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Information on Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a land of wonder and enchantment with one of the richest histories in Africa – it is a land of contrasts, home to cultured and friendly people descended from one ancient civilisations.
Ethiopia is the land of the Queen of Sheba, it holds the Ark of the Covenant and offers the tourist ancient towns and sites, religious festivals, castles, palaces, rock-carved churches and incomparable scenic beauty with national parks, lakes and rivers – with a wealth of bird and animal life. Fascinating histories sites house priceless relics from a powerful and ancient civilisation set in breath-taking backdrops of mountains, rivers and lakes.
The historic and vibrant cities blend modern life with the timelessness of ancient cultures. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, has a multiplicity of hotels, restaurants as well as palaces and museums and is home to Africa’s largest market, the Mercato. The population is about 2.4 million. The second-largest town is Dire Dawa with a population of 306,000 followed by the third-largest town of Gondar with approximately 145,000 people.
The major religions are Christianity (Ethiopian Orthodox) and Islam. Amharic is the official language but English, Italian and French are widely spoken. Despite its proximity to the Equator, Ethiopia’s high altitude provides a temperate climate with two rainy seasons – the short but irregular rains from late January to early March, and the longer rains from June to mid-September.
The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr, comprising 100 cents and is roughly equal to €10 – as at March 2005.
All visitors are required to possess a valid Yellow Fever certificate. Vaccination is also required for any person who has visited or been in transit through a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia. Malaria is endemic throughout the country. Medical facilities are limited and of generally poor standard.
Visa applications may be obtained at Ethiopia’s diplomatic missions overseas. Holders of 33 different national passports can obtain their tourist visas on arrival in Ethiopia at the regular charge – among others, these countries include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States.
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