A valid passport is required for all visitors and a visa is required for all foreign visitors. Visas may be obtained by application to the nearest Ethiopian diplomatic embassy. An online Entry Visa Application and Issuance (E-Visa) is now available for US and Canadian citizens and for citizens of many other countries. Check if your country is eligible and apply here: https://www.evisa.gov.et
The E- visa is processed and issued online on a single web page where applicants apply, pay ($52 for a 30-day tourist visa) and secure their entry visa online. Once the online application is approved, applicants will receive an email authorizing them to travel to Ethiopia and they will get their passport stamped with the visa upon arrival in Addis Ababa.
30-day tourist visas are also available upon arrival at the Bole International Airport in Ethiopia (for citizens of the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand , Australia ,South Africa, China, Japan , Korea ,Israel , Kuwait, Russia, the UK and most other European Union nations). Please bring with you $50.00 in cash. If you opt for this method, application forms will be handed out to you on your international flight. You must complete these and take them to the counter to pay and get the visa stamped into your passport. You then proceed to baggage claim. If you intend to get an E-visa or visa on arrival please ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry to Ethiopia and that you have at least 2 blank pages (both sides) per country to be visited. You are also advised to bring a photocopy of the picture page of your passport showing your passport number, etc. Keep this in a separate place in your baggage if for any reason you lose your passport, this will expedite the process of replacing it enormously.
Air tickets must be in the same name that appears on your passport. Please make sure that you have given the name used on your passport and that your E-tickets a r e correct.

While both doctors and dentists are available throughout the country, the major hospitals are located in main towns. In general, the standards of treatment are limited. Pharmacies carry a range of medicines but we recommend that visitors bring sufficient supplies of any drugs that they need regularly.
Vaccination against cholera is required if you have visited a cholera infected area within 6 days prior to arrival in Ethiopia..
A yellow fever certificate is no longer mandatory for Ethiopia but it might be required when you arrive from a country where the disease is endemic. Both yellow fever inoculation and malaria prophylaxis are recommended by the CDC. Review the CDC recommendations carefully and always consult your travel doctor well before your travel dates. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/clinician/none/ethiopia
The distribution of malaria in Ethiopia varies from place to place due to different factors directly or indirectly affecting the pattern of malaria transmission. For example, the distribution of malaria in Ethiopia is largely determined by altitude. Altitude affects the pattern of malaria distribution in Ethiopia through its effect on temperature. Risk of malaria is highest in the western lowlands of Oromia, lowlands of Amhara & Tigray and almost the entire regions of Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz. In the eastern lowlands of Ethiopia (primarily Afar and Somali), malaria is a rare encounter as transmission is limited by the lack of water collections for mosquito breeding and low humidity. The central highlands of Ethiopia including the capital city are free of malaria mainly due to the low temperatures. In General, areas of the Ethiopian Historic Route (Bahir Dar, Gondar, Axum, Lalibela),the Danakil Depression and most of the national parks including Bale & Simien Mountains National Parks could be considered malaria free tourist destinations ,whereas the South-Omo is a tourist destination prone to malaria which requires anti-malaria vaccination prior to the tour.

Travel Ethiopia is an eco-minded Tour Operator and a member of Travelers Against Plastic, an organization working to reduce plastic water bottle usage among travelers worldwide. Our pledge starting from the New Year of 2018, is to reduce the use of plastics, in particular, the small bottles that are polluting the environment, especially in Ethiopia. Since we will not be able to achieve our goal without your participation, we kindly request that you bring your own reusable water container so that you will be able to refill it from our purified water container throughout the trip, which we provide in each vehicle, which holds twenty litters of water. For those travelers who prefer bottled water, we will provide that on request.

For much of the northern circuit in Ethiopia, you will be at altitudes between 5,000 and 8,000 ft. (Addis is 7,600ft ASL). Our excursion into the Simiens will take us to +/- 10,000ft. Altitude affects all people differently.
Most people, especially if they are physically fit, will experience only minor discomfort when they first arrive: perhaps a headache or a slightly woozy feeling, but nothing more. But to reduce the possibilities that altitude sickness will affect you, drink plenty of fluids and keep physical activity to a relatively low level on the first day. Aspirin helps thin the blood and will be useful if you develop a headache.

All modern forms of communication, telephone, mobile, fax and the Internet, are available, and telecommunication in Ethiopia is generally good.
The country code is 251 and Addis Ababa's area code is 1 (or 011 if calling from within the country). Few North American cell phone companies offer international plans which include Ethiopia. Or if they do, they are very, very expensive. If you want to use your cell phone to call home, you can purchase a local Sim Card from Ethio Telecom if you have an unlocked smart phone. Your phone will also need to be an "international phone" using the GSM network band. Ethio Telecom's 3G/4G internet Package service is a tailor-made mobile broadband Internet service. It has good coverage particularly around the major cities. Alternatively, you can connect to WiFi in most major hotels and make calls using Facetime, Whatsapp or Skype as well as check your email, Facebook, etc. However, WiFi is not available that widely and the connections could be slow.

The climate of Ethiopia varies greatly by region. In general, the climate is temperate in the highlands and hot in the lowlands. Much of the country consists of a high plateau, which gives the country a pleasant, moderate climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation with average lows of 43'F (6'°C) and highs of 79'F (26'°C).
Temperature variation in the lowlands are much greater, and the heat in the desert and Red Sea Coastal areas is extreme, with occasional highs of 140°F (60'C)! In Addis, the average temperature consistently remains around 59°F (15°C) throughout the year; however, you should not underestimate the intensity of the equatorial sun. We advise to bring a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
There are two distinct seasons in Ethiopia. The dry season prevails from October through May; the wet season runs from June to September, but there is also a short rainy season in March or April, especially toward southern Ethiopia, and rain can happen at any time of the year. However, even during the long rainy season, bright, warm sun usually breaks through the clouds at least once a day. The climate is mainly influenced by altitude and cloud cover rather than the time of the year. This is due to its proximity to the equator.

The electricity supply in the country is 220 volts AC, at 50 cycles. The power sockets are of type C,E F and .L Check the following pictures: TYPE C, ТУРЕ E ,TYPE F, TYPE L
Please be aware that the electricity service can be erratic. You should always travel with a flashlight and spare batteries, and do not rely on an electric razor or hairdryer.

Ethiopia is generally a very safe country; however, casual theft and pick-pocketing are fairly commonplace in parts of the country. As a precaution, we recommend a lightweight passport pouch that can be worn under your clothing, either around your neck or waist. The pouch should hold only your passport, air tickets, a credit card and most of your travelers' checks. Be extra alert at crowded places like cities, markets, around minibus stands and at big public gatherings. Police are obvious in their uniforms.
Security in towns and at airports is tight, frisking or body scanning and inspection of bags when entering a building, including hotels, is common. Strict regulations are followed for domestic flights. We (Travel Ethiopia PLC) are a responsible tour operator and for us, the safety of our clients and staff is of paramount importance. We would not suggest any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the foreign and commonwealth office advice against travel for any reason, we will contact anyone who is booked to travel to discuss alternatives.

The local currency is the birr. Notes are printed in denominations of birr 200, 100, 50, 10, 5, and 1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1cent coins are minted. The birr is one of the strongest currencies in Africa. In general, the currency is not available outside of Ethiopia. The rate of exchange fluctuates moderately.
US dollars are mainly accepted at major establishments, like hotels, ticket offices, shopping malls and souvenir shops. It's recommended to have local currency while traveling for most small purchases, meals in smaller establishments and 'just in case.' For example, many of the churches accept and appreciate small tips/donations from visitors - this is definitely best done in birr.
We do not recommend Traveler's Checks a s they are not easily cashed outside of the larger cities, and many smaller towns have no bank at all.
We would be remiss to not warn you that there is no way to replace cash if it is lost or stolen. If you are carrying US dollars, bring plenty of 10's and 5's as they are needed for tipping and change is not always possible to get. In addition, whether you decide to bring cash or Traveler's Checks, it is advisable to take small denominations and exchange only small amounts of money at a time. It is a very complicated and time-consuming exercise to change birr back to a hard currency so this should be avoided if at all possible, especially as US Dollars are accepted as readily as birr. In order to change birr back to dollars on leaving the country, visitors will be asked to produce bank receipts so fi you think you might need to change money back please be sure to keep your bank reciepts.

There are a number of banks within easy reach. Banking hours are generally from 8:00am until at least 4:30pm, Monday through Saturday. Most banks work through lunchtime. However, foreign exchange services are closed during lunch hours (12:00 noon to 1:00pm).
The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) at the Bole Airport is open every day of the week.

Cash may be withdrawn from automated teller machines in Addis Ababa and other major cities along the Northern Route, including Gondar, Bahir Dar, Axum and Lalibela. It does happen that you will come upon non-functioning ATM's, so it's not a bad idea to stock up on a bit of cash in Addis. VISA, Master card, and Union Pay debit are accepted but it is best not to rely on these outside of Addis Ababa. VISA, Master card and credit cards are honored in big hotels in major cities and some malls in Addis Ababa. Be sure to ask if a commission is being added to your total withdrawal. Forex ATM machines are also available in the below hotels, malls and Commercial Bank (CBE branches.)

• CBE Hilton Hotel branch
• CBE Addis Ababa branch
• In the Airport
• Yod Abyssinia
• Saro Maria Hotel
• Ethiopia Hotel
• Taitu Hotel
• Marriott Executive Apartment
• Friendship international Hotel
• Ghion Hotel
• Tracon building on Churchill road
• Concord Hotel
• Harmony Hotel

Light cotton clothing with sunglasses and a hat will be required in the warm lowlands, while in the highlands light or medium-weight clothing is appropriate. Light clothing is sufficient most of the year, similar to what you might wear on a warm European summer day (though not so scanty as to offend local sensibilities), but it is advisable to carry some warm clothing, such as a light jacket, as temperatures drop at nighttime, especially from October through December, as well as during rainstorms. During the rainy season, a light raincoat is essential. Shorts are not appropriate for visiting churches, monasteries or mosques and women must cover their heads. Shoes must always be removed before entering churches, monasteries and mosques, therefore we recommend bringing an extra pair of socks just for these visits (airline socks work well) and then discard.
You will find clothing items that we recommend you to bring for your stay in Ethiopia in the "Pre-Departure" checklist section at the end of this document.

On all light aircraft domestic flights within Ethiopia, the checked baggage weight allowance is 20 kg per person including camera equipment and hand luggage. Flights to more remote areas, such as Gambella, may still impose a 10 kg limit depending on the plane being used. Only soft bags (no hard suitcases can be transported as they physically cannot fit into the aircraft will be accepted and excess baggage are subject to payments according to the airlines terms. Ethiopian Airlines does perform luggage and body searches. If you are carrying anything that could be perceived an antiquity, it will be confiscated, unless you produce a receipt.

Ethiopia is located in north-eastern Africa, between latitudes 4 and 18 north. It is a ruggedly mountainous country, covering 1,251,282 km. It is surrounded by Kenya, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Djbouti.

The capital city is Addis Ababa. It is where the African Union is headquartered and where its predecessor the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was based. It also hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), as well as various other continental and international organizations. Addis Ababa is therefore often referred to as "the political capital of Africa" for its historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent. The city lies a few miles west of the East African Rift which splits Ethiopia into two, through the Nubian Plate and the Somali Plate.

The main airport, with international connections to most parts of the world, is Bole International Airport, just 8km from the center of Addis Ababa. Domestic services fly to all regions and most tourist sites.

All international flights arrive and depart from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. The national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines (www.ethiopianairlines.com) is Africa's oldest airline, and it has an excellent safety record, as well as the most extensive intra-African flight network of any carrier, and links to several major European and North American cities.

Addis Ababa is a major hub for international airlines. Ethiopian Airlines, the national airline of Ethiopia, provides excellent links with East, West and South Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with connections to America and the Far East. The national airline also offers domestic services to the major towns in Ethiopia, as well as most regional centers.
The international flight constitutes on average around 30% of the cost of a holiday, and so that Ethiopia can maximize the benefits from the development of its tourism industry, Ethiopian Airlines provides different offers to encourage its clients to fly the national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, which recently celebrated its 7Oth birthday. Ethiopian Airlines provides excellent service and has an excellent safety record. Travelers to Ethiopia should also be aware of another reason for flying EAL- on the domestic circuit; priority is given to those who use EAL for their international flight and offer an attractive discount for domestic flights. The cheapest and quickest way to get around Ethiopia's historic sites in the north is by air. Most of Ethiopia's major towns and sites of tourist interest are accessible by air, and fares are still cheap by international standards. Other airlines serving Ethiopia include Kenyan Airways, Air Djibouti, Egyptian, Alitalia, KLM, Air Turkish, Sudanese Airways, Lufthansa, Saudi, Aeroflot, Yemeni Airways, British Airways, Emirates and Djibouti Airways. All international services arrive at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa.

The best way to experience the variety of scenery the Ethiopia has to offer is travel by road. But road conditions in Ethiopia are poor and given the nature of the terrain a road journey to Axum, for example, takes three days, while the flight from Addis Ababa takes two hours. The scenery by road is, of course, incomparable, but many travelers lack the time. The toll exacted by poor roads (and the 100% customs duty) makes vehicle hire relatively expensive when compared to some other countries. There are cheap, but generally uncomfortable, public and private buses running between most towns.

A 756-kilometer long railway links Addis Ababa with Djibouti for both passenger and freight services. In 2018 a new service line connecting the two countries has been inaugurated, replacing the old trains that use fuel with electric run locomotives.

Duty-free imports are permitted for up to

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 1⁄2lb. of tobacco.
• Iliter of alcoholic beverage.

1/2 liter, or two bottles of perfume.

Standards vary outside the capital (the hotels in the north are generally better than those in the south), but apart from the Omo and Mago areas where camping is unavoidable, it is generally possible to get relatively clean rooms with en-suite toilet and shower.

A traditional Ethiopian meal involves a gathering of people, who eat together from one large circular plate. You eat with your right hand, and you should wash your hands ahead of time. Typically, a jug of water and a bar of soap are brought to you for that purpose. INJERA: a flat, sourdough pancake made of the indigenous grain called teff, is the country's national staple. The injera is typically served with either meat or vegetable sauces. To eat it, you tear off a bit of injera and use it to pick up pieces of meat or mop up different sauces. T'EFF a grain containing 2-3 times the iron of wheat or barley. The calcium, potassium and other essential minerals are also many times what would be found in an equal amount of other grains. T'ef is the only grain to have symbiotic yeast.
Like grapes, the yeast is on the grain, so no yeast is added in the preparation of injera. T'eff is milled into flour and made into a batter. The batter is allowed to sit so the yeast can become active. When the batter is ready, it is poured on a large, flat oven and allowed to cook. Vegetarians should try "fasting food" (for devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, fasting days make up nearly half the year), a colorful spread of salads, vegetables and pulses, devoid of all meat and animal products.
Everything being so completely different from what you are used to can sometimes be as daunting as it is fascinating. Trying Ethiopian national foods and drinks may be a case in point.

Along with the traditional Ethiopian meal, one would typically drink either t'ej, a type of honey wine, or a local beer called t'ella. Ethiopia produces its own wines: Dukam and Gouder are dry reds; Crystal is a dry white; and Axumite is a sweet red. Drinking tap water is not recommended, but bottled water is widely available in many shops, hotels, and restaurants throughout the country. You may use any brand of bottled water as all are safe and reliable. The Kaffa province is thought to be where coffee originated, and the coffee bean accounts for more than half of Ethiopia's exports. As a consequence, many Ethiopians are coffee addicts and the espresso-style coffee (Buna), is rich and sweet.
The prime soft drink is fresh fruit juice, most commonly banana, avocado or papaya, with availability dependent on season and location. The usual soft brand drinks are widely available and very cheap. The most popular local honey wine is Tej, a mead-like drink made from honey (mar). Mar Tej is a considerable improvement on most African home brews and very alcoholic, but still something of an acquired taste. Locally brewed beer, made from millet or maze, is called Tella. Bottled lager is sold throughout Ethiopia, with popular brands being Dashen, Castel, Bati, Bedele, St. George, Harar, and Heineken. Wine is brewed locally; the result is indifferent but affordable, especially if bought directly from a shop.

Its territorial extent has varied over the millennia of its existence. In ancient times ti remained centered around Aksum, an imperial capital located in the northern part of the modern state, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the Red Sea coast. The present territory was consolidated during the 19th and 20th centuries as European powers encroached into Ethiopia's historical domain. Ethiopia became prominent in modern world affairs first ni 1896, when ti defeated colonial Italy in the Battle of Adwa, and again in 1935- 36, when ti was invaded and occupied by fascist Italy. Liberation during World War I by the Allied Powers set the stage for Ethiopia to play a more prominent role in world affairs. Ethiopia is believed to be the origin of mankind as attested by the earliest Hominid fossil ever to be discovered. Lucy or Dinknesh is a 3.2 million-year-old skeleton of a bipedal hominin, Australopithecus afarensis, discovered in Afar regional state and on display at the National Museumin AddisAbaba. The Afar region has also yielded evidence of the earliest stone tools ever to have been discovered, dating back to 2.5 million years and manufactured by a hitherto unknown hominin species. Although it is almost impossible to determine the exact place that Homo sapiens took their first steps, two skulls discovered in 1967 in southern Ethiopia dated to be 195,000 years old in 2005 are referred to as being the oldest known fossil of anatomically modern humans.

Ethiopia is among the first independent nations to sign the Charter of the United Nations, and it gave moral and material support to the decolonization of Africa and to the growth of Pan-African cooperation. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, both of which have their headquarters in Addis Ababa. Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936-41. In 1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor HAILE SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. Aborder war with Eritrea late in the 1990s ended with a peace treaty in December 2000. In November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border Commission (EEBC) issued specific coordinates as virtually demarcating the border and pronounced its work finished. Alleging that the EEBC acted beyond its mandate in issuing the coordinates, Ethiopia has not accepted them and has not withdrawn troops from previously contested areas pronounced by the EEBC as belonging to Eritrea up until late 2018. In the month of Dec, tensions simmered over the position of the frontier when Ethiopia's current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed offered to end the standoff as part of a package of reforms that have reshaped the political landscape of the Horn of Africa..

Ethiopia is a land of rugged mountains, broad savannahs, and many lakes and rivers. The country is composed of an elevated central plateau generally varying in height from 2,000m and 3,000m. In the north and center of the country, there are up to 25 mountains whose peaks rise over 4,000m, the tallest known as Ras Dashen, which is 4,543m in elevation. The most famous Ethiopian river is the Blue Nile (Abay), which runs a course of 1,450km from its source at Lake Tana, to join the White Nile in Khartoum...

Ethiopia is predominantly an agricultural country where it accounts for about 42.9% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), more than 90% of total exports, and at least 85% of employment. The principal exports from this sector are coffee, finished leather products, oilseeds, pulses, chat, flowers, vegetables, and foodstuffs for animals. There is also a thriving livestock sector, exporting cattle on the hoof. Recently, gold was the second largest export.

Ethiopia, with a population of more than a 100 million by some estimates, is the second most populous nation in Africa. The Ethiopian people are composed of different ethnic, religious, and linguistic backgrounds ranging from Cushitic and Nilotic, like other East African countries, to Semitic like those found in the Middle East. The population is composed of more than 80 ethnic groups.
The Oromo and the Amhara are the largest groups. Courtesy and hospitality are virtues that have transcended time and generations in Ethiopia, inviting visitors to truly feel welcome. A few words of a local language, no matter how broken they may be, will go a long way in the kind hearts of the people. The day-to-day rituals of the diverse cultures, the traditional ways of eating delicious spicy sauces by hand with injera flatbread, and the wholesome aromas of Ethiopian coffee ceremony can only be fully experienced by indulging oneself in these delights.

Recognition of traditional courtesies is important when visiting another country. While Ethiopians are well aware of the form in other countries, they tend to be conservative at home. A handshake greeting is normal, with a pleasant discussion on personal matters before getting down to business. The offer of tea or coffee is normal, and time is not that important. Smoking is not popular amongst traditional people, or in front of priests. Remember that you are a guest of the country and we encourage trip members to respect the indigenous cultures and customs. Also, we want to underscore that trip members should respect the privacy of individuals (especially when taking photographs) and not make promises unless they fully intend to fulfill their obligation. In the same vein, bargaining is a serious matter in most countries and it is really not fair to bargain unless there is a genuine interest in buying. For example, if you are not interested in buying something then simply say "no" because in many places "maybe" means "yes"

In 1582 when the rest of the Christian world adopted the Gregorian calendar, Ethiopia stayed with the Julian calendar. With the passage of time, seven and a half years have somehow dissolved in the intervening centuries. tI is now 2011 in the Ethiopian calendar with New Year's Day falling in the month of September. It is not only its calendar that differentiates Ethiopia from its neighbors. Ethiopia is the only civilization on the continent with its own alphabet, chronology and calendar system and religious art.

There are many great national and local holidays and celebrations throughout the year and all over the country. Every one of the 54,000 parish churches and the 800 monasteries of the Orthodox Tewahido Church have at least one minor monthly and one major annual festival. These may share origins with Christian, Muslim and tribal festivals elsewhere in the world, but have unique indigenous characteristics in Ethiopia.

• January 7- Ethiopian Christmas
• January 19- Timket (Epiphany)
• March2- AdwaVictoryday
• April 17 - Eid Al Adha (Arefa)
• April 14 - Ethiopian Good Friday (date varies)
• September 27/28 - Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)
• December l- BirthoftheProphet Mohammed (date varies)
• April 16- Ethiopian Easter (date varies)
• May 1- International Labor Day
• May 5 -Ethiopian Patriots' Victory Day
• May28-DownfalloftheDerg
• June26- Eidal-Fitr(datevaries)
• September 2- Eidal-Adha
• September 1 - Ethiopian New Year

Ethiopia is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 8 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and Il hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. Relatively close to the equator: there are an almost constant twelve hours of daylight. In Addis Ababa, the sunrise and sunset start at around 6:30am and 6:45pm respectively. Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of 12 months of 30 days each, and the 13th month of five or 6 days (on a leap year).

A country of up to 90 languages and more than 200 dialects, Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic state. The official working language of Ethiopia is Amharic, with its own distinctive writing system, while Tigrigna, Guragegna, Sidama, Somali, and especially Oromiffa are widely spoken. The Semitic languages are related to both Hebrew and Arabic. They are mostly spoken in the northern and central parts of the country. The principal Semitic language is Amharic. The Hametic languages are found mainly in the east, west, and south. Some of the written languages use the Geez alphabet, the language of the ancient Axumite kingdom. In fact, Ge'ez is the only indigenous written language in all of Africa. Today some of the written languages in Ethiopia use the Latin alphabet.

• Sunday - lhud
• Monday - Segno
• Tuesday - Maksegno
• Wednesday - Erob
• Thursday - Hamus
• Friday - Areb
• Saturday - Kedame

• Hello: Selam/Tena yestelegn
• Good morning: Endemn aderu/k(Males)/sh(Female)
• Good afternoon: Endemn walu/k(M)/sh(F)
• Good evening: Endemn ameshu/k(M)/sh(F)
• Goodbye: Dehna hunu/hun(M)/hugne(F)
• How are you?: Dehna neh? (For males) Dehna nesh? (For females)
• Whereis .?: Yet no...?
• Good: Tiru/Melkam
• Bad : Metfo
• No : Aydelem/Ayhonem
• Yes (all right): Eshi
• Excuse me: Yikirta
• l am sorry: Aznalehu
• How much is it?: Sint no?
• Thank you: Ameseginalehu
• You're welcome: Minim aydel
• Please: Ebakih (for males) / Ebakish (for females)
• Why?: Lemin
• Only a little: Tinish

Ethiopia's land is dramatic, with altitudes ranging from the lowest point on the continent of Africa (the Danakil Depression at 125 meters below sea level), to the fourth highest peak in Africa (Ras Dashen at 4533 meters). Thus, the ecosystems of Ethiopia are diverse and varied, ranging from arid badlands to extensive indigenous rainforests. Ethiopia has a large variety of indigenous plant and animal species. In some areas, the mountains are covered with shrubs such as pyracantha, jasmine, poinsettia, and a varied assortment of evergreens. Caraway, carcade, cardamom, chat, coriander, incense, myrrh, and red pepper are common.

The predominant religions in Ethiopia are Ethiopian Orthodox and Islam. The peaceful existence of Christianity and Islam, the two major religions in Ethiopia, which entered the country near their times of founding, demonstrates the hospitality of the country. Christianity is more common in the northern and central parts of Ethiopia, where Judaism and Islam can be found as well. Other religions that are also practiced include Judaism and Animism.

In the medium to large towns, you will find distinctive symbols, arts and crafts and decor. Ethiopia has a long tradition of producing collectible artifacts unique to its various cultures. When it comes to shopping for rare gift articles and genuine souvenirs from Ethiopia there is an amazing selection of religious icons, crosses, antique jewelry of various metals, gold and silver jewelry, leather goods of all kinds and pure cotton textiles to choose from.

Some 1600 years before his counterparts in Europe, Ethiopian Saint Yared devised a musical notation in the 6th century for his stupendous repertoire of sacred music with finely choreographed sacred dance to go with it. To this day, highland Ethiopian secular music and dances are based on Yared's legacy. The most common folk dance, the esskista, has basic elements running through the traditional dances of al the various highland peoples. Mostly based on shaking shoulders, its combination of the religious, fetish and sensuous is as confusing as it is fascinating. The somersaults of the Welaita and the coquettish theatrics of the Omo people are in sharp contrast to this.

Though you will find Ethiopia to be rich in spirit and culture, in an economic sense it is far from that. We ask you not to give money, candy or gifts indiscriminately to children as this encourages begging. If you wish to do something for the children you meet, we suggest you bring pencils, pens, crayons, erasers, simple English books, "magic slates" etc. and give them to your guide who will distribute them to local schools where they will be much appreciated and of greater overall benefit to the community.

For most photographers, lenses in the range of 135-300 mm are perfectly adequate, together with a good wide angle lens. Whatever you decide to bring, please make sure you have a decent bag which will protect your gear from dust elements. Ethiopia on the whole is fairly relaxed about photography, and apart from a few museums and sensitive government and military installations, you can photograph virtually everything. However, please note that flashes damage artifacts. Except in general street and market scenes, it is not appropriate to photograph people without permission. As a matter of courtesy, permission should be sought before photographing individuals and in many parts of the country, particularly among the Afar and among the ethnic groups living by the Omo River, people will demand a fee. In some sites (Blue Nile falls for example) there is a charge for video photography. Most will agree for a small payment (birr 5 is an accepted "fee"). Please respect the privacy of the local people, especially in remote areas, and do not intrude unduly with your camera. Use discretion and you should return with some marvelous photographs. For security reasons, do not take pictures of military installations and personnel, airports, aircraft, bridges and government buildings. A good pair of binoculars is essential, particularly for bird watching.