[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Traveler Visa<\/strong><\/p>\n All visitors, except Kenya and Djibouti nationals, are required to obtain entry visas. Visa applications may be obtained at Ethiopia\u2019s diplomatic missions overseas. However, nationals of 36 countries listed below are now allowed to receive their tourist visas upon their arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, and at the airport in Dire Dawa.\u00a0The visa fee is dependent of the type of visa requested (tourist, business, journalitst, etc.). The latest fees for tourist visa-upon-arrival is US $40 for 30 days and US $60 for 60 days. The procedure is relatively quick and painless; just look for a door with a sign “Visa” on the left hand before the immigration counters at Bole airport.<\/p>\n Nationals of the following countries can get up to three months tourist visas upon their arrival at Bole Internaltional Airport: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,\u00a0Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea (south Korea), Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,\u00a0United Kingdom, and United States of America.<\/p>\n If you are planning to enter Ethiopia by land, you should obtain a tourist visa in advance from your local Ethiopian Embassy.<\/p>\n Travelers are advised to check latest travel policy and additional information from Ethiopia Embassy websites.<\/p>\n Health and Immunizations<\/strong><\/p>\n Immunizations<\/strong><\/p>\n Several vaccinations are highly recommended when traveling to Ethiopia, they include:<\/p>\n It is also recommended that you are up to date with your polio and tetanus vaccinations.\u00a0Make sure you start getting your vaccinations at least 8 weeks before you travel. Consult your doctor before your trip for the type of vaccination you may need based on your health status and latest health news in the area.<\/p>\n Malaria<\/strong><\/p>\n Malaria is transmitted by mosquitos bites. There is a risk of catching malaria in many parts of Ethiopia, especially at the low land areas that lie below 2000 meters\u00a0 elevation. So while the Highlands and Addis Ababa are considered low-risk areas for malaria, you still have to be careful and take precautions.<\/p>\n Ethiopia is home to the chloroquine-resistant strain of malaria as well as the dangerous falciparum strain. Make sure your doctor or travel clinic knows you are traveling to Ethiopia so you get the right anti-malarial medication.<\/p>\n Prevention of malaria involves protecting yourself against mosquito bites and taking antimalarial medicines.\u00a0To prevent mosquito bites, follow these guidelines:<\/p>\n High Altitude<\/strong><\/p>\n Addis Ababa and Ethiopia’s highlands you will be visiting are at high elevations. High altitude can affect healthy individuals in a number of ways including: dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue and headaches.<\/p>\n Time and calendar<\/strong><\/p>\n Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, which dates back to the Coptic calendar 25 BC, and never adopted the Julian or Gregorian reforms. One Ethiopian year consists of twelve months, each lasting thirty days, plus a thirteenth month of five or six days (hence the “Thirteen Months of Sunshine” tourism slogan). The Ethiopian new year begins on September 11 or 12 during leap year (in the Gregorian calendar), and has accumulated 7-8 years lag behind the Gregorian calendar: thus, for the first eight months of , the year will be according to the Ethiopian calendar. On 11 September , Ethiopia celebrates New Year’s Day (Enkutatesh) for .<\/p>\n In Ethiopia, the 12-hour clock cycles do not begin at midnight and noon, but instead are offset six hours. Thus, Ethiopians refer to midnight (or noon) as 6 o’clock.<\/p>\n Daylight:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Being relatively close to the Equator, there is an almost constant twelve hours of daylight. In Addis Ababa, the sunrise and sunset starts at around 06:30 and 18:45 respectively.<\/p>\n Ethiopian Calendar<\/strong><\/p>\n Ethiopian calendar is based on the Coptic calendar with a leap day every four years. Ethiopia has twelve months with 30 days each and a thirteenth month called Pagume with five or six days depending on the year.<\/p>\n The interactive Ethiopian calendar below provides the monthly calendar, both in Ethiopian and European dates count, and also shows Ethiopian public holidays.<\/p>\n Download the monthly Ethiopian\/European calendar with beautiful cover picture. You can replace it with your own cover picture if you like and then download it to your device or send it to printer directly<\/p>\n Public Holidays (2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n Other public holidays include the following Muslim holidays which are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and therefore the dates changes from year to year.<\/p>\n Ethiopia Festivals and Holidays<\/strong><\/p>\n Ethiopia Public Holidays- 2013 Ethiopia Calendar (2020\/2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n Other public holidays include the following Muslim holidays which are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and therefore the dates changes from year to year.<\/p>\n January 7 –\u00a0Genna (Ethiopian Christmas)<\/strong><\/p>\n Genna is Ethiopian Christmas, and coincides with other Orthodox Christmas celebrations around the world.\u00a0 The feast marks the end of the 40-day fasting period of Advent.\u00a0 On Christmas Eve, the faithful participate in church services through the night before celebrating with family and friends on Christmas day.<\/p>\n Lalibela is the most popular place to celebrate Genna, as thousands of pilgrims flock to the holy city for this celebration.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>January 19 (January 20 during leap year) –\u00a0Timket (Epiphany)<\/strong><\/p>\n The Ethiopian celebration of Timket (also known as Epiphany), is a symbolic reenactment of the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist.\u00a0 For Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, it serves as a renewal of their baptismal vows.<\/p>\n Timket is a two-day festival, starting the day before, when the church tabot (replica of the Ark of the Covenant) is taken from the church to a nearby location, usually near a body of water.\u00a0 This is representative of Jesus coming to the River Jordan.\u00a0 The tabot spends the night in this location while the priests and other faithful hold a eve through the night.\u00a0 In the morning the water is blessed and is then sprinkled on the gatherers (or they may chose to bathe in the water), renewing their baptismal vows.\u00a0 Long parades then carry the tabot back home to the church while the revelers sing and dance.<\/p>\n Gondar is a popular place to witness Timket, as the Bath of Fasilidas provides a stunning backdrop for the festivities. Lalibela is another popular location, as is Addis Ababa, where it is held at the Jan Meda fairgrounds.<\/p>\n April 8 –\u00a0Fasika (Orthodox Easter)<\/strong><\/p>\n Fasika is Ethiopian Easter and is celebrated in conjunction with Orthodox Easter celebrations around the world.\u00a0 Fasika is the most important holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar and follows a long 55-day fast, where no meat or dairy products are consumed.\u00a0 Strict followers generally consume one meal of vegetables and lentils during this time.\u00a0 Church services are attended on the eve before the holiday, where revelers participate in a colorful service lit with candles.\u00a0 The following day, families and friends celebrate Fasika with special feasts that mark the end of the long fast.\u00a0 Doro wat, a spicy chicken stew, is the most traditional food served in all households. Celebrations continue for the following week, with an unofficial “second Fasika” the following weekend.<\/p>\n Axum has a colorful procession for Palm Sunday (known as Hosanna), the week before Fasika which is well worth a visit.\u00a0 Like most holidays, the celebration takes place the night before the actually holiday (Saturday night).<\/p>\n September 11 (September 12 during leap year) –\u00a0Ethiopian New Year (Enkutatash)<\/strong><\/p>\n Enkutatash, which means \u201cGift of Jewels\u201d is the celebration of the Ethiopian New Year.\u00a0 Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of 13 months – 12 months each with 30 days and a final month with 5 days (6 days in leap year).\u00a0 The Julian calendar is 7 years and 8 months behind the Gregorian calendar, which is used throughout most of the Western world.<\/p>\n Enkutatash happens to come near the end of a long rainy season, coloring the green landscapes with bright yellow flowers (called the Meskel Flower, or adei abeba in Amharic) and giving great reason to celebrate the new harvest. Torches of dry wood are burned in front of houses on New Year\u2019s Eve.\u00a0 On New Year\u2019s Day, girls dressed in new clothes go door-to-door singing songs.\u00a0 Families and friends celebrate together with large feasts.<\/p>\n September 27 (September 28 during leap year) –\u00a0Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)<\/strong><\/p>\n Meskel (Finding of the True Cross), is the celebration of the finding of remnants of the actual cross on which Jesus was crucified.\u00a0 The word “meskel” means “cross” in Amharic.\u00a0 According to Christian tradition, St. Eleni (Empress Helena) discovered the hiding place of three crosses used at the crucifixion of Jesus.\u00a0 In her dream, Eleni was told she should make a bonfire; the direction of the smoke would tell her the exact location of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified.\u00a0 She followed the directions from her dream, and the smoke landed exactly where the cross was buried.<\/p>\n Meskel celebrations begin the night before with large bonfires topped with a cross and decorated with meskel flowers. The bonfire preparations are blessed and burned while revelers sing and dance around the fire, locally called demera.\u00a0 It is believed that the direction of the smoke will predict the future for the year to come.\u00a0 After the demera has burnt out, the faithful mark crosses on their foreheads with the ash.<\/p>\n The biggest Meskel celebration is in Addis Ababa, held in the centrally-located Meskel Square.\u00a0 Gondar, Axum and Lalibela are also good locations to celebrate this festival.\u00a0 Probably the most exuberant celebrations take place in the region of the Gurage people, southwest from Addis.<\/p>\n Best Areas to Explore<\/strong><\/p>\n When to Travel to Ethiopia<\/strong><\/p>\n The best time to go to Ethiopia depends on what you are planning to do when you get there. Ethiopia is “the land of 13 months of sunshine”, with a rainy season from June to September. The predominant climate type is tropical monsoon, with wide topographic-induced variation. As a highland country, Ethiopia has a climate which is generally considerably cooler than other regions at similar proximity to the Equator. Most of the country’s major cities are located at elevations of around 2,000 – 2,500 metres above sea level, including historic capitals such as Gondar and Axum, and Addis Ababa – the highest capital city in Africa at 2,400 meters .<\/p>\n Ethiopia has three different climate zones according to elevation:<\/p>\n The average annual temperature in Addis Ababa is 16\u00b0C , with daily maximum temperatures averaging 20 – 25\u00b0C\u00a0 throughout the year, and overnight lows averaging 5 – 10\u00b0C . A light jacket is recommended for the evenings, though many Ethiopians prefer to dress conservatively and will wear a light jacket even during the day.<\/p>\n Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n For the most part traveling in Ethiopia is safe, but you should take the same precautions as you would traveling in any African country.<\/p>\n Basic safety rules for travelers to Ethiopia<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/li>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]Traveler Visa All visitors, except Kenya and Djibouti nationals, are required to obtain entry visas. Visa applications may be obtained at Ethiopia\u2019s diplomatic missions overseas. However, nationals of 36 countries listed below are now allowed to receive their tourist visas upon their arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, and at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoyatourethiopia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2011"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoyatourethiopia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoyatourethiopia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoyatourethiopia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hoyatourethiopia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hoyatourethiopia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2011\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hoyatourethiopia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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\n Date<\/td>\n Holiday Name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 11-Sep<\/td>\n Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 27-Sep<\/td>\n Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 29-Dec<\/td>\n Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 19-Jan<\/td>\n Epiphany (Timiket)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1-Mar<\/td>\n Adwa Victory Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 30-Apr<\/td>\n Ethiopian Good Friday (Siklet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 2-May<\/td>\n Ethiopian Easter Sunday (Fasika)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 1-May<\/td>\n International Labor Day (May Day)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 5-May<\/td>\n Patriots’ Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 28-May<\/td>\n Derg Downfall Day (National Day)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n
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\nYou can request your tour at any time and generally the earlier you book, the better. Further, we usually recommend that you wait to book your international flights until after your tour is confirmed. The sooner that we arrange your tour, the sooner that you can take advantage of accommodations and\u00a0 flight deals as they become available. We are often able to accommodate last minute travellers as well, so give us a call or notice and we will do our best! For last minute requests, it helps to be flexible and organized. Your first choice hotel may not be available for your schedule, but we can recommend some similar options that would be equally interesting!<\/li>\n
\nYou must be careful what to pack, as international flights restrict luggage weight to 20 kg and domestic flights restrict the total of your hand baggage and luggage to only 15 kg, so you need to pack light.\u00a0Relaxed clothing is best, as is cotton. Layers are advised particularly if you will be trekking at high altitudes where the night time temperatures can drop significantly, or if you intend to visit the Danakil Depression which can reach temperatures of 49 degree Celsius. It is best to bring 3-4 outfits and use the readily available laundry services at most hotels. Underwear however should be packed for your entire time, as due to local traditions, laundry service may not be offered for these garments. Clothing that covers most of your body is also best, to help protect from the sun as well as mosquitoes. Comfortable walking shoes are also a must.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n