Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa between the tropic of Cancer and the equator. The country has a population of 75 million and covers an area of 1.251 million square kilometres.
Population - current estimate is approximately 75 million, with half under the age of 34.
Currency - The local currency is called “Birr.” Credit cards are only accepted in international hotels and at Ethiopian Airlines offices.
Vaccines - There are no mandatory innoculations for Ethiopia, but malaria prophylactics are recommended for those traveling to the West and South.
Visa - Entry visas can be obtained directly at the Addis Ababa International Airport, depending on nationality.
Electricity - 220 volts.
Food - the national food of Ethiopia is “injera” (a flat nutritious bread) and “wot” (stew prepared with Ethiopian butter, spices, beef or chicken, vegetables and many other combinations).
Religion - the major religions are Christianity (Ethiopian Orthodox Church) and Islam.
Size - Ethiopia is 1,127,127 square Kilometers (435,071 square miles).
Internet - Although quite slow, internet is available in most tourist sites.
Language -English is widely spoken throughout the country but Amharic is the Federal Working language. However, being a multiethnic country, Ethiopia has 83 different spoken languages and more than 200 dialects.
Time - It is in the GMT + 3 zone.
Calendar - Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar composed of thirteen months (12 of 30 days and one of 6 days).
Climate - There are only two seasons throughout the year. The dry season mostly lasts from October to May and the rainy season lasts from July to September. However, in the Omo region the rainy season is between March and May. Temperatures vary from 30oC to 18oC, but irregular rain can fall at any time.
UNESCO Sites
- Lalibela
- Axum
- Simien Mountains National Park
- Gonder
- Tiya stelae
- Lower Omo Valley
- Hadar (Afar Region)
- The walled city of Harar
Major National Holidays
- January 7 Ethiopian Christmas “Gena”
- January 19 Ethiopian Epiphany “Timket “
- Ethiopian Orthodox good Friday (Crucifixion)“Siqlet”, end of march or early April
- Ethiopian Orthodox Easter “Fasika”, end of march or early April
- September 11 Ethiopian New Year “Enqutatash”
- September 27 The Finding of the True Cross “Meskel”
National Drink
Tej - a Yellow colored drink, made from honey and local shrub called “Gesho”
Ethiopian neighbors
Boarding Ethiopia is Sudan to the west, Djibouti and Eritrea to the north, Somalia to the east and Kenya to the south.
Weather
There are three weather conditions in Ethiopia:
“Dega” very cold weather.
“Woinadega” medium weather conditions.
“Kola” very hot weather.
There Two Seasons in Ethiopia
Winter or “Kiremt” in Amharic, begins in June until September. It is the rainy season, usually parallel in time to the western summer.
Summer or “Bega” in Amharic, is almost year round in the land with 13 months of Sunshine. Usually from October to May.
