Useful Insights Before Your Travel
Visas
The citizens of the European Union and between ten and twenty other countries (France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea Kuwait, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States) obtain a tourist visa upon entering the Bole international airport in Addis Ababa; it is required that their passports ought to retain their validity for the period of six months since the day of entering the country.
Photograph is not needed. The cost of a visa amounts to 20 USD. A tourist visa is a single-use one and it retains its validity for the period of 30 days. That period can be extended at the Immigration Authority in Churchill Road in Addis Ababa.
It is better to apply for a multi-use visa prior to the departure at one of Ethiopian embassies; the procedure usually takes one day.
The maximum period of validity of a visa is 6 months. In addition any visa request can be specifically requested from concerned visa authority.
Flights
There are daily flight to Ethiopia for almost all over the world. You may check with local travel agency about available flight or you are welcome to contact us so as we can schedule your flight to Ethiopia
Climate and Clothing
The climate of Ethiopia makes it possible to travel in this country throughout the entire year; the time of our visit ought to be depending upon the region which we are visiting and the purpose of our trip.
In Addis Ababa and in the North of the country, there are two occurring seasons of the year: the dry one (October – May) and the rainy one (June – September). In the South, in the Valley of the River Omo, it is different – it usually rains in April and May. Afterwards, a dry summer follows, and further precipitation, not so abundant any more, is in October. In the North of the country and in the Valley of the River Omo to an equal extent, rains do not make it impossible to go sightseeing, as it was the case once upon a time when the absence of roads used to make it difficult to move around the country.
The temperatures are favorable throughout the entire year. In the northern part of the country and in the capital city, due to the altitude exceeding 2000 meters above the sea level, the temperature is approximately 20 degrees Celsius during the day. In the South, it is hot and dry, as it befits the heart of Africa; in July and August. It is frequent for the temperature to reach more than 30 degrees Celsius.
Thus, tourists can bring in clothing that feet are to their place of visit with in Ethiopia; most recent climate information can be obtained from Ethiopian metrology. In addition, detail tourist related map of Ethiopia can be obtained from the country Mapping Agency.
Time
In Ethiopia, the day is divided into 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night. Six o’clock in Ethiopia is 12 o’clock (midday) of Central European time.
In international contacts, and in places popular with tourists, Ethiopians use our measurement of time. Ethiopia is in the GMT + 3 hours time zone. Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, a country having 13 months in a year meaning 12 months each having equal 30 days and the 13th months named Pagume usually have five days and once 4 years will have 6 days.
There is 24 hours internet connection in the country.
Electric Supply
Power supply in the Ethiopian network of power supply amounts to 220 volts and frequency to 50 Hz. Electrical power sockets are the same like in Europe.
Language
The three main languages – Amharic (official), the Tigrai and Oromo languages, in fact as the nation have more than 80 nations and nationalities different language is spoken in Ethiopia. The most popular foreign language – English
Currency exchange and Banking hours
The local currency unit, the Ethiopian birr, which have notes of 100, 50, 10, 5, and 1 Birr, the cents are of 50, 25,10,5, and 1.
The exchange rate is the same throughout the country. Exchanging currencies in banks, in particular in the areas distant from the main cities, is time-consuming at times. Credit cards are accepted in a number of places: at airports and in larger hotels.
Cash register machine exist almost everywhere. Government banks work from 8:00 am up to 5:00 pm, majority of private banks work from 8:00 am up to 7:00 pm.
Health and Medical
All visitors should be in possession of valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Immunization for Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid and Polio is recommended.
In traveling to the low land part of Ethiopia tourists are expected to take malaria protection drags, and can keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay with repellent creams and sprays, also visitors camping in a tent can use mosquitoes net.
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 block (while temperatures are moderate the sun is still equatorial) and anti diarrhea tablets such as Imodium 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.
The country have very experienced governmental and private hospitals incase medication is required by visitors.
Accommodations
Addis Ababa has every style hotel from 5-star to an inexpensive “guesthouse”. Outside the capital city, standards may vary, yet most major cities are equipped with at least 3-star hotels if not higher. In many areas there are now a number of eco-lodges and resorts.
Photography
Generally only 100 ASA is available, 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 tribes living in the Omo Valley, people will demand a fee. In some sites, Blue Nile falls for example; there is a charge for video photography.