ETHIOPIA

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Travel Notes

These notes cover some of the practical aspects of a visit to Ethiopia. Some sections may not apply to you, depending on your itinerary. You should study this carefully and take the advice given - it could make your trip much more enjoyable.

Visas

British passport holders require a visa to visit Ethiopia. It is your responsibility to arrange a visa before you leave Britain. A form is enclosed but it is suggested that you do not apply until about six weeks before departure to avoid losing the considerable cost (£43) should you not be able to travel.
Passports should have at least six months validity after your return.

Tickets

Your flight ticket will be sent to you a few weeks before your departure. Please immediately check all the details. The return will need to be reconfirmed a few days before your return, and this can usually be done through our agent.

Money

The currency in Ethiopia is Birr. There are about 10 Birr to the pound and about 7 Birr to the US dollar. You can obtain birr in Ethiopia, by changing money in the airport on arrival, or in Addis Ababa. There are also banks in Gondar and Axum, but the process here is slow. The best place to change money is in hotels, where rates are the same as at the bank. The most convenient way to carry money is a combination of travellers cheques and cash. As in other parts of the world, US dollars cash is easily recognised and quick to deal with. Credit cards are only accepted by major hotels and restaurants in Addis, so of limited use. Cash withdrawal using a card at a bank is painfully laborious and not to be relied on.

Footloose Ethiopian trips are all-inclusive except for some lunches and evening meals, as outlined on the itinerary. Items of a personal nature (such as snacks, beer, laundry, souvenirs and tips) are not included. For spending money, around £300 should be ample, depending on what you buy or how much you drink!

Health Matters

Most people find Ethiopia is good for their health. As in any developing country, health care is rudimentary and food hygiene is often difficult. Elementary precautions against stomach upsets should always be taken and attention to personal hygiene increased.

Vaccinations

You should contact your own doctor, who should have information on vaccinations required for travel to Ethiopia. It is likely that you will also need to be vaccinated against Typhoid, Tetanus, Hepatitis, Polio, Yellow Fever and possibly Meningitis. Recommendations vary for different parts of the world and are frequently revised. New, more effective, vaccines are introduced periodically. If your doctor is not familiar with the vaccinations required for tropical travel, or does not have up-to-date information, you should seek advice from a specialist organisation.

The Travel Clinic at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London.
Tel 0171 637 9899 for enquiries, or 0839 337733 for recorded information.
The Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (MASTA), Kepple St, London. Tel 0171 631 4408.
British Airways Travel Clinics. A nationwide chain.
Tel 0171 831 5333 for the address of your nearest clinic.

Malaria

Malaria prophylaxis is advised for visits to Ethiopia, although in the Highlands there is no risk. There is no vaccination available and so you must take a course of pills. Your doctor will advise. The drug often prescribed, mefloquine (Larium), can give strong side effects. It is essential to begin the course at least one week before you arrive in Ethiopia (this also gives time to discover side effects), and for at least four weeks after your return. A newer, better and therefore more expensive drug is Malarone. Remember that tablets do not give full cover - the only sure way is not to get bitten. So insect bite precautions are essential. Insect repellent containing DEET (Autan or Jungle Formula recommended) and long sleeves and trousers at dawn and dusk. Nets are provided in hotels where necessary.

First Aid

You should bring a small first aid kit containing straightforward items such as antiseptic cream and wipes, sticking plasters, lint and moleskin for minor cuts and blisters, aspirin/paracetomol, dioralyte sachets, small bandages, safety pins, etc. Remember to bring any personal medication you may need.
It is also highly recommended that you carry a personal Aids & Hepatitis-prevention kit, containing clean needles, syringes and other blood related items. These are available for about £8 from www.safariquip.co.uk.
Please let us know if you have any allergies or medical conditions, or if you are taking any medication, which may affect the trip.

Teeth

A check-up before you leave is recommended, as good dentists in Ethiopia are few and far between.

Mountain Sickness (for trekkers)

Many people will experience some form of mountain sickness during trekking in the Simiens. This is due to lack of oxygen and is not related to age or physical fitness. Some will develop symptoms at 3,500 metres (11,500ft.) Many more will experience the symptoms if a rapid ascent above metres is undertaken. However, for all of our tours we have arranged the itinerary to aid acclimatisation. The symptoms of mountain sickness include: Headache, fatigue, forcible heartbeat, nausea, poor sleep, loss of appetite. In the very rare and unlikely event of pulmonary or cerebral oedema (both very serious conditions) you must descend rapidly and receive medical attention. A drug, Diamox, helps toward the prevention of mountain sickness. There are however some side effects and it is only obtainable on prescription from your doctor. Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe this and can be referred to: BMJ (1987) 294, 1380 - 1382.

Fitness

The itinerary always allows for flexibility and everyone understands that people walk at different speeds. But it's a lot easier and much more enjoyable if you are adequately fit. For the Simiens the best training is hill walking; but jogging in good running shoes is a reasonable substitute if it suits you. Walking poles are recommended if you have knee problems, and if you want to prevent them.

Tourist facilities

Ethiopia is a poor but developing country. We have tried to be as accurate as possible in our descriptions of locations, hotels, transport etc. We have visited almost every facility and we have chosen hotels, lodges, and restaurants from the highest category. However, very occasionally, you may find that the services such as hot water and electricity may be intermittent. You should also be aware that in hot countries insects, lizards, beetles etc. are commonplace. Roads are often poor and vehicles are designed to be robust rather than luxurious.

Climate

Ethiopia is near the equator and so there are minimal temperature changes throughout the year. Altitude is the main factor, with Addis and most of the country being much cooler than the south. The rainy season is from May to September and at other times the weather is warm and clear, with occasional afternoon showers. The humidity is low. On a hot day the temperature will rise above 30c, but generally it will be in the low 20s.
The sun is high and intense and so a good sun cream is needed, as well as a lip salve with a built in sun protector.

Security

There is a certain amount of petty theft in Addis, although violent crime is rare. Be discreet and sensible with all your possessions, particularly those which are obviously expensive. Money, passport and airline tickets are difficult to replace, and so it is advisable to carry them under your clothes and preferably in different pouches. A separate purse or wallet for day to day expenditure saves conspicuous public groping. Use hotel safes whenever possible. Photocopies of important documents are a bit belt and braces, but invaluable if you do loose something.

Photography

Taking photos whilst travelling can be very rewarding and there will be many amazing subjects. Remember that your camera gear may be worth more than a year's income for many local people and so be discreet with it. Many people find it offensive to be photographed without being asked - it is much better if a photo can be the result of a natural meeting or shared experience rather than being the reason for it.

-oOo-

Any of this information may be rendered inaccurate, misleading and downright untrue by circumstances unimaginable from cosy Britain. If you are not travelling for excitement, adventure and challenge, ask yourself why you are going. Have faith that most people are on your side most of the time and you will have a memorable trip......

Facts

There's no doubt about it, Ethiopia has an image problem.
Mention the country, and most people still think of famine and war.
But today there's optimism in the air.
The people of Ethiopia are now positively welcoming visitors to their country, to see the dramatic landscapes and the ancient cultural sights that have been unreachable for so long.

Footloose in Ethiopia

Footloose was one of the first tour operators to return to Ethiopia, after the troubles that gripped the country for so long. Now the country is once again safe for travellers and all of our visits have been very successful, with several 'old Africa hands' excitedly saying it was the best place they had ever visited.

For walkers the best trip is the spectacular and unique nine day trek across the vast Simien Mountains, in the north of the country. This is part of the Abyssinian Highlands, one of Africa'a largest mountain ranges, with many peaks rising above 4000m (13,000 feet). The highest point in the range is the summit of Ras Dejen, at 4620m (15,157 feet), which is also the highest mountain in Ethiopia and the fourth highest point in Africa, after the main summits of Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya and the Ruwenzoris.

But Ethiopia offers more than just excellent trekking. The Simien Mountains are in the north of the country and are near several of the country's unique and fascinating historical areas.
Gondar was the medieval capital and is a lively town today. As you approach the skyline is broken by the ramparts of the castle built three hundred years ago. The Royal Enclosure contains a series of impressive castles built by the ruling family of a design found nowhere else in Africa. Here is also one of the most memorable of the highly decorated churches.

Further north is Axum, the ancient capital, once at the heart of an empire that rivalled the pharaoh's Egypt, and today the focal point of Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians, with the mysterious old towers and obelisks, and one of the largest modern churches in the country. The Ark of the Covenant is here but unseen, and the buildings are long associated with the Queen of Sheba and Prester John.

Still further north is the province of Tigray. In these desiccated highlands are scores of rock cut churches, many only recently discovered and all difficult to reach.

Lalibela, sometimes called 'Africa's Petra', is where the huge elaborate churches are carved from solid rock and joined by a network of tunnels and bridge, and are still in use today. The scale of these astounds most people and the beauty and antiquity of the artefacts here is amazing.

The source of the Nile at Lake Tana and the Blue Nile Falls are worth a visit. Scattered on the lake are numerous islands, with many monasteries, which can be visited, although most do not allow women.

The south of the country is much less visited, therefore perhaps more rewarding. There are many areas which are good for game spotting, including lion and elephant, particularly the Omo valley. This part of the country is very undeveloped and so travel is rugged.

There is a system of National Parks throughout Ethiopia, which are home to a great variety of wildlife. Easy to reach from Addis are Awash, Bale Mountains and the Rift Valley Lakes.

Bird watching is particularly good in Ethiopia with more than eight hundred recorded species, the most prolific in Africa. Of specific interest are the large numbers of endemic species.

Travel and Tourism in Ethiopia

Most people who have visited Ethiopia in the last few years come home with two vivid memories. As well as remembering the tragic news broadcasts of a few years ago, showing arid desert and dust, visitors have been overwhelmed by the physical beauty of the country. Flying over villages and mountainsides with miles of grain ready for harvesting, swimming in rock pools under waterfalls, walking through meadows thick with flowers and the realisation that you have just seen thirty different birds while walking along a few miles of path. And of course the people - not the expected emaciated crowds crying for food, but laughter and singing in the air, optimism everywhere. The warm welcome, the sense of patriotic pride, drinking tej, the coffee ceremony and the amazing Tigrean dancing.

Ethiopia tourism is still in its infancy and facilities are limited. Therefore itineraries must not be regarded as fixed, and you must be flexible and be prepared for changes and adaptations, depending on local conditions. Very few visitors come to the Simien Mountains, and there is little in the way of established trekking routes as in mountain regions in other parts of the world.

Tourism is being developed as a way of earning desperately needed hard currency. There is fortunately a strong lobby for this development to be careful and sympathetic. The only area where there is any noticeable number of tourists is on the Gonder-Axum-Lalibela circuit and these are only counted in tens. Footloose and our partner organisation in Ethiopia are extremely aware of its responsibilities towards the environment and local communities and strive to involve local people and direct money into the visited communities.

Flights

Several airlines fly from UK to Addis Ababa, including Ethiopian Airlines, BA and Lufthansa. We would recommend Ethiopian as a reliable airline, but more importantly, when booking internal flights you are given priority.

Climate

Most of Ethiopia is high and so the temperatures are not extreme and vary little through the year. The exception is the extreme north and south. In the north you reach hot, dry desert and the lowest point on Earth in the Danakil Depression. In the south it becomes hot and humid as you approach the tropical zone. The rainy season is from May to September and in the south there is often rain in November.

Transport

In Ethiopia distances are great and the road system is rudimentary. You can travel by car or bus but only if you have the time and fortitude. The easiest way around is to use the excellent internal air system, which is cheap and reliable. Until recently it was based on old Twin Otters carrying 16 people, and so delays were inevitable. Recently three 44 seat planes have been bought for the northern runs in response to the growing number of tourists.

Rafting

The two great rivers of Ethiopia - the Nile and the Omo - offer world class rafting. The rafting is exciting and travelling by river is a fascinating way of seeing unvisited parts of the country. Many of the areas around the rivers are difficult to reach by land and so the culture of the local people and the wildlife are often remarkable.
There are no group departures for the Nile, but we can arrange special trip for groups of 4+. It is a serious river, flowing through impressive gorges and with heavy and demanding rapids.

The Omo runs through Southern Ethiopia and on into Kenya. It is a part of Ethiopia which is rarely visited and is peopled by a number of interesting ethnic groups. The wildlife on and around the river includes hippos and crocodiles. The rafting is not difficult but the landscape and journey unique, remote and exciting.

The raft trips can be combined with tours of other parts of Ethiopia. There are group departures in conjunction with "Adrift", the specialist rafting company, on the two sections of the river and they can be combined to give an amazing trip.

Costs

We are able to organise all travel to and within Ethiopia around the specifics ideas and interests you may have. This can be either based on the standard Footloose trip or something completely different, we are happy to provide an itinerary and quotation for a tailor-made trip. This is the most popular way of travelling in Ethiopia, giving flexibility and independence, with an excellent guide, back-up and all arrangements made, but at a reasonable cost.

We have several sample itineraries, which can be altered and mixed as you want. These cover different areas and are of varying length.

Ethiopia is an exceptional area for birds and we can organise special bird watching trips, led by expert guides, to places specially chosen for good viewing.

Footloose

Whether you want to put your own holiday together or don't really know where to start, our team is more than willing to share their knowledge with you. Our speciality is after all tailor-made holidays, so whether you want to travel on your own, with a friend or any number of people in a group, we can help.

You can ring us on 01943 604030, or pop in to our shop at 3 Springs Pavement in Ilkley. more contact details

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