General information on Ethiopia of a general nature, including all the things to know before leaving for a trip or vacation in this state of Africa.
Ethiopia in short
- Capital: Addis Ababa
- Area in sq km: 1,127,127
- Population: 81,455,634 (2010)
- Religion: Ethiopian Orthodox Church 55.5%, Protestants 10.1%, Catholics 0.9% (for a total of 66.5% of Christians, equivalent to the majority of the population), Muslims 30.9%, traditional religions (animists ) 5.6%.
Where is it
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the east, Somalia to the east and southeast, Kenya to the southwest and South Sudan, to the northwest with Sudan has no outlet on the sea.
The territory of the country is mainly occupied by two plateaus, the Ethiopian Acrocoro and the Galla-Somali Plateau, divided by the large tectonic groove of the Fossa dei Galla, which extends from south-west to north-east, and corresponds to the limit northern Rift Valley.
The Fossa dei Galla is home to numerous lakes on the southern border, is furrowed further north by the Awash River, and to the north-east it opens into the Danakil depression, which constitutes the third region of the country.
The Acrocoro plateau occupies the entire central-western part of the country and it includes the Semièn mountains, which culminate with the 4620 m of the Ras Dashen Terara, the highest peak in the country, and Lake Tana, the most extended of Ethiopia, which extends to 1778 meters above sea level and has the Blue Nile as its emissary.
The Danakil region located between the Ethiopian Acrocoro and the Red Sea, of which only the internal part is included in Ethiopia, is a vast depression largely covered by volcanic materials and divided into various basins, including the Piano del Sale , which is located 116 meters below the level of the Red Sea.
To the east of the Fossa Galla extends the other alteterre region corresponding to the Galla-Somali plateau, which in the south-east slopes down to Somalia.
Hydrography
The Ethiopian territory has a significant water potential, gives rise to important rivers and is rich in lakes.
The main rivers that flow in the northern part of the plateau are the Blue Nile, the Barka, the Tacazzè, which flows into the Atbara, while the rivers that flow through the southern plateau are the Omo Botego, the immissary of Turkana, the Genale, which near the border with Somalia it joins Dawa and Weyb to form Juba and Shebele Wenz.
The Awash river flows into the Fossa Galla and flows into the Abbè lake, after having lost part of the waters crossing the Danakil desert.
The pit of the Galla in the southern part is occupied by the lakes, Ziway, Langano, Abiyata, Shala, Awasa, Abaja and Shamo.
Recommended readings- Addis Ababa: what to see in the capital of Ethiopia
- Lalibela (Ethiopia): what to see, Rock Churches
- Lake Tana (Ethiopia): journey between monasteries and waterfalls
- Axum (Ethiopia): what to see, Ark of the Covenant, Stele
- Danakil (Ethiopia): journey to the land of the Afar
The main lake of Ethiopia is the Tana, located in the Acrocoro.
Climate
Ethiopia's climate can be divided into two seasons, dry winter, from October to March, and rainy summer, from April to September.
Ethiopia extends over a vast area and has a very varied territory that greatly influences the climatic situation.
The plateau has spring temperatures, in winter during the night, the temperature can drop below zero, it also receives abundant summer rains, unlike the eastern part of the country, Danakil and Ogaden, where rainfall is very low and temperatures are between the highest on earth.
Population
The Ethiopian population is made up of numerous ethnic groups.
The amhara (30%) and tigrini (7%), belonging to the Abyssinian group, together with the oromo or galla (31%), constitute the most representative nuclei of the country.
The remainder is made up of other ethnic groups, such as sidama, danachili and Somalis.
Time zone
The time zone in Ethiopia is 2 hours ahead of Italy and 1 hour ahead when daylight saving time is in effect in Italy.
Spoken language
The official language is Amharic. Also spoken are: Oromigna, Tigrigna, Guragigna, Somali, Arabic, and other idioms used by the various local ethnic groups. The best known foreign language is English.
Economy
Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, its economy is mainly based on agriculture and livestock.
The main agricultural crop is coffee, of which the country is one of the first world producers. In addition to coffee, the products for export are hides and skins, legumes and oilseeds, cut flowers and kat (a light drug that circulates legally in the Horn of Africa).
The manufacturing sector is lacking, the mining sector is mostly concentrated on the extraction and sale of gold, since the country's mineral resources are still poorly understood.
When to go
To visit Ethiopia all the months of the year are pleasant, however the best period is immediately after the rainy season, from the beginning of October until the middle of March. In the lower Omo valley, the months of April, May and October should preferably be avoided, due to the difficult situation of the roads due to rain.
Necessary documents
To enter Ethiopia you need a passport with a residual validity of at least 6 months from the date of departure.
The entry visa is mandatory and can be requested before departure at the Ethiopian Embassy in Rome, or at the airport upon arrival.
Phone
- The international prefix for calling from Italy to Ethiopia is: 00251
- The international prefix for calling from Ethiopia to Italy is: 0039
The mobile phone system is being expanded, currently covering only the main cities.
Electricity
The electric current in Ethiopia is 220 V 50 Hz. The electrical outlets are type D (British old type, 3-pole), type J (Switzerland 3-pole), type L (Italian 3-pole).
It is advisable to have an adapter for electrical outlets and a torch to be used in rural areas where there is no electricity.
Money and credit card
The official currency of Ethiopia is the birr. In most cities, currency can be exchanged.
Credit cards are accepted only in some hotels in the capital and at airline offices.
ATMs do not accept foreign credit cards.
How to get
The Ethiopian flag carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, connects Rome Fiumicino with direct flights to Addis Ababa.
Other airlines, including Egypt Air, Yemenia (Yemen Airways), Emirates, Turkish Airlines offer flights to Addis Ababa with a stopover.
Vaccinations required
To enter Ethiopia some vaccinations are recommended after consulting a doctor.
The yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers from areas where there is a risk of transmission of the disease, therefore coming from Italy it is not mandatory, but it is still a recommended vaccination together with vaccinations against, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus, meningococcal meningitis, polio, diarrheal and choleriform syndromes.
As for the risk of malaria, mainly from Plasmodium falciparum, it exists throughout the year in the country below 2500 meters.
There is no malaria risk in Addis Ababa.
It is also useful to follow some hygienic measures, to drink only bottled water without adding ice, vegetables are good to eat cooked, fruit only if peeled personally.
Before departure, it is advisable to take out health insurance that covers medical costs and any repatriation.
