This document provides an overview of travel information for Ethiopia. It discusses Ethiopia's location in Eastern Africa, its diverse climate and terrain, and its population. It then provides a brief history of Ethiopia, highlighting some important historical sites from ancient times through the present. The document also outlines essential information for travelers, including the climate, time zone, regions of Ethiopia, and ways to travel within Ethiopia such as by plane, bus, or car. It closes by noting some unique aspects of Ethiopia and its foods.

1. 1

2. Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 3
Location:........................................................................................................................................................ 4
History ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
Essentials:...................................................................................................................................................... 8
Way of Travel: ............................................................................................................................................. 10
By plane............................................................................................................................................... 10
By bus .................................................................................................................................................. 10
By car................................................................................................................................................... 11
Language ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
What makes Ethiopia Unique?.................................................................................................................... 13
FOODS ......................................................................................................................................................... 13
Closing remarks:.......................................................................................................................................... 15
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3. INTRODUCTION
Basic Facts
Location: Eastern Africa
Capital: Addis Ababa
Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Population: 82,544,840 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic Make-up: Oromo 32.1%, Amara 30.1%, Tigraway 6.2%, Somalie 5.9%, Guragie 4.3%, Sidama 3.5%,
Welaita 2.4%, other 15.4% (1994 census)
Religions: Christianity 60.8% (Orthodox 50.6%, Protestant 10.2%), Muslim 32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other
1.8% (1994 census)
Government: Federal Republic
AIESEC ETHIOPIA
In the International Congress of AIESEC 2008, Ethiopia was pronounced an official expansion from
AIESEC Italy and for the past three years AIESEC in Ethiopia continually grows one step at a time. To be
very clear “AIESEC is a global, non-political, independent, not-for profit organization run by students and
recent graduates of institutions of higher education.” Its members are interested in world issues,
leadership and management. AIESEC does not discriminate on basis of race, color, gender, sexual
orientation, creed, religion, national ethnic or social origin. Our Vision “Peace and fulfillment of
humankind’s potential” directs us at painting a powerful picture of an integrated learning process fixed
by the activities of AIESEC.
Dear AIESECer
Thank you for showing interest in having an internship opportunity in AIESEC Ethiopia. We also look
forward to having you. We hope to make your stay a memorable one. This reception book has been
prepared to give you a broad overview of Ethiopia as well as tell you what you can expect from the land
of opportunity. People here are curious about other cultures and very eager to share their cultural
experiences. We wish to learn from your cultural and subsequently professional experiences. If you find
yourself in a company or project, please strive to “Enjoy participation” of all other AIESEC activities as it
becomes a key learning point for all of us.
Please do not hesitate to inquire more information from us and we anticipate your arrival.
AIESEC Ethiopia Exchange Team
“Crazy for success”
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4. Location:
Ethiopia is located on the Horn of Africa with Somalia,
Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m ((-410 ft)
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m (15,157 ft)
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5. History
Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent nations in the world. It has long been an intersection between
the civilizations of North Africa, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Unique among African
countries, Ethiopia was never colonized, maintaining its independence throughout the Scramble for
Africa onward, except for a five-year period (1936-41) when it was under Italian military occupation.
During this period, the Italians occupied only a few key cities and major routes, and faced continuing
native resistance until they were finally defeated during the Second World War by a joint Ethiopian-
British alliance. Ethiopia has long been a member of international organizations: it became a member of
the League of Nations, signed the Declaration by United Nations in 1942, founded the UN headquarters
in Africa, was one of the 51 original members of the UN, and is the headquarters for and one of the
founding members of the former OAU and current AU.
Geographically Ethiopia is located in the east central Africa, bordered on the west by the Sudan, the
east by Somalia and Djibouti, the south by Kenya, And the north east by Eritrea. Ethiopia is sub-saharan
Africa’s oldest state, and its Solomonic dynasty claims decent from King Menelik I, traditionally believed
to have been the son of the queen of Sheba and King Solomon. The current nation is a consolidation of
smaller kingdoms that owed feudal allegiance to the Ethiopian Emperor.
Prehistory:
Archeologists have found the oldest known human ancestor in Ethiopia, including Ardipithecus ramidus
kadabba (c.5.8-5.2 million years old) and Australopithecus anamensis (c.4.2 million years old).
Lucy, discovered in the Awash valley of Ethiopia’s Afar region, is considered the worlds’ second-oldest,
but most complete and best preserved, adult Australopithecine fossil. Lucy’s taxonomic name,
Australopithecus afarensis, meaning ”‘southern ape of Afar” and refers to the Ethiopian region where
the discovery was made. Lucy is estimated to have lived 3.2 million years ago. East Africa, and more
specifically the general area of Ethiopia, is widely considered the site of the emergence of early Homo
sapiens.
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6. Classical Antiquity
It is now known that in ancient times the name Ethiopia was used to refer to the nation based in the
upper Nile valley south of Egypt, also called kush, which in the 4th century was invaded by the Kingdom
of Axum from the highlands close to the red sea. Reference to the kingdom of Axum designated as
Ethiopia dates as far back as the first half of 4th century since inscription of Ezana Habashat (the source
of “Abyssinia”) in Ge’ez South Arabian alphabet, Is translated in Greek as “Aethiopia”.
The state of Sheba mentioned in the old Testament is sometimes believed to have been in Ethiopia,
but more often is placed in Yemen. According to the Ethiopian legend, best represented in the Kebra
Negest, the Queen of Sheba was tricked by King Solomon into sleeping with him, resulting in a child,
named Eden Melek (later Emperor Menelik I). When he was of age, Menelik returned to Israel to see his
father, who sent with him the son of Zadok to accompany him with a replica of the Ark of the Covenant
(Ethiosemetic: tabot). On his way back with some of Israelite priests, however, he found that Zadok’s
son had stolen the real Ark of the Covenant. Some believed that the Ark is still being preserved today at
the Church of our lady Mary of Zion in Axum, Ethiopia. The tradition that the Biblical queen of sheba was
a ruler of Ethiopia who visited king Solomon in Jerusalem in ancient Israel is supported by the 1st
century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who identified Solomon's visitor as a queen of Egypt and
Ethiopia
Historical Sites:
Axum:
Ethiopia’s most ancient city is the site of many remarkable monolithic stone
Stella, or Obelisks. The three most important are decorated to represent
multi-storied buildings. The largest obelisk (35m tall, 500tons) is the biggest
piece of stone ever cut by humanity anywhere in the world, but today lies
broken on the ground. Near it stands a smaller but nevertheless most
impressive, 24m high obelisk. A larger obelisk was taken to Italy on the
personal order of the Italian fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, in 1937, but
now it has returned to Axum.
A two hour drive from Axum, takes the traveller, past truly fantastic mountain scenery, to Yeha. This is
the site of a huge and most impressive temple, thought to date from around the sixth or seventh
century BC. The journey takes the traveller past the site of Ethiopia’s historic victory over Italian
colonialists, at the battle of Adwa, of 1896, the greatest victory of an African over an European army
since the time of Hannibal.
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7. Bahar Dar:
Bahar Dar, a settlement on the southern shore of Lake Tana, is the most
convenient center for visiting the famous Blue Nile Falls, locally known as
Tisisat, or smoke fire. Bahar Dar port likewise provides access, by boat, to a
number of historic lake side churches, and monasteries near and far.
Gondar:
Gondar, which Emperor Fasilidas founded as his capital in 1636, is the site
of numerous castle-like palaces. The city was Ethiopia’s capital until the
reign of the would be reforming Emperor Tewdrons II. Although
predominantly Christian, the town inhabitants included many rich Muslim
merchants, and Falashas. Beside the famous palaces, there is the so-called
Bathing palace of Emperor Fasilades, which is used for the anual Timket, or
Epiphany celebration.
Harar:
The ancient walled city of Harar was for many centuries a major
commercial center. Trading with the Ethiopian interior, the Gulf of Aden
ports, and many eastern lands, it had its own language, Harari, or Adere. It
was furthermore renowned for its remarkable
handicrafts. Harer, a town of mosques,
minarets, and holy shrines, is visited for its
unique housing, the colorful dress of its
inhabitants, and its stout old walls, the city’s two museums, colorful
markets, and at night, the ‘hayena man’, who can be seen and
photographed feeding these hyenas.
Lalibela:
Lalibela, a medieval settlement in the Lasta area of Wolo, is the site of eleven remarkable rock-hewan
monolithic churches, believed to have been built by King Lalibela, in the late twelfth or early thirteenth
century. These notable structures are carved, inside and outside of the
solid rock, and are considered among the wonders of the world. Each
building is architecturally unique, but all are beautifully carved, and several
of them decorated with fascinating paintings.
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8. Essentials:
Climate
The predominant climate type is tropical monsoon, with wide topographic-induced variation. As a
highland country, Ethiopia has a climate which is generally considerably cooler than other regions at
similar proximity to the Equator. Most of the country's major cities are located at elevations of around
2,000-2,500 metres (6,600-8,200 ft) above sea level, including historic capitals such as Gondar and
Axum.
The modern capital, Addis Ababa, is situated in the foothills of Mount Entoto at an elevation of around
2,400 m (8,000 ft), and experiences a healthy and pleasant climate year-round. With fairly uniform year-
round temperatures, the seasons in Addis Ababa are largely defined by rainfall, with a dry season from
Oct-Feb, a light rainy season from Mar-May, and a heavy rainy season from Jun-Sep. The average annual
rainfall is around 1200 mm (47 in). There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day, meaning it is
sunny for around 60% of the available time. The dry season is the sunniest time of the year, though even
at the height of the rainy season in July and August there are still usually several hours per day of bright
sunshine.
The average annual temperature in Addis Ababa is 16°C (61°F), with daily maximum temperatures
averaging 20-25°C (68-77°F) throughout the year, and overnight lows averaging 5-10°C (41-50°F). A light
jacket is recommended for the evenings, though many Ethiopians prefer to dress conservatively and will
wear a light jacket even during the day.
Most major cities and tourist sites in Ethiopia lie at a similar elevation to Addis Ababa and have
comparable climates, though in less elevated regions, particularly the lower lying regions in the east of
the country, the climate can be significantly hotter and drier. The town of Dallol, in the Danakil
Depression in this eastern zone, has the world's highest average annual temperature of 34°C (93°F).
Terrain:
High plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley, low lands in the eastern and
western most of the country
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9. Natural hazards:
Geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
but a lovely sight to behold.
Geographical note:
Ethiopia is a landlocked country- entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure
independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile, rises in T'ana
Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia:
coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean.
Time and calendar:
Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, which dates back to the Coptic calendar 25 BC, and never adopted
the Julian or Gregorian reforms. One Ethiopian year consists of twelve months, each lasting thirty days,
plus a thirteenth month of five or six days (hence the "Thirteen Months of Sunshine" tourism slogan).
The Ethiopian new year begins on September 10 or 11 (in the Gregorian calendar), and has accumulated
7-8 years lag behind the Gregorian calendar. Thus, for the first nine months of 2007, the year will be
1999 according to the Ethiopian calendar. On 11 September 2007, Ethiopia celebrated New Year's Day
(Enkutatesh) for 2000.
In Ethiopia, the 12-hour clock cycles do not begin at midnight and noon, but instead are offset six hours.
Thus, Ethiopians refer to midnight (or noon) as 6 o'clock.
Note: Airline timetables are based on the 24-hour clock and use the Gregorian calendar.
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10. Regions:
Note: the administrative divisions of Harari, Addis Ababa, and Dire Dawa are included in Oromia for
travel purposes.
1. Afar
2. Amhara
3. Benishangul-Gumaz
4. Gambela
5. Oromia
6. Somali
7. Southern Ethiopia
8. Tigray
Way of Travel:
Note: It is highly recommended that you enter or exit Ethiopia by air to ensure smooth travel.
By plane
Ethiopian Airlines is reasonably priced and has fairly comprehensive domestic services. Flights are often
overbooked, so it is essential to reconfirm your tickets at least a day in advance and show up at the
airport on time. If you forget to reconfirm, they will assume you aren't going to show up and may give
away your seats.
By bus
There is a comprehensive network of cheap buses along the major roads, although these are slow and
basic. Buses travelling shorter distances generally leave whenever they have filled up with passengers (in
practice, these means once an hour or so); nearly all long-distance buses leave at dawn (6AM on the
European clock; 12AM on the Ethiopian clock). Buses do not travel at night; they will stop before
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11. sundown in a town or village with accommodation for the passengers, or, between Dire Dawa and
Djibouti, just in plain nature. Between some cities (e.g. Adama and Addis Ababa), minibuses will run
after the larger buses have stopped for the night. Everyone on the bus must have a seat by law -- this
prevents overcrowding, but often makes it difficult to catch a bus from an intermediate point on a route.
If planning to travel by bus, keep in mind that the vehicles are old and very dusty and the roads are bad.
Ethiopians do not like opening the bus windows, so it gets hot and stuffy inside by afternoon. If you like
fresh air, sit as close to the driver or one of the doors as possible as the driver keeps his window open
and the conductor and his assistant often have the door windows open.
The bus stations usually open at 5AM. If you are catching an early morning bus, you should get to the
station at 5AM. They are very chaotic first thing in the morning, and many buses will sell out of seats
before they leave at 6AM. To make things easier and less stressful, you can often buy a ticket in
advance. In Addis, find the correct window at the bus station the day before you wish to travel and buy
your ticket there. You will need help finding the window unless you can read Amharic, but there are
usually people around who will help if you ask. The ticket will be in Amharic, but there will be a legible
bus number written on it somewhere. Simply find that bus the next morning at the bus station. In
smaller cities, you can often buy your ticket from the conductor when the bus arrives from its previous
trip the afternoon before you travel. Even if you already have a ticket, arrive early and claim a seat as
soon as possible. If you don't have a ticket, you will have to ask people to show you the correct
bus(unless you can read Amharic). In this case, don't waste time trying to buy a ticket from the window
or from the bus conductor. The conductor will sell you a ticket later. Medium sized backpacks can
usually be squeezed under the seats, but large packs and most luggages will have to go up on the roof.
Claim your seat before you worry about your luggage. Anyone assisting you with your luggage, including
the person passing it up to the conductor's assistant on the roof, will expect a small tip (around 2-3 birr).
On several routes (Addis - Dire Dawa, Bahardar - Addis) you may find also a kind of informal traveler cars
with no fixed departure; when looking around at a bus station you may be approached by somebody
who offers you a faster connection by going with a private car; this is more expensive than the normal
bus but also much faster. You'll be handed a cell phone number where to call in order to make an
appointment. These cars may leave before sundown or travel even at night.
By car
A good way to tour Ethiopia is by car. You can take small airplanes to expedite your tour, but you will
take in more of scenery if you travel by car. Reasonable touring companies include Galaxy Express
Services NTO, Dinknesh and Focus Tours Ethiopia. Also Ethiopia Safaris and Journey Abyssinia with
Zawdu. [www.ethiopiatjazz.com] among others can be approached. They can take you off the beaten
track so you can see the beauty and attractions of Ethiopia. Nevertheless, hiring a car is quite expensive
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12. (starting from 600-900 depending on condition and quality of model.600 Birr for cheap car with driver).
But if you want a car for at least 8 persons is costs from 1000-3000 Birr per day. Prices will vary at this
time due to inflationary pressures inside the country. Drivers pass on their costs for spare parts and
need to increase the price if fuel rises. A driver guide's credentials should be checked such as tourism
license, insurance, engine (external and internal). Before accepting a contract, it is also a good idea to
quiz the driver-guide about tourism routes via your own travel guide book (i.e. lonely planet and Bradt
Guide) but you must also accept that this information could be out of date. When driving to the "deep
south" of Ethiopia also check the license plates, because the authorities in the south check in and log "3"
plate tourism cars, take the names of the passengers and passport number. They need a letter from the
tour company to show the agent is bona fide on some routes and parks. Gas comes at 21 ETB a liter.
Make sure to always check how much gas is bought and to get a receipt after filling up the gas, or you
might be overcharged.
By bicycle
Road conditions vary considerably around Ethiopia; some roads are smoothly sealed while others consist
mostly of large stones. Accommodation is cheap and available in almost every village (although these
"hotels" usually double as bars and brothels). Food and drink are also easily available. You will attract
considerable attention (it is not uncommon for whole schools to empty out as the children chase you).
Language
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia. The language is a Semitic language related to Hebrew and
Arabic, and if you know either one you'll recognize some cognates. In all parts of the country everyone
speaks Amharic to some extent, no matter what their first language may be. The language is written in
the Ge'ez script.
In big cities, most people under 40 speak some English. (English is the primary foreign language taught in
schools.) In rural areas, find local school children to translate for you for a fee that could be next to
nothing. (Ethiopians have a distinct way of speaking English. Because it is heavily accented, it might be a
bit difficult to understand it at the beginning. However, when you get used to the way they pronounce
some English words, it will become fairly understandable.)
Up north in Tigray, Tigrinya is the primary language, and it's also written in Ge'ez. However, Amharic is
widely understood.
In the middle regions, Oromo is widely spoken. Oromo language uses a Latin alphabet.
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13. What makes Ethiopia Unique?
Society and Culture
The People
Ethiopia is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country Ethiopia has a diverse mix of ethnic and linguistic
backgrounds. It is a country with more than 80 different ethnic groups each with its own language,
culture, custom and tradition. Religion is a major influence in Ethiopian life. Nearly half the population
belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church but there is also large Muslim population. Others adhere to
an ancient form of Judaism. The feast of the Epiphany ("Timkat") is the largest festival of the year.
Etiquette
 People are addressed with their honorific title and their first name.
 “Ato", "Woizero", and "Woizrit" are used to address a man, married woman, and unmarried
woman respectively.
 Currency - the currency of Ethiopia is the Birr (ETB)-(Image)
 Time – Ethiopia is +3 hours GMT.
FOODS
Injera; a spongy unleavened bread made from teff grain, is the staple of every Ethiopian. All food is
eaten with the hands, and pieces of injera are ripped into bite-sized pieces and used to dip and grab
stews (wat ) made of vegetables such as carrots and cabbage, spinach, potatoes, and lentils. The most
common spice is “berberey”, which has a red pepper base. Meat, specifically beef, chicken, and lamb, is
eaten with injera on special occasions. Beef is sometimes eaten raw or slightly cooked in a dish called
kitfo. Traditionally, this is a staple diet.
COFFEE CEREMONY
The coffee ceremony is a common ritual. The server starts a fire and roasts green coffee
beans while burning frankincense. Once roasted, the coffee beans are ground with a
mortar and pestle, and the powder is placed in a traditional black pot called a “jebena”.
Water is then added. The jebena is removed from the fire, and coffee is served.
FASTING PERIODS
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14. During Christian fasting periods, no animal products can be eaten and no food or drink can be consumed
from midnight until 3 P.M. This is the standard way of fasting during the week, and on Saturday and
Sunday no animal products may be consumed, although there is no time restriction on the fast. Muslim
fasting is also observed during the Ramadan. However this does not bind on every citizen or foreigner.
DRINKS
Honey wine, called “tej”, is a drink reserved for special occasions. “Tej” is a mixture of honey and water
flavored with “gesho” plant twigs and leaves and is traditionally drunk in tube-shaped flasks(image).
High-quality “tej” has become a commodity of the upper class, which has the resources to brew and
purchase it.
ECONOMY
The economy is based on agriculture, in which 85 percent of the population participates. Most
agricultural producers are subsistence farmers living in the highlands, while the population in the
lowland peripheries is nomadic and engages in livestock. Gold, marble, limestone, and small amounts of
tantalum are mined.
Holidays
The Ethiopians love to celebrate, whether important events in their history, major landmarks in the
religious calendar or simply special family days.
Date English name Local name Remarks
January 7 Orthodox Christmas Day Genna or Lidet
January 10 Feast of the Sacrifice 'Id al-Adha varies; this date is for 2006
January 19 Feast of Epiphany Timket
March 2 Adwa Day Ye'adowa Bä'al
April 11 Birthday of The Prophet Muhammad Mawlid an-Nabi varies; this date is for 2006
April 21 Orthodox Good Friday Siqlet (Crucifixion) varies; this date is for 2006
April 23 Easter Fasika varies; this date is for 2006
April 24 Easter Monday (public holiday) varies; this date is for 2006
May 1 International Workers' Day
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15. May 5 Patriots' Day Arbegnoch Qen
May 28 National Day Downfall of Derg Regime
August 18 Transfiguration of Jesus Buhe
September 11 Ethiopian New Year Inqut'at'ash
September 27 Finding of the True Cross Meskel
October 24 End of the holy month of Ramadan 'Id al-Fitr varies; this date is for 2006
Language
Ethiopia has many indigenous languages (84 according to the Ethnologue, 77 according to the 1994
census), most of them Afro-Asiatic (Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic), plus some that are Nilo-Saharan. The
official language of Ethiopia is Amharic, a Semitic language which is spoken by about 27 million people
(2.7 million expatriate). Amharic is written with the “Ge'ez” script, which derives its name from the
ancient Semitic “Ge'ez” language. The second largest language in Ethiopia is the Oromo language, a
Cushitic language spoken by about 30% of the population. The third largest language in Ethiopia is the
Tigrinya language, related to Amharic but mostly spoken in northern Ethiopia in the state of Tigray.
English is a working language as well as the most widely spoken among the youth and is the medium of
instruction in secondary schools and universities.
Closing remarks:
Here in AIESEC Ethiopia, we value the learning and cultural integration of individuals as well as
promoting the integrated learning experience of everyone. As such your presence in this country is an
opportunity for us to get to know your country and for you to experience the unique Ethiopian
civilization.
“enamesegnalen”
Thank you for choosing AIESEC ETHIOPIA.
2011/2012 MC Team.
For more information contact:
International Relations Manager
Tingbani Samson Takura
Samson.tingbani@aiesec.net
+251923517341
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