ABOUT ETHIOPIA Home to over 65 million people from as many as 80 different ethnic tribes on a land mass twice the size of Texas, Ethiopia is one of the most friendly countries in the world.	MONEY MATTERS The Euro,US Dollar and major travelers checks are easily convertible in banks and some hotels. ATMs are not in use. Credit card use is only available in 4 & 5-Star hotels in Addis Ababa. In order to change birr back to dollars on leaving the country, visitors will be asked to produce bank receipts.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS Visitors coming to Ethiopia should have in their possesion a valid vaccination certificate against yellow fever. Cholera vaccination is required for any person who has visited a transited cholera infected area within six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia. Malaria precautions should be taken two weeks before if traveling at an altitude below 2000 meters. Visitors should bring a simple first-aid kit with different size bandages, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream and/or tablets for insect bites, sun barrier crean and an anti-diarrheal such as Immodium. Visitors may wish to take out holiday health insurance in their country.	The weather has a year round temperature of 70F/25C in most of the country, although the southern areas can be warmer during the dry season. Clothing should be conservative, but casual. Good walking shoes are essential. A sweater or light jacket is needed for the cooler evenings. When planning your visit to Ethiopia you may considered that the rainy season is from June thru August making some travel difficult but not impossible.
Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa	Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa
ACCOMODATIONS Addis Ababa has two 5 star hotels: the Hilton and the Sheraton. There are also, a growing number of tourist class hotels. Outside the capital standards vary (the hotels in the north are generally better than those in the south). Apart from the Omo and Mago areas where camping is unavoidable it is generally possible to get relatively clean rooms with toilet and shower.	The traditional food consists of injera ( a spongey, pancake like bread made from an indegenious grain, teff) and a variety of sauces and vegetables. The vegetarian will have a wide variety of foods to choose from. Fruits are the best in the world. Bottled water is widely available.
VISA AND IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS:  Visa applications may be obtained at the Ethiopian Embassy in your country however, there are 33 countries which are now allowed to obatin tourist visas upon arrival at Ethiopia's Bole International Airport. ENTTO will meet you at the airport and process the visas for your group when you arrive. Those countries who are allowed to obtain visas upon arrival are:   Argentina           Germany            Norway Australia             Ireland                     Poland Austria               Israel                        Portugal Belgium              Italy                         Russian Federation Brazil                  Japan South Africa Canada               Korean Republic Spain China                 Kuwait                  Sweden Denmark            Luxembourg            Switzerland Finland               Mexico                    United Kingdom France                Netherlands             United States of America Greece                     New Zealand	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 500.00, although some articles (such as animals skins and antiques) required an export permit.