Ethiopia can provide 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 join.

More Fun Facts >>

While visiting Churches- Shoes must be removed before on enters 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 is required for any foreign visitors to Ethiopia except Kenya and Djibouti.  This 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) the cost is US$20. The countries are:

Health requirements

The possession of a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is no longer mandatory but visitors coming from countries where Yellow Fever has been reported may be asked. Immunisation for Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Typhoid and Polio is recommended.
In many sites malaria is not a problem because of the elevation - like Axum, Gondar and Lalibela for example, but it can occur in Bahir Dar at the end of the rainy season and  unseasonable rains. Lowland areas along the Awash River, the Omo Valley, Rift Valley and Gambella are subject to malaria outbreaks. So anti-malaria tabs are recommended, also you can keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay with repellent creams and sprays.
We recommend that visitors have standard holiday health insurance in their home countries. Also should bring a simple first aid pack, which would include:  plasters, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream and/or tablets for insect bites, sun barrier cream (while temperatures are moderate the sun is strong) and anti-diarrhea tablets such as Imodium for emergencies (they will not cure the problem but will control the symptoms).  There are private and governmental hospitals and clinic so as Pharmacies are found in Major cities, below are some governmental and private Hospital, Clinics and pharmacies found in Addis Ababa.

Clothing

Pack light clothes for the day time and a jacket or sweater for the evenings, and a good pair of walking shoes even if you are not going trekking - path ways around historic sites are usually uneven and stony.
Trekkers in the Simien and Bale Mountains will need warm clothes, water-proofs and 3-4 season sleeping bags. On a cultural note - Ethiopians are generally modest dressers, and visitors should be sensitive about going underdressed (shorts, tank tops and bare backed) into places of worship. Shoes must always be removed before entering churches and mosques - for getting around sites like Lalibela with its many churches socks are very useful.

Shopping Malls

Merkato: the largest open space market in Africa featuring a variety of products
Dembel city center on Bole Rd. at Olympia intersection 
Shegger Market: Situated at the heart of Mercato, Shegger is the first Ethiopian mall hosting multiple shops featuring local and imported products.
Tana Department Store: On Bole Rd. next to Novis supermarket.

Supermarkets

Abrico supermarket: Two locations Bole Tana
Fa-fresh: Two locations Piazza nest to Book world and Bole Rd. at Olympia intersection
Fantu : Four locations Two on Bole Rd. Debrezeit Rd and Old Airport
Flex on Debrezeit Rd. across from Shoa Bakery
Hadya on Meskel Sq. Near Ghion Hotel
Novis has six locations National Theater, Piazza and On Bolee Rd at Genete Bldg. at the Hilton , At sar Bet – Ghiday Bld.
Shi Selomon has two locations National Theater