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Brief History
Ethiopia is the only country in Africa to escape colonization. It is located in north-eastern Africa, between latitudes 4 and 18 north. It is a ruggedly mountainous country, covering 1,251,282km . It is surrounded by Kenya, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Djibouti.
Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in Africa, is a land of stunning natural beauty, covering an area twice the size of Kenya, France or Texas. A rich diversity of culture and geography captivates visitors. The welcome that comes from the mosaic of a people with over 80 different languages and as many cultures is warm and spontaneous.
The attractions of Ethiopia are of world renown, and the development of the Country as the foremost tourist destination in North East Africa has opened up Ethiopia to a new generation of tourists, to whom a visit to the land of the Queen of Sheba, the birthplace of the Blue Nile and the 'cradle of mankind' was previously just a dream.
That Ethiopia has a heritage from the beginnings of mankind was underlined when the remains of 'Lucy', dated from 3.5 million years ago, and the 4.4 million year old Homo ramidus afarensis, man's oldest anthropoid ancestor, were uncovered. Traders from Greece, Rome, Persia and Egypt knew of the riches of what is now Ethiopia, and by the first century AD, Axum was the capital of a great empire.
This realm became one of the first Christian lands of Africa. Late in the 10th century Axum declined and a new Zagwe dynasty, centered in what is now Lalibela, ruled the land. Axum, Lalibella and Gondar now provide our greatest historical legacy. It was in the 16th century that the son of the great explorer Vasco da Gama came to Ethiopia, but then found a land of many kingdoms and provinces beset feuds and wars.
In the l9th century the great Emperor Menelik led us towards the modern state of Ethiopia, and the Country's passage to modernization began.
The natural beauty of Ethiopia amazes the first-time visitor. Ethiopia is a land of rugged mountains (some 25 are over 4,000 meters high), broad savannah, lakes and rivers.
The unique Rift Valley is a remarkable region of volcanic lakes, with their famous collections of bird life, great escarpments and stunning vistas. Tissisat, the Blue Nile Falls, must rank as one of the greatest natural spectacles in Africa today.
With 14 major wildlife reserves, Ethiopia provides a microcosm of the entire sub-Saharan ecosystem. Bird life abounds, and indigenous animals from the rare Walia ibex to the shy wild ass, roam free just as nature intended. Ethiopia, after the rains, is a land decked with flowers and with many more native plants than most countries in Africa.
Ethiopia's Sabbath is Sunday. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Islamic community celebrate many holy days throughout the year.
Culture & Language
Ethiopians are generally gracious people. A handshake greeting is normal, with a pleasant discussion on personal matters before getting down to business. The offer of tea or coffee is normal, and time is not that important. Smoking is not popular amongst traditional people, or in front of priests. Shoes are often taken off on entering churches, and always on entering mosques.
With over 80 different peoples, the cultures of Ethiopian communities are prominent in daily life. With traditions going back to the days of Axum, and a strong religious setting, celebrations and festivals play an important part in the daily lives of Ethiopians.
The greatest annual festival is Timket (Epiphany), where tourists are welcome to celebrate. But other festivals such as Enkutatash (the Ethiopian New Year, in September after the rains), Maskal, Gena (Christmas), Id and Easter are all glorious celebrations.
Remember, when checking any dates, that Ethiopia still retains the Julian calendar, and they are unique in having thirteen months. Their traditional calendar is almost eight years behind the Gregorian Calendar of the West.
The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic, with its distinctive alphabet, although over 80 local languages are spoken. English is the second official language, and is understood in most hotels and major towns. Arabic, French and Italian are also widely understood.
Before you go
Visa & Passport
You will need a passport to travel to Ethiopia. It must be valid for six months after your estimated date of entry into Africa and it should have at least one empty page for each country you will visit.
A visa is an official authorization to visit a country. The visa is entered as a stamp in your passport. US residents are required to obtain a visa to enter Ethiopia. You need to get your visa at the embassy of Ethiopia in Washington DC before you leave.
To obtain your visa in the US before your trip, please send the following to the Ethiopian Embassy.
Your valid passport (with appropriate blank pages)
Two 2"x2" passport photographs per country
A completed and signed visa form per country
A money order for the visa fee
A postage paid trackable return envelope
Important: Remember to sign both your passport and visa forms!
For processing procedures and more information, go to Embassy of Ethiopia.
Note: Before you leave home, we suggest you make photocopies of the information pages in your passport and carry them separately from your passport We also recommend bringing at least two extra 2"x2" passport photographs. This will facilitate the replacement of your passport and visa(s) in the event your passport is lost or stolen.
Immunizations & Health
Current WHO Report for Ehtiopia
You will find Africa a hospitable and healthy place to visit. However, we do strongly recommend that you consult your physician regarding medications and immunizations that are recommended or mandatory. The World Health Organization compiles a listing of required and recommended immunizations for international travelers. Your health insurance provider may cover some of the costs associated with these immunizations. All vaccinations should be officially recorded and stamped in a yellow international immunization card. This card should be carried with your passport.
Routine Immunizations are: tetanus-diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza and pneumococcal. Many of these are groups together and some are oral. Additional immunizations to discuss with your doctor are yellow fever, hepatitus A, typhoid, cholera, polio and meningitis.
For your safety, we request all passengers take a course of malaria prophylactics. There are several different possibilities on the market. Please discuss with your doctor which one is best for you.
Please remember, not all immunizations can be taken or obtained on the same day or on the day of departure. Some immunizations must be administered serially over a period of time and some cannot be given together. See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for vaccines to take effect.
*Health concerns throughout the world change regularly. For the latest requirements and recommendations consult your doctor and/or go to the above link for the latest WHO report on Ethiopia.
It is important that you alert us to any allergies, dietary restrictions and existing medical conditions.
Packing
Africa is very casual. Plan to wear neutral colors because bright colors and white can startle some animals. Remember, there is a lot of dust - khaki seems to be a good solution. The following is a general outline of items to pack:
| | Documentation |
|---|
| Passport | 2 passport photos |
| Health Certificates | Airline Tickets |
| Travelers Checks | Spending Money |
| Money belt | Proof of insurance |
| Xerox copy of passport, travelers checks | |
| General | Clothes |
|---|
| 1 bag/backpack - max 30 lbs | 2 pair shorts |
| 1 small day bag | 2 pair lightweight pants |
| Travel pillow | 3 lightweight shirt |
| Travel alarm clock | 1 longsleeved lightweight shirt |
| Luggage lock | 1 sweater/fleece |
| Travel umbrella | 1 warm windproof jacket |
| Swim Suit |
| Field Gear | Undergarments & Socks |
|---|
| Camera/film/batteries | 1 pair all weather sandals |
| Video camera/tapes/batteries | 1 pair lightweight walking shoes |
| Binoculars (Extremely Important) | 1 pair evening shoes for lodges and cities |
| African Field Guild | Men: one nice collared shirt |
| Journal & Pens | Women: dress or skirt and blouse |
| Book | |
| Map - Michelin #955 is best | |
| Water Bottle | |
| Flashlight & Batteries | |
| Sunglasses | |
| Wide-brimmed hat, baseball cap and/or bandanas | |
| Toiletries | First Aid Kit |
|---|
| General - toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, razor, shampoo, etc. | The basics: bandages, antibiotic ointment, anti-diarrea tablets, antacid tablets, pain reliever, waterproof tape, antiseptic, tweezers, scissors, etc. |
| Sunblock | Allergy pills |
| Insect repellent (containing DEET - 20% is optimal) | Prescription drugs w/original label |
| Lotion/sun protective lip balm | Malaria Tablets |
| Small bottle of Woolite or washing detergent for undergarments | |
| Contact lenses/solution/glasses | |
| Hairdryer (requires a converter 220-240 volt AC 50 Hz | |
Laundry services in Africa are very good and available at nearly all of our safari camps, lodges and hotels. This means that you can travel light and still enjoy clean fresh clothing throughout your journey.
Money & Tipping
Today's Exchange Rate
The Ethiopian Birr is the national currency and, while visitors may bring in as much foreign currency as they wish, it should be declared on arrival to ensure there is no confusion when they depart. Credit cards are not widely accepted outside the major establishments in the cities.
We suggest bringing a combination of Traveler's Checks (mainly as a security measure) and US dollars. Have your traveler's checks issues in small denomination ($20s and $50s) as you will receive the entire amount in the foreign currency you exchange for. Getting US dollars in Africa is expensive but having some throughout the trip is necessary. The remainder of your spending money is a combination of credit card purchases and obtaining local currency at ATM machines. The amount of extra money you need to bring will depend on how many optional activities interest you and your shopping habits. $300 cash should be plenty - with at least $50 in small bills for bartering and tipping.
Personal expenditure, meals in major cities, insurance, drinks other than specified, gratuities, airport taxes and visa fees are excluded. We suggest that you allow US$25-35 per day to cover the cost of personal expenses and souvenirs (within reason).
Note: We strongly recommend keeping your passport, all money, vouchers and international air tickets in a money belt or pouch.
Guide to Tipping on Safari
Although tipping is a safari tradition, it is never compulsory and should only be done if you have received good service. The staff very much appreciates receiving gratuity from you and it is one way of assuring them they are doing a good job. You can tip in US dollars or local currency.
Guests often want to know what is appropriate, so we have prepared a brief guideline to assist you.
Professional Guides and Driver Guides
We recommend, if you are happy with the service, about US$5-10 per person, per day for the guide and about US$3 per person, per day for the driver as a suggested tip.
Voltage & Photography
Electrical supply is generally 220 volts 50 cycles AC.
Bring the photo equipment you are used to working with. A trip like this is not the best place for trying out a new camera. If you spend all of your time learning how to use a piece of equipment, you may not learn how to shoot good images. Bring the instruction manual. Keep in mind that too much equipment can be a hindrance, while leaving behind a piece that could be useful is also a mistake. We suggest bringing an 8" x 5" beanbag to use as a tripod to hold your camera steady when shooting from the vehicle. Bring a combination of lenses that range from 25mm to 300mm.
We suggest an average of 2-3 rolls of film per day of game viewing. Most of your game viewing is in the early morning and mid to late afternoons. For protection from airport X-ray machines, pack all film in lead-lined shield bags. Film and batteries are not available in the African bush. You will find them in the major cities, but they are very expensive.
Digital photography is here. Digital photographers will have to plan for how to save images while in the field. Multiple storage disks are less cumbersome than bringing a laptop to download images to.
Whichever film type you select, the slower ASA films (50-100) generally produce higher quality photos. I would bring a slow film and a faster one (400) for low-light situations.
Note: Always ask before photographing the native people. Do not take pictures of military installations, police stations, airports, soldiers, police or border posts - you may have your film confiscated.
Please consult with lodge managers about charging your equipment. Many properties are run on generators that are only turned on at certain times of the day, usually in the early evening and turned off in the late evening at bedtime.
Electricity in Africa is generally at 220 volts AC, therefore, for most 110 appliances you will need both an adapter for the proper plug configuration and a converter for the correct current. Both round and rectangular three pronged plug sockets are in use. Most safari camps do not have individual electrical outlets in the tents.
The Africa factor
Expect the unexpected. Despite our efforts to have every safari run perfectly, things are going to happen that are simply out of our control. We will do what we can to minimize these situations however, things will still occur albeit a canceled flight beyond our control, rogue warthogs wandering in our camp, flat tires, floods, all or none may occur.
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