ETHIOPIA
Welcome
Motto: No official motto
Anthem: ወደፊት ገስግሺ ፣ ውድ እናት ኢትዮጵያ
"March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia"
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a mountainous country located in the horn of Africa. Ethiopia, the second most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa, and is experiencing rapid population growth. The population is very young and one of the least urbanized in the world.
Capital: Addis Ababa.
Population: 114.960 million inhabitants.
Gross Domestic Product - GDP (ppp): $ 240.2 billion.
Official languages: Amharic.
Area: 1,104,300 km2.
Water (%): 0.7.
Currency: Birr (ETB).
Safety rating: Ranked 131 on the Global Peace Index with a score of 2.434. In comparison to other African countries. Ethiopia is relatively safe most of the time; crime against travellers it's extremely rare.
Food
Injera
If Ethiopian cuisine has a false air of monotony, it is because it is accompanied morning, noon or evening, Monday to Sunday, by the traditional Injera. This kind of thick sponge cake, cooked from a cereal flour, usually tef, serves as a support and accompaniment to all Ethiopian dishes. A short fermentation (1 to 3 days) gives it its characteristic sour taste.
The injera is the support, the tool, and the basis of the Ethiopian diet. Unrolled on the plate, the various preparations are placed on it. We then cut out pieces (with the right hand!) with which we catch the different dishes. This dish can be enjoyed in a group, with family or friends, everyone serving on the same plate. If some strangers invite you to eat together, accept, you will get a wonderful experience!
Another basic ingredient in Ethiopian cuisine is Berber, a mixture of spices used to prepare many dishes. It contains garlic, peppers, coriander, cinnamon, cumin, ginger... Each family has its own recipe. One of the biggest secrets of Ethiopian cuisine is the niter kibbe. It is a kind of butter, cooked in onions, garlic, ginger and spices, then clarified.
The Wat
Wat is a kind of stew that is placed on the injera. There are 2 variants: one based on meat also called "siga wat" and the other based on vegetables.
For the meat-based wat, chicken is the most common version. However, you can use goat meat, beef or mutton. For people who live near a lake, they often replace meat with fish.
Wat based on vegetables is more commonly used during fasting days (Wednesdays and Fridays). It is made with mashed beans, carrots, lentils, beans and spinach.
Wat is often seasoned with berber, a mixture of spices and herbs. This is, among other things, composed of dried chili, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, garlic, cumin and coriander.
Tere Sega
This dish is intended for carnivorous travelers, because here we talk about red meat. The latter is often eaten raw with a kind of sauce mixing mustard and chili called "awazi". Another spicy sauce called "mitmita" is also served as an accompaniment.
Having a "tere sega" is a luxury for most Ethiopians, as this dish is usually only served during special or important events such as weddings.
The Ketfo
This very nutritious dish is actually minced meat that has been seasoned with Berber. You could say that this is the Ethiopian steak tartar. To bring out even more taste, local cooks add kibbeh niter. The latter is clarified butter to which various spices have been added, including cardamom, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, coriander...
Siga Teps
The siga teps is none other than grilled meat (beef, goat or mutton) that has been marinated in niter kibbeh.
Coffee
Ethiopia is recognized worldwide as the main producer of Arabica coffee on the African continent. When you are in Ethiopia, you will hear about "buna", the local coffee. Many tourists have already tasted it and have become addicted to it. Ethiopians prefer to drink it sweet and hot. As an accompaniment, there is bread, popcorn and peanuts.
La Tella, Ethiopian craft beer
This beer made from teff grains and barley is flavored with gesho leaves. Ethiopians consume this drink regularly.
The Tedj
Like tella, this Ethiopian mead is not consumed anywhere in the country. It is often served in a kind of carafe called "berélé". Its amber color is obtained thanks to the mixture of honey, gersho and water. The volume of alcohol in this drink can vary from 6 to 15%. It should therefore be consumed in moderation.
Harar Sofi
The taste of this soft drink is close to Coca-Cola. Produced in the Harar region, it was mainly created for Muslim populations.
Transportation
Taxis and minibuses
Identifiable by their white and blue paint, they are found in most cities for varying prices. The taxi ride must not be negotiated at more than 100 birr (200 in Addis), which is the price applied to foreigners. The minibus will cost you between 1 and 5 birrs.
Tuk-tuk and gari-gari
The tuk-tuks, or bajaj (from the name of the Indian brand that manufactures them), are present in all the cities of the country. Imported from India, China or Thailand, these small blue three-wheeled vehicles are racing at high speed in city centers and delivering a fun spectacle. They will be very useful for getting around in and around built-up areas. The race costs 2 birrs per person, more if you have luggage, 10 for the whole vehicle. For an even more modest sum, you can take the gari, a harnessed cart that will take you where you need to go to the rhythm of the horses and the hollows of the road.
Whichever mode of transport you choose, above all, negotiate! They will systematically insist on making you pay more because you are a farenji (foreigner). You can get prices from locals (hotel staff, guide, or even a passerby).
Tramway in Addis Ababa
Built by a Chinese company, finished in 2015, the first subway in sub-Saharan Africa is a source of pride for residents. He borrows for 2 birrs and intends to replace the ancestral minibuses of the capital.
Best things to do
Ethiopia is an increasingly successful travel destination that attracts slightly more visitors each year. And for good reason, no need to ask yourself “what to do in Ethiopia? Because everything is there. You will discover smiling people, exceptional monuments and breathtaking landscapes and experiences.
In Ethiopia, what could be better than discovering nature, fauna and flora in an exceptional setting?
In Simien Park, you can go on a hike that does not exist anywhere else. Walk in a green nature and enjoy incredible landscapes, discover the canyons with cliffs of 1,500 meters in height, take pictures of rare or threatened animals, such as the Walia Ibex, a mountain goat that can only be found here, the gelada baboon, ibex from Abyssinia or the wolf from Ethiopia.
You can take the time to admire the country's highest point, Mount Ras Dashan and it's 4,550 meters above sea level.
You can also go on the waters of Lake Tana, from Bahar Dar among others, for a cruise to discover the 37 islands scattered here and there. Some of them still house richly decorated monasteries in perfect condition. The lake is located over 1,800 meters above sea level and is known as the legendary source of the Blue Nile.
30 km from Bahar Dar are the fabulous waterfalls of the Blue Nile also called "Tiss Issa" which means "steaming waters" in Amharic. They are impressive and majestic, with their dimensions of 40 m high by 400 m wide. These are the second largest waterfalls in Africa, after Victoria Falls.
You cannot travel to Ethiopia without spending a day in Addis Ababa. There is so much to see! At the top of Entoto hill, you will have a breathtaking view of the capital and you can visit the old palace of Menelik II as well as the Church of St. Mary. The city is full of mosques and churches, including the St. George Orthodox Cathedral. You also cannot miss the ethnological museum which tells the history of the country and its inhabitants, about 80 ethnic groups, or the national museum which preserves the remains of our most famous ancestor: Lucy.
Spending a day in Addis is an incomparable experience, but you will find exceptional sites elsewhere like in Lalibela. There you can visit "Black Jerusalem". At the beginning of the 13th century, in the heart of the mountains, the eleven monolithic churches of Lalibela were carved directly into the rock, making this place a high place of pilgrimage for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. The site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional character.
Between bewitching nature, animals unique in the world and trace of the history of the country through classified sites and museums, it is difficult to choose what to do in Ethiopia. So do not choose, do everything and treat yourself to an unforgettable trip to the heart of the Horn of Africa.
Best time to visit
The climate of Ethiopia varies according to altitude, seasons and regions. The temperatures are pleasant throughout the year, with an average of twenty degrees during the day. Difficult to predict exactly the rainy season as the climate of the country is varied. In general, it is possible to travel to Ethiopia throughout the year, however avoiding certain desert areas from May to November.
The rainy season in general is between June and September, but more moderate rains start from March and April, though it is pretty common for the country to experience no rain for 6 months straight. With average temperatures hovering around 20 ° C all year round, you can go to Ethiopia in any season, but avoid June and July when the rains can be heavy.
Quick tips
If there is no problem for the Ethiopian visa, obtained in 2 minutes at Addis Ababa International Airport, the journey requires some precautions. The country is not dangerous in the sense of crime. However, not wearing conspicuous signs of wealth, not showing lots of cash are universal precautions to take, except maybe in Monaco. At night there is not much going on in Ethiopia so the night risk does not really exist.
How do I make a phone call or connect to the Internet? You didn't think you could do without it? Without being cut off from the world, your digital presence will undoubtedly be less lively in Ethiopia. Isn't that what makes the trip special? Either way, if you are traveling sustainably and want to stay in touch with your loved ones throughout your stay in Ethiopia, you will have no choice but to opt for a local SIM card. Allowing you to make calls in America, Europe and abroad from your own mobile phone; it will allow you to keep a foothold in reality during your trip. Convenient and economical, you can get it at any Ethionet center in the country with your passport and an identity photo.
Do you prefer the Internet? Once again, you will have to wait and accept that you will not be constantly called upon. If the wifi develops in certain hotels, it remains rare and capricious. In big cities, opt for internet cafes. Have you chosen a local SIM card? With a little luck, you will take advantage of the 3G network which tends to develop in a wider part of the country.
It also seems that FB and Instagram are blocked in Ethiopia and it took me about 3 days to realize that. However, you shouldn't have any issues with a VPN.
Regions to avoid
Ethiopia’s diplomatic and military position vis-à-vis its neighbors makes the border situation quite sensitive. The Danakil depression is formally discouraged from tourists by the French and Ethiopian authorities. The Erta Ale volcano and Mount Dallol regions have been the scene of kidnapping attempts and attacks since 2007, one of which caused the death of 5 European tourists in January 2012.
These conditions, the extreme climate of the region and the uncertainty of telephone coverage makes the Erta Ale and Dallol areas dangerous. All excursions must be made under military escort, at the risk of the travelers. The Ogaden region (Somali region), where the army regularly rubs against the National Front for the Liberation of the Ogaden (OLNF), is very unstable. This area, like the Somali border, is not recommended for foreigners and access to it is subject to obtaining a permit from the Ethiopian authorities.
As you will have understood, a trip to Ethiopia is lived much more than it is told. Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to disconnect and savor all the richness of this fascinating country with both feet firmly anchored in reality.
