainy season from June to September. 

Temperatures will depend on altitude and there are three major climate zones. A cool zone, consisting of the central parts of the Western and Eastern section of the high plateau, and a small area around Harar with terrains generally about 2,400 metres, a temperate zone between 1,500 and 2,400 metres, and the hot lowlands below 1,500 metres

On entering, all visitors to Ethiopia (except nationals of Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan and Kenya) need a visa that can be obtained from Ethiopian diplomatic missions abroad. Except in the case of a few nationals, passengers in transit in Ethiopia, holding confirmed onward bookings within 72 hours can obtain transit visas.

To get a visa, a valid passport, one recent colour passport size photograph, a completed visa Application Form, and a fee are required. 

Please be aware, that the passports must be valid for at least 6 months from departure date.
 

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions of Ethiopia
 

Germany Embassy of Ethiopia Brentanostr. 1  53113 Bonn	Tel. ++49 22 82 33 04 1  Fax ++49 22 82 33 04 5
.
United Kingdom Embassy of Ethiopia 17 Princes Gate London SW1 1PZ  United Kingdom.	Tel. ++44 207 589 7212 Fax ++44 207 584 7054  . .
United States Embassy of Ethiopia  3506 International Dr.  NW Washington DC 20008	Tel. ++1 202 364 1200 Fax ++1 202 686 9551
South Africa  Embassy of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia  47 Charles Street Bailey's Muckleneuk Brooklyn, 0181 Pretoria Postal Add: P O Box 11469, Hatfield, 0028	Tel: ++27 12 346 35 42 Fax: ++27 12 346 38 67

Diplomatic Embassies and High Commissions in Ethiopia
 

Germany German Embasssy  Khabana, Woreda 12 Kabele 20 Addis Ababa Ethiopia	Tel. ++251 1 55 04 33 Fax ++251 1 55 13 11 german.emb.addis@telecom.net.et     .
United Kingdom British Embassy PO Box 858 Fikre Mariam Abatechan Street Addis Ababa Ethiopia.	Tel: ++251 1 61 23 54 Fax: ++251 1 61 05 88   .
United States US Embassy in Ethiopia Entoto Street P.O.Box 1014 Addis Ababa Ethiopia	Tel. ++251 1 55 06 66 Fax ++251 1 55 13 28  . . . . .
South Africa South African Embassy Alexander Pushkin Street, Higher 23,  Kebele 10 House 1885 Old Airport Area Addis Ababa Postal Add: P O Box 1091,Addis Ababa Ethiopia	Tel. ++251 1 71 30 34/5, ++251 1 71 10 02/10 17 Fax ++251 1 71 13 30/71 84, ++251 1 71 36 82(trade)  econ.saemb@telecom.net.et . . .

Official Currency: 1 birr=100 cents

You can exchange foreign currency only at authorised banks and hotels.

Travellers should take along Euro, US Dollar or traveller's checks, which are best taken in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Although Euros are not widely accepted or exchanged outside Addis Ababa.

Credit cards are not widely accepted outside the major establishments in the cities.

There is no import limit on foreign currencies. But a declaration of such currency is to be made to Customs on arrival. This declaration form must be retained, because this will be required by Customs on departure. Visitors will be able to change back any excess Ethiopian Birr to foreign currency at the airport before departure. If you do have Ethiopian Birr cash in at the airport, you must, in addition to the currency declaration form, bring with you all receipts for exchange transactions.

Banking and Business Hours

Banks: Monday to Thursday 0800-1200 and 1300-1700 Friday 0830-1130 and 1300-1700
Shops: Monday to Friday: 0800-1230 and 1530-1930 Saturday: 0900-1300 and 1500-1900

Customs

Duty-free import is permitted up to:
200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or ½ lb of tobacco
1 litre of alcoholic beverages
½ litre, or two bottles, of perfumes.

Visitors may export souvenirs with a value not exceeding E. Birr 500, although some articles (such as animal skins and antiques) require an export permit

Country code: + 251
Internet Code: .et

Fire, Police, Ambulance: local numbers only
Telephone, telex, postal and fax facilities are available in most main towns.

IDD: International Direct Dialling is available 
Outgoing Code: Operator assistance required for outgoing international calls. 

Electricity

Electric Power is 220V running at 50Hz. The Plug types used are: 

Round pins with ground
 
Round pins with round grounding pin (offset) 
 
 

Ethiopia's Sabbath is Sunday. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Islamic community celebrate many holidays throughout the year
 

7 January	Ethiopian Christmas (Orthodox Christmas Day)
19 January	Feast of Epiphany   (Local Name: Timket)
2 February	Feast of the Sacrifice (Local Name: Eid-ul-Adha)
2 March	Battle of Adowa
6 April	Victory Day May
12 April	Orthodox Easter Monday
2 May	Mulud
5 May	Patriot's Day
6 May	May Day
28 May	End of Military Regime
11 September	New Year's Day
27 September	Finding of the True Cross

Plus moveable Christian and Muslim holidays e.g. the end of Ramadan (Eid-al-Fitr) and Good Friday.

Air

Ethiopians main airport is Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airline connects Ethiopia with East, West and South Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with connections to America and the Far East. Further Airlines, which offer flights to Ethiopia are Kenya Airways, Air Djibouti, Egypt Air, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Saudi, Aeroflot and Yemeni.

Ethiopian Airlines also provides a strong domestic network to major towns in Ethiopia.

Overland 

Ethiopia has borderlines with Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km

The main border crossings are: 

To Kenya at Moyale 752 km south of Addis Ababa, to Djibouti through Sardo southwest of Assab, to Somalia and to the Sudan.

Car
It is possible to get to Ethiopia from Djibouti by road. 
Travellers who bring their own vehicles to Ethiopia need a carnet de voyage. 

Bus
Buses and trucks run between the border town of Moyale and Nairobi. 

Train
There is no connection to Ethiopia from other countries

Getting around

Air
There are good connections to major towns.

Overland

Extreme risk
Travel should be avoided within 20km of the Eritrean border in the Tigray and Afar regions - it's a military zone. The border itself between Ethiopia and Eritrea is permanently closed.

Car hijackings could occur in the south of the country.

Ethnic tensions are known in the west of the country. 

It is advised against travelling in the North and to the north of the Adigrat-Axum road as well as to the Gambella region. Areas near the Somali border should also be avoided, due to banditry. If travelling to Sudan or Kenya, get local advice and travel in convoy. 

Car
There are poor road conditions and travel by road can be time consuming. As driving in Ethiopia is on the right-hand side, a vehicle with left-hand drive is required. Right-hand drive vehicles are not permitted to be on the roads and can not be imported.

Please be aware of the above-mentioned warning.  
 
Bus
There are good connections along major roads.

Train
There is only one route running from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa and conditions can be over crowded.

Map of Ethiopia

Provided map not to scale and for orientation purpose only.

Click for larger version