Common Questions Travellers Ask About Ethiopia
Is Ethiopia safe for Europeans tourists?
Ethiopia has been at peace for more than 15 years and its economy is one of the fastest growing in the world.
Do I need a visa to travel to Ethiopia?
You will need a visa to enter Ethiopia. Visas on arrival are also available for tourists at Addis Ababa (Bole) International airport. It is recommended that you bring cash to pay for this.
Why was Ethiopia never colonized?
Italians attempted to have Ethiopia as their share of Africa. They invaded in 1893 but were defeated by the Ethiopians to become the first European losers in a colonial war.
Fast-forward to the 1930s, however, when Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini (successfully) invaded and conquered Ethiopia, and held onto it until the end of World War II. So technically, Ethiopia was invaded and colonized, albeit not for very long at all.
What are some interesting facts about Ethiopia?
- Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world, founded in 980 B.C
- The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months and it is 7 or 8 years behind Western Calendar.
- Ethiopian cooking is some of the tastiest, healthiest and most diverse cuisine on the continent.
- Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian, became the first black African to win gold in the Olympics.
What currency is spent in Ethiopia?
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well.
What does thirteen months of sunshine mean?
Ethiopia follows a different calendar, which consists of twelve months of thirty days each and a thirteenth month of five days (six days on leap year). You can see the sun every day of the year That is why Ethiopians call their country - a country where the sun shines thirteen months.
Fun Fact: You will be seven years younger when you arrive in Ethiopia because the calendar is seven years and eight months behind the western calendar.
What are the mobile network operators and internet service providers in Ethiopia?
There are over 1 mobile network operators and about 1 internet service providers in Ethiopia. You can checkout the
list of network operators in Ethiopia
and also details about each of them.
How do I travel out of Ethiopia?
For Ethiopians looking to travel out of the country. You can check out the list of destinations, how to
Get Visa to those countries, their
Embassies and
Visa Free Countries for Ethiopian passport holders