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Ethiopia Fact Sheet
Gondar Fact Sheet
Ethiopia (Gondar University) Trip
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                              ETHIOPIA - QUICK FACTS

Government Federal Republic
Land Area 1.1 million square kilometers
Population 67 million (2002)
Location Horn of Africa, accessible to the Middle East & Europe
Capital Addis Ababa
Topography Central-North, West and South: highlands above 2000m(7000ft) ; East: lowlands
Climate Temperate to semi-arid, there are two seasons: the dry season prevails from October through May; the wet season runs from June to September
Health
Prior to entry, visitors should be in possession of a valid health certificate for yellow fever.
Vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior to his/her arrival in Ethiopia.
Best Time To Visit Ethiopia can be visited any time of the year as it provides you with 13 months of sunshine or any kind of weather you like. It depends on the region that you want to visit and/or the activities you want to engage in
Food and Drinks The food and drink of Ethiopia reflects the many different cultures. A typical dish is Wot, a hot spicy stew of meat or vegetables, seasoned with a blend of Berbere (chillie powder). It is made with Doro (chicken), and normally served with Injera, the traditional spongy pancake made from a fermented Teff flour batter.Ethiopia produces its own wines; Dukam and Gouder are fine reds, while Axumite is sweeter. Crystals is a dry white wine. The famous honey wine or Tej is found all over the country as is Tela, a local beer, and Katikala, distillated liquor.
Religion Christianity and Islam are the two main religions in Ethiopia making up 45% of the population each with other religions making up the rest. Most of the Christians belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. While visiting Churches- Shoes must be removed before entering the building. - One should never smoke anywhere near a church. - Only priests are allowed to step into the Holy of Holies where the 'TABOT'- replica of the Ark of the Covenant is kept.
Visa
Visa are required for all foreign visitors to Ethiopia. These can be secured from Ethiopian Diplomatic and consular missions abroad. In addition .Visitors from the countries listed below can obtain visa on arrival at Bole International Airport (Addis Ababa):
France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Rep.Korea,France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Rep.Korea kuwait, Luxemberg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States.
Customs Duty-free import are permitted for up to:
- 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars or 1/2 lb of tobacco
- 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
- 1/2 liter, or two bottles of perfumes
Visitors may export souvenirs with a value not exceeding Birr 500, although some articles (such as animal skins and antiques) require an export permit.
Time Ethiopia is in the GMT + 3 hours time zone.
Electric Supply Ethiopia uses 220 volts 50 cycles AC.People; the population is estimated over 65 million, over 50 per cent are under 20 years old. The average number of inhabitants per square kilometer is 49.
Rain fall 500-1,000 mm (40 inches)
Languages Amharic, Oromigna, Tigrigna, Sidama, Afar, Somali, other local languages. English , Arabic, French & Italian are also widely spoken
Infrastructure Road: SatisfactoryRail: Djibouti -Addis AbabaAir: Addis Ababa (international),regional capitals and business towns are served by internal flights. Telecommunications: High quality telephone, telex, fax, internet and data communication services.
Currency Exchange Rate 9.57 Birr =1 US$ (May 2008)
GDP Makeup Agriculture 45%
Industry 11%
Services 44%
Major export items include Coffee, Hides & Skins, Oil Seeds and Pulses , natural gum, live animals, tea etc
Major Trading Partners Germany, USA, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia

 

Security

 Ethiopia is generally a safe country, and Addis Ababa a safe capital city, but one should still take the normal precautions, avoiding unfamiliar areas at night and not carrying large sums of money in accessible pockets. It is advisable to beware of pickpockets operating in certain areas, skilled at identifying new arrivals, other than that violent robbery and muggings are rare and generally visitors can tour the city day and night in safety.

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Gondar - fact sheet

Video sequence  Video stream about Gondar, Lake Tana and Blue Nile

Description
Gondar is 50 kilometres north of Lake Tana, 500 kilometres north of Addis Ababa and nestles in the foothills of the Simien mountains at 2,200 metres above sea level. Gondor was the capital of Ethiopia from the rise of Fasilades to the fall of Tewodros (1855-68) which is reflected in the many castles and palaces in the city.

Attractions
Castles
The city's main imperial precinct, known as the Royal Enclosure, covers an area of 7.7 hectares and contains five castles, raised walkways and connecting tunnels surrounded by high stone walls.
The oldest of these is the Castle of Fasilades. Built of stone in the mid-17th century it reflects a number of influences, Axumite, Portuguese and Indian. The upper storey offers panoramic views and Lake Tana is visible on a clear day. The castle has been renovated recently.
Fasilades grandson, Lyasu the great, built his own castle and decorated it with ivory, gold and precious stones but an earthquake in the early 19th caused severe damage.

Other Attractions
The palace of Ras Beit, was built in the 18th century as a private residence of the famous king maker, Ras Mikael Sehul and has been in continuos occupation ever since.
Bath of Fasilades is a sunken pool still used for the Timkat Festival in January.

Accommodation
Abba Jelli Hotel, clean, good value with views of the castles.
Fasilades, on the airport road. Clean and friendly, safe parking for vehicles and a good restaurant.
Patrice Lumumba, close to the piazza/telecommunications bldg (near the Misrak), the sign is in Amharic You can barter over the price of the hotel, restaurant attached.
Yimam, good value and with a restaurant next door. Also has safe parking facility for vehicles.
There are many other E-grade range hotels in the vicinity of the piazza/telecom buildings.
Fagera Hotel, basic, originally built by one of Mussolini's fascists as a villa, spacious rooms.
Misrak Pension, Woreda 1, Kebeale 2, No 217, PO Box 391.

Where to Eat
Quara Hotel, government run hotel with restaurant. Good value.
Tele Club, next to the stairs of the Post Office -coffee, bread, excellent breakfasts.
Ethiopia Cafe, charming, old fashioned, ground floor of hotel, packed all day, excellent coffee.
There are many other cheap cafes in the city centre. Many of the cheap hotels also offer food.

Getting There and Away
Air:
Ethiopian Airways, PO Box 130, Tel. 08-110129, flies daily to Gondar. Airport is 17 kilometres from town. You are recommended to book/confirm onward flights at the Ethiopian Airlines office in Gonda (because office has computers -there's nothing computerized in either Axum or Lalibela.

Road:
Route from Addis is via Bahar Dar and the whole journey is 600 kilometres Travel is difficult in
June-september when the rains are heavy. it is realistic to allow 3 days for the journey there, with stops in Debre Markos or Dejen and Bahar Dar. There are regular buses running along this route. From Bahar Dar the journey takes 5 hours. There is now a direct bus service between Gondar and Shire (Inda silase) leaving at 0630 from both Gondar and Shire. However if the bus fills up before the planned departure time, it leaves; so arrive by at least 0530. The journey takes about 11 hours and there is a stop at Debark
(4 hours from Gondar).


Banks
There are banks which will change money in Gondar.

 

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