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Time

Time: Local time is GMT +3.

Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are used.

Money: The official currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and authorised hotels. Credit cards have limited usage outside of Addis Ababa, and even in the capital they are only accepted by major establishments. Visitors should carry a supply of travellers cheques or hard currency with them, preferably in US dollars. ATMs are sparse, but banks are usually open every day except Sundays from 8am to 11am and 1pm till 4pm.

Currency Exchange Rates

ETB 1.00 =

A$ 0.13

C$ 0.11

IRR 0.93

NZ$ 0.15

£ 0.06

US$ 0.10

R 0.86

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Language: Amharic is the official language, although over 80 local languages are also spoken. English and Arabic are widely spoken as well as some French and Italian.

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements for Americans: US nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Ethiopia. Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival and are valid for three months; in some cases a business visa can also be obtained on arrival, but it is best to organise this in advance.Entry requirements for UK nationals: British nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Ethiopia. Passport holders endorsed British Citizen can obtain a tourist visa on arrival, which is valid for three months; in some cases a business visa can also be obtained on arrival, but it is best to organise this in advance. Other UK passport holders should check with their embassy in advance whether a visa is required or not.Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians require a passport and a visa for travel to Ethiopia. Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival and are valid for three months; in some cases a business visa can also be obtained on arrival, but it is best to organise this in advance.Entry requirements for Australians: Australians require a passport and a visa for travel to Ethiopia. Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival and are valid for three months; in some cases a business visa can also be obtained on arrival, but it is best to organise this in advance.Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans require a passport and a visa for travel to Ethiopia. Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival and are valid for three months; in some cases a business visa can also be obtained on arrival, but it is best to organise this in advance.Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Ethiopia. Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival and are valid for three months; in some cases a business visa can also be obtained on arrival, but it is best to organise this in advance.Entry requirements for New Zealand nationals: New Zealand nationals require a passport and a visa for travel to Ethiopia. Tourist visas can be obtained on arrival and are valid for three months; in some cases a business visa can also be obtained on arrival, but it is best to organise this in advance.

Passport/Visa Note: All visitors require return or onward tickets, all documents needed for the next destination and sufficient funds ($50 per day) to cover intended period of stay. Entry into Ethiopia is allowed only from Addis Ababa International Airport, unless the Government has granted permission for another point of entry. Visitors eligible to obtain a visa on arrival require two passport photos and a maximum of US$40; fees vary according to type of visa and length of stay.

Health: Travellers to Ethiopia are recommended to have hepatitis A and cholera vaccines, as there have been recent outbreaks of these diseases. Malaria is prevalent in the low lands (below 6,562ft/2,000m) and altitude sickness may affect travellers to the highland areas such as Addis Ababa. Bilharzia is present in the majority of lakes in Ethiopia and travellers are advised to drink boiled or bottled water, as waterborne diseases are prevalent. Medical facilities are poor outside of Addis Ababa, where hospitals are available but medical supplies are erratic; visitors should bring their own regular medications with them and arrange comprehensive medical insurance before travel.

Tipping: Tourist hotels and restaurants usually add a 10% service charge to the bill. Otherwise tipping is fairly common, but only small amounts are customary.

Safety: Visitors are cautioned to avoid all public demonstrations and large crowds, particularly in Addis Ababa, and to keep a low profile in public places. Travel to the Gambella region near the southern Sudanese border, as well as to within 12 miles (20km) of the Eritrean border in the Tigray and Afar regions (military zones), should be avoided due to violent unrest and an unstable security situation. The border between Eritrea and Ethiopia is closed. Travelling to Somalia by road should also be avoided, as well as all travel east of Harar. There have been several recent explosions in Jijiga. Overland travel to Sudan or Kenya is dangerous due to armed bandits, and should only be attempted in a convoy. There is a high threat from local terrorism in the country, and although not directed at foreigners, visitors need to be cautious in public places. Flooding often affects Ethiopia between June and September each year, killing hundreds of people in flash floods in low-lying areas.

Customs: The Ethiopian Highlands are mainly Orthodox Christian and restaurants do not serve meat dishes on Wednesdays, Fridays and during Lent. Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of 13 months (12 months of 30 days, the thirteenth month has five or six days), and in 2008 the year is 2000/2001 in Ethiopia. There is a six-hour difference between Ethiopian time and Western time, so 3am in Western time will be 9am Ethiopian time (add six hours to the time). Homosexuality is illegal. Shoes should be removed before entering mosques and churches. Photographs should not be taken of military buildings and airports, and permission should be asked before photographing religious festivals and people.

Business: Etiquette is very important in Ethiopia, both socially and in business. Formal attire is expected of men and women. Greetings are very important and the shaking of hands is the norm for first meetings. Ethiopians like to establish good relations with one another and personal relationships are the cornerstone of business. English is understood by most businessmen in Addis Ababa, as well as some French and Italian. Ethiopians respect their elders and visitors should show the same courtesy. Business hours are generally 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday with an hour taken at lunch, but may vary according to individual businesses.

Communications: The international dialling code for Ethiopia is +251. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). The area code for Addis Ababa is (0)1. Telephone, fax and postal facilities are available in most main towns. IDD is available. There are Internet cafes in Addis Ababa and Internet services may be available in upmarket hotels in other areas. A GSM 900 network is provided, but coverage is limited to Addis Ababa and a few other parts of the country.

Duty free: Travellers to Ethiopia over the age of 18 years do not have to pay customs duty on 100 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 227g of tobacco; 1 litre of alcoholic beverages; 2 bottles or 500ml of perfume; and gifts to the value of Br10.