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Ethiopia is truly a land of contrasts and extremes. A rich wildlife destination, Ethiopia has a number of endemic animals and birds, including the world's rarest canine, the Ethiopian Wolf.
0800 to 1200 and 1300 to 1700 Monday to Thursday.
0830 to 1130 and 1300 to 1700 Friday
Ethiopian Birr divided into 100 cents.
Credit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, Access, American Express and Diners Club are not accepted except in one or two large hotels in Addis Ababa.
International country code for Ethiopia is + 251.
220v, European two prong plugs
Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions:
Afar
Amhara
Benishangul-Gumuz
Gambela
Harari
Oromiya
Somali
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region
Tigray
and and two chartered cities:
Addis Ababa
Dire Dawa
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Aksum (1980)
Fasil Ghebbi (1979)
Harar Jugol (2006)
Lower Valley of the Awash (1980)
Lower Valley of the Omo (1980)
Rock-Hewn Churches (1978)
Tiya (1980)
Simien National Park (1978)
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and has the status of being both a city and a state. The African Union is based here. Addis Ababa is therefore often referred to as "the capital of Africa", due to its historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent. The founders named it "the new flower" after seeing a new flower at the site of hot springs. With an altitude ranging from 2200 to 2500 metres, it is the third highest capital in the world. It has also been called "the city in the forest" because of the extensive greenery, especially the omnipresent eucalyptus. The city has numerous historical and archeological sites including the National Museum hosting the skeleton of Lucy, probably the most famous hominid skeleton in the world. She is, at over three million years, one of the oldest hominids yet discovered.
Addis International Film Festival
The aim of this festival, held annually in March, is to acquaint citizens with human rights issues through the medium of film, and thus promote public awareness and understanding of Africa's social concerns within a global perspective.
Tensae Cycle Race
is an annual Easter cycle race. Racers compete over 22 laps of the stadium in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopian Film Festival
An annual outdoor film screening held in May
Indian Documentary Film Festival
The Indian Film Festival is celebrated in June in Addis Ababa with the screening of Indian films at the Ethiopian National Theatre.
Summer Cycling Championship
This cycling race is held around Addis Ababa from July through to September.
The Great Ethiopian Run
Annually in November, athletes compete in a 10 km race through Ethiopia’s capital. This is Africa’s biggest road race, and along with the elite athletes there is a huge variety of runners, from young kids to pensioners, and there’s a wonderful atmosphere.
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Afar
The Afar Depression, also known as the Danakil depression, is the lowest point in Ethiopia and one of the lowest in Africa and is located in the north of the Region. The southern part consists of the valley of the Awash River, which empties into a string of lakes along the Ethiopian-Djibouti border. Other notable landmarks include the Awash and Yangudi Rassa National Parks.
The Awash National Park features the Awash River Gorge with a waterfall at its head. There is also a palm-lined aquamarine hot spring pool and the Fentalae Volcano with steaming fumaroles.
Lower Valley of the Awash
Added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1980, The Awash valley contains one of the most important groupings of palaeontological sites on the African continent. The remains found at the site, the oldest of which date back at least 4 million years, provide evidence of human evolution. The most spectacular discovery came in 1974, when 52 fragments of a skeleton enabled the famous Lucy to be reconstructed.
Amhara
Ethiopia's largest inland body of water, Lake Tana, is located in Amhara, as well as the Semien Mountains National Park, which has many summits above 4000 metres with Ras Dashen, the highest point in Ethiopia and the fourth highest in Africa at 4620 metres.
Rock-Hewn Churches
Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, second only to Aksum, is a center of pilgrimage for much of the country and is home to one of the world's most astounding sacred sites: 11 rock-hewn churches, added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1978, each carved entirely out of a single block of granite with its roof at ground level.
Fasil Ghebbi
Added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1979, the fortress-city of Fasil Ghebbi was the residence of the Ethiopian emperor Fasilides and his successors in the 16th and 17th centuries. Surrounded by a 900-m-long wall, the city contains palaces, churches, monasteries and unique public and private buildings marked by Hindu and Arab influences, subsequently transformed by the Baroque style brought to Gondar by the Jesuit missionaries.
Simien National Park
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1978, this Park is home to a number of extremely rare species, including the Ethiopian wolf, Gelada Baboon, and the Walia Ibex, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world.
Benishangul-Gumuz
Due to its lack of transportation and communications infrastructure, this region faces major challenges to economic development. Over 60% of this Region is covered with forest, including bamboo, eucalyptus and rubber trees, incense and gum forests as well as the indengenous species.
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Dire Dawa
Dire Dawa is one of two chartered cities. The city is an industrial centre and is the second largest in Ethiopia.
Gambela
Located in Gambela is Gambela National Park which covers approximately 20% of the Region's territory. The Park was established primarily to protect two species of endangered wetland antelopes: the White-eared Kob and the Nile Lechwe.
Harari
Harari is one of the most popular historical towns in the Eastern part of Ethiopia and covers the homeland of the Harari people. It is considered to be the fourth most holy city of Islam. The Harari people excel in artisan crafts, such as weaving silver and cooper filigree, tanning, cutlery and blade production and sandal making.
Harar Jugol
Harar Jugol was included in the World Heritage List in 2006 by UNESCO in recognition of its cultural heritage. The walls surrounding this sacred Muslim city were built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Harar Jugol, said to be the fourth holiest city of Islam, numbers 82 mosques, three of which date from the 10th century, and 102 shrines, but the townhouses with their exceptional interior design constitute the most spectacular part of Harar's cultural heritage.
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Oromiya
Oromiya is the largest state in terms of both population and area. The major city, Adama, is a busy transportation center. The city is situated along the road that connects Addis Ababa with Dire Dawa.
Somali
Jijiga, the capital of the Somali Region, is known for incense production.
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region
The Omo National Park is located in this region. It is the remotest, least developed and therefore least accessible, but is also the largest of Ethiopia's National Parks. The Omo valley follows the Omo River for almost 1000 kms. A visit to this valley gives one an opportunity to experience the several vanishing tribes whos way of living is truly African. These tribes who lived in complete isolation for many years have their own distinctive feature. For example, the Mursi are known by their lip plates and the Ari by their women's grass skirts.
Ethiopian Music Festival
Annually in May, something extraordinary takes place in the stunning lakeside town of Arba Minch in Southern Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Music Festival is a vibrant and colourful celebration of cultural diversity. It's a unique opportunity to experience, first hand, the varied culture and music of an exceptional part of our world.
Arba Minch Festival of Music and Dance
The Arba Minch Festival of Music and Dance held in December each year in Southern Ethiopia promotes the rich cultural diversity of the people of the region and encourage respect and appreciation for their fascinating and varied heritage.
Lower Valley of the Omo
Added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1980, The Lower Valley of the Omo River is a prehistoric site where many hominid fossils have been found.
Tiya
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1980, Tiya is best known for its archeological site, which is distinguished by 36 standing stones or stelae, "32 of which are engraved with enigmatic symbols, notably swords," marking a large, prehistoric burial complex.
Tigray
Axum is a dusty town with much to see. Remarkable, pre-Christian stelae / obelisks (up to 23m tall) stand in the 'obelisk park' The local museum contains fascinating artefacts. There are also the ruins of the Queen of Sheba's Palace outside the town. The isolated town of Yeha lies 55 km east of Axum. Here, the oldest building still standing in Ethiopia, the 5th century BC Temple, displays incredible skills in stonework.
Aksum
Due to their historical value, in 1980 UNESCO added Aksum's archaeological sites to its list of World Heritage Sites.
Buhe
Buhe, an old custom similar to the Western Halloween in practice, falls in August. Buhe may mean "bread" or "dough," and on the eve of this feast the bread dough is set in each home for baking the following day. When night falls, between 10 to 40 boys, all following their chosen leader (awraj), jump up and down and sing repetitive, often ribald songs at doorways until some of the dough is handed round.
Enkutatash
Enkutatash is the first day of the New Year in Ethiopia, which occurs in September. Enkutatash means the "gift of jewels". When the famous Queen of Sheba returned from her expensive jaunt to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her by replenishing her treasury with inku or jewels. The spring festival has been celebrated since this early times and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can be heard at every village in the green countryside.
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