90 how to sell
forgiven for having a skewed perception of
Ethiopia.
ETHIOPIA ESSENTIALS TIME: +2 GMT.
FLIGHT TIME: The average flight time from London is seven hours.
VISAS: Travellers with British passports can obtain a visitors’ visa for $25 (or the equivalent in euros or birr) upon arrival at Addis Ababa airport.
HEALTH: Vaccinations are required before travel, particularly Yellow Fever.
CURRENCY: £1 is worth 33 Ethiopian birr. Hotels accept most credit cards. ATMs are plentiful in the capital city and it is safe to carry cash.
LANGUAGE: English is widely spoken in shops and hotels, but to a lesser extent in the countryside.
BOOK IT Intrepid Travel’s 14-day Lost Tribes of Ethiopia takes in Addis Ababa, the remote tribes of the Omo Valley and a game drive in the Bale Mountains. It is priced from £2,080pp including accommodation, a selection of meals and a local guide.
Intrepidtravel.com
OTHER TOUR OPERATORS
exodus.co.uk coxandkings.co.uk rainbowtours.co.uk
GETTING THERE
ethiopianairlines.com lufthansa.com saudiairlines.com egyptair.com
Harrowing images of the mid-1980s famine are, for some, still very fresh in the mind. The dire situation back then inspired musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to record charity Christmas single, Feed the World. We are, perhaps unfortunately, reminded of the crisis every Christmas when the song is played incessantly on radio stations across the country. However, modern Ethiopia has come a long way. While many in the country still endure the harsh realities of sub- Saharan Africa, the economy, and its tourism sector, is growing fast.
Sell what
When selling Ethiopia to a client who has never previously visited the region, it is important to be honest about the challenges: often basic infrastructure, poor roads outside the capital and the very-visible poverty. But it is the arguably the safest
country in Africa and has a long list of fascinating things to see and do. Ethiopians are very welcoming and English speaking. They will be quick to tell you the country is the origin of humankind and archaeological sites in the Awash and Omo valleys are a big draw. However, the mountaintop village
of Lalibela in the northern highlands is the jewel in the cultural crown. The 12th and 13th century rock- hewn churches attract huge numbers
“Lalibela, and its ancient rock-hewn churches, is the jewel in Ethiopia’s crown”
of Orthodox pilgrims and tourists every year. It is also home to a more contemporary attraction: The Ben Abeba restaurant (
benabeba.com), run by a retired home economics teacher from Glasgow. Spencer Neal, Head of Trade Sales
for Intrepid Travel, says: “The major attractions are the historical and cultural sites in the north, birding and wildlife trips in the Rift Valley and Bale Mountains National Park and trekking in the Simien Mountains. The capital, Addis Ababa, is busy but
Two orthodox priests during Timkat festival, Lalibela
safe. Organised excursions take in the National and Ethnographic Museums, the Mariam Church and St George Cathedral. There are a small number of quality restaurants, though overall the cuisine is good and very palatable. Global chains, including Hilton, Sheraton and InterContinental, are present in Addis Ababa.
sellingtravel.co.uk
The Fasilides bath complex in Gondar
Lake Awasa, Lake Shala, Lake Abijatta and Lake Ziway are known as Ethiopia's Rift Valley Riviera.
Sell to whom
Adds Neal: “Adventurous travellers will love Omo Valley, a rarely visited region that is home to many different tribes in a small area. "The country is also becoming a bird watching destination. A variety of endemic bird species are found in the Rift Valley and Bale Mountains.”
Sell when
Ethiopia’s rainy season lasts from mid-July until mid-October. The best time to visit is from October to December when the land is full of colourful fl owers. Alternatively, the holy festivals take place in January. •
Ethiopia R
eaders of a certain age could be
by Martin Ferguson
A male baboon in the Simien Mountains
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