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Things to know
Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park
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Overview Contact Address General Information Passport/Visa Money Duty free Public Holidays Health Travel Accommodation Sport/Activities Social Profile Business Profile Climate Resorts and Excursions
Overview
Best Time To Visit: Ethiopia can provide you with 13 months of sunshine or any kind of weather you like. It depends on the region that you want to visit and/or the activities you want to join.
Natural Features: Highlands including the highest peak Ras Dashan in Simien mountain range. There are dissected plateaus divided by the Great Rift Valley, the dominant feature of the country is the Central plateau which contains a number of river systems like the Blue Nile.
P.O. Box 26563 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +-251-1-567837/567838/567839/562242 Fax: +-251-1567840/567841 E-mail:
mulugenet@telecom.net.et or mulutour@telecom.net.et
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Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Top of Page Passport/Visa
PASSPORTS: Passports valid for three months required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals of Djibouti and Kenya for stays of up to three months; (b) transit passengers continuing to a third country within 12 hours provided not leaving the airport and holding valid travel documents for onward destination. Types of visa and cost: $62 or equivalent. All visas are single-entry. Validity: Two months from date of issue and one month from date of entry. Tourist and Business visas can be extended for an additional two months for a $4 fee. Applications should be made to the Immigration Department in Ethiopia. Application to: Consulate, Except in the case of a few nationals, passengers in transit in Ethiopia, holding confirmed onward bookings within 72 hours, can obtain transit visas on arrival. However, in this case, passports are held at the airport until departure and a pink colored receipt card issued. Nationals from the following countries can obtain visas on arrival; Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea Republic, Quiet, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, Newzlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, S. Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK and USA. Application requirements: (a) Completed application form. (b) Valid passport (containing residence permit, if applicable). (c) One passport-size photo. (d) Fee (payable by postal order). (e) Airline ticket and copy of itinerary made through travel agent. Business: (a) and, (g) Letter from sponsor, accepting financial responsibility for applicant. Transit: (a) and, (g) Onward or return ticket. Note: The Yellow fever vaccination, whilst advisable, is not compulsory. Consult the embassy for up to date advice on whether applications will be accepted without the certificate. Working days required: 1 to 3. Applications should be made well in advance. Exit permit: Required by all nationals of Ethiopia and visitors staying more than 30 days. Top of Page Money Currency: Ethiopian Birr (Birr) - 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Birr100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. Indication of food and beverage prices in Ethiopia
Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1200 and 1300-1700; Fri 0830-1130 and 1300-1700. Top of Page Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Ethiopia without incurring customs duty: 100 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco; 1l of alcoholic beverages; 2 bottles or 500ml of perfume; gifts up to the value of Birr10. Note: Export certificates are required for skins, hides and antiques. Top of Page Public Holidays Jan 7 Ethiopian Christmas. Jan 19* Timket (Epiphany). Feb 23 Eid-al Adha (Arafat). Mar 2 Battle of Adowa. Mar 29* Ethiopian Good Friday. May 1 Labour Day. May 25 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). May 28 Downfall of the Dergue. Sep 11* Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash). Sep 27* Finding of the True Cross (Meskel). Dec 6-8 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Note: (a) *Indicates Coptic holidays. (b) Ethiopia still uses the Julian calendar, which is divided into 12 months of 30 days each, and a 13th month of five or six days at the end of the year; hence the date for Christmas. The Ethiopian calendar is seven years and eight months behind our Gregorian Calendar. (c) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region. Top of Page Health
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Travelers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country. 2: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists throughout the year in all areas below 2000m. Highly chloroquine-resistant falciparum is reported. No malaria risk exists in Addis Ababa. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilized. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well-chlorinated and maintained are safe. Onchocerciasis (river blindness) occurs. Visceral leishmaniasis may be found in the drier areas. Trachoma is widespread. Immunisation against diphtheria is also recommended. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. Health care: The high altitude and low oxygen level of much of Ethiopia needs time to be acclimatized to. Those who suffer from heart ailments or high blood pressure should consult a doctor before traveling. Health insurance is strongly advised. See the Health appendix. Top of Page Travel - International AIR: The national carrier is Ethiopian Airlines. It is one of the most efficient airlines in Africa. It has offices in 54 cities around the world. Indication flight times: From Addis Ababa to London is 10 hours. International airports: Addis Ababa (ADD) (Bole International) which new terminal will be opened beginning of 2003 is 8km (5 miles) southeast of the city (travel time , 25 minutes). A coach service departs regularly to the city. Airport facilities include duty-free, car hire, banks, bureaux de change (0500-1300), left luggage, post office, first aid facilities, restaurant and bar. Departure tax: US$20, payable in US Dollars only. Exact amount only. Transit passengers not leaving the airport are exempt. RAIL: A 784km (487-mile) rail service between Djibouti and Addis Ababa is run jointly by the two governments. ROAD: The main route is via Kenya. There is an all-weather road from Moyale on the border via Yabelo, Dila and Yirga to Addis Ababa. The following border points are also open: Dewale/Galafi (from Djibouti) and Humera/Metema (from Sudan). Travel - Internal AIR: Ethiopian Airlines runs internal flights to over 40 towns, although services may be infrequent. Airports throughout Ethiopia are currently being upgraded in a step to encourage tourism. Airport tax: Birr 10. RAIL: The only operative line runs between Addis Ababa and Djibouti, via Dire Dawa and Harar. Travelers should be prepared for occasional delays. ROAD: A good network of all-weather roads exists to most business and tourist centers. Otherwise, four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended. Frequent fuel shortages can make travel outside Addis Ababa very difficult. Vehicle travel after dark outside Addis Ababa is risky. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Services are run by the Government as well as private companies and they operate throughout the country. The bus terminus can provide schedules and tickets, although it is unusual for tourists to attempt to use this service. Bus trips can be slow as there is often a lengthy wait to assemble a convoy. Taxi: Available in Addis Ababa and other major towns. Painted blue and white, they sometimes offer service on a shared basis. Fares should be negotiated before traveling. There are also minibus taxis which offer cheap and frequent shared travel in Addis Ababa. Documentation: A British driving license is valid for up to one month, otherwise the visitor needs to obtain a temporary Ethiopian driving license on arrival. Top of Page Accommodation Good hotels can be found in Addis Ababa and other main centers, although they tend to be better in the north than in the south. Some offer facilities for small exhibitions and conferences. There are hotels in the other larger towns; prices are, in general, slightly lower than those in the main centers. There is a five to ten per cent service charge. Top of Page Sport & Activities Safaris: Wildlife safaris to the national parks are organized by a Dinknesh Tours (see the Resorts & Excursions section for further information on national parks). Safaris are usually in four-wheel-drive vehicles, but walking safaris (with a guide only) or traveling by mule are also possible. Ethiopia is also noted for its rich bird life (over 850 species are recorded) and hence offers some of the best bird watching in Africa, notably at Abiyata.
Tipping: In most hotels and restaurants a ten per cent service charge is added to the bill. Tipping is a fairly frequent custom, but amounts are small. Photography Business:
Businesspersons should wear suits and ties for
business visits. English is widely used for trade purposes but Italian and
French are also useful. Nonetheless, knowledge of a few words of Amharic will be
appreciated. Some of the more useful are Tena Yistillign - ‘Hello’; Ow -
‘Yes’; Aydellem - ‘No’; and Sintinew - ‘How much is this?’ Normal
courtesies should be observed and business cards can be used. Best months for
business visits are October to May. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and
1300-1700. Conferences/Conventions: Information is available from the United Nations Conference Center, PO Box 3001, Addis Ababa (tel: (1) 514 874 or 514 945; fax: (1) 513 155; e-mail: Information is available from the United Nations Conference Center, PO Box 3001, Addis Ababa (tel: (1) 514 874 or 514 945; fax: (1) 513 155; e-mail: uncc-aa@un.org; website: www.un.org/depts/eca/uncc-aa).Top of Page Climate Hot and humid in the lowlands, warm in the hill country and cool in the uplands. Most rainfall is from June to September. Required clothing: The lightest possible clothing in lowland areas; medium- or lightweight in the hill country. Warm clothing may be needed at night to cope with the dramatic temperature change.  Top of Page Resorts & Excursions ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s capital is located at an altitude of 2440m (8000ft) in the central highlands. Places of interest include the university, St George’s Cathedral, the Ethnology Museum, the National Museum, the Menelik Mausoleum, the Trinity Church, the Old Ghibi Palace and the market, one of the largest in Africa. AXUM: The ancient royal capital of the earliest Ethiopian kingdom lies in the north of the country. It is renowned for multi-storied ancient carved granite obelisks, for important archaeological remains and for the church, which claims to house the Lost Ark of the Covenant. NATIONAL PARKS: There are nine national parks in Ethiopia: the Simien Mountain National Park (in the northern mountain massif); the Awash National Park (east of the capital); the Omo and Mago National Parks (southwest of the capital); the Shalla-Abijatta Lakes National Park (south of the capital); the Gambella National Park ; the Nechi Sar National Park, Yangudi-Rassa National Park and the Bale Mountains National Park, on high southern moorland country, which has its own unique flora and fauna. ELSEWHERE: The Blue Nile Falls (also called Tissisat) are one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Africa. They are situated about 35km (22 miles) from Bahar Dar. Gondar was the capital of Ethiopia from 1632 to 1855 and is the site of many ruined castles. Close by is Lake Tana, on which 37 islands stand and is the largest lake in Ethiopia. Lalibela is famous for its 12th-century, rock-hewn churches. Harar is a famous Muslim walled city and the center for the coffee trade. Dire Dawa, near Harar, is an important trading center on the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway line. The Rift Valley Lakes in Ziway, Langano, Awassa, Abiyata, Shalla, Abaya and Chamo offer unique scenery and beautiful beaches. Langano is one of the most popular lakeside resorts. |
Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour is a proud member of the following organisations
Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour In front of Teklehaimanot Church Garad Building 7TH Floor Room No. 1294-7-1 P.O.Box 26563 Addis Ababa Ethiopia, East Africa Tel No. +251-11-1567837/1567838/1562242 Fax No. + 251-11-1567840/1567841 E-mail mulugenet@ethionet.et OR Website www.ethiopiatravel.com
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Ethiopia travel
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