Special Offer/ Fixed schedules

 

Maskal festival in Ethiopia

Experience the fascinating celebration of "Maskal"or "The Finding of the True cross" in combination with the Historic sites

Date: Sept 25 – Oct 3 2006

Click on colorful events/Trips for details

Timkat in Ethiopia

Join the colorful celebration of “Timkat" Or "Epiphany” in the land of  ancient christian civilization and the world heritage historic sites.

Date Jan 12- Jan 21  

Click on colorful events/Trips for details 

Ethiopian christmas in Lalibela

Ethiopian Christmas & 

Historical sites                                        

Jan 4- Jan 13

Click on special event /Trips for detailed info.

 

 

 

The Great Ethiopian Run

Don’t miss this life time experience and opportunity to mingle with world famous athletes in the track of  the tracks of Addis,the capital city.

Up coming race:  November

GENERAL TIPS ON ETHIOPI A

1 . Location

2 . Land Boundaries

3 . Geography

4 . Population

5 . Languages

6 . Ethnic Groups

7 . Religion

8 . Political History

9 . Climate

10 . Time Zone

11 . Visa & Immigration

12 . Currency

13 . Banking & Business hours

14 . Public Holidays

15 . Electric Power

16 . Souvenirs

17 . Cloths to Wear

18 . Medication

19 . Internet

20 . Safety

21 . Government

22 . Country /Major cities Phone Code

23 . Operating Airways




1 . Location

Ethiopia is located in Eastern Africa and lies west of Somalia. Sudan is to its North and Kenya to its South.


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2 . Land Boundaries

Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, and the Sudan 1,606 km.


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3 . Geography

Size is 1,127,127 sq km , slightly less than twice the size of Texas, US. The terrain consists of a high plateau with a central mountain range divided by the Great Rift Valley. Ethiopia is a landlocked country.


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4 . Population

Just over 73 million people live in Ethiopia. Life expectancy is around 49 years. Birth rate is on average 5.3 per woman. 4% of the population is believed to have HIV/AIDS.

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5 . Languages

Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, and Arabic. Other local languages include English which is the major foreign language taught in schools.

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6 . Ethnic Groups

Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, and other 1%.

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7 . Religion

Ethiopian Orthodox , Muslim ,  animist  and others.

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8 . Political History

Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile Selaisse (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. The regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000.


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9 . Climate

The climate can be described as tropical monsoon but it varies greatly depending on the topography. Ethiopia's lowest point is at the Denakil Depression -125 m; its highest point is Ras Dejen standing at 4,620 m.  The central plateau has a moderate climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation. The mean minimum during the coldest season is 5.5°C (42°F), while the mean maximum rarely exceeds 26°C (79°F). Temperature variations in the lowlands are much greater, and the heat in the desert and Red Sea Coastal areas is extreme, with occasional highs of 60°C (140°F). Heavy rainfall occurs in most of the country from June to September. The central plateau also experiences a second, through much milder, rainy season between December and February. Average annual precipitation on the central plateau is roughly 48 inches. The western most region of Ethiopia receives an annual rainfall of nearly 80 inches. The Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia.

Generally Ethiopia  has two main seasons , the dry season lasting from mid September to the end of May and the rainy season which goes from  June to September has an average temperature of 25 0c.


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10 . Time Zone

Ethiopia is found in the GMT + 3 and follows the Julian calendar which consists of twelve months, of thirty days and the thirtieth month with 5/6 days.


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11 . Visa & Immigration

Apart from nationals of Kenya all visitors to Ethiopia are required to have an entry visa and if you arrive by air it is expected for you to show an onward ticket. Obtaining a single entry tourist visa is not a problem but multiple entry visas are only issued to business travellers.

Ethiopian immigration issues visa upon arrival for the following countries:- Argentina Austria Australia Belgium Brazil Canada China Denmark France Germany Finland Greece Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea Luxemburg Mexico Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Russia South Africa Sweden Switzerland Taiwan UK USA

We recommend you check your local Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate for the latest visa requirements.


Click for list of tourist offices around the world


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12 . Currency

The local currency of Ethiopia is called Birr made up of 100 cents. We have one, five, ten, fifty and hundred notes. Visitors can import unlimited amount of foreign currency providing declarations for customs at the airport. The current exchange rate is 1$ = 8.6 ETB. Exchange of currency is allowed only at authorized banks or hotels.


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13 . Banking & Business hours

Banks

Monday to Thursday 0800 -1200 & 1300-1700 
 
Friday 0830 -1130 & 1300-1700


Shops

Monday to Friday 0800-4230 & 1530-1930

Saturday 0900-1300 and 1500-1900


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14 . Public Holidays

Jan 7th Ethiopian Christmas

Jan 19th Epiphany

March 2 Victory of Adwa Day

April 6 Patriots Victory Day

April 17 Id Al Adha (Arafa)

April 25 Ethiopian Good Friday

April 27 Ethiopian Easter (Fasika)
(with changing day every year)

May 28 Downfall of the Dergue (Since 1991)


July 17 Birth of Prophet Mohammed (Moulid)

Sept 11th New Year's Day

September 27 Feast of the True Cross (Meskal)


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15 . Electric Power

Electric Power is 220V running at 50Hz. The Plug types used are :

Round pins with ground

Round pins with round grounding pin (offset)

Round pins with round grounding pin (in-line)


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16 . Souvenirs

All kinds of souvenirs are available in several shops however; some items like antiques and animal skins require an export permit.

 

PS advise your guide or representative from your travel agent before purchasing items of such kind


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17 . Cloths to Wear

Most places in the north are located at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,000 metres above sea level. It is cool in the morning and evening, so a light jacket and a sweater are recommended. At the daytime, the weather is a bit hot and dry and the temperature is 25-30°C. In the period from October to April (the dry season) it seldom rains.


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18 . Medication

It is useful to bring some medications such as broad-spectrum antibiotic, milk enzymes and eye-drops. It’s also advisable to take yellow fever vaccination. It’s a must to have a vaccination against cholera if visitors have visited any cholera infected area six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia.

NB We appreciated any prior information give to the travel agent regarding allergies especially on foods.


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19 . Internet

There is internet supply in the capital city and in all the Historic sites of the country. In the south , until Arbaminch town, internets are available.


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20 . Safety

Ethiopia can be expressed as the safest country from Africa for tourists. It’s possible to walk on the main streets at any time and can also move around for shopping on foot.


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21 . Government

Ethiopia has a Federal Republic government


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22 . Country /Major cities Phone Code

Country

Country Code

Area Code


Addis Ababa

+251

011


Nazreth, Adama & surroundings

+251

022


Dessie & surroundings

+251

033


Mekele & surroundings

+251

034


Dire Dawa, Harar & surroundings

+251

025


Awasa, Arbaminch & surroundings

+251

056


Jimma & surrounding

+251

047


Nekempt & Surrounding

+251

057


Bahir Dar, Gonder & surrounding

+251

058


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23 . Operating Airways

British Air ways


Ethiopian Air Lines


Egypt Air Ways


Emirates

Kenya Air Ways

KLM


Lufthansa

Sudan Air Ways


Turkey Air Ways


Yemen Air Ways

Domestic Flight: Ethiopian Air Ways

 

NB. Ethiopian air lines offer almost 50% discounts on the domestic flight for all travellers more than two using the Ethiopian air ways for the International sector.


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Trips - [ Historic Trips] [Cultural Trips] [Adventure Trips] [Bird Watching] [Desert Safari] [Church Tours] [Coffee Tours] [Cycle Tours]

[Special Events/Fixed Schedules Tours][Rafting] [World Heritage Tours] [Honey Moon Trips] [Extension to the Neighbouring Countries]

Major Attractions -

Historic Sites
:- [ Lalibella] [Gondar] [Axum] [Bahir Dar] [Harar]

Sourthern Western Circuit:-
[ The Rift Valley Lakes ] [Omo Valley]

National Parks:- [ The Semien National Park] [Bale Mountains] [Awash National Park] [Mago National Park]

[Omo National Park] [Gambella National Park]

[Denakil Depresion and Ere Ale]

Call Us:- @ +251-11-6628625      Fax:- @ 251-11-6627954      Mail:- @ P.O.Box.170082, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Visit Us @ Haile Gebresellasie Street

Email:-
@ jacarandatours@ethionet.et or info@jacarandatours.net

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