Dear valued Clients,

It is our great pleasure to offer all our sightseeing tours, safaris and trips in the best standard manner along with our professional and experienced staff. As the Ethiopian Millennium is marching to click te date, we are also seting our self to offer the unique spots of our country.

All our clients who have been here to admire our attractions and enjoy the "down to earth" services, I again will encourage you to be part of this millennium celebration. Also those of you, who are planning to be here and see this ancient historical, culturally diverse and naturally endowed country, it is our pleasure those you and makes all our services tangible in your hands and life time memories!

Ethiopian millennium is an African millennium, a remembrance of the taste of Julian calendar. We encourage all to come and be part of this last millennium in the present generation.

A country whose ancient cultures and magnificent landscapes reflect an extraordinary past that has left an indelible mark on the land, the people and their monuments. This is Ethiopia- it is a past that began at the beginning of time- in the very birthplace of mankind.
Addis Ababa’s cozy espresso bars and patisseries are reminiscent of Rome and the Mediterranean, and its bustling outdoor markets are colorful reminders of more traditional ways of life. The people, the bursts of music from café’s or shops, the pungent aromas of spicy cooking, of coffee and frankincense, form a unique Ethiopian pastiche.
Ethiopia’s proximity to the equator and great habitat diversity means it has one of the richest avifauna in Africa. Taking in to account birds that were first recorded in Ethiopia after 1971, or have only been described since then, a total count of around 850 birds is a realist estimate. It is quite possible that further species awaits discovery in the little-known forests of the south and west, or elsewhere- a new and presumably endemic species of nightjar was discovered as recently as 1992 in the very accessible Nech sar national Park.
Religion has always been a major influence in Ethiopia. Certainly no country in Sub-Saharan Africa can trace its origins as far back. Ethiopia is mentioned thirty-three times in the Bible and many times in Qura’an. Perhaps this is the reason why so many visitors retrace the ‘historic route’, drawn by colorful stories and fantastic tales to the land once know as Abyssinia.

The well-defined ‘historic route’ through northern Ethiopia forms the core of the country’s tourist industry. It is probably no exaggeration to say that 98% of travelers to Ethiopia base the bulk of their itinerary around this circuit, and rightly so. There is nothing in Sub-Saharan Africa and in a sense nothing else in the world that prepares the visitor for the wealth of historical and cultural treasure, both ancient and living, contained in Northern Ethiopia. The Circuit pivots around four cities in the North and walled city of Harer in the east, all very different to others.
The Land of thousand miles’, home of the Ark of Covenant, custodian of some of the world’s oldest civilizations, a tourist Paradise, beautiful, secretive, mysterious. Above all things, it is a country of great antiquity, with a culture and traditions dating back more than 3,000 years- this is Ethiopia. The travelers in Ethiopia make a journey through time, transported by beautiful monuments and the ruins of edifices built long centuries ago.

From the sun-scorched reaches of the Danakil depression to the shimmering strings of beautiful Rift Valley lakes, Ethiopia is a land of wonders and enchantment.
One of the most striking geographical features of the country, the great Rift Valley, is home to a chain of beautiful lakes, around which many of Ethiopia’s national parks are centered. The widely varying habitats, which include mountains, lakes deserts, savannahs, and everything in between, host and astonishing array of wildlife and bird life, many of which are endemic; unique to Ethiopia.

 

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Ethiopia

One of the few African countries never to lose its independence, Ethiopia is as large as France and Spain combined and has one of the richest histories on the African continent.
Addis Ababa

The Capital was settled in 1886 and christened by Queen Taytu, consort of Emperor Menelik II. The population is estimated to be 3.2 million according to the official census of 2005-2006.
Government

The Ethiopia is an independent republic operating under the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The president is the head of state, while the prime minister is the head of government.

LAND AND POPULATION

Ethiopia covers an area of 1,133,380 sq km (437,600 sq mi). The heart of the country is a high tableland, known as the Ethiopian Plateau, that covers more than half the total area of the country. The plateau is split diagonally in a northeastern to southwestern direction by the Great Rift Valley. Although the average elevation of the plateau is about 1,680 m (about 5,500 ft), it is cut by many rivers and deep valleys, some of which are 600 m (2,000 ft) below the level of the plateau. The area is capped by mountains, the highest of which is Ras Dashen (4,620 m/15,157 ft). These heights and indentations occur in northern Ethiopia, in the region surrounding Lake T’ana (the lake in which the Blue Nile rises). Occupations in agriculture support 89 percent of all Ethiopians. Most agriculture consists of subsistence farming. The population is concentrated heavily in the central plateau region, where agricultural resources are most developed. The ethnic composition is extremely diverse, as a result of racial and linguistic integration that began in ancient times.


CLIMATE

The climate of Ethiopia varies mainly according to elevation. The tropical zone below approximately 1,800 m (approximately 6,000 ft) has an average annual temperature of about 27°C (about 80°F) and receives less than about 500 mm (about 20 in) of rain annually. The subtropical zone, which includes most of the highland plateau and is between about 1,800 and 2,400 m (about 6,000 and 8,000 ft) in elevation, has an average temperature of about 22°C (about 72°F) with an annual rainfall ranging from about 500 to 1,500 mm (about 20 to 60 in). Above approximately 2,400 m (approximately 8,000 ft) is a temperate zone with an average temperature of about 16°C (about 61°F) and an annual rainfall between about 1,300 and 1,800 mm (about 50 and 70 in). The principal rainy season occurs between mid-June and September, followed by a dry season that may be interrupted in February or March by a short rainy season.

POPULATION AND POPULTION CHARACTERSTICS

The population of Ethiopia (2004 estimate) is 70,891,874 estimate, yielding an overall density of 58 persons per sq km (151 per sq mi). The Amhara, who founded the original nation, and the related Tigreans, both of which are highland peoples of partly Semitic origin, constitute about 32 percent of the total population. They occupy the northwestern Ethiopian highlands and the area north of Addis Ababa. The Oromo, a pastoral and agricultural people who live mainly in central and southwestern Ethiopia, constitute about 40 percent of the population. The Shankella, a people in the western part of the country from the border of Eritrea to Lake Turkana, constitute about 6 percent of the population. The Somali, who live in the east and southeast, notably in the Ogaden region, are about equal in number to the Shangalla. The Denakil inhabit the semi desert plains east of the highlands. The no indigenous population includes Yemenis, India ns, Armenians, and Greeks

TIME AND ELECTRIC SUPPLY

Ethiopia is in the GMT +3 hours time zone.Ethiopia follows the Julian Calander, which consists of Twelve months of 30 days each and a Threeten month of five and Six days. Ethiopia Uses 220volts 50 cycles AC.

CURRENCY

Ethiopia’s unit of currency, the birr, is issued by the National Bank of Ethiopia (8.64 birr equal U.S.$1.00 2004 average). Other banks in the country include the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and the Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank


CUSTOMS

Duty-free imports are permitted for up to:
A-200 cigarettes
B-1 lit of alcoholic beverages.
C-1/2 lit of perfumes. Visitors may export souvenirs with a value not exceeding E.birr 500.00


VISA AND IMMIGRATION

Visas are required for all visitors, however; nationals of 33 countries are given visa on arrival at Bole international Air Port.

Argentina, Ireland, Portugal
Australia, Israel, Russia
Austria, Italy, South Africa
Belgium, Japan, Spain
Brazil, Kuwait, Sweden
Canada, Luxemburg, Switzerland
China, Mexico, Taiwan,
Denmark, New Zealand, United Kingdom,
France, Norway, United States,
Finland, Netherlands and
Germany

ENTRY POINTS

Travelers using rail ways Dewele on the Djibouti border is the only point of entry to Ethiopia and those driving to Ethiopia via surface, Moyale (in Kenya), Humera and Metema (in Sudan), and again Galafi in Djibouti are the available means of entries. All arrivals undergo full customs and immigration checks.

For the major part of travelers accessing via flight, the Bole International Airport is the only terminal available in the Capital Addis Ababa though there are other domestic airports and airstrips serving domestic needs.


DRIVING

Drivers require a valid International Driving License, which can be obtained by exchanging their local license at the Transport and Road Authority office in Addis Ababa. Visitors can recover their original license a day or so prior to departure. Those with their own Vehicle will require a permit from the ministry of Transport and communication. Driving is on the right.