Ethiopia rated by the African Bird Club as the number four birding country in Africa. Over 863 species have been registered that representing approximately 9.5 percent of the world’s birds and 39 percent birds in Africa. 18 of these birds are endemic to Ethiopia, and 14 sharing with Eritrea, while further 61 are regional endemic largely accessible from Ethiopia than neighboring countries. Ethiopia is safe place to stay and explore many bird species that are hard to see anywhere else owing the difficulty of access to neighboring countries.
Because of its broad range of climatic zones and diverse habitat it comprises a wide range of wildlife species that inhabit deseret, arid, dry thorn-bush, savannah, woodland, tropical forest, montane grassland, afro-alpine moorland and wetlands. The major Ethiopian range of birding sites include Rift Valley Lakes, Bale Mountains, Awash Region, South Omo Valley, Gibe Valley, Northern Central Plateaus includes Sululta Plains, Jemma Valley, Ankober Mountains, Southern Lowlands include Neghele and Yabelo region.
Ethiopian bird species can be defined as endemic, resident, intra-migrant, palearctic migrant and vagrant. Ethiopia is not only serving as a wintering ground for large numbers of palearctic species but also many remains through year round over here. Birding during the palearctic winter (November to March) that large number of migrants are present including species that can be hard to see on their breeding grounds. From the Palearctic (Eurasian) autumn to spring (September to April) Ethiopian bird species are vastly supplemented by migrants mostly guided by the rift valley ecosystems via red sea loop to southern africa. Birdwatchers on two to three weeks trip could expect 420 to 500 species.
Beside bird species fascinating and interesting endemic wild mammals will be enhanced by Ethiopian Wolf, Gelada Baboon, Mountain Nyala, Starck’s Hare, Giant Molerat, Kudus, Gerenuk, Zebras, Oryx Beisa, Bohor Reedbuck, Grey Duiker, Gazelles, Vervet Monkey, Hammadyas Baboon, Mongooses, Striped and Unstriped Squirrels.
History: Ethiopia is a North-eastern African country, between 30N and 150N latitudes and 350 E and 480 E longitudes with an area of 1,112,000 sq. km. It is one of the GMT +3 time zone countries in the ”Horn of Africa“. Ethiopia contains the largest part of the Great Rift Valley prominent feature from space and famous for its majestic mountainous. Ethiopia is unique among African countries that its diversity of attractions including UNESCO registered cultural sites, archaeological findings, long history dated back to early human civilizations, water catchment afro-alpine plateaus, large river origins, landscapes with remote wilderness and wildlife.
Topography: Ethiopia is a country of great geographical diversity that altitude ranges from 120 m.b.s.l. at Dallol depression to the highest peak of 4620 m.a.s.l. at Mt. Ras Dashen. The Great Rift Valley known as a prominent feature from space bisects the country to Northwestern Mountains (Central highland Plateaus and Semien Mountains) and Southeastern Mountain Massifs (Bale Mountain Massifs)
Climate: Despite its proximity to the equator, Ethiopia's lowland is hot and dry. On the other hand its high altitude ensures a temperate moderate and sometimes even chilly climate. There are two rainy seasons: irregular short rains from late January to early March and the long rains from June until mid-September.
Vegetation: Ethiopia has different ecological environments including forests, woodland, Savannah, bush land and thickets, plain lands and wetlands, afro-alpine widow, shrub, scrub, plains, moors, arid and semi-arid habitats.
Population: The population of the country today is estimated at more than 100 million with more than 85 distinctive tribes, sometimes called the unspoiled people's lifestyle life museum.
Capital: The principal city of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa; it means 'New Flower' and is located in the central part of the country, with a population of about 6 million. It is known as the third highest capital in the world. Addis Ababa is a seat for government and African diplomatic missions including United Nations (UN), European Economic Commission (EEC) and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) with 127 Embassies and consular representatives.
Government: Ethiopia is an independent republic operating under the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The president is the head of the state, while the prime minister is the head of the Government.
Religion: The major religions in Ethiopia are Christianity, Islam, and traditional believes, all of which harmoniously live together.
Language: Oromiffa, Amharic, Tigrigna, Afar and Somali are known as working language with 200 different dialects widely spoken.
Health requirements: Visitors should be in possession of a valid health certificate for yellow fever and vaccination against cholera if you have visited or transited infected areas within six days prior to arrival.
Calendar: Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of twelve months of thirty days each and a thirteenth month of five days(six days in a leap year). The calendar is seven years and eight months behind the western (Gregorian) calendar.
Time: Ethiopia is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, GMT +3:00
Currency Regulation: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into Ethiopia. Foreign currency is changed only at authorized banks and hotels. Visitors may change back any excess local currency before departure. The local currency is the Ethiopian birr, made up of 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr. There are five different coins of: 1, 5, 10, 25 , 100 and 50, cents.
Visa requirement: Visas are required for all foreign visitors to Ethiopia. This can be secured from Ethiopia's Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad or obtained upon arrival.
More facts about Ethiopia: wikipedia