Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country in northeast Africa. It covers an area of approximately 1.1 million square kilometres and has a population of around 80.71 million people.
Of these inhabitants, about 2.7 million live in the capital Addis Ababa. The official language is Amharic, and English serves as the second most widely spoken language. More than 70 other languages are spoken across the country’s various regions, including religious languages such as Somali, Orominya and Tigrinya. Ethiopia’s population is highly diverse, with ethnic groups including the Oromo, Amhara, Tigray, Somali, Gurage, Sidama, Afar and Welaita. The majority of the population, over 43%, adheres to Christianity. Islam is also practised by over 18% of the population, alongside some traditional religions.
Ethiopia’s attractions
Ethiopia is a country with a long history, evidenced by its many historical buildings, sacred sites and ancient royal cities, such as the northern city of Aksum. This first royal city of Ethiopia is particularly renowned for its granite obelisks, some of which are up to 2,000 years old. Other notable attractions include the medieval sacral structures in the small town of Lake Tana, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, and the Trinity Church or the Menelik Mausoleum in the capital Addis Ababa.
The nine national parks of Ethiopia protect the country’s diverse flora and fauna. Among these parks are the Simien Mountains National Park, the Bale Mountains National Park with its rich birdlife, and the Awash National Park, known for its diverse wildlife and impressive waterfalls.
Location and climate of Ethiopia
Ethiopia is bordered by Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia at the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s climate is temperate-tropical, though the country experiences significant climatic variations, largely due to its varied topography. The lowland plains are predominantly hot, while the highlands are relatively cool. In the highest elevations, frost can occur. Despite seasonal differences, temperatures remain fairly stable throughout the year. In the northern and eastern regions, such as around Ogaden and the Danakil Depression, temperatures can become extremely high, making these areas among the hottest on Earth.
Ethiopia can be divided into three main climatic zones. The hot regions lie at elevations of around 1,800 metres, with average temperatures ranging from 23 to 28°C. The moderately warm zone, at elevations between 1,800 and 2,400 metres, has average temperatures of 16 to 20°C. The cool zone begins at about 2,400 metres, where temperatures can drop to as low as 12°C.
Arrival and entry
Ethiopia has only one international airport, Bole International Airport in the capital Addis Ababa. From here, larger cities can be reached by minibus, and taxis are available within the cities.
Entry to Ethiopia requires a valid visa, which can be obtained from the Ethiopian Embassy in Berlin or the Ethiopian Consulate General in Frankfurt. Once issued, the visa must be used within 14 days, and processing typically takes just a few days. To apply, you will need two recent passport photos, proof of sufficient funds and a return flight ticket.
