Ethiopia

Philip Briggs has been exploring the highways, byways and backwaters of Africa since 1986, when he spent several months backpacking on a shoestring from Nairobi to Cape Town. He first visited Ethiopia in 1994 to research the Bradt Guide and has since revisited it several times to update more recent editions. He has visited more than two dozen African countries in total and written about most of them for specialist travel and wildlife magazines including Africa Birds & Birding, Africa Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Travel Africa and Wanderlust. He still spends at least four months on the road every year, usually accompanied by his wife, the travel photographer Ariadne Van Zandbergen, and spends his rest of the time battering away at a keyboard at home in South Africa.

Introduction ix

PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1The Natural World
Geography, Climate, Mammals, Reptiles, Birds

Chapter 2 Background Information
History, Government and politics, Economy, Population, Language, Religion, Education, Music

Chapter 3 Practical Information
When to visit, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Tourist information, Red tape, Getting there and away, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festival days, Shopping, Nightlife, Media and communications, Local interaction, Responsible tourism, Ethiopian charities, Safety, Women travellers, Gay and lesbian travellers

Chapter 4 Health
Preparations, Medical problems, Other safety concerns

PART TWO ADDIS ABABA AND SURROUNDS
Chapter 5 Addis Ababa
History, Getting there and away, Orientation, Maps, Getting around, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Nightlife, Cinema, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do

Chapter 6 Around Addis Ababa
East towards Bishoftu and Adama, South towards Butajira and Hosanna, West towards Ambo and Mount Wenchi, North towards Debre Libanos and the Blue Nile Gorge

PART THREE NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
Chapter 7 Western Amhara
Dejen to Bahir Dar, Bahir Dar, Monasteries of southern Lake Tana, Bahir Dar to Gondar by road, Gorgora and northern Lake Tana, Gondar, Debark, Simien Mountains National Park

Chapter 8 Eastern Amhara
Addis Ababa to Dessie via Debre Berhan, Addis Ababa to Dessie/Lalibela via Dejen, Kombolcha, Dessie and surrounds, Weldiya, The 'China Road', Lalibela, Around Lalibela, Sekota

Chapter 9 Tigrai
Shire Inda Selassie, Axum, Adwa and surrounds, Abiy Addi and the Tembien, Adigrat,
Rock-hewn churches between Adigrat and Wukro, Wukro and surrounds, Hawzen and the Gheralta Escarpment, Mekele, Southward from Mekele to Weldiya

PART FOUR EASTERN ETHIOPIA
Chapter 10 Afar
Awash National Park, The Djibouti road, Danakil

Chapter 11 Harar and the Far East
The road to Harar and Dire Dawa, Dire Dawa, Harar, Jijiga

PART FIVE SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
Chapter 12 Bale and the Southeast
Towards Bale Mountains, Bale Mountains and surrounds, Southeastern birding route, South towards Moyale

Chapter 13 The Southern Rift Valley Lakes
Ziway, Lakes Langano, Abijatta and Shalla, Lephis Forest, Shashemene, Hawassa, Sodo, Arba Minch and surrounds

Chapter 14 Konso and South Omo
Travel practicalities, Karat-Konso, Along the Konso-Jinka road, Jinka, Hamer country: Dimeka, Turmi and Arbore, Omorate and the Omo River

Chapter 15 Southwest Ethiopia
The Western Highlands, Gambella region, Benishangul-Gumuz region

Appendix 1 Language
Appendix 2 Glossary
Appendix 3 Key historical and legendary fi gures in Ethiopia
Appendix 4 Some Ethiopian transcriptions of place names
Appendix 5 Further information

Index
Index of advertisers