Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a vast and very diverse country located in the Horn of Africa and bordering with Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan and South Sudan.

Home to an ancient culture and dramatic landscapes, Ethiopians praise themselves in being the only African nation which wasn’t colonized (although Italy occupied the country for five years).

From the historic ruins in the North, to the fascinating tribes of the Omo Valley in the South, Ethiopia is a country with something for every kind of traveler. I had the chance to travel with friends throughout Ethiopia for a couple of weeks during March-April 2023 and it was such an incredible adventure.

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WELCOME TO Ethiopia!

Basic facts

Population: 122 million (as of 2023)
Currency: Ethiopian birr (ETB). Check the current exchange rate here.
Language: the country features five official languages (Amharic, Omoro, Afar, Tigrinya, and Somali). To give you an idea of its diversity, over 80 languages and 200 dialects are spoken throughout Ethiopia.
Territories: the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is composed of 9 National Regional States (NRS) – Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Benishangul-Gumuz, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Gambella and Harari – and two administrative councils – Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.
Main cities: Addis Ababa (capital), Dire Dawa,Nazareth, Gondar, Mekele.
Fun fact: did you know that the Danakil Depression located on Ethiopian soil is the lowest place on the African continent as well as the hottest place on Earth?

Things to do

Visit the capital Addis Ababa

Explore the incredible churches in Lalibela

Discover the fascinating traditions of the Omo Valley tribes

Good to know when travelling to Ethiopia

Is Pakistan safe, especially as a woman? As a woman traveling to the country, I got asked this question a lot. My answer is YES with some caveats. Of course we hear plenty of bad and concerning news about the security situation in Pakistan but I felt safe. However, I remember browsing the hotel where we would stay in Islamabad upon arrival and seeing that it had been bombed a few years back. Since I traveled there for work, we had a driver taking us to meetings and there were plenty of checkpoints at international hotels and official buildings. This being said, keep your eyes and ears wide open, avoid dangerous areas and trust your gut feeling if you ever feel insecure or at risk.
Religion: Pakistan is a Muslim country. Hence, you should observe some standard rules such as covering you hair, neck and shoulders to show respect when visiting a mosque or other premises.
Animals on the road: when driving around the country, you might be shocked to see animals crossing but this is the norm in Pakistan. Sit back and enjoy!
Food: Pakistani cuisine is generally spicy, so if you don’t like it, try asking for it to be milder or make sure to have some yoghurt sauce at hand!