Ethiopia

SAFETY: adequate
The level of safety in the country is acceptable overall, though it rests on a very delicate balance, which is why we recommend checking the current situation before departure. Most of Ethiopian territory is nonetheless under the control of the security forces, and the main tourist circuits are safe.

TRANSPORT: fair
The road network covers around 40,000 km, much of it dirt tracks. Road maintenance is poor. Some places outside the capital can only be reached by four-wheel drive. In the capital, Addis Ababa, there are plenty of taxis and shared minibuses (the latter not recommended). Overland connections between the capital and the country’s other cities are provided by an extensive bus service (all departing from Meskel Square, where the bus companies have their offices), and by air by the national carrier Ethiopian Airlines. A light-rail service was inaugurated in the capital, Addis Ababa, in 2015, and the new Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway is under construction. Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa has daily connections with the main European, African, Middle Eastern and Asian capitals. There are also connections with the Americas. The main airlines are Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Egyptair and Lufthansa.

Main airports: Addis Ababa (Bole)

ACCOMMODATION: good hotels and other accommodation of various categories, in the capital and on the main tourist circuits

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – Location: East Africa. Borders: Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the north-east, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, Sudan to the west – Time zone: UTC +3, 2 hours ahead of Italy, 1 hour ahead during daylight saving time – Area: 1,127,000 sq km – Capital: Addis Ababa – Population: 76,512,000 – Religion: 60.8% Christian (50.6% Orthodox, 10.2% Protestant), 32.8% Muslim, 4.6% traditional beliefs, 1.8% other religions – Languages: English (main foreign language), local languages (Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali, Gurage, Sidamo, Hadiyya) – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: Ethiopian birr (ETB). Please note that Ethiopian currency regulations must be strictly observed; do not use the black market to change money. Foreign currency brought into the country must be declared if it exceeds 3,000 US dollars (or the equivalent in another currency). On leaving the country you may be asked to show documentation proving that the currency exchanges made during your stay were carried out legally (bank receipts). You may not take more than 200 birr (ETB) out of the country. -  Credit cards: Credit card use is limited to the main commercial establishments. ATMs are widely available in the main cities.
--  Exchange: The most widely accepted foreign currency is the US dollar. You will have no trouble changing cash or travellers’ cheques in most cities. We recommend changing euros into dollars, or directly into birr at local banks.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz– Sockets: types D, J and L; bring an adapter.

DOCUMENTS: passport valid for at least six months, and an entry visa – Driving: to drive in Ethiopia you must hold a valid driving document issued by the Ethiopian authorities. International driving permits are not recognised.– Cars: local third-party motor insurance.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 00251– The mobile network (voice and data) covers the area of the capital, Addis Ababa, and the main urban centres, and is being extended to many rural areas. Roaming is not always reliable and Italian SIM cards work intermittently. Local prepaid SIM cards can be bought in the main hotels and shopping centres of the capital on presentation of a copy of an identity document and two passport photos. Operators: Ethio Telecom, the Ethiopian state telephone company that operates as a monopoly in the country, has introduced a mobile phone registration system: anyone bringing a phone bought abroad into the country must register it at a dedicated office of the telephone company before it can be used. This new procedure may cause inconvenience for Italian tourists on arrival, who may find themselves unable to use their Italian mobile phone without first registering it with the Ethiopian operator.-  Internet: good availability in the main centres– Web domain: .et – Emergency numbers: Ambulance: 8035 (Tebita), 00251 (0) 911641609 (Tebita), 907 (Red Cross), 917, 113.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT:
The law does not permit the export of artefacts considered to be of historical interest. We therefore recommend always asking for, and carefully keeping, purchase receipts so that they can be shown to the customs authorities in the event of a dispute. Problems have also arisen with the export of agricultural products (fruit and coffee).
Laws on drug use and/or dealing: the production, import, transport, purchase, possession and dealing of narcotic substances are punishable by imprisonment from 3 months to 5 years and fines of up to 30,000 dollars. Harsher penalties apply in cases of criminal association, repeat offences and dealing to minors, drug addicts and the mentally impaired. The use of soft drugs is barely tolerated.
Laws on sexual abuse or violence against minors: the penalties for sexual abuse are 5 to 8 years where the minor is under 15, and 3 years where the minor is aged between 15 and 18.
Homosexuality as an offence. In Ethiopia sexual acts between people of the same sex constitute a criminal offence under Articles 629-631 of the Ethiopian Penal Code, punishable by 1 to more than 10 years’ imprisonment.

HEALTH SITUATION: no compulsory vaccinations. Parasitic diseases such as salmonella, amoebiasis and giardiasis are widespread across the country, as are infectious diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A, meningitis, typhoid, tuberculosis and yellow fever, and sexually transmitted diseases. Malaria, which is not present in the higher regions of the plateau, is endemic in the rest of the country; prophylaxis is therefore recommended when travelling to areas outside the capital and below 2,400 m. Typhoid vaccination is also recommended. Apart from a few public and private centres in the capital, Ethiopian health facilities are of a very low standard and medical staff are often ill-prepared to deal with emergencies.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year’s Day; 7 January, Ethiopian Christmas; 19 January, Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany); 2 March, Anniversary of the Battle of Adwa; April, Coptic Good Friday; 1 May, Labour Day; 5 May, Patriots’ Victory Day; 28 May, anniversary of the fall of the former regime; 11 September, Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year); 27 September, Meskel (Finding of the True Cross); Coptic and Islamic holidays.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: Mon-Thu 8.30-12.30, 13.30-17.30, Fri 8.30-11.30, 13.30-17.30 – Banks: Mon-Thu 8.00-11.00, 13.00-16.00, Fri 8.00-11.30, 13.30-16.00 – Shops: Mon-Sat 9.00-13.00, 15.00-18.00/20.00 – Closing day: Friday.

CLIMATE: Ethiopia is a tropical country whose climate varies mainly with altitude (the capital, Addis Ababa, stands at 2,355 metres above sea level). The Danakil Depression in the north-east of the country, dotted with salt lakes, and the Somali region in the south-east are torrid, semi-desert areas. The Abyssinian highlands, which occupy the central and northern parts of the country, have a more temperate climate. In the Addis Ababa area and on the plateau, rainfall is concentrated in the “small rains” season (March-April) and the “big rains” season (June-September).

Monthly min/max temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly rainfall in mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY
Embassy and Consulate of Ethiopia
Via Andrea Vesalio, 16 – 00161 Rome – Tel. 06/4416161 – Fax. 06/4403676 –
E-mail: embethrm@rdn.it

Honorary Consulate
Via Giacomo Leopardi, 28 – 20123 Milan – Tel. 02/4390193 – Fax 02/4390488

Tourist Board
Via Barberini 47 – 00187 Rome – Tel. 06 4827985 – Fax 06 4874156

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ETHIOPIA
ITALIAN EMBASSY IN ADDIS ABABA
Villa Italia – Kebenà
P.O.Box 1105 - Addis Ababa
Tel. 00251-(0)-11-1235684 – 00251 (0)11-1235685
Fax 00251-(0)-11-1235689
e-mail: ambasciata.addisabeba@esteri.it
Website: www.ambaddisabeba.esteri.it
Emergency mobile (24 hours): 00251-(0)911-247513