Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ROOTS OF ETHIOPIA
Roots of Ethiopia
(Ethiopia Community Tourism;
www.rootsofethiopia.com
)
is an excellent website listing
community-run activities across Ethiopia. It could go a long way towards making your trip a little more sustain-
able, but do note that not all the projects are actually up and running yet.
Tourist Offices Abroad
No national tourist office exists abroad. The Ethiopian embassies and consulates try to fill
the gap, but they generally just hand out the usual tourist brochures.
An active, nonpolitical organisation in the UK is the
Anglo-Ethiopian Society
(
www.anglo-ethiopian.org
)
, which aims 'to foster a knowledge and understanding of
Ethiopia and its people'. Membership costs from UK£15 annually. The society holds reg-
ular gatherings, including talks on Ethiopia. A well-stocked library on Ethiopia is open to
members. There's a tri-annual Newsfile.
Travellers with Disabilities
There's no reason why intrepid travellers with disabilities shouldn't visit Ethiopia.
»For those with restricted mobility, all the sites on the Historical Route are easily reached
by internal flights. Passengers in wheelchairs can be accommodated. Car rental with a
driver is easily organised. Some rough roads can be hard on the back.
»Taxis are widely available in the large towns and are good for getting around; none have
wheelchair access, though. In Addis Ababa a few hotels have lifts; at least two (the
Sheraton and Hilton hotels) have facilities for wheelchair-users. Kerb ramps on streets are
nonexistent, and potholes and uneven streets are a hazard.
»Outside the capital, facilities are lacking, but many hotels are bungalow affairs, so at
least steps or climbs are fairly minimal.
»For those restricted in other ways, such as visually or aurally, you'll get plenty of offers
of help. Unlike in many Western countries, Ethiopians are not shy about coming forward
to offer assistance.
»A valuable source of general information is the
Access-Able Travel Source
(
www.access-able.com
)
, which has useful links.
