Located in the Horn of Africa bordered on the the east by Djibouti; on the west and southwest by Sudan; on the north and northeast by Eritrea, on the south by Kenya, Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa.
Ethiopia is blessed with high mountains (the highest of which is Ras Dashan at 4,620 m), rivers, depressions and deserts. The Simien Mountains National Park and Bale Mountains National Park, both offer a lot of enchanting trekking paths and rewarding interactions with a wide range of wildlife and birds seen nowhere else on earth. In the northern Ethiopia is the Danakil Depression – a wonderful destination boasting sulphur fumaroles and lunar-like landscape.
Lovers of wildlife find Ethiopia safaris quite fascinating. This is due to the incredibly large array of wild animals that are hosted in the country’s nine major national parks.
The best way to tour the parks is by use of a four wheel drive vehicle because of the rough terrain. Visitors are required to make their booking at least a week before the date of their trip.
For water sports enthusiasts, Lake Tana — the largest lake in Ethiopia, offers enchanting sailing and organized boat rides. The lake contains 37 islands complete with numerous monasteries that can be toured. White-water rafting is possible on parts of the Blue Nile and Omo River.
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, also boasts several attractions such as the Ethnology Museum, the Old Ghibi Palace and the Menelik Mausoleum among many others. The city is also an ideal destination for those who want to interact with the Ethiopia people.
Ethiopia Weather/When To Go:
Ethiopia is an all year round travel destination, though the best time to tour the country is between October and April (just after the rains). During this period Ethiopia is superbly green with a riot of colourful wild flowers. The rainy season, usually from mid June to early October, is not ideal for Ethiopia holidays.
Things To Do:
Mountain climbing, water sports, fishing, game safaris and more.
Quick Facts About Ethiopia:
Time: GMT/UTC + 3
Population: 74.8 million
Borders: Kenya, Sudan, Djibouti, Somaliland
Seasons: Wet season (mid-March to early October), very hot in lowlands (June to September).
Area: 1, 098, 000 sq km
Capital: Addis Ababa
Telephone: Country code 251; international access code 00
Visa: Visitors to Ethiopia need a visa, except in the case of a few nationals. Passengers in transit in Ethiopia, holding confirmed onward bookings within 72 hours can obtain transit visas.
National carrier: Air Ethiopia
Languages: Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, Arabic, other local languages.
Currency: Birr