Country Profile - Ethiopia

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 251. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone: The PTO, ETA, provides a GSM 900 network. Coverage is limited.

Fax: Facilities are available in major hotels and at the Telecommunications Head Office in Addis Ababa.

Telegram: International services from local offices and hotels in Addis Ababa.

Internet: There is an Internet cafe in Addis Ababa. Some top-end hotels may also offer services. The main ISP is the PTO ETC, although connections may be difficult.

Post: Service to and from Europe takes up to 2 weeks. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600.

Press: Amharic newspapers published in the capital include Addis Zemen. The English-language daily in Ethiopia is The Ethiopian Herald. Other periodicals are also available.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Passport/Visa

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for 3 months required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:

(a) nationals of Djibouti and Kenya for stays of up to 3 months;

(b) transit passengers continuing to a third country within 12 hours provided not leaving the airport and holding valid travel documents for onward destination.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £43. Business: £44; £77 (for stays of up to 6 months). Transit: £42. All visas are single-entry.

Validity: Tourist and Business: 2 months from date of issue and 1 month from date of entry. Applications for extensions should be made to the Immigration Department in Ethiopia. Transit: 7 days.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Completed application form. (b) Passport valid for at least 6 months (containing residence permit, if applicable). (c) One passport-size photo. (d) Fee (payable by postal order). (e) Proof of sufficient funds to cover stay (US$50 or equivalent per day of stay). (f) Airline ticket and copy of itinerary made through travel agent. Business: (a)-(f) and, (g) Letter from sponsor, accepting financial responsibility for applicant. Transit: (a)-(f) and, (g) Onward or return ticket.

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.

Working days required: 3 to 4. Applications should be made well in advance.

Exit permit: Required by all nationals of Ethiopia and visitors staying more than 30 days.

Money

Currency: Ethiopian Birr (Birr) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Birr100, 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: MasterCard and Diners Club are accepted on a very limited basis (only the Hilton Hotel is certain to accept them). Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Birr against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Currency restrictions: The import of local currency is limited to Birr100. The export of local currency up to Birr100 is permitted, provided the traveller holds a re-entry permit. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration on arrival.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1200.

Duty Free

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

100 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 227g of tobacco; 1l of alcoholic beverages; 2 bottles or 500ml of perfume; gifts up to the value of Birr10.

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

Public Holidays

Public Holidays: Jan 7 2004* Ethiopian Christmas. Jan 19* Timket (Epiphany). Feb 2 Eid-al Adha (Arafat). Mar 2 Battle of Adowa. Apr 9* Ethiopian Good Friday. Apr 11* Ethiopian Easter. May 2 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). May 28 Downfall of the Dergue. Sep 11* Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash). Sep 28* Finding of the True Cross (Meskel). Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Jan 7 2005* Ethiopian Christmas. Jan 19* Timket (Epiphany). Jan 21 Eid-al Adha (Arafat). Mar 2 Battle of Adowa. Apr 21 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). Apr 25* Ethiopian Good Friday. May 2* Ethiopian Easter. May 28 Downfall of the Dergue. Sep 11* Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash). Sep 27* Finding of the True Cross (Meskel). Nov 3-5 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).

Note: (a) *Indicates Coptic holidays. (b) Ethiopia still uses the Julian calendar, which is divided into 12 months of 30 days each, and a 13th month of 5 or 6 days at the end of the year; hence the date for Christmas. The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years and 8 months behind our own. (c) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from 2 to 10 days, depending on the region. For more information, see the World of Islam appendix.

Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required? Yellow Fever Yes 1 Cholera 2 No Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas. 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.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Ethiopia. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information.

3: Typhoid is widespread. Poliomyelitis is endemic. Vaccination against both is advised.

4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists throughout the year in all areas below 2000m (6562ft). Highly chloroquine-resistant falciparum is reported. No malaria risk exists in Addis Ababa.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Diarrhoeal diseases, including giardiasis, and typhoid fevers are common. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well-chlorinated and maintained are safe. Onchocerciasis (river blindness) occurs. Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) has been reported. Hepatitis A and E are widespread; hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Meningococcal meningitis risk is present, particularly in dry areas and during the dry season. Visceral leishmaniasis may be found in the drier areas. Trachoma is widespread. Immunisation against diphtheria is also recommended. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: The high altitude and low oxygen level of much of Ethiopia needs time to be acclimatised to. Those who suffer from heart ailments or high blood pressure should consult a doctor before travelling. Health insurance is strongly advised. See the Health appendix.

Travel – International

Note: Travel to the border areas of Tigray and Afar, parts of Gambella and Awash, Metahara/Awash National Park and east of Harar to the Gode line, is not recommended. For further advice visitors should contact their local government travel advice department.

AIR: Ethiopia’s national airline is Ethiopian Airlines (ET) (website: www.flyethiopian.com), which operates three flights a week from London, with a stopover either in Frankfurt/M or in Cairo. Lufthansa operates four flights a week from London to Addis Ababa via Frankfurt. Addis Ababa is also served by British Airways, KLM, SAS and United Airlines.

Approximate flight times: From Addis Ababa to London is 10 hours.

International airports: Addis Ababa (ADD) (Bole International) is 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). A coach service departs regularly to the city. Taxis are also available. Airport facilities include duty-free, car hire, banks, bureaux de change, left luggage, post office, first aid facilities, restaurant and bar.

Departure tax: US$20, payable in US Dollars only. Exact amount only. Transit passengers not leaving the airport are exempt.

RAIL: A 784km- (487-mile) rail service between Djibouti and Addis Ababa is run jointly by the two governments.

ROAD: The main route is via Kenya. There is an all-weather road from Moyale on the border via Yabelo, Dila and Yirga to Addis Ababa. The following border points are also open: Dewale/Galafi (from Djibouti) and Humera/Metema (from Sudan).

Travel – Internal

AIR: Ethiopian Airlines runs internal flights to over 40 towns, although services may be infrequent. Airports throughout Ethiopia are currently being upgraded in a step to encourage tourism.

Departure tax: Birr10.

RAIL: The only operative line runs between Addis Ababa and Djibouti, via Dire Dawa and Harar. Travellers should be prepared for occasional delays.

ROAD: A good network of all-weather roads exists to most business and tourist centres. Otherwise, 4-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. Frequent fuel shortages can make travel outside Addis Ababa very difficult. Vehicle travel after dark outside Addis Ababa is risky. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Services are run by the Government as well as private companies and they operate throughout the country. The bus terminus can provide schedules and tickets, although it is unusual for tourists to attempt to use this service. Bus trips can be slow as there is often a lengthy wait to assemble a convoy (necessary in more dangerous areas). Taxi: Available in Addis Ababa and other major towns. Painted blue and white, they sometimes offer service on a shared basis. Fares should be negotiated before travelling. There are also minibus taxis which offer cheap and frequent shared travel in Addis Ababa. Car hire: This is available from Avis and Hertz in Addis Ababa. Documentation: A British driving licence is valid for up to 1 month, otherwise the visitor needs to obtain a temporary Ethiopian driving licence on arrival.

Travel – International

Note: Travel to the border areas of Tigray and Afar, parts of Gambella and Awash, Metahara/Awash National Park and east of Harar to the Gode line, is not recommended. For further advice visitors should contact their local government travel advice department.

AIR: Ethiopia’s national airline is Ethiopian Airlines (ET) (website: www.flyethiopian.com), which operates three flights a week from London, with a stopover either in Frankfurt/M or in Cairo. Lufthansa operates four flights a week from London to Addis Ababa via Frankfurt. Addis Ababa is also served by British Airways, KLM, SAS and United Airlines.

Approximate flight times: From Addis Ababa to London is 10 hours.

International airports: Addis Ababa (ADD) (Bole International) is 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). A coach service departs regularly to the city. Taxis are also available. Airport facilities include duty-free, car hire, banks, bureaux de change, left luggage, post office, first aid facilities, restaurant and bar.

Departure tax: US$20, payable in US Dollars only. Exact amount only. Transit passengers not leaving the airport are exempt.

RAIL: A 784km- (487-mile) rail service between Djibouti and Addis Ababa is run jointly by the two governments.

ROAD: The main route is via Kenya. There is an all-weather road from Moyale on the border via Yabelo, Dila and Yirga to Addis Ababa. The following border points are also open: Dewale/Galafi (from Djibouti) and Humera/Metema (from Sudan).

Travel – Internal

AIR: Ethiopian Airlines runs internal flights to over 40 towns, although services may be infrequent. Airports throughout Ethiopia are currently being upgraded in a step to encourage tourism.

Departure tax: Birr10.

RAIL: The only operative line runs between Addis Ababa and Djibouti, via Dire Dawa and Harar. Travellers should be prepared for occasional delays.

ROAD: A good network of all-weather roads exists to most business and tourist centres. Otherwise, 4-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. Frequent fuel shortages can make travel outside Addis Ababa very difficult. Vehicle travel after dark outside Addis Ababa is risky. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Services are run by the Government as well as private companies and they operate throughout the country. The bus terminus can provide schedules and tickets, although it is unusual for tourists to attempt to use this service. Bus trips can be slow as there is often a lengthy wait to assemble a convoy (necessary in more dangerous areas). Taxi: Available in Addis Ababa and other major towns. Painted blue and white, they sometimes offer service on a shared basis. Fares should be negotiated before travelling. There are also minibus taxis which offer cheap and frequent shared travel in Addis Ababa. Car hire: This is available from Avis and Hertz in Addis Ababa. Documentation: A British driving licence is valid for up to 1 month, otherwise the visitor needs to obtain a temporary Ethiopian driving licence on arrival.

Accommodation

ACCOMMODATION: Good hotels can be found in Addis Ababa and other main centres, although they tend to be better in the north than in the south. Some offer facilities for small exhibitions and conferences. There are hotels in the other larger towns; prices are, in general, slightly lower than those in the main centres. There is a 5 to 10 per cent service charge. For more information, contact the Ethiopian Commission for Tourism (see Contact Addresses section).

Sport & Activities

Safaris: Wildlife safaris to the national parks are organised by a number of tour operators (see the Resorts & Excursions section for further information on national parks). Safaris are usually in 4-wheel-drive vehicles, but walking safaris (with a guide only) or travelling by mule are also possible. Ethiopia is also noted for its rich birdlife (over 850 species are recorded) and hence offers some of the best birdwatching in Africa, notably at Abiyata. For further details on safaris and trekking, contact the Embassy or the Ethiopian Commission for Tourism (see Contact Addresses section).

Trekking: The wild terrain and beautiful landscapes offer good trekking and hiking opportunities. The best areas for these activities include Simien Mountains National Park, which has spectacular views and a large variety of wildlife; the moorlands of the Bale Plateau; the countryside around Lalibela; and the wilderness of the Awash River. Trips last between 3 and 10 days, and English-speaking guides can be hired locally.

Equestrianism: Horses and mules still play an important part in the transportation of people and goods, and horseriding can therefore be practised in most parts of Ethiopia. Pony treks in the Simien Mountains allow visitors to reach remote areas not accessible by car.

Watersports: There is excellent swimming in the lakes of the Rift Valley, especially Lake Langano, which has a resort with well-developed facilities offering windsurfing and waterskiing. Natural springs in the Awash National Park or at Sodere Filwoha often create pools suitable for swimming. As bilharzia may be present, visitors should enquire locally (see Health appendix for further information). The rivers and streams of the Bale Mountains, in the southeast, and the many lakes in the Rift Valley provide excellent fishing, particularly for trout. Local fishermen offer trips in their own boats. Dugout canoes or traditional papyrus boats can also be hired. Sailing and organised boat trips are available on the spectacular Lake Tana, which contains 37 islands, many of which also have monasteries that can be visited. Whitewater rafting is possible on parts of the Omo River and the Blue Nile.

Cycling : Expeditions can be made to various sites, for instance the Bale National Park. Bicycle Africa can provide further information (website: www.ibike.org/bikeafrica).

Social Profile

Food & Drink: Menus in the best hotels offer international food and Addis Ababa also has a number of good Chinese, Italian and Indian restaurants. Ethiopian food is based on dishes called we’t (meat, chicken or vegetables, cooked in a hot pepper sauce) served with or on injera (a flat spongy bread). Dishes include shivro and misir (chickpeas and lentils, Ethiopian-style) and tibs (crispy fried steak). There is a wide choice of fish including sole, Red Sea snapper, lake fish, trout and prawns. Traditional restaurants in larger cities serve food in a grand manner around a brightly coloured basket-weave table called a masob. Before beginning the meal, guests will be given soap, water and a clean towel, as the right hand is used to break off pieces of injera with which the we’t is gathered up. Cutlery is not used. Ethiopian coffee from the province of Kaffa, with a little rue added for extra aroma, is called ‘health of Adam’. Local red and dry white wines are worth trying. Talla (Ethiopian beer) has a unique taste and European-style lager is widely available. Kaitaka (a pure grain alcohol), cognac (a local brandy) and tej (an alcoholic drink based on fermented honey) are unique.

Shopping: Special purchases include local jewellery (sold by the actual weight of gold or silver), woodcarvings, illuminated manuscripts and prayer scrolls, wood and metal crosses, leather shields, spears, drums and carpets. In marketplaces, a certain amount of bargaining is expected, but prices at shops in towns are fixed. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1230, 1530-1930; Sat 0900-1300, 1500-1900 (with local variations).

Special Events: The principal annual events are Islamic and Coptic religious festivals. For dates, see Public Holidays section. The following is a selection of special events occurring in Ethiopia in 2004:

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. Tipping: In most hotels and restaurants, a 10 per cent service charge is added to the bill. Tipping is a fairly frequent custom, but amounts are small.

Climate

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.