Visiting a new country always brings a new set of circumstances and a different way of life. That’s why we travel, isn’t it? Here’s a bit of information to make your stay as smooth as possible.

Language

With more than 80 ethnic groups in Ethiopia come just as many languages. The main working language is Amharic, a Semitic language, related to both Arabic and Hebrew. Amharic with its own unique alphabet and numbers. The alphabet consists of over 200 unique symbols, or fidel, each representing a syllable, usually a consonant and a vowel sound together.

Amharic numbers are rarely used, mainly due to the lack of a character for zero (0). Rather, Indo-Arabic numbers are used, which is the same as in the Western world (1, 2, 3, etc).

Other widely spoken languages include Oromifa (Oh-roh-mee-fa) in the Oromo region and Tigrigna (Tee-gree-nya) in the region of Tigray.

Money

The local currency is the Ethiopian birr. US dollars, Euros and GB Pounds can easily be exchanged. ATMs are available in Addis Ababa (Visa and Mastercard only) and in a few locations outside of the capital. We recommend not to rely on obtaining cash from ATMs outside of Addis Ababa since machines may often be out of order and/or money. Few establishments accept credit cards, and where they do, it will be visa or mastercard only. The exceptions will be larger international organizations such as Sheraton, Hilton, Radisson Blu or Ethiopian Airlines. Traveler’s checks can be changed in banks, but travelers should bring the receipt of purchase with them.

Remember to keep receipts for ATM transactions or currency exchanges. You will need these in order to change any remaining birr to foreign currency before leaving Ethiopia.

Visas

Tourists arriving from the following tourist-generating countries can obtain a Tourist Visa valid for 3 months at Bole International Airport upon arrival for a fee of $20 (USD): Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States. Nationals from all other countries must obtain a visa before arrival.

Communications

EthioTelecom is the sole provider of phone, mobile and internet services. SIM cards are easy to obtain and are cheap. Roaming services using international mobile SIM cards will work with some carriers. Mobile phone networks are now available in most areas served my tourism. Guests using pre-paid mobile service within Ethiopia should know that international phone calls are expensive and users may run out of credit quickly. Fax services are available in Addis Ababa and various locations around the country.

Internet cafes are widespread throughout the country. Wifi internet access is not always available in hotels, but is becoming more widespread. Guests should be aware that there are still many areas of the country (particularly in the south Omo Valley and in remote areas) where internet access is not available. Connection speed and quality may vary.

Ethiopia’s postal service is reliable, though can be slow. Post offices are generally open Monday Friday from 8:30am to 5 or 6pm, but desks may actually close at 4pm and during lunch time. They are usually open on Saturday mornings as well.

Accommodation

Accommodation can vary widely in quality and price throughout Ethiopia, ranging from local standard to 5-star hotels in Addis Ababa and a few other destinations. Camping is also available in certain locations, with amenities also varying in quality and availability. Particularly during festivals and high tourist season, reservations are recommended. It should be noted, though, that reservations via email or over the phone are not always honored. The best way to ensure a reservation is to pay in advance and keep all receipts. Abeba Tours Ethiopia does its best to match its guests with their accommodation preferences.

Food & Drink

The staple of every Ethiopian meal is injera, a spongy pancake-like bread. The injera is laid on a large platter with the main dish on top. Small pieces of injera are then torn off and used to pick up bite-size portions of the main dish. Injera is made from the local grain teff, mixed with water and allowed to ferment before it’s cooked on a large, flat pan. Dishes eaten with injera include a variety of meat (beef, lamb and chicken), stews (known as wat, they may be spicy or mild) and vegetables. A variety of international cuisines are available in Addis Ababa but may be less widespread outside the capital. Generally, pasta is always available. Vegetarians should have no problems finding suitable dishes, though variety may be lacking.

Short-term guests are advised to drink bottled water to avoid any stomach discomfort during their stay. Soft drinks are wide-spread as well as fresh fruit juices. Coffee lovers will be delighted as Ethiopian coffee is some of the best in the world.

A variety of local Ethiopian beers are available as well as some locally-made wines. The local alcoholic beverages include tella, a local beer made from various grains, tej, local wine made from honey, and areki, a hard liquor made from maize.

Climate

Known as the Roof of Africa, much of Ethiopia sits in the highlands, between 1800 – 2400m. This keeps the climate temperate, with warm sunny days and cool nights. In the south the weather is particularly warmer, but the nights may still be cool. Rainy season in the northern highlands is from June through September with a short rainy season between February and April. Rainy season in the south of Ethiopia (the Omo Valley) is from April – June and October. The Danakil Depression is hot year-round, with temperatures often exceeding 50 degrees Celsius.

Time

Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which makes it approximately 7 years behind the Gregorian calendar (used in most of the Western World). The calendar consists of 13 months 12 months of 30 days and a 13th month with 5 days (6 in leap year). The Ethiopian new year is September 11th (September 12 in leap years). September 11th, 2012 rang in the year 2005 in Ethiopia.

As with many equatorial countries, Ethiopia tells its time 6 hours different from Western time. This is generally based on the rise and set of the sun, which has little if any variation throughout the year. For example, 7am is Ethiopia’s 1am, while at noon, Ethiopians would say 6:00. While most Ethiopians will translate their time into Western time when speaking English, it is always advised to confirm whether the time given is Ethiopian time or European time in order to avoid any confusion.

Health

With proper precautions, visitors to Ethiopia can enjoy a healthy stay. All visitors are recommended to have travel insurance, and Abeba Tours Ethiopia operates under the assumption that all of its clients have current policies.

It is recommended to obtain recommended vaccinations before arrival, including Yellow Fever, which is required. Malaria is present in low-lying areas, so proper precautions should be taken. There is no malaria in Addis Ababa and most highland locations in the northern part of Ethiopia (except Bahir Dar, where there is a malaria risk).

Water should always be boiled or treated before drinking. Alternatively, bottled water is always safe. Visitors may be cautious when eating raw vegetables or salads that may have been washed in local water. Food should always be eaten freshly cooked. Remember the traveler’s mantra: Boil it, cook, it, peel it, or forget it.

Hospitals will vary greatly in quality throughout the country. In Addis Ababa, recommended hospitals include: St. Gabriel Hospital, Bethzatha Hospital and Myunsung Christian Medical Center (Korean Hospital).

What to Bring

Most necessities are available in Ethiopia. It is recommended to bring warm clothes for cool evenings, long-sleeve shirts and trousers (for protection against mosquitoes), sturdy walking shoes, insect repellant, sunblock, first-aid kit, rain gear (if coming during rainy season), flashlight or headlamp (for power outages), water filter or purification tablets (if not drinking bottled water).

Electricity

Ethiopia runs on 220V, and uses 2 round prongs (such as those in Europe). However, this may vary from time to time (size of prongs and/or width between prongs). An adapter is advised, and are widely available throughout Ethiopia.

Begging

Despite its cultural richness, Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with a large percentage of its population living in poverty. This has led to a large number of beggars and street-dwellers, particularly in Addis Ababa. Supporting these beggars unfortunately does not help the situation, but can rather often make it worse. We therefore advise guests to support a local organization instead of giving handouts, including candy, pens and clothes to street children. In Addis Ababa, guests can buy meal tickets from Hope Enterprises (located on Churchill Rd.) and distribute them to those who approach them. Hope Enterprises serves over 200,000 meals every year.

Another form of begging, particularly in the countryside, may also be called the Highland frenzy. Highland was the first bottled water in Ethiopia, and it has become synonymous with the plastic bottles, which are highly coveted. This Highland frenzy often involves children running after fast-moving vehicles in hope that a plastic bottle will be thrown out to them. This creates a very dangerous situation of children running in front of the vehicles with dire consequences. We therefore ask our guests to refrain from the practice of throwing them out of the vehicles at the children, but rather give them to a hotel or restaurant in a local village.

Photography

It is recommended to always ask before taking a photograph of any person. Many people will happily oblige, but others may not want their photos taken, and that should be respected. Often times, people might ask for a fee (1-5 Ethiopian birr) to take their photo. You should always negotiate the price before taking the photo. Of course, you may also opt not to take a photo if you don’t agree with the price, terms, or the practice.

Safety/Security

Ethiopia remains a very safe country for travelers. There are, however, some basic precautions to consider for safe travels. Always watch your belongings and beware in large crowds of pickpockets. Particularly in Addis Ababa and in the mercato and stadium areas, pickpockets operate in large numbers. Use common sense and keep all moneys in a money belt and all valuables in your hotel safe.

A common scam is that of people (often students or self-appointed guides) inviting guests to a coffee ceremony or other small gathering. People are often taken to a local home where coffee, tej, and maybe local food is served. After the fun, the guests are handed a bill of often the equivalent of $100 or more, and forced to pay. We recommend against talking to people who approach you on the street and attending such events. If you are interested in a local coffee ceremony or traditional dinner and dance, we will be happy to entertain you.

Holidays

The following are holidays in Ethiopia for which governmental offices are closed:

January 7 Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)
January 19  Timket (Epiphany)
March 2  Adwa Victory Day
May 1  Labour Day
May 5  Patriots’ Victory Day
May 28 Dergue Downfall Day (National Day)
September 11 Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)
September 27 Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)
Variable The Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday (Mouloud)
Variable Ethiopian Good Friday (Siklet)
Variable Ethiopian Easter (Fasika)
Variable Id al Fetir (End of Ramadan)
Variable Id al Adaha/Arefa (Feast of the Sacrifice)