The total land boundaries is 5,328 km. Border countries include: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, South Sudan 837 km, Sudan 769 km

The total land size is 1,104,300 sq km which is slightly less than twice the size of Texas, USA. The terrain consists of a high plateau with a central mountain range divided by the Great Rift Valley. Ethiopia is a landlocked country.

With a 2014 population of approximately 97,970,452 (increased from 2013’s estimate of 95,045,679), Ethiopia is the largest landlocked country in the continent of Africa. This estimate of how many people live in Ethiopia is based on the most recent United Nations projections, and makes Ethiopia the 13th most populous country. Ethiopia is also the second largest country in Africa, behind only Nigeria in population.

Oromo (official working language in the State of Oromiya) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official working language of the State of Sumale) 6.2%, Tigrayan (official working language of the State of Tigray) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Guragiegna 2%, Afar (official working language of the State of Afar) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, other 11.7%, English (major foreign language taught in schools), Arabic (2007 census)

Ethiopia is home to various ethnicities, predominantly the Oromo and Amhara groups, with Islam and Christianity as the most commonly practiced religions. Oromo 34.5%, Amhara (Amara) 26.9%, Somali (Somalie) 6.2%, Tigray (Tigrigna) 6.1%, Sidama 4%, Gurage 2.5%, Welaita 2.3%, Hadiya 1.7%, Afar (Affar) 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, other 11.3% (2007 Census)

Ethiopia is a multi-religious country. Most of the Christians live in the highlands, while the Muslims mainly inhabit the lowlands. Adherents of traditional faiths are primarily concentrated in the southern regions.

Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Protestant 18.6% (which include Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso Church and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus), Muslim 33.9%, traditional (2.6%) Catholic 0.7%, all others 0.6%. A small Ethiopian Jewish community also reside in the northern parts of the country although almost all of them have emigrated to Israel.

Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile Selaisse (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. The regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000.

Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.) Ethiopia currently has a Federal Democratic Republic government.

Head of government: Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn (since 21 September 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers ASTER Mamo, DEBRETSION Gebre-Michael, DEMEKE Mekonnen Hassen; note - prior to his approval as prime minister, HAILEMARIAM had been acting prime minister due to the death of former Prime Minister MELES.

Chief of state: President MULATU Teshome Wirtu (since 7 October 2013)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers - ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives

The climate can be described as tropical monsoon but it varies greatly depending on the topography. Ethiopia's lowest point is at the Denakil Depression -125 m; its highest point is Ras Dejen standing at 4,620 m. The central plateau has a moderate climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation. The mean minimum during the coldest season is 5.5°C (42°F), while the mean maximum rarely exceeds 26°C (79°F). Temperature variations in the lowlands are much greater, and the heat in the desert and Red Sea Coastal areas is extreme, with occasional highs of 60°C (140°F). Heavy rainfall occurs in most of the country from June to September. The central plateau also experiences a second, through much milder, rainy season between December and February. Average annual precipitation on the central plateau is roughly 48 inches. The western most region of Ethiopia receives an annual rainfall of nearly 80 inches. The Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia. Generally Ethiopia has two main seasons , the dry season lasting from mid September to the end of May and the rainy season which goes from June to September has an average temperature of 25 0c.

The time zone in Ethiopia is East Africa Time (EAT) (UTC+03). The IANA time zone database identifier is "Africa/Addis Ababa".

Some Ethiopians use a 12-hour clock, with one cycle of 1 to 12 from dawn to dusk, and the other cycle from dusk to dawn. Unlike the convention in most countries, the start of the day is dawn, rather than midnight. Thus, 7:00 AM in East Africa Time corresponds to 1:00 in daylight hours in local Ethiopian time. 12:00 noon EAT is 6:00 in daylight hours, and 6:00 PM EAT is 12:00 in local time

Monday - Friday: 0800 - 1700

Saturday: 0800 - 1600

All banks in Ethiopia offer foreign exchange services. Most banks have ATM machine working 24 hrs for VISA cards. Dashen Bank offers service for Master Card.

Monday - Saturday: 0830 - 1230 & 1400 - 1900
Some shops are open on Sundays

Monday - Sunday: 1100 - 2100
Some restaurants are closed on Mondays

The electric power supply is generally 220 volts running on 50 Hz. Plugs usually have two thin round pins; adopters are readily available for purchase in local shops. Electric supply is mostly stable in Addis Ababa and major cities. In the case of blackouts, there are often generators in place in hotels and big buildings. For more rural locations, we reccommend carrying extra batteries for cameras since electric supply may be irregular.

All kinds of souvenirs are available in several shops. However please note that some items like antiques and animal skins require an export permit. Kindly advise your guide or representative from your travel agent before purchasing items of such kind.

Most places in the north are located at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,000 metres above sea level. Mornings and evenings are usually cool thus a light jacket or sweater is recommended. During the day it can get a bit hot and dry with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C. It seldom rains from October to April which is the dry season. In the Omo Valley, the rainy season is from March – May therefore we advise that clients bring along a raincoat/umbrella, boots/comfortable walking shoes suitable in the rain, long sleeve shirts, sweater/jacket since it may get cooler in the evenings, mosquito repellent.

The Ethiopian traditional dress is one of a kind. In some central and northern areas, women's traditional clothes, habesha kemis, are often made from cloth called shemma, cotton cloth woven in long strips which are then sewn together. Sometimes shiny threads are woven into the fabric for an elegant effect. The bottom of the garment or shirt may be ornamented with patterns. The dresses are usually white with some color above the lower hem. Men wear pants and a knee-length shirt with a white collar, and perhaps a sweater. Men as well as women wear shawls, the netela. The shawls are worn in a different style for different occasions. These traditional clothes are still worn on a day-to-day-basis in the countryside. In cities and towns, western clothes are popular. However, on special occasions such as New Year (Enkutatash), Christmas (Genna) or weddings, some wear traditional clothes.

Travelers are advised to travel well-prepared. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit, sufficient supply of prescription medication and over the counter medications i.e. Aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, milk of magnesium, eye drops etc. Please be sure to only drink bottled water. One must be careful not to underestimate the effects of the sun. Plenty of sun cream, a good sun hat and gradual adjustment is recommended. Further all recommended immunizations should be done before travel. It is mandatory to have vaccination against cholera if visitors have visited any cholera infected areas six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia.

NB: We appreciate any prior information regarding allergies especially food allergies.

One can easily find Internet cafes in Addis Ababa and in most major cities. Internet wifi services are also available in most up market hotels and cafes. Internet services extend only up to Arba Minch in the South of the country.

Ethiopia can be expressed as one of the safest countries in Africa. One can freely walk around on the main streets with relative ease and sense of security. We do advise that you keep things you cannot do without at your hotel i.e. your passport, large amounts of cash, expensive jewellery etc.

The local currency is called Birr (ETB) and is made up of 100 cents. There are units of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 Birr bank notes as well as coin units (santim) of 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents and 1 birr cents.

Exchange of currency is done very easily at either the airport on arrival, at one of the many authorized banks or 4/5 star hotels. There is no limitation to the amount of foreign currency visitors can import into the country but it must be declared on the currency declaration form on arrival. This form must be presented to the Customs authority at the time of departure. Visitors may change back any excess Ethiopian birr to foreign currency at the airport before departure. If you do have birr to cash at the airport, you must, in addition to the currency declaration form, bring with you all receipts for exchange transactions. US dollars are generally the best currency to bring. For current exchange rates visit www.xe.com.

Travellers’ cheques are difficult to exchange in Ethiopia and credit cards are not widely accepted. Further smaller towns often do not have exchange facilities.

Domestic Flights: Ethiopian Airlines. Please note that Ethiopian Airlines offers up to 50% discounts on domestic flights for travelers using Ethiopian Airlines for their International sector.