For your convenience, The African Child Policy Forum has collected the following information on travelling to Ethiopia. If you would like other details, please contact:

Ministry of Culture and Tourism
PO Box 2183
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Telephone:+251-(0)11-551-7470
Fax: +251-(0)11-551-3899

Visas

All foreign national visitors to Ethiopia, except nationals of Kenya and Djibouti, require a visa. You can apply for a tourist visa. The quickest and easiest to obtain one is at your nearest embassy or consulate. However, it might be possible for you to obtain one on arrival in Ethiopia.

Tourist visas issued upon arrival in Ethiopia
Ethiopian immigration can issue tourist visas on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to:

1. Foreign nationals from countries where there is no Ethiopian embassy or consulate
2. Foreign nationals of the following countries:
   
   

   Argentina	Greece	Norway
   Australia	Ireland	Poland
   Austria	Israel	Portugal
   Belgium	Italy	Russian Federation
   Brazil	Japan	South Africa
   Canada	Korea Republic	Spain
   China	Kuwait	Sweden
   Denmark	Luxembourg	Switzerland
   Finland	Mexico	United Kingdom
   France	Netherlands	United States
   Germany	New Zealand

To apply for a tourist visa on arrival, you will need two recent passport-sized photographs and a minimum of $100 USD.

If your country does not have an agreement with Ethiopia to issue visas on arrival and you are travelling from a country where there is no Ethiopian diplomatic mission, you must seek advance approval from the Immigration and Nationality Affairs Main Department in Ethiopia to obtain a visa at the airport:

Main Department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs
PO Box 3741, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email: mdina@ethionet.et
Fax: +251 (0)11 155 32 09 / +251 (0)11 156 49 81

Tourist and business visas are available for:

• single entry, valid for up to 30 days stay,

• multiple entries, valid for three months,

• multiple entries, valid for six months,

• One-year business visas are also available for multiple entries.

Please note that a visa is valid from the date of issue, and not from the date of entry.

Health Requirements

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is no longer required for entry into Ethiopia. However, you may still wish to obtain immunisation against yellow fever and other illnesses such as Hepatitis A (Immune Globulin), Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus-diphtheria and Polio. If you wish to obtain these immunisations, you should do so four to six weeks prior to your visit for them to take effect. Malaria is not prevalent in Addis Ababa, but if you plan to travel to the south during your visit, you may require anti-malaria medication such as Artemether-Lumefantrine or mefloquine. You must also take the necessary precautions against HIV.

Accommodation

Hotels in Addis Ababa
Hotel	Price Range	Telephone, Fax & Email	Location
Sheraton Addis	Single: $184 (USD) * Double: $217 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-5171717 Fax: +251-(0)11-5172727 reservationsaddisethiopia@ luxurycollection.com	East – near the conference centre
Hilton	Single:$130 (USD) * Double: $145 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-5518400 Fax: +251-(0)11-5510064 hiltonaddis@ethionet.et	East – near the conference centre
Ghion	Single: $55 (USD)* Double: $68 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-5513222 Fax: +251-(0)11-5510278 ghion@ethionet.et	East – near the conference centre
Ethiopia	Single: $45 (USD) Double: $66 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-5517400 Fax: +251-(0)11-5510871 ethhotel@ethionet.et	East – near the conference centre
National	Single: $29 - 36 (USD) Double: $29 -44 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-5515166 Fax: +251-(0)11-5513417 ghionhotel@ethionet.et	East – near the conference centre
Ras Hotel	Single: 190 Birr Double: 235 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-5517060 Fax: +251-(0)11-5517327	East – near the conference centre
Finfine	Per person: 6-12 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-5519100/	East – near the conference centre
Harambee	Single: 140 Birr Double: 200 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11- 5510400 Fax: +251-(0)11-514136	East – near the conference centre
Queen of Sheba	Double: $69 (USD) Suite: $79 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-6180000 Fax: +251-(0)11-6613174 queenshebahotel@ethionet.et	East – Haile Gebre Selassie St.
Axum	(Old building) Single: $30 (USD)/ 254 Birr Double: $34 (USD) / 293 Birr (New building) Single: 475 Birr Double: 605 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-6613916 Fax: +251-(0)11-6614265	East –Haile Gebre Selassie St.
Central Shoa	Single: 155 Birr Double: 196 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-6611454 Fax: +251-(0)11-6610063	East –Haile Gebre Selassie St.
Plaza	Single: 258 Birr Double: 301 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-6612200 Fax: +251-(0)11-6613044 plazahotel@ethionet.et	East –Haile Gebre Selassie St.
Holiday	Single: 137 Birr Double: 162 -187 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-6612081 Fax: +251-(0)11-6612627	East –Haile Gebre Selassie St.
Yordanos	Single: $26 (USD) Double: $36 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-5515711 yordanos@telecom.net.et	East –Haile Gebre Selassie St.
Imperial	Single: $66 (USD) Double: $84 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-6293329/95 Fax: +251-(0)11-293332 businesscenter@ethionet.et	East – Bole Airport
Airport Motel	Single: $20 / 170 Birr Double: $30 / 270 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-6188222 Fax: +251-(0)11-6610577	East – Bole Airport
Lalibela	Single and Double: $45 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-6614917 Fax: +251-(0)11-6615522 lalibela@htm.com	East – Bole Airport
Meridian	Single: $48 (USD) Double: $58 (USD) Suite: $78 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-6615050 Fax: +251-(0)11-6615092	East – Bole Road
Ibex	Single: $34 (USD) Double: $44 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-4654400 Fax: +251-(0)11-4653737 ibex@ethionet.et	East – Bole Road
Weygoss Guest House	Single: $31-$41 (USD) Suite: $61 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-5512205	East – Bole Road
King’s	Single: $37 (USD) Double/Twin: $52 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-3711300	West – Near African Union
Hotel d’Afrique	Single and Double: 230 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-5517385 Fax: +251-(0)11-5514519	Central
Wabe Shebelle	Single: $46 (USD) Double: $56 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-5517187 Fax: +251-(0)11-5518477 washo.et@ethionet.et	Central
Bekele Molla	Weekday: 208 Birr Weekend: 298 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-5514601 Fax: +251-(0)11-5521735 bekellemolla@ethionet.et	Central
Extreme	Single: $20 - 29 (USD) Double: $28 - 35 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-1553777 Fax: +251-(0)11-1551077	Central - Tewodros Square - Piassa
Taitu	Single: 30-80 Birr Double: 40-110 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-1553244	Central – Piassa area
Desalegne	Single and Double: $55 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-6624524 Fax: +251-(0)11-6623884 desalegn@ethionet.et	East – Near  the European Union & Bole Road
Atlas	Single: $35 (USD) Double: $38 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-6184862 Fax: +251-(0)11-6613661	East – Near  the European Union & Bole Airport
Ras Amba	Single: $38 (USD) Double: $50 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-1228080 Fax: +251-(0)11-1233221 rahot@ethionet.et	North – Arat Kilo area
Tourist International	Single: 90 Birr Double: 120 Birr	Tel: +251-(0)11-1550122/23	North – Arat Kilo area
Crown	Single: $23-25 or $50-60 (USD) Double: $30 - 90 (USD) (old and new buildings)	Tel: +251-(0)11- 4391046 Fax: +251-(0)11-4391428	South - Debre Zeit Road
Global	Single: $58 (USD) Double: $66 (USD) Suite: $120 (USD)	Tel: +251-(0)11-4664766 Fax: +251-(0)11-4664723 globalhotel@ethionet.et	South - Debre Zeit Road
* Add 15% VAT + 10% Service Charge Most prices include VAT and breakfast. Many hotels allow you to pay in $USD or in Birr.

 

Currency

The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB), consisting of 100 cents. Visitors are allowed to bring an unlimited amount of foreign currency provided that they declare it on arrival at the airport. You must retain your currency declaration form which Customs will require for your departure. You can exchange foreign currency (US Dollars, Euros and British Sterling) at the airport, authorised banks and hotels. You can change Birr back to foreign currency at the airport when you depart.

The current exchange rate as of March 2006 is:

8.5 Birr (ETB) to $1 (USD)

15 Birr to £1 British Pound (Sterling)

10 Birr to €1 Euro

Telephone Numbers
           

Emergency Telephone Numbers
Police	911
Fire	912
Ambulance	907 (Red Cross) 011-661 44 00; 011-661 76 22 (St Gabriel Hospital) 011-276 68 17/18; 011-551 89 54; 011-156 30 97; 011-443 13 66  (Africa Higher Clinic) 011-551 44 70; 011-555 80 20; 0911-20 12 79 (Bethzatha Higher Clinic)
Useful Telephone Numbers
Time in English		902
National Operator		999
International Operator		998

Hospitals and Clinics

Hospital / Clinic	Telephone
Africa Higher Clinics have branches in several parts of the city	011-276 68 17/18 011-275 13 60
Hayat Hospital	011-662 44 48 011-662 08 80
Bethzatha Medical Center – (Clinics, Hospital, Laboratory, Pharmacy)	011-553 34 53/58
St. Gabriel General Hospital	011-661 36 22 011-618 46 28 011-661 45 40
Myungsung Christian Medical Center	011-629 54 20/21-27
Balcha Hospital	011-551 62 63 011-544 77 48
Brook Clinic	011-551 34 35 011-551 51 51

Practical Information
                 
Electricity: The voltage is 220.

Climate and Clothing
Ethiopia has two seasons. The dry season starts in October and lasts until May. Light, summer clothing is suitable for the daytime when the average temperature is 24 degrees C in Addis Ababa, but a jacket or jumper is required for the evening and late night when the temperature can drop to 7 degrees C. The rainy season begins in June and continues until September. Heavier clothing, along with perhaps a jacket, jumper or rainwear, is recommended for both the daytime and evening. Addis Ababa is located at an altitude of 2,400 metres, which means that you risk greater exposure to the sun. Some form of protection against the sun is therefore recommended.

Language
Amharic (or Amharigna, as it is called locally) is the official language of Ethiopia, although most educated adults and adolescents speak English. Most intellectual Ethiopians also speak French, Arabic or Italian. There are several English-language newspapers and magazines, and an English version of the national television news that broadcasts daily at 22:30.

English-language Media
The Addis Guide is a bi-monthly magazine that publishes information on hotels, restaurants, shopping, hospitals, diplomatic missions, places of worship, museums, the arts, and several other sorts of information. The Sub-Saharan Informer, publishes news from around the African continent. The Ethiopian Reporter publishes mostly Ethiopian news, while Capital and Fortune are business weeklies. The Daily Monitor is the only English-language newspaper published daily. For other sources of news, you can visit the vast number of internet cafes found in almost every community in Addis Ababa. Apart from surfing the net, you can also have documents typed, printed and bound, and even CDs copied.

Getting Out and About

Taxis
Taxis consist of minivans and private, saloon passenger cars. Both types are blue and white. Another type of taxi that you will most likely only see at the airport, are yellow saloons. These tend to cost more than the blue and white saloons. The minivans travel on predetermined routes and charge a small fee depending on the distance you want to travel. There are no set prices for the blue and white saloons. They work on what is called a ‘contract’ basis. ‘Contract’ simply means that the driver will take you anywhere you want to go for a negotiated price, which you should agree on before starting your journey.

Food and Restaurants
The national dish is injera, a flat, pancake-like, fermented bread made from teff. It is served with meat or vegetable sauce made with Berbere, a special blend of Ethiopian spices. ‘Fasting food’, served on Wednesdays, Fridays and during Lent, would suit vegetarians as it is free of animal products.

The cost of a national meal, including drinks, for one person ranges from 9 Birr in small restaurants to 50 Birr in upmarket, tourist-class restaurants. Non-Ethiopian dishes tend to cost more, especially in restaurants frequented by tourists. Most large and tourist-class restaurants charge 15 percent for VAT plus 10 percent for service.

The numerous cafes in the city offer pastries of all sorts served with coffee and tea at very moderate prices. Several also offer quick meals such as pasta, chips and pizza.


City Information
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is its largest city. It is divided into three areas: eastern, central and western. The UN Economic Commission for Africa and the UN headquarters and conference centre, where the conference will take place, are both located in the eastern sector. The Hilton, Sheraton, National, Ghion, Ethiopia, Ras and Harambee hotels are all within a short distance of the UN Conference Centre. Many of the moderately-priced hotels are also located in this area, or further east along Asmara Road (also called Haile Gabre Selassie Road)—a direct route to the conference centre. Bole Road (also called Africa Avenue) which is the main road that leads into the city away from Bole International Airport, has several modern restaurants, shops, supermarkets, banks and offices. You will also find several embassies in the Bole Road area.

The Commission of the African Union headquarters is situated in the western part of the city, as are many of the city’s embassies and Mercato, a large, open-air market.

Central Addis Ababa accommodates the main post office, the international branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Airlines headquarters, Black Lion Hospital (the city’s major state hospital) and several shops. The Piassa (also called ‘Arada’) area extends north leading away from the main road, Churchill Avenue. Most of the city’s jewellery shops are located in this area along with several banks, hotels and cafes.

Map of Addis Ababa
Click on the map to enlarge



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