Ethiopia Travel Information

Passport and Visa info for Ethiopia

2011-02-13T02:02:00.000-08:00

Passports:

Passport valid for six months required by all nationals to visit Ethiopia.

Visas:

Required by all nationals except the following:
(a) transit passengers continuing to a third country within 12 hours provided not leaving the international transit area of the airport and holding valid tickets for onward destination.

1. Tourist visas can be issued on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to:
(a) Foreign nationals coming from countries where there is no Ethiopian mission.
(b) Foreign nationals coming from and any of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA.
If applying for a tourist visa on arrival, visitors will require two passport photographs and US$20

Visa Note:

(a) An exit permit is required by all nationals from Ethiopia and visitors staying more than 30 days.

(b) Journalists should contact the Ethiopian embassy press office prior to apply for a visa.

Visa Validity:

Tourist: Single-entry visas are valid for 30 days; multiple-entry visas are valid for three or six months.

Business: Single-entry visas are valid for 30 days; multiple-entry visas are valid for three, six months or one year. Applications for extensions should be made to the Immigration Department in Ethiopia.

Transit: Seven days.

Note: Visas are valid from the date of issue, not from the date of entry. Visas cannot be post-dated.

For further information regarding visa matters contact can be made to:

Main Department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs

E-mail :- mdina@ethionet.et

Fax No. : - 00251 1 55 32 09

00251 1 56 49 81

P. O. Box: - 5741

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

Ethiopia –History in Brief

2011-01-31T10:01:00.000-08:00

Ethiopia is the oldest sovereign country in African region and one of the oldest on earth. The discovery of "Lucy", a 3.2 million year old skeleton found in the Awash Valley has strengthened the belief that Ethiopia may be the oldest race on earth.

Of the fifth century BC, the Greek historian Herodotus describes ancient Ethiopia in his writings, while the Old Testament of Bible records the Queen of Sheba's visit to Jerusalem where "she proved Solomon with some hard questions". Things clearly went further than that for; legend asserts that King Menelik - the founder of the Ethiopian Empire - was the son of the Queen and Solomon.

In Axum Queen of Sheba’s palace can still be seen today in ruins in the province of Tigray, northern Ethiopia. The place Axum is also the home to many other extensive historical sites, including the home of Ark of the Covenant brought there from Jerusalem by Menelik.

Missionaries from Syria and Egypt reached Ethiopia in the fourth century to introduce Christianity. In the seventh century, because of the rise of Islam Ethiopia was isolated from European Christianity. The Portuguese began to re-establish contact with Ethiopia in the 1500s basically to strengthen their control over the Indian Ocean and to convert the Ethiopians to Roman Catholicism. Almost one century of religious conflict continued in Ethiopia resulting in the expulsion of all foreign missionaries by 1630s.

Thus bitter religious conflict made the Ethiopians hostile towards foreign Christians. The Europeans which remained until the twentieth century became a factor in Ethiopia's isolation til the middle of the nineteenth century.

From the 1700s, for nearly 100 years, there was no vital power in Ethiopia. This "Era of the Princes" was featured by the confusion caused by local rulers competing in opposition to each other. By 1869 Emperor Tewodros brought many of the princes together, and became an important unifying force. He came out successful by Emperor Yohannes, who built upon the efforts through Tewodros.

Emperor Menelik II reigned from 1889 to 1913, fending off the intrusion of European powers. Italy posed the greatest danger, beginnings to colonize part of what would become its future colony of Eritrea in the mid 1880s. In 1896 Ethiopia overpowered Italy at the Battle of Adwa, which remains famous even today as the first victory of an African nation over a colonial power.

In 1916, the Christian deposed the sitting king, Lij Iyassu because of his Muslim sympathies and made Zewditu, the Empress, his predecessor's (King Menelik 11 1889 - 1913) daughter. Ras Tafari Makonnen (1892-1975), Her cousin, was appointed regent and successor to the throne.

Zewditu died in 1930, after which the regent who adopted the name Haileselassie became the Emperor. His reign was seriously interrupted in 1936 when Italian forces invaded and occupied the territory of Ethiopia. Haileselassie appealed to the League of Nations, but that appeal was unheard and he fled to exile in London. He spent five years until the Ethiopian patriotic resistance forces defeated the Italians with the help of the British and then he returned to his throne.

Haileselassie reigned until 1974 when he was deposed and a provisional council of soldiers seized power and installed a government. The new government was socialist in name but military in style. 59 members of the Royal Family along with ministers and generals from the Imperial Government were summarily executed. Haile Selassie was also strangled in the basement of his palace in August 1975.

Major Mengistu Haile Mariam took power as head of state. Derg became chairman after having his two predecessors killed. His years in office were marked by a totalitarian style government. Country's massive militarization was financed and supplied by the Soviet Union and was assisted by Cuba.

The violence of the regime over a period of 17 years followed by droughts and famine quickened Derg's collapse.

Insurrections happened throughout Ethiopia, especially in the northern regions of Tigray and Eritrea. In 1989, the Tigrayan People's Liberation front merged with the Amhara and Oromo liberation fronts to form the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front. In May 1991, the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front forces advanced to Addis Ababa forcing Mengistu to flee to Zimbabwe.

In 1991, the Transitional Government of Ethiopia was set up from the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front and other political parties in the country with 87 strong Council of Representatives and a transitional constitution.

In the meantime, in May 1991, The Eritrean People's Liberation front, led by Isaias Afworki took control of Eritrea after 30 years of struggle and could establish a provisional government. This ran Eritrea until April 1993 while Eritreans voted for independence in UN monitored referendum.

In Ethiopia, President Meles Zenawi and members of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia pledged to oversee the formation of a multi-party democracy. In June 1994 the election for a 548 member constituent assembly was held. In December 1994 this assembly adopted the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. In 1995 elections for the first parliament were held and the government was installed in August of the same year.

Ethiopia Country Profile

2010-12-27T00:02:00.000-08:00

Official name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Form of state: Federal Republic

Capital city: Addis Ababa

Area: 1,127,127 sq km

Border Countries: Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia.

Population of Ethiopia: 82,237,338. Population growth is at the rate 3.208%

Currency: Ethiopian Birr, exchange rate 26.50 birr to £1

Languages: Amarigna 32.7%, Tigrigna 6.1%, Somaligna 6%, Oromigna 31,6%, Guaragigna 3.5%, Sidamigna 3.5%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, other 14.8%. English is the major foreign language.

Ethnic Groups: Oromo 32.1%, Tigraway 6.2%, Somalie 5.9%, Guragie 4.3%, Amara 30.1%, Sidama 3.5%, Welaita 2.4%, other 15,4% from the census in 1994.

Ethiopian Climate: Tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Ethiopian Environment: Deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; overgrazing; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and lack of proper management.

Membership of international groupings/organizations: United Nations, African Union (AU), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

International environment: party to those bodies – Bio Diversity; Desertification; Ozone Layer Protection; Law of the Sea; Climate Change - Kyoto; Endangered Species; Ship Pollution, Hazardous Wastes.

Terrain: High plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley.

Natural Resources: Small reserves of gold, cooper, potash, natural gas, platinum, hydropower.

Irrigated Land: 2,900 sq km.

HIV/AIDS: Living with AIDS: 980,000, died: 67,000

Religions: Christian 32.7% - Orthodox 50.6% and Protestant 10.2%. Muslim 32.8%, traditional 4.6%, other 1.8%

Ethiopian Refugees: 66,980 in Sudan; 16,576 in Somalia; 13,078 in Eritrea.

Literacy rate: male 50.3% and female 35.1%

Political structure:

Legal system: The federal constitution was promulgated by the transitional authorities in December 1994. Representatives were elected to the institutions of the new Republic in May 1995. It formally came into operation in August 1995.

National legislature: The 548-member Council peoples’ Representatives is the federal assembly. Nine regional State Councils have limited powers, including that of appointing the supervisory Federal Council.

National elections: June 1994 (Constituent Assembly); May 1995 (Federal and Regional); next election 2005 (federal and regional)

Political parties: 1. Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF),

2. Afar National Democratic Party (ANDP) led by Mohammed Kedir; Benishangul Gumuz

3. People's Democratic Unity Front (BGPDUF) led by Mulualem Besse;

4. Coalition for Unity and Democratic Party (CUDP);

5. Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement (GNDM);

6. Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement (OFDM);

7. Oromo People's Congress (OPC);

8. Somali People's Democratic Party (SPDP)

9. United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF),

10. The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF),

11. Amhara National Democratic Movenment (ANDM, formerly the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement),

Political pressure groups:

1. Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front (EPPF);

2. Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF);

3. Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)

Ethiopia: an Introduction

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Known as ‘Eastern ear of Africa’, Ethiopia is located at the eastern part of African region. The country has been much fabled with its centuries of history of rich culture. ‘Lucy’, the oldest man’s skeleton and the discovery of the oldest known modern human fossil ‘Homo sapiens idaltu’- that lived possibly 160,000 years ago, cave painting, earliest stone-tools, incised slabs of rock and many other findings justify the country as the cradle of humankind and the first birth place of civilization.

Ethiopia with its long history, diverse environment and mosaic culture has its earlier days alive in the form of fascinating monuments and the ruins built long long ago. Traveling in the country means a partial experience of the remote world. Visiting Ethiopia would be successful when the tour includes historic route of the country, most of which comprises the Amhara National Regional State. The Amhara National Regional State has three of the seven UNESCO world heritage sites in Ethiopia. Touring through these world heritage sites in the region, there are various historic and natural tourist attraction spots.

Magnificent World Heritage Sites of the Amhara National Regional State:

The Amhara National Regional State being one of the nine regional states established in Ethiopia on the basis of the 1994 constitution of the country houses the three most magnificent World Heritage sites. 1) Simen Mountains National Park 2) Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela 3) Fassil-Gebbi Castles of Gonder.

Simen Mountains National Park :

Simen (literally means north) is the most marvelous of Ethiopian landscapes lying mainly to the north east of Gondor town. The Simen Highlands comprise one of the major mountain massifs in Africa. In the Simen Mountains national Park and the surroundings areas are many summits that rise up to more than 4000 meters above sea level. Ras Dashen, the highest peak (4620 meters) is the first highest mountain in Ethiopia and the fourth in Africa.

Apart from its marvelous scenery The Simen Mountains National park is endowed with exquisite flora and fauna, indigenous animals like Simen Fox, Walia Ibex and Chilada Baboon as well as several bird and plants.

To get to the Simen Mountains National Park one has to drive down to a gate town called ‘Debarq’. Debarq about 101 kilometers away from the famous Gondor town is a final departure point where tourists could get ready to start trekking.

The marvelous scenic beauties of the park and its outskirts have always filled visitors with awe. The traditional life style of the rural population and their mere survival in a harsh climate and with scarce natural resources make for the most striking impressions a visitor will have when trekking in the park and its surrounding rural area.

Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela:

Lalibela is a small town on a mountain slope between 2500 and 2800 meters above sea level. Previously known as ‘Roha’ it is named after the king and well known for its rock-hewn churches that are believed to have been carved to form a New Jerusalem after the Moslem Conquest halted the Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. The creation of the churches is ascribed to one of the last kings of the Zague Dynasty, Lalibela 1167-1207 A.D.

Lalibela, the 2^nd capital of the ancient Ethiopian empire of the north and graced with beautiful setting on the mountains of Lasta has a distinctively unique African atmosphere.

These world heritage churches are eleven in number- Beta Golgotha, Beta Mikael / Debre Sina, Beta Mariam, Beta Emanuel, Beta Mercurios, Beta Abba – Libanos and Beta Gabriel-Rufael.

Similar but not identical rock-hewn churches carved before and after the Lalibela Churches are also found in different parts of the region. The past unique and interesting culture of the people is still alive and is manifested in Lalibela partly on Christmas and Epiphany celebrations. The birth day of king Lalibela coincides with that of Jesus Christ at Christmas. This heightens the zeal of the celebrants and the aura of the celebration at Lilabela. According to the Ethiopian calendar, Christmas falls on the 29^th day of “Tahisas”, that is between 6^th and 9^th day of January.

For Christmas celebration at Lalibela the volume of pilgrims and tourists from near and far starts on the day of Tahisas. The Amharic (Ethiopia’s official language) rendering of Epiphany is Timqat. It is a symbolic celebration of the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. Timqat which falls on the 11^th day of “Tir” that is between 18^th and 19^th of January is invariably celebrated throughout the nation by people from all walks of life.

Fassil-Gebbi Castles of Gonder :

Gondor is positioned in North Western Ethiopia, at about 750 and 175 kilometers away from Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar respectively. Though its heydays are past, Gondor is still one of Ethiopia’s most fascinating cities. The town is well noted for its centuries old castles, palaces and Orthodox churches. With an average altitude 2200m above sea level, it stands at the foot of Simen Mountains. It can be reached by land or air. Being in a landscape of incomparable beauty, the town became the first permanent royal capital of Ethiopia in the 17^th century.

Founded by Emperor Fassiledas (Fassil) in 1636, who built the first and most famous of the castles, the city had been the seat of the Ethiopian States for about 250 years. The foundation of this imperial city witnessed a period of optimism and renaissance of the ‘golden days of Axum and Lalibela’. Architecture, Literature, Music, paintings and commerce rose to prominences that had been perished after the fall of Axum.

Most of the castles which are found within an enclosure known “fassil –Gebbi (fassil compound) represent the 17^th and 18^th century’s Ethiopian civilization .These crenellated castles encapsulate the exacting work of medieval architecture exclusively circumscribed to the rulers of the time. The erection of the castles is attributed to about six Ethiopian medieval rulers. The Fassil compound within fortified walls has six major buildings and three historic churches as wells as traces of houses of cavalry and thermal establishment.

The two-storied castle of Fassiledas, the largest of all, with a rectangular corner towers three smaller doomed towers and two meters thick stonewall, was from the beginning so impressive and ranks as one of the most marvelous buildings. Another edifice of the same era, the Fassil Bath, built near a river is about 2kms far from the centre of the town.

The pool is empty most o the time but is filled with water brought through the canal once each year on Timket festival (Ethiopian Epiphany). Outside the palace compound are found culturally and historically important buildings such as the place of Michael Suhul erected towards the end of the 18^th century, the Debre Birhan Sellasie Church and the Kusquam Church. The Debre Berhan Sellasie church, established in the 17^th century by Iyasu the Great, the grandson of Emperor Fassil, has its interior beautifully decorated from top to bottom with innumerable scenes of biblical lore and medieval history mural paintings. It also contains ornamented crosses plus illustrated manuscripts.

Kusquam like the church of Debre Berhan Selassie has beautiful murals, ornamented crosses and illustrated manuscripts. It was built during the time of Empress Mintwab, 18^th century, originally planned as a private quarter for the Empress in her late years.

Many interesting excursions can be made from the city south to the shore of Lake Tana at Gorgora where other ancient castles and monasteries are located.