GEOGRAPHICALLY
Ethiopia is located at the heart of the horn of Africa;
extending from latitude 33oE to 480E and longitude from 30oN
to 14.5oN, bordered by Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia, and
Kenya to the North, East West, Southern West, and South,
respectively.
POPULATION
• The current population of Ethiopian is about 80 million,
making it the third most populated country in Africa.
GOVERNMENT
• The former military regime was overthrown in 1991.
• Ethiopia is now a Federal Republic made up of 14 regions,
mainly based on diversity of ethnicity. (In southern Ethiopia,
5 regions have combined to form the Southern Region.)
• The present government was elected in 2010 for a 5-year
term.
ECONOMY
• 85% of the population gets their livelihood from the land.
Coffee (the word originates from the name of the province
Kaffa, in the south west of Ethiopia) provides 65% of foreign
currency earnings.
• The opening up of the economy since the overthrow of the
previous government in 1991 has created more favorable grounds
for development of Ethiopia's resources.
• Ethiopia is the "water tower" of the region (the Blue Nile
contributes to 85% of the main Nile flow) and plans are now in
progress to better exploit the country’s water resources both
to boost agricultural production and for power generation.
• Mineral exploration and mining has stepped up in recent
years-there are reserves of natural gas, coal, Gold, copper,
tantalum, potash, zinc, iron ore, marble, precious and
semi-precious stones.
• The export of livestock, skins and hides (Ethiopia has the
largest domestic livestock population in Africa) oilseeds,
pulses and animal feed makes up the rest of Ethiopia’s foreign
currency earnings, with tourism set to make an increasingly
important contribution.
LUGGAGE INFORMATION
you are welcome to bring a normal-sized suitcase as well as a
small carry-on bag. The handling of the normal-sized suitcase
will be our responsibility while moving from place to place
during the tour and the carry-on will be yours. Your Tour
guide or bell man will arrange for the suitcases to get to
your room. On travel days, your Tour Manager will give you the
time your bag should be available for pick-up by the bell man.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK ANY MEDICATION IN YOUR CARRY-ON OR
CARRY IT WITH YOU.
Note: If your tour is a flight one, airlines have strict
regulations concerning luggage weight allowance. You may be
asked to pay an additional fee at the airport if your luggage
weight exceeds 25kg.
INCIDENTAL CHARGES
while staying at your lodging, costs you incur for phone
calls, room service, laundry, and other special services are
your responsibility. Please take care of these charges as soon
as possible, either the night before or on the morning of
departure, being mindful that your tour’s departure is not
delayed.
TIPS ON TIPPING
when people go out of their way to do their best, providing
extra service with a smile, you like to reward them for a job
well done. Since most people would like to say a special
“thank you” to their Tour guide and driver, may we suggest the
following guidelines: (especially if the group is comprised of
five to twelve people ) A gratuity of $3 to $5 per person per
day for your Tour guide ; $2 per person per day for your
driver. These individuals are with you throughout the entire
tour, so please use your own judgment and tip according to
services rendered. Please handle this on an individual basis –
the best way to present this gratuity is in an envelope with
your name on it. We request that group collections not be
taken.
VISAS
Citizens of 33 countries can now get visas on arrival,
visitors from other countries should obtain visas from the
Ethiopian Embassy in the their country of residence. If there
is no Ethiopian Embassy, arrangements can be made through tour
operators to obtain one on arrival at the airport.
AIRPORT SECURITY
Travelers are required to have an airline-issued boarding pass
while checking in for flight from one city to the other.
Travelers are also subject to searches at security
checkpoints.
AIRPORT TAX
There is a US$20 departure tax for international flights
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
No matter what tour you are traveling on, we do all we can to
make your trip rewarding and enjoyable. All of our motor
coaches, mini buses and 4WDs are of standard. A seat rotation
program is followed to allow each traveler an equal
opportunity for viewing the sights from different
perspectives. We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to
this courtesy. To prevent injury, please remain seated while
the motor coach is in motion. If you find it necessary to move
around, please do so carefully, holding on to the seatbacks of
the coach. For the protection of all passengers please be
extremely careful when removing your carry-on bag, or other
stored items, from the overhead rack.
CLIMATE AND CLOTHING
Because of the elevation, temperatures rarely exceed 25 o C in
most of the country, although in some of the lower lying areas
(Awash, Omo and Mago parks) it can get considerably hotter.
Pack light clothes for the day time
and a jacket or sweater for the evenings, and a good pair of
walking shoes even if you are not going trekking - path ways
around historic sites are usually uneven and stony. Trekkers
in the Simien and Bale Mountains will need warm clothes,
water-proofs and 3-4 season sleeping bags. On a cultural note
- Ethiopians are generally modest dressers, and visitors
should be sensitive about going underdressed (shorts, tank
tops and bare backed) into places of worship. Shoes must
always be removed before entering churches and mosques - for
getting around sites like Lalibela with its many churches
airline socks are very useful.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL
the possession of a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate
is no longer mandatory but visitors coming from countries
where Yellow Fever has been reported may be asked.
Immunization for Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Typhoid and Polio
is recommended.
Malaria: in many sites malaria is not a problem because of the
elevation - this is true of Axum, Gondar and Lalibela for
example, but it can occur in Bahir Dar at the end of the rainy
season and after unseasonable rains. Lowland areas along the
Awash River, the Omo Valley, Rift Valley and Gambella are
subject to malaria outbreaks. Chloroquine resistant strains
have been identified in most areas so you should consult your
doctor about the prescription. Alternatively, you can keep
mosquitoes and other insects at bay with repellent creams and
sprays. (Climatic changes and phenomena such as el-Nino has
meant the appearance of malaria at unseasonable times, and its
spread to areas previously malaria free.)
Visitors should take a simple first aid pack, which would
include: different size plasters, antiseptic cream,
anti-histamine cream and/or tablets for insect bites, sun
barrier cream (while temperatures are moderate the sun is
strong) and anti-diarrhea tablets such as Immodium for
emergencies (they will not cure the problem but will control
the symptoms).
Generally, visitors should take out
standard holiday health insurance in their home countries.
FOOD
The Ethiopian national dish consists of injera, a flat,
circular pancake of fermented dough made from a grain seed
called tef, on top of which are served different kinds of
cooked meats, vegetables and pulses. The sauces are generally
spiced with berbere, a blend of herbs and spices (including
hot peppers) which gives Ethiopian food its characteristic
taste. Vegetarians should try “fasting food” (for devout
Ethiopian Orthodox Christians fast days make up more than half
the year), a colorful spread of salads, vegetables and pulses,
devoid of all meat and animal products.
One eats national dishes with the right hand (water for
washing is usually brought to the table before the food is
served), tearing off pieces of injera to pick up the
“toppings”.
Addis Ababa now boasts of a wide variety of restaurants, and
at hotels in tourist sites European style food such as pasta
is always available.
DRINK
Gassy and still mineral water, along with soft drinks, are now
available throughout the country. There are several brands of
locally produced beer. Ethiopia produces its own wine and
spirits, while imported spirits are also widely available.
There are homemade alcoholic drinks: tela (homemade beer or
ale), tej (wine made from honey) and kati kala (distilled
liquor from various grains.)
ELECTRICITY
220 volts. Plugs are of the two-pin variety.
SOUVENIRS
Many antiques cannot be exported and may be confiscated if
found in airport searches. The National Museum in Addis Ababa
can issue a clearance certificate.
PHOTOGRAPHING
outside Addis Ababa, generally only 100 ASA film is available.
As a matter of courtesy, permission should be sought before
photographing individuals and in many parts of the country,
particularly 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.
BEGGING
Ethiopia's recent history of civil wars, famines and
population displacement, along with poverty and under
development generally has created large numbers of destitute,
particularly noticeable in Addis Ababa. Giving to one often
provokes a flood of others and does not really solve the
problem - Village Ethiopia is happy to facilitate donations to
organizations working with the needy and to facilities like
clinics and schools.
NO SMOKING PLEASE
Mayflower Tours has a no-smoking policy on the motor coach.
Frequent rest and meal stops are made, providing ample time
for those who wish to smoke. Observance of this requirement
helps assure the well-being of all members of the tour.
LANGUAGE
Although Amharic is the lingua franca of Ethiopia, and both
English and Italian are widely spoken in the main towns, there
is a rich heritage of 83 local languages and over 200
dialects.
Amharic is considered the official language, and its
distinctive alphabet will be seen by the visitor all over the
Country. The name originates from the Amharic people, who live
in the highlands of Ethiopia.
Ethiopian languages belong to one of four main language
groups: Semitic (such as Amharic and Tigrinya), Cushitic (such
as Afan Oromo) Omotic and Nil0-Saharan. A useful phrase book
will provide phonetic guides to aid pronunciation.
FOOD and DRINK
With so many peoples, the food and drink of Ethiopia reflect
the many different cultures. A typical dish is wot, a hot
spicy stew of meat or vegetables, seasoned with a blend of
berbere.
Often made with doro (chicken), it is normally served with
injera, the traditional spongy pancake made from a fermented
teff flour batter. In most good restaurants, or in the local
buna bet, or coffee house, you will find delicious dishes that
reflect the customs and the ingredients of the region.
IAddis Ababa, as in most of the larger cities, visitors will
also find a wide range of other restaurants that reflect the
influences of their cuisines, All large hotels have
international restaurants, but out in the City you can tempt
your taste buds in Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, Italian,
French, Greek and other restaurants.
Ethiopia produces its own wines. Dukam and Gouder are fine
reds, while Axumite is sweeter. Crystal is our dry white wine.
With so many peoples, the food and drink of Ethiopia reflect
the many different cultures. A typical dish is wot, a hot
spicy stew of meat or vegetables, seasoned with a blend or
berbere. Often made with doro (chicken), it is normally served
with injera, the traditional spongy pabncke made from a
fermented teffflour batter.
THE COFFEE CEREMONY
Ethiopia is famous for its coffee, and nobody should visit us
without sampling some of our best, and perhaps taking some
home. Taking coffee can be a ceremony in itself… be prepared
to wait up to an hour.
The coffee is always made by a woman, who washes the beans and
roasts them over a small burner called a fermello. The beans
are then crushed and put in to the pot with water to be
boiled. When all is ready, sugar is put in small cups and the
coffee carefully strained over. Incense is often burn at the
same time. If you are invited to attend a formal coffee
ceremony it is considered impolite to leave early, but after
three cups you many retire.
CRAFTS OF ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia is rich in traditional crafts, and our artisans work
with local raw materials, creating artifacts that are both
useful as well as being items of great beauty.
Shopping in Ethiopia can be an exciting experience. The
bustling markets are the places to try out your age-old skills
of bargaining, and even in some small workshops you can
achieve a more reasonable price after a little bit of
haggling. In Addis Ababa, the Mercato is the placer to head
for, but in all towns markets and roadside stalls will display
the crafts made in the locality.
Harar visitors will find colorful basketwork or silver
filigree, while the crosses of Gondar are famous. Are famous
Hand-woven carpets come from Debre Birhan, while Jimma is
well-known for its three-legged stools? All over the Country
you will find historical (and sometimes not so ancient)
artifacts. Icons, parchment, swords and old books may be
offered by many vendors. Please remember that a permit must be
obtained before taking reproductions of ancient relics out of
the Country. To export a genuine national treasure us bit
permitted. all regions modern skills are being combined with
traditional methods to produce modern handicrafts that make
splendid souvenirs. Pottery, wood-carving and modern jeweler
makes wonderful keepsakes of a visit to Ethiopia. Other
treasures include hand-carved furniture, wall-hangings,
beautiful embroidery, and costume dolls. Our modern designers
have now created ranges of fashionable clothes that will
entrance you. Ladies should explore some of the smaller
boutiques in Addis Ababa, while both men and women will
delight in the excellent leather goods for which Ethiopia is
famous.