ETHIOPIA TRAVEL TIPS
Being at the crossroads of North, Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa, Ethiopia possesses a uniqueness of its own. It is one of those few countries in Africa that was never colonized by the British and therefore have their age-old long traditions upheld till date. However, Ethiopia was an Italian colony for half a decade and puts on to offer one of the best holiday packages on our charts.
Attractions:
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Chamo and Abaya Lakes: Two of the most beautiful lakes of Ethiopia that travel packages cover- the Chamo and Abaya lie in the south of the Great Rift Valley and are circumscribed by the savanna. They are said to be the most beautiful lakes on the earth. To the east and west of Arba Minch which divides the two rives, are the Nech Star (a sanctuary established to protect the near extinct Swayne’s hartebeest) and the huge range of mountains. The view is panoramic to behold.
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Birds: Ethiopia is one of the very few places where bird life flourishes because of a perfect balance between predators and preys. The yellow weaver birds flock in all through the forests while kingfishers are abound around the lake. White pelicans, storks and hornbills can also be found in plenty along with other rare varieties like ibises and cormorants.
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Culture around the Lakes: The Ganjule and Guji farm around the lakes that you get to witness on your vacation package. The Guji also are known their for hippo hunting. Towards the south-west, is the haven of the Konso who are well known worldwide for their enchanting music and dance. They weave one of the most amazing ranges of thick cotton blankets too!
Climate: Ethiopia has a great climate almost all round the year. However, rains are common during February and March and from June to September.
Most suitable time for visiting: Though it is perfectly fine to choose any of our discount vacation packages all through the year, it is advisable that you visit the country during the dry spells to make the most out of your trip.
Landing and taking off: The international airport, Addis Abba is connected to Europe, Asia, Middle East, USA and Africa. The internal air transportation is left to Ethiopian Airlines.
Internal Transportation: The country is well linked up through buses. In case you find them too crowded you can always hire taxis which are available at pretty reasonable rates or be comfortable in the transportation services that the inclusive travel packages have to offer.
Communication: Cell phone services are not available but landline facilities are comforting enough. The country code is 251. Telegraph services are available from most of the larger towns to USA and most of the European countries.
Currency: The locally used currency is BIR (ETB).
Time: The country runs 3 hours ahead of the GMT time.
Heath Information: The International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever would be checked if you come from an infected area. It is highly recommended that you have the immunization if you go to the sub-urban areas. Malaria is also a very common disease- so carry mosquito repellants. The basic medical ammunition should also be taken along as doctors are scarce.
