Ethiopia - Etiópia

Ethiopia is a country of east africa. It is one of the countries with the most history in the world, and its territory is full of architectural treasures such as Aksum and lalibela. However, the country also attracts for its natural charms, with some of the most impressive and high places in Africa, such as the Simien Mountains.

Understand

History

Ethiopia is one of the countries with the longest history in the world. It is possible that Homo sapiens originated in this region, according to recent discoveries. The Ethiopia region and its neighboring countries - Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and Somaliland - once housed the Aksumite kingdom, with its origins going back to the Kingdoms of Sheba in the Yemen (referred to in the Bible) which, at the time of 1000 BC, covered the entire Horn of Africa and part of the Arabian Peninsula. The Greeks referred to the extreme wealth of the Aksumite kingdom in the 1st century and adulis (at Eritrea) is mentioned several times as one of the most important ports of Africa. The records, however, specify Aksum, in Ethiopia as the capital and where the courts of the queen of Sheba were located. In the 2nd century this kingdom was entitled to tribute from the states of the Arabian Peninsula and had conquered the Meroitic kingdom of Kush, in the present Sudan. According to records, this kingdom had Jewish, Nubian, Christian and even Buddhist minorities.

Climate

Tropical monsoon. The weather can be cold in Addis Ababa and other high altitude areas.

Holidays

• January 7th - Orthodox Christmas.
• January 19th - Timket.
• February 2 nd - Feast of Sacrifice (varies; 2005 date).
• March 2nd - Day of Adwa.
• April 21st - Birth of the Prophet Mohammed (varies; 2005 date).
• April 29th - Good friday (varies; 2005 date).
• May 1st - Orthodox Easter (varies; 2005 date).
• may 2nd - Easter Monday (varies; 2005 date).
• May 5th - Patriots Day.
• May 28th - National Day.
• August 18th - Buhe.
• September 11th - Ethiopian New Year.
• September 27th - Meskel.
• November 3rd - End of Ramadan (varies; 2005 date).

Regions

afar

Amhara

Benishangul-Gumaz

Gambela

Oromy

Somali

Southern Ethiopia

tiger

Cities

• Addis Ababa - Capital of Ethiopia;
• Dire-Dawa - The second largest city in Ethiopia;
• Gonda - Where are some of the few castles in the east africa;
• Nazret - A popular weekend destination (also called The Lady);
• lalibela - It has 11 churches carved into the rock.
• mekele - A small town in the Tigray Highlands.
• Aksum (also called Axum) - With several ancient tombs and stelae, near the Eritrea;
• Bahrr Dar - Near the source of the Blue Nile and Lake Tana.

Other destinations

• Simien National Park - it's a national park. It was one of the first sites to be added to the World Heritage List (in 1978). It has one of the most spectacular landscapes in Africa: the Simien Mountains. Another attraction of the park is wildlife. Simien's wolf is the rarest canid in the world and can be found in the mountains. The Babuíno de Gelada is a frequent sight in the park and, in the highest parts of the mountain range, you can find Ibex Walia.
• Harar - It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2006. It is considered the fourth holy city in Islam, with 82 mosques, three of which date from the 10th century, and 102 altars. For centuries it was a major trading center, linked by trade routes to the rest of Ethiopia, the entire Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and, through its ports, to the rest of the world.
• aunt - Tiya is well known for its funerary complex, with 36 stelae, most of them with symbols. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980.
• Awash river - A spectacular landscape, and an important archaeological site, as it was in its valley that in 1974 they found the skeleton of the most famous hominid in the world: Lucy.

To arrive

All visitors to Ethiopia (except the Kenyans and the Djiboutians) have to obtain an entry visa. Since 2002, tourists from 33 countries (for list of countries, see By airplane) can obtain their entry visa at Bole International Airport (at Addis Ababa) or at the Airport of Dire-Dawa, upon entry into the country.

By airplane

THE Ethiopian Airlines is one of the most reputable airlines in Africa. Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa it is the main destination for Ethiopian Airlines flights, although it also receives Lufthansa flights [1], Sudan Airways [2], British Airways [3], KLM [4], Turkish Airways [5] and Emirates [6].

NOTICE: It is not advisable to arrive in the country without cash in dollars or euros, especially if you did not obtain a visa before arrival. Citizens of 33 countries (Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK and U.S) can get a visa at the airport - but it may take a while to get it at "rush hour".

• If you wish, some hotels can send a vehicle to pick up a guest at the airport (a room reservation is required for this).
• There are also international airports in Dire-Dawa, Bahrr Dar and mekele.

Of boat

Ethiopia is landlocked and uses the port in Djibouti. From there, Ethiopia can be accessed by train, bus or car by following a good road to the border and a dirt road thereafter.

By car

A way to enter the country from Sudan it is through the village of Metema, on the border. A way to enter the country from the Kenya it is via the village of Moyale (on the border). the road of Kenya to Ethiopia is in much better condition than the road from the Sudan to Ethiopia through Metema. On the Kenyan side of Moyale village the road is horrible and is known for thieves, so be careful and make sure you have plenty of time, at least 24 hours, to travel from there. Nairobi to Moyale.

By bus/bus

• Public transport takes you to the border. To/from the Sudan or the Kenya simply walk to the other side. If you arrive at the border towns at night try not to cross the border while it's dark. Wait in this city and overtake the next day.
• Since Gedaref (Sudan) take a bus or van (700 SDnr) to the border. The Sudanese side consists of a large number of villages and a small town. In Ethiopia you will find better (but basic) accommodation.
• Since Djibouti you can take a small bus to the border (two/three hours), where you will find buses to Dire-Dawa. The road is a dirt road and the journey will take at least half a day. At nightfall, the bus usually stops and continues its journey the next day.

By train/train

a railway connects Addis Ababa to the Djibouti. According to the government of USA.: "Traveling by train in Ethiopia is strongly discouraged due to cases of sabotage, bombing and derailment". Even though this risk seems downright small, trains don't run every day, and the departure time is often postponed to more than half a day of the announced time. The journey is slow and uncomfortable, but very cheap.

Circular

By airplane

Ethiopian Airlines flights [7] it is reasonably priced and has a wide network of domestic flights. Flights are often sold out, so it's essential to reconfirm your tickets at least one day in advance and show up at the airport hours earlier. If you forget to reconfirm they will assume you won't show up and can give the seats to someone else.

By car

A good way to get around the Ethiopia is by car. You can take small planes to speed up the trip, but you'll enjoy the trip better if you go by car. Four reasonable screenplay companies are NTO [8], to Dinknesh [9], Focus Tours Ethiopia [10] and Ethiopia T Jazz [11]. These can take you to explore the lesser known parts of the country (which is also not very well known) and show you Ethiopia's beauties and attractions.

Car hire is expensive (prices start between 600 and 900 depending on the brand and quality of the vehicle. 600 Birr for a cheap car with driver). Drivers will increase the price if the price of fuel increases. The driver's credentials, as well as the tourism license, insurance, motor (internal and external) must be verified. If traveling to the south of the country, check the registrations.

There are many highways in Ethiopia, the vast majority of which are in good condition:

• road 1: Addis Ababa-asmara (Eritrea) via Dese.

• road 3: Addis Ababa-Aksum via Bahrr Dar and Gonda.

• road 4: Addis Ababa-Djibouti via Nazret, wash and Dire-Dawa.

• Road 5: Addis Ababa-Gambela via Alem Zena and Nekemte.

• TAH 4 to the north: Cairo (Egypt) via cartoon (Sudan) and Bahrr Dar.

• TAH 4 to south: Cape Town (South Africa) via Nairobi (Kenya) and Awasa.

• TAH 6 for this: Djibouti via Dese.

• TAH 6 to the west: N'Djamena (Chad) via Darfur.

By bus/bus

There is a vast network of cheap buses across the major roads. Buses that travel short distances generally leave when they are full (in practice this means an hour or so); almost all long-distance buses leave at dawn (6:00 am on the European clock; 12:00 am on the clock). Buses do not travel at night; they will stop before sunset in a village or town that has accommodation for passengers, or between Dire-Dawa and Djibouti, in full nature. Between some cities (eg: Nazret and Addis Ababa) minibuses continue to run after the big bus stop for the night. By law, everyone on the bus must have a seat - this prevents over-passengers, but sometimes makes it difficult to catch a bus on an intermediate bridge on a route. If you are planning to travel by bus, keep in mind that the vehicles are old and the roads are in poor condition. Ethiopians don't like open windows, so it can get stuffy inside buses in the afternoon.

Bus stations open around 5:00. If you want to catch an early morning bus you should be at the station at 5:00. In the morning the stations are chaotic, and many buses will run out before their departure at 6:00. To make things easier, tickets can be booked. Bus tickets are in Amharic, but the bus number must be written in recognizable numbers. In small towns you can buy a ticket from the bus driver when the bus arrives. Even if you already have a ticket, arrive early and claim a seat. If you don't have a ticket, you will have to ask someone to show you the bus (unless you can speak Amharic). In this case, don't bother buying a ticket from the driver - just push people onto the bus and claim a seat! The driver will sell you a ticket later.

On multiple routes (eg: Addis Ababa - Dire-Dawa; Bahardar - Addis Ababa) you can also find a kind of tourist car with no fixed departure time; if you are looking at the train station, you may be approached by someone who offers you a faster route, going in a private car; this is much more expensive than the regular bus, but also much faster. You will be given a phone number to call and reserve your seat. These cars can leave before sunset or even ride at night.

By train/train

There is a slow and uncomfortable train between Addis Ababa and Dire-Dawa.

By bike

Road conditions in Ethiopia vary from region to region; in places the road is tarred and smooth; in others it consists of large stone blocks. Accommodation is cheap (and available) in almost every village and town (although these "hotels" also function as a brothel and bar). It's also easy to find food and water. It will attract a lot of attention (it is not uncommon for schools to empty because children are chasing you).

Speak

See too Amharic conversation guide

Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia. it is a Semitic language related to Hebrew and Arabic, so if you know one of these languages ​​some cognates are recognized. Everywhere in the country someone speaks Amharic, whatever their mother tongue. This language is written in Ge'ez script.

In big cities most people (under the age of 40) speak English. In rural areas find local school children who can translate it for a minimal amount. (Ethiopians have a different way of speaking English. Because they have a lot of accent, it can be difficult to pick up on them at first, however, once you get used to the way they say some words in English, it becomes more noticeable.)

further north in tiger, the main language is Tigrinia, which is also written in Ge'ez. However, the population (almost all) knows how to speak Amharic.

In the middle regions, the Oromo is universally spoken. The Oromo language uses a Latin alphabet.

Look

Knife

Buy

The official currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB). You can only export and import an amount less than or equal to 100 Birr. Usually hotels and car hire have to be paid in cash.

ATMs are rare. There are some in Addis Ababa, but only work with VISA.

Banco Dashen has 19 ATMs in Addis Ababa. The most reliable are those at the Sheraton Hotel and the Dembel Shopping Centre. There are also ATMs at the Hilton Addis Ababa, as well as at the DH Geda building on Estrada de Bole.

Currency exchange and Traveler's Checks

Any commercial bank in the country can exchange currency and issue Traveler's Checks. Rates are the same everywhere. There are dozens of commercial banks in Addis Ababa, including Hilton and Sheraton Hotels, and around the corner from the Baggage Claim Hall at the airport. Most towns and villages that tourists visit will have at least one commercial bank, except for the villages in the Omo valley. US Dollars, Euros, or British Pounds are the best currencies for carrying cash.

It's illegal to exchange money on the black market and the rates aren't much better than what you get at the banks.

With the

O Injera is Ethiopia's national dish. It is a spongy, spicy-tasting bread made by hand from grain that grows in the Ethiopian highlands. is eaten with wot (or wat), traditional stews made with spices and meat or vegetables. Some watts popular: wat of Doro (chicken), wat of Key (sheep) and wat of Asa (fish). Another popular dish is Tibbs, spicy meat and fried in butter. It can be very bad (burnt out and looking like petrified wood) or extremely delicious and juicy, as is done in more popular restaurants. (The Holiday Hotel in Addis Ababa Serves Delicious tibbs)

O injera sits directly on top of a large round plate or tray and is covered with watts placed symmetrically around a central point. the various watts are eaten with other pieces of injera, which are served on a side dish. O injera is eaten with the right hand - tear off a large piece of injera in the dishes on the side and use it to pick up one of the different flavors of wat about the main course. Don't eat with your left hand! In Ethiopia, food is a respected gift from God and eating with the left hand is a sign of disrespect.

If you prefer vegetarian food, try the Shiro wat which is a cooked vegetable, served with injera, most of the time you have to ask specifically for it.

Kitfo it's minced beef, seasoned with chili. You can eat it raw (the locals' favorite way to eat, but there is a risk of getting parasites), leb-leb (slightly cooked) or fully cooked. Comes with a local cheese, ayeb, and a spinach.

For the nitpicky traveller, spaghetti are served almost everywhere in Ethiopia (thanks to the short and unsuccessful Italian occupation). In good restaurants, in Addis Ababa, you can find excellent spaghetti, and in the most isolated places it is usually found overcooked and with too much tomato sauce.

drink and go out

The coffee ceremony involves drinking a minimum of three cups of coffee while eating popcorn. It is a special honor and a sign of respect to be invited into someone's home for the coffee ceremony.

Tej is a honey wine, similar to mead, which is often drunk at the bar (in particular, in a tejbeit).

A variety of Ethiopian beers are available, most of which are good, as well as Ethiopian wine - both red and white - which wouldn't win any awards, but is drinkable.

sleep

There is a wide range of accommodation in Ethiopia. There is a luxury Sheraton Hotel in Addis. However, "hotels" that offer rooms consisting of a small bed in a tiny room can also be found in the border village of Moyale.

In addition to the information below, you can consult [12], where you can search and book more than 200 hotels, guesthouses, inns, etc..

More touristy areas generally offer a wider range of accommodation, but prices are also higher. it is possible to negotiate the price with the hotel owner, as it is common for them to charge "faranji" (foreign) prices, which are sometimes 20 times the normal price. You won't be able to lower the price to normal levels (near nothing), but you can lower it a lot. This is not possible in the government-controlled "Ghion" hotel chain, as well as in the more expensive hotel chains, where prices for foreigners are fixed. (Bekale Mola, for example)

• Addis: Addis has many cheap hotels. Most tourists stay in the piazza area, where there are many hotels, from very cheap (1-2 euros) to moderately cheap (8 euros). With the exception of the cheapest, most of them have running hot water, and are very clean. At the Park Hotel prices start at 20 Birr for a single and 30 Birr for a double. Two great hotels are Hotel Taitu and Hotel Wutma.

The two biggest hotels in Addis are the Sheraton and the Hilton. Both are huge and very good (from a westerner's point of view). They are also quite expensive, and charge over 73 euros per night. Both have swimming pools, good restaurants, gift shops and patisseries, and the rooms are very comfortable.

• Out of Addis; Further north: In all cities (Aksum, lalibela, Bahir Dar, Gonda) you can find hotels of all prices, from very cheap to expensive. But also in smaller villages and towns you can find cheap accommodation if you don't mind staying with very basic rooms. A tourist town like Debark, which serves as an entry point to the Simien National Park, offers a wide range of hotels, the most famous being the Simien Park Hotel (25/30 Birr). It has good food, water and electricity, as well as being clean and hygienic.

• Out of Addis; In the south: Every city (Shashemane, Wondo Genet, Awasa, Arba Minch, Jinka...) has decent, cheap hotels. The most basic rooms start at 15 Birr for a single and 20 for a double. Many of them do not have hot water and electricity all day. There are also three (very expensive) resorts on the shores of Lake Lanagano. In the small villages in and around the Omo Valley (Weyto, Turmi, Key Afar, Dimeka, Konso, etc.) there are few hotels (very basic) or none at all, but if you are traveling in the valley to see the tribes there are always a campsite or a restaurant that offers beds. If you camp in one of these villages, you should hire a guard to keep your things overnight.

Learn

Work

Ethiopia has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Africa. The unemployment rate is 5% (2005).

The country's economy is based on agriculture. 69% of the population lead an agrarian way of life. However, in big cities (especially Addis):

• There is a great demand for professionals in the Information Technology area;
• Many (newer) companies are looking for individuals with computer experience;
• Addis has the largest number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa. These have a reputation for paying high wages to their workers;
• Many expatriates work for NGOs and start information technology companies.
• Compared to other African cities, Addis has a large number of computer schools as well as government and private educational institutions.

Safety

• The vast majority of Ethiopia is safe. Avoid traveling to the part this of the country, in addition to the city of Harar. Somali separatist groups occasionally launch a guerrilla attack. Most of the expatriates who go to this part are military from the U.S, who are training the Ethiopian army's anti-terrorist unit. Many others are representatives of oil companies in the China, Malaysia and India, who were the target of guerrilla attacks.
• Armed insurgent groups operate in the Afar and Oromy.
• In 2008, one hotel in Jijiga and two in Negele Borena were bombed.
• Organized crime and gang violence are very uncommon in Ethiopia. However, in the border areas of the Sudan (region of Gambela) It's from Kenya, there are some cases of these. Avoid these areas.
• Travelers should be careful when traveling by road in Ethiopia. There are reports of highway thefts, including carjacking, by armed robbers outside urban areas. In some of these cases there is the use of violence. Travelers are advised to avoid road travel as little as possible.
• Travelers and vehicles can be stoned when driving in rural areas.

Health

Be careful with the food you eat, and don't be out in the sun for too long. If you get sick, contact your embassy for advice. Ethiopian doctors are expensive. However, hospitals are very expensive, especially in Addis, Dire-Dawa and Nazret are clean and in good condition.

Do not drink tap water. Bottled water suitable for drinking is available in 1.5, 1.6 or 1.8 liter bottles. Drink lots of water, especially when it's hot.

Consult your doctor before traveling to the country to ask for advice on medicines to prevent malaria. In some parts of the country, the most severe forms of malaria are present.

respect

• Ethiopian people are very religious. The two dominant regions (the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Islam) greatly influence the daily lives of the population. Therefore, the Ethiopian government certain rules and laws that can scandalize Westerners. In particular, homosexuality is illegal, and not tolerated.
• Ethiopians are very proud of their culture, identity and country. Avoid criticizing the Ethiopians' ways of life, especially their version of Christianity (Eastern Orthodox). Avoid all discussions of religious content, or you can risk all the hospitality and goodwill they may have given you.
• Because they have no history of colonization (except for the brief Italian occupation of 1936-1941), Ethiopians' relationship with Westerners is often one of racial animosity and resentment. Ethiopians can get angry if they don't feel they are being treated as an equal.
• If a woman is with a man ask permission to speak to her first. For a man to avoid looking a woman in the eye is a sign of respect. If you are a foreign woman and you are in public with a man, don't be upset that an Ethiopian man is directing all questions to him. He does this not out of disregard, but to show respect. This will be the case for public transport, restaurants, etc. If you are a foreign man, keeping a formal distance from a woman will be seen as good manners.

Stay in touch

Telephone

The country code for calling Ethiopia is 251. The Ethiopian phone plan changed on September 17, 2005, so the area code, which used to be two digits, is now three digits, and the phone numbers, which were 6 digits, are now seven digits. The area code for Addis It's 011 (or 11 for those who call from abroad).

mobile phone

Ethiopia uses a GSM network operated by Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation (ETC). There is currently decent coverage around big cities like Addis, Dire-Dawa, Nazret, Bahrr Dar, Awasa, Harar, Desire, Gonda, mekele and Nekemete. This is being expanded to small towns. It is a practical and easily accessible communication method. Some stores rent SIM cards: SIM cards can be rented inside Sheraton Addis Ababa, but it's very expensive. The best option is to rent a SIM card at your local Red Zebra store [13].

Roaming fees are very expensive. For a brief visit, your best option is to rent a SIM card along with a mobile phone. Sometimes it can be impossible to find a connection that is reliable, or that works at all.

Internet

There are several internet cafes in Addis Ababa and other cities. Typically, in Addis the internet is fast enough to perform simple tasks like checking email. Typically, an internet cafe has dozens of computers using a broadband connection.

Most computers have a USB port, so you might be interested in using a portable email program (like thunderbird portable). Beware of computer viruses. Most computers, pens, etc. are infected.

Outside big cities it can be difficult to find an internet connection, and the price can be much higher than it would be in a larger city.

This country article is usable . It contains links to major cities and other destinations (all with states of usable or better), a valid regional structure, and includes information about the country's currency, language, cuisine, and culture. At least the most important attraction is identified with directions. A braver person could use it to travel, but please dig deep and help it grow!