Ethiopia is situated in North Eastern Africa bordering Sudan to the north and north west, Eritrea to the north and north east, Djibouti to the east, Somalia to the east and south east and to the south lies Kenya.

Ethiopia has a variety of distinct geographical zones and contrasts, varying as much as 120 metres below sea level in the harsh salt flats of the Danakil depression, to a 4618 meter peak - Ras Dashan, the fourth highest peak in Africa, in the Simien mountains The most distinctive feature is the northern part of the Great Rift Valley, which runs through the entire length of the country in a northeast-southwest direction. In the centre of the country is a high plateau region. This rugged tableland is bordered by steep slopes on the northwest; gradual slopes lead from the centre to the Western Plains and, on the east, through Somalia to the Indian Ocean.

The lowlands are hot and arid. One semi-desert region, the Ogaden, covers the entire southeastern section of the country. In the north, the Danakil Desert reaches to the Red Sea and the coastal foothills of Eritrea. The western boundary of Ethiopia follows roughly the western escarpment of the central plateau, although in some regions the Sudan plains extend into Ethiopian territory. Ethiopia's largest lake, Lake Tana, is the source of the Blue Nile River. This river, which winds around in a great arc before merging with the White Nile in the Sudan, travels through great canyons, which reach depths of more than 4,000 ft. Several rivers in the southwestern regions also comprise a system of tributaries to the White Nile.

Ethiopia is home not only to nearly a hundred different tribes, each with its own language, and also to an astonishing array of animal and bird life, much of it unique to this wonderful country.

ADDIS ABABA

Addis Ababa, the Capital of modern Ethiopia, and gateway for most tourists, is the political and commercial heart of the Country. Now a city of 4 million people, it was founded by Emperor Menelik in 1887.
Addis Ababa is the country's commercial, manufacturing, and cultural center. It is the focus of a highway network, the site of an international airport, and the terminus of a railroad to the Gulf of Aden port of Djibouti.

In the city there are printing industries, and manufactures include footwear, clothing, asbestos and metal products, processed foods, cement, and plywood. Flourishing handicraft industries produce leather, metal, and textile goods, which are traded along with the regional agricultural produce, such as coffee, tobacco, and dairy items, in the vast open-air market known as the Mercato, on the W side of the city.

Addis Ababa is a sprawling city, well wooded, especially with eucalyptus trees, and crossed by broad avenues. Modern, multistoried buildings sit side by side with traditional one- and two story structures and open spaces. Its high elevation gives the city a mild, pleasant climate. The city is the seat of Addis Ababa University (1950), schools of music and art, and several research institutes. As headquarters of the Organization of African Unity and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the city is the scene of many international conferences. Of note in the city are the octagon-shaped Saint George Coptic Christian Cathedral (1896), the modern Africa Hall with its dramatic stained-glass windows, and the Menelik II Palace, as well as several museums with collections of art, ethnology, and archaeology.

LOCAL TIME

Ethiopia is three hours ahead of GMT

MONEY

Official Currency: 1 birr=100 cents

Travellers cheques are best taken in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling and cash is best taken in US Dollars. Some major credit cards are accepted at major hotels.


BUSINESS HOURS

Banks: Monday to Thursday 0800-1200 and 1300-1700 Friday 0830-1130 and 1300-1700

Shops: Monday to Friday: 0800-4230 and 1530-1930 Saturday: 0900-1300 and 1500-1900

CLIMATE

Ethiopian climate varies according to the different geographical regions. 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. Average annual rainfall in the Ogaden, however is less than 4 inches. The western most region of Ethiopia receives an annual rainfall of nearly 80 inches.

Axum Once the centre of a far-reaching empire, Axum is known for its extraordinary stelae and for the Mariamtsion Church, said to house the Ark of the Covenant.
Bahir Dar On the shores of Lake Tana, Bahir Dar is the gateway to the Blue Nile Falls and the Zeghe Peninsula.
Lake Tana is dotted with 37 islands. Churches and monasteries have been built of many of these islands.
Bale Mountains National Park The 2400 sq. km Bale Mountains National Park , 400 km south of Addis Ababa, is the largest area of Afro-alpine habitat in the whole of Africa. It is the best place to see Ethiopia's endemic mammals and birds and offers unbeatable mountain walking.
Gondar The former capital of Ethiopia, Gondar is noteworthy for its medieval castles, Timkat celebrations and the unique church of Debre Berhane Selassie.
Harar Harar, 500 kilometres east of Addis Ababa, is the fourth holiest city in Islam and the scene of the nightly hyena-feeding ritual.
Lalibela Lalibela has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its extraordinary, rock-hewn medieval churches.

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