The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is situated in the Northern east of Africa known as the horn of Africa. It is about twice the size of France with an area of 1,112,000 km².  About 65 percent is presently cultivated. Ethiopia shares its boundaries with Eritrea  to north and north east, with Djibouti to the east, Somalia to the southeast and south, Kenya to the south and Sudan to the west.

Throughout most of the country there are two major seasons: the dry season prevails from October to May; the wet season runs from June to mid of September.

Ethiopian Christian churches both the Ethiopian Orthodox and Protestant churches are dominant with almost 62 % of the population Islam makes up for apprx. 33% mainly in the east and south.

Ethiopia is in GMT +3 hours’ time Zone and follows the unique Julian calendar which is seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian calendar. It consists of thirteen month, twelve of which have 30 days and one (the 13t^h month) consists of 5 or 6 days during a leap year. The New Year falls on the 11^th of September.

Addis Ababa has two 5 star hotels, the Hilton and the Sheraton (luxury collection) and a growing number of 4 star and tourist class hotels. Standards vary outside the capital, but apart from some remote areas where camping is unavoidable it is generally everywhere possible to find a clean room with en suite toilet and shower.

Duty-free import are permitted for up to:

• 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 1/2 lb of tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• 1/2 liter, or two bottles of perfumes

Visitors may export souvenirs with a value not exceeding Birr 500. Some articles (such as animal skins and antiques) may require an export permit.

Money transfers can be made through Western Union and Money Gram. Both have representative branches in Addis Ababa and outside in the major towns and make their services available from private and national banks. For courier services, DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT and EMS have offices in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia’s population is estimated around 85 million, making it second most populated country in Africa. Ethiopia is composed of about 83 ethnic groups. Based on the their linguistics, they be divided into Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic and Nilotic Saharan.

A visitor should have a valid health yellow fever certificate, vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arriving in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia uses 220 volts and 50HZ. It is best to bring your own round, two-prong adapter and transfer if necessary.

Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia) is located in the east of Africa, commonly known as the Horn of Africa. It covers an area about twice the size of France. According to a recent census the population is estimated to be approx. 85 million with 80 different ethnic groups. It is bounded in the northeast by Eritrea and Djibouti, in the east and southeast by Somalia, in the south by Kenya and in the west by Sudan. The Ethiopian landscape is dominated by a volcanic plateau with an average altitude of 2’000 meter above sea level decreasing towards the country’s borders on three sides. The Great Rift Valley begins in Jordan at the Red Sea and traverses all the way through the Danakil depression, continuing towards the south of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and finally to Mozambique. Ethiopia is also known as cradle of human kind, it is almost certain that human beings and their hominid ancestors evolved in the eastern zone of the Rift Valley: Lucy, our most distant ancestor, who lived 3.2 million years ago, was found in the rift Valley region in a place called Hadar. Ethiopia has a very strong cultural identity, which has been preserved thanks to a very long period of independence lasting until present times.