YOUR JOURNEY TO ETHIOPIA IGOLU 2017
YOUR TRIP THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME TRIP LEADERS SUSANNE CONRAD igolu Founder SEID AMAN imagine1day Country Director
TRIP INFO + MAP You are headed to the cradle of humanity, where the oldest known human remains were discovered. This incredible country, located in the Horn of Africa, is the only country on the continent never to have been colonized. It s true that at the turn of the century, the Italians made a good effort, but they never had complete control over this proud and strong nation. Ethiopia is a land-locked country, and is the second-most populous nation in Africa with over 100 million people, more than 80% of whom are subsistence farmers. Its 1.1 million km land area borders Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, Djibouti and Somalia to the east and Kenya to the south. The Orthodox Christian and Muslim faiths are present throughout the country, with these two religious groups living respectfully and harmoniously throughout the country. With 90 distinct languages spoken in Ethiopia, our ears will be buzzing. On this trip, we can expect to hear primarily Amharic - Ethiopia s national language, and Oromo and Tigrinya - the local language of Oromia and Tigray. MEK ELE ADDIS ABABA AWASSA ADAMA TRAININGS WILL TAKE PLACE IN MEK ELE, ADAMA AND AWASSA
WHEN YOU LAND From your arrival gate at Addis Bole International Airport, you will proceed with all passengers towards the border control. Prior to proceeding to a customs officer, you must obtain your tourist visa. There is a small room at the base of the stairs leading to the border control where all tourist visas are processed. This will cost you US$50 cash and should take about 20 minutes to process, depending on the lineup. You will need to provide information about where you are staying in Ethiopia. Please use the details noted on the last page of this book. Upon obtaining your tourist visa, proceed through border control. The next step will be to pick up your luggage. Note, the luggage officers may ask to see your airline issued baggage tags. You will be required to put all of your baggage (check in and hand luggage) through the security X-ray machines. Once you ve collected your bags, you will exit the passenger arrival area, and proceed accross the street towards the open parking lot. In the parking lot you will find the Jupiter Hotel shuttle. Please take the shuttle to the hotel and an imagine1day staff member will meet you in the hotel lobby to support your check-in.
PREPARING FOR YOUR ADVENTURE WEATHER During your time in Ethiopia, there is a very good chance you will encounter rain and cold weather. We strongly encourage everyone to pack waterproof clothing and shoes. Sweaters for the evening and long pants are suggested. Afternoon temperatures can still climb to 30 degrees Celsius. In rural and village settings, it is customary to be well covered for both men and women. Long pants or skirts and tops that cover shoulders are appropriate. Short sleeves are fine but not tank tops. No need to cover your head, though you may find this helps to block the sun. White is considered a very respectful colour and black is not recommended in the hot sun. Sensible shoes are definitely a must. Some of the villages may be between 30 and 120 minute walks through mountain paths, so plan accordingly. As well, urban streets can be dusty and dirty in general, so covering your feet is a good idea. All over Ethiopia, people like to dress up and look sharp - so for dinners and outings feel free to step it up! PACKING With air travel, there is always a risk of baggage loss. Make sure you pack a carry on with all of your documents, money, medications, change of clothes and all valuables. Due to space limitations in vehicles and domestic planes, please limit your checked baggage to one bag no more than 22kg. You will be responsible for the cost of extra baggage should you choose to carry it. We recommend duffle bags as the preferred baggage.
suggested CLOTHING PANTS: 1 pair hiking pants - Should be lightweight, quick drying, and comfortable. Can be convertible to shorts, but not required. 1 pair regular pants - For around towns and cities, traveling, visiting schools, etc. 1 pair of shorts - Suitable for hiking. SHIRTS: 1 long sleeved sun protection shirt. 2 short sleeved shirts for hiking/biking/climbing. 2 traveling shirts. Lightweight fleece jacket for hiking, around towns, etc. Sweater or additional fleece jacket. Wind jacket for hiking. Rain jacket & pants (gore-tex or something similar). Lightweight insulated jacket. Warm hat. Socks and underwear. Warm sleepwear - it cools down at night. Swimsuit. City outfit - Anything goes in the city, many people often like to have one set of nicer clothing to wear out to dinner in the city. suggested EQUIPMENT GENERAL: Day pack for hiking/carrying around town Camera Sun hat Sun screen Sunglasses Earplugs Lightweight travel towel Deet-based mosquito repellent. Hand sanitizer Mosquito net Personal toiletries Prescription drugs Non-prescription medications Money Passport Water bottle Music player Scarf (for dust and sun protection) Snacks and hydration powders Gloves Head lamp/flashlight Ziplock bags & garbage bags with draw strings (to protect things in your bag)
suggested FOOTWEAR Flip flops - Great for wearing around the lodge at the end of the day of hiking, etc. Hiking/walking shoes - These do not need to be hiking boots, but rather sturdy, lace-up hiking shoes that have good tread. Town shoes (optional) - It can be quite nice to have a pair of shoes that are not your hiking shoes. These should be functional and comfortable. ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR WOMEN Tank tops / athletic tops - For hiking. Skirt - Below knee length is optimal, great for visiting churches (though not required). Menstrual supplies.
GRATUITIES The cost of your trip covers gratuities to all hotels that we stay in, restaurants that we eat at and contracted drivers that work with us. You will be expected to carry your own bags at airports and in hotels. If you choose to use a baggage carrier, it is appropriate to tip up to 10 ETB. VOLTAGE, ELECTRICAL FREQUENCIES, & PLUGS The voltage in Ethiopia is 220 V. The electrical frequency is 50 Hz. Note that most household and electrical/electronic equipment nowadays support multiple frequencies; so generally, electrical frequency is not an issue compatibility wise. The plugs used in Ethiopia are D or J or L. Plugs/sockets are usually an issue when it comes to traveling, so always make sure you travel with a universal plug adapter. TELEPHONE & INTERNET Please ensure your family members have the hotel phone numbers and all emergency contact numbers (included on the last page of this book). Internet will likely only be available to you while in Addis Ababa. Your cell phone may work there but no guarantees. Ethiopia is 10 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. You can purchase local phone cards in the lobby of the Jupiter Hotel.
MONEY Ethiopian Birr (ETB) is the national currency. Neither travelers cheques, credit cards, nor bank cards are recommended as there are limited places in Addis that accept them. It is unlikely that you ll find a bank in your home city that will change your US $ to ETB so best to wait until you arrive. Your hotel accommodation, three meals per day, water, domestic travel, and entrance fees for sites included in the itinerary are covered. Items not covered include alcohol and other beverages, laundry, telephone and internet communication, souvenir purchases, tourist site entrance fees that fall outside of the itinerary, additional food and spa services (yes, there s a GREAT spa in Addis). Alcohol and laundry facilities will be available at all hotels. We recommend that you bring US$250 US$500 with you to cover these additional costs. Convert these funds in stages so that you are not left with excess ETB when you leave. There are ATMs in Addis and there is a currency echange at the airport and in the lobby of your hotel in Addis. GIFTS You may want to bring gifts for imagine1day s team members and the drivers that travel with us throughout the trip. This is not necessary but of course will be greatly appreciated. Small items with your country s flag on it (pens, notepads, etc.) are always a hit. As we will be encountering many children in each community, it is not advised to hand out gifts to some but not all of the children as this can cause jealousy and arguments. Our schools definitely appreciate pens, pencils, erasers and art supplies. If you would like to bring something for the children we suggest this type of school supply, which we will bundle and pass off to school principals who will distribute as he/she sees fit.
FOOD Ethiopian food is the crème of African cuisine. You may have already had the chance to try the staple injera (a flat bread made from a grain called teff that is used to scoop up flavourful varieties of stewed meats and vegetables known as wot ). Ethiopian food is eaten with your hands, and served on communal plates. Every restaurant will have hand washing stations. The right hand is considered polite for eating as the left is reserved for personal hygiene. Pasta and pizza are also very popular amongst Ethiopians, thanks to the presence of the Italians at the turn of the 20th century. You will also notice some Middle Eastern and Indian influence in Addis. You will experience a combination of Ethiopian and European food throughout our journey. All of the hotels and restaurants we have chosen are reputable and you should feel safe eating at them. When we visit schools in rural areas, we may be showered with local bread, white honey, injera and wot, local beer and of course, enchanting traditional coffee ceremonies. If something is offered it is most polite to accept it. If you are not comfortable doing so, simply explain that you are allergic or don t consume it for personal reasons (such as alcohol). Please do not feel any pressure to eat or drink anything that is offered. If ever in doubt, ask someone from imagine1day s team and they will help you out. GENERAL FOOD TIPS Salad is okay in reputable settings Peel all fruit Drink only bottled water Try the local juices they are delicious!
TO BE AWARE OF Ethiopia is a poor country; you are likely to be asked for money on the streets. Your choice to give is of course at your own discretion, but keep in mind that if children can make a living on the streets, parents may choose not to send them to school. Don t walk with cell phones, cameras, or wallets in open sight. If an Ethiopian is trying to pay you for something, accept graciously. Culturally, overriding their invitation is taboo. Offering them money to cover costs is also not well taken. Local time is six hours behind standard time. The clock starts when the sun comes up, making our 6:00am their 12:00am. You may find that people alternate using standard time and Ethiopian time, which can get confusing at times. Greetings are a big part of Ethiopian culture. Handshakes are enthusiastic and are often followed by a pressing of shoulders. The faux cheek kiss is also common and in Ethiopia it is done three times. Get ready to shake a lot of hands; children, elders, villagers. You may also want to consider a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your day bag. On the city streets, do not feel obligated to greet or shake hands with strangers. You will capture amazing photographs in Ethiopia. Out of consideration for your subjects, please ask permission prior to taking a picture and please avoid any pictures of children in vulnerable situations. Most of the hotels we are staying at will have a safe either in your room or at the front desk. Please use these for anything of value. There will be frequent travel on bumpy roads and many early morning departures. Though every effort will be made to follow our planned itinerary, flight delays, poor road conditions and other factors may require adjustments. Your flexibility, understanding, and sense of humor is greatly appreciated.
ITINERARY TUESDAY, MARCH 28 Arrivals to Addis Ababa WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29 Group connect and tourism in Addis Ababa THURSDAY, MARCH 30 Travel to training location - Mek ele/awassa/adama FRIDAY, MARCH 31 Set up and training SATURDAY, APRIL 1 Training SUNDAY, APRIL 2 Training MONDAY, APRIL 3 Training TUESDAY, APRIL 4 Tourism and travel to Aregash Lodge, Awassa WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 Filangur school inauguration and camping THURSDAY, APRIL 6 Day with Filangur community and camping FRIDAY, APRIL 7 Travel to Sabana Lodge, Langano Lake, and group connect SATURDAY, APRIL 8 Return to Addis Ababa and departures
HOTEL/LODGE INFORMATION JUPITER HOTEL ADDIS ABABA w: jupiterhotelcazanchis.hotelsone.com p: 855 213 0582 AREGASH LODGE, AWASSA w: aregashlodge.com p: 251 46 22 511 36 SABANA LODGE, LAKE LANGANO w: sabanalangano.com p: 251 911 20 57 70 Details for training locations to follow. EMERGENCY CONTACT # s Dial 011 before the numbers listed below: SEID AMAN P: 251 935 99 89 16 DANIEL ATAKLTI P: 251 914 75 82 43 DOCUMENTS REQUIRED Passport Your emergency contact list Flight itinerary Immunization booklet US$50 in cash to purchase your tourist visa upon arrival to Ethiopia