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Ethiopia is located in the Northeastern part of Africa, popularly known as the Horn. Ethiopia is bounded on the east by Djibouti and Somalia, on the north and northeast by Eritrea, on the south by Kenya and on the west by the Sudan.

Judging by the story of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon recounted in the Old Testament and elaborated at great length in the Ethiopian epic, the Kebre Negest (Glory of the Kings); the rest of the world commonly acknowledges 3000 years of Ethiopian Civilization. Comparing the history of most of the countries of the world, a national legacy of even 3000 years is quite remarkable. This is especially so when that means an uninterrupted and independent march of the history of the a people, organized as a polity, answering to very much the same set of self – identifying values and symbols, and occupying more of less the same geographical area.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Ethiopia lies between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn. Its area is 1,112,000 square kilometers. Most parts of it are Elevated plateau rising from 2100- 4400 meters. The highest peak at Ras Dashen 4620 meters above sea level. It is divided into climate regions marked as highlands, midlands, lowlands and the peculiar “Danakil Depression” which is about 148 meters below sea level. Majestic mountains, imposing peaks, alluring and glamorous gorges, ravishing table lands, verdant pasture lands, luxuriant tropical regions and the magnificent Rift valley are some of its physical formations.
Splendid landscapes, sparsely wooded semi- desert tracts, tremendous and unfamiliar physical relief, and the infrequent wilderness are some of the captivating, astonishing and outlandish attractions that Ethiopia offers. As a land of great physical contrast, its different territories are scenic and awe-inspiring.
As the country is located with in the tropics, its physical conditions and variations in altitude have resulted in great diversity of terrain, climate, soil, flora and fauna.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Ethiopia’s geographical and historical factors have had a great influence on the distribution of its peoples and languages. The country is situated at the cross roads between the Middle East and Africa. Through its long history, Ethiopia has become a melting pot of diverse customs and varied cultures, some of which are extremely ancient.

Over 80 linguistic groups exist in Ethiopia, representing three of the four Afro-Asiatic families of languages. Ethiopia’s mystical symbols, myths and ritual practices are linked with the mysteries and traditional beliefs of the ancient civilizations of Asia, Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean. The customs, body decorations and celebrations of Ethiopia’s traditional people mirror Africa’s exotic cultural heritage.

RELIGION

Three of the world’s major religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam have had their followers here since they were founded and thus have grown with indigenous expressions that are distinctly Ethiopian. Both Christianity and Islam became state sponsored and protected in Ethiopia before any where else.

DRESS

Ethiopia has a national dress of its own style. Men wear white cotton or Khaki trousers which are tight fitting from knee to ankle, with a white long “shemma” thrown over the shoulders. Women wear long dresses with full skirts made of white cotton with colored borders. Ethiopian style of clothing is commonly worn nowadays by most Ethiopian ladies.

ALPHABET AND CALENDAR

Ethiopia is the only civilization on the continent with its own Alphabet, chronology and Calendar system and religious Art.

Ethiopia still retains the Julian calendar, named after Julius Caesar, for whom it was devised by Alexandrian astronomers. The year is divided in to 12 months of 30 days each and a 13 th month of five or six days (hence the Tourism promotion slogan “13 months of sunshine”). Taking for its starting point the Birth of Christ and owing to differences of opinion over the date of the creation the Ethiopian calendar is seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian calendar. Ethiopian Christmas day is on 7 January of the Gregorian calendar, while Ethiopian Easter coincides with Gregorian Easter once every four years.

MUSIC

Some 1600 years before his counter parts in Europe, Ethiopian Saint Yared devised a musical notation in the 6 th century for his stupendous repertoire of sacred music with finely choreographed sacred dance to go with it.

To this day, highland Ethiopian secular music and dances are based on Yared’s legacy. The most common folk dance, the Esskista has basic elements running through the traditional dances of all the various highland peoples. Mostly based on shaking shoulders, its combination of the religious, fetish and sensuous is as confusing as it is fascinating .The somersaults of the Welaita and the coquettish theatrics of the omo peoples are in sharp contrast to this.

FOOD AND DRINK

Everything being so completely different from what you are used to, can sometimes be as daunting as it is fascinating. Trying Ethiopian National foods and drinks may be a case in point.

On top of the effect of altitude change and jet lag, they may upset your system during the first several days of your stay. However, once you get over the adjustment period, you must certainly try them, and if you take a liking to them, watch out! They can be addictive!

Injera is the staple all over the highlands and in the towns elsewhere. It is soft, thin chapatti-like bread made from grass- like grain Teff (Eragrostis Teef), barley or sorghum. Ethiopia is the only country in the world to use Teff in this way.

Injera always comes with Wott (some what like stew) which can be made from any kind of meat, fish, lentils, peas or chickpeas. The best of these and the National delicacy is Doro Wott (chicken Stew). A variety of vegetarian Wotts are served on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the country as part of religious custom.

Tej (Honey mead) is the drink with which to savour these Ethiopian dishes. In addition, there are bottled Ethiopian beers, local wine and mineral water that most find to their liking.

Tella, a traditional beer brewed from barley of corn and hops, is a local drink generally unavailable in modern hotels and restaurants. Fermented sorghum known as Borde is a dual purpose food –drink among Ethiopia’s lowland peoples and pastoralists.

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