Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What does this all mean? It means the Ethiopian calendar is 7½ years 'behind' the Gregorian calendar, and
you're seven years younger!
Toilets
Both sit-down and squat toilets are found in Ethiopia, reflecting European and Arab influ-
ences, respectively. In most midrange and all top-end hotels as well as budget hotels cater-
ing to foreign tourists, Western style 'sit-down' toilets are the norm. Elsewhere it's squat
toilets only.
Public toilets are found in almost all hotels and restaurants, but may not form your
fondest memories of Ethiopia. In small towns and rural areas, the most common arrange-
ment is a smelly old shack, with two planks, a hole in the ground and all the flies you can
fit in between. You may suddenly find that you can survive the next 1000km after all.
Toilet paper is very rare in any toilet outside a more expensive hotel; you're best ad-
vised to carry your own.
Tourist Information
Local Tourist Offices
In 2005 the Ethiopian government unceremoniously sacked the heads of the Ethiopian
Tourism Commission (ETC) and created the new Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Thankfully, this ministry kept open the ETC's ever-helpful Tourist Information Centre in
Addis Ababa's Meskal Sq.
Other especially useful offices can be found in Aksum, Mekele, Konso, Lalibela, Gam-
bela and Wukro.
While in Addis Ababa, the most accurate information on travel outside the capital re-
gion is available through tour operators (
Click here
)
, though naturally they will expect to
sell you something. Outside Addis Ababa, local guide associations and the traveller
grapevine are your best sources for up-to-date information. Managers of hotels popular
with budget travellers can be fairly clued up as well.
