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Some of us are already planning trips abroad in the coming spring months. Experienced voyagers recommend taking care of telecom and Internet access in advance, so as not to spoil the holiday experience with high roaming bills. Of course, roaming communication when going on a trip to Ethiopia is quite expensive. However, many people still connect this service, for example, in case of an emergency: for calls from relatives and SMS notifications on debit from a bank card.
If you have not connected to the Internet while roaming, and you need access to the network, then the easiest and fastest solution will be a Wi-Fi connection. Some tourists are looking for free Wi-Fi spots upon arrival in the destination country so as not to pay for the Internet. But this option has its risks.
Related: “eSIM vs. Pocket WiFi — Which is Better for Traveling Abroad?“
Well, some advanced travelers to Ethiopia or other places have found optimal alternatives to stay in touch abroad! Favorable Ethiopia eSIM data plans are a popular solution for many reasons! Read the details in the article.
Trip to Ethiopia — General Facts About This Country
Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa (the easternmost peninsula of the African continent). This is the only country in Africa that has never been colonized by European powers. It has a rich historical heritage dating back more than 2000 years.
Nowadays, this country is one of the oldest on the African continent. Ethiopia was founded in 980 BC. Moreover, even though it is not the largest state in Africa (it ranks only 10th), Ethiopia is the second most populous on the African continent. Addis Ababa is the biggest city and the capital of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia: Climate, Local Language & Currency
The best time to travel in Ethiopia is from October to February: there are no extremely high temperatures or rains here. From March to April, it is better to travel in the north of this state, since it is the rainy season in the south at this time. From May to September, it’s not worth coming at all: it’s still raining in the south, and the climate in Ethiopia because of heat is unbearable in the north. Many tourists come here for its unique exotic. Foreigners like to visit national parks with their unique flora and fauna, taste local cuisine, etc.
There are many languages in Ethiopia, but Amharic is the most widely spoken and official language. But, Apart from Amharic, many other languages are spoken in Ethiopia such as Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali, and many other local dialects. English is often understood and used, especially among those working in the tourism industry such as guides, hotels, restaurants and others.
The national currency of the state is the Ethiopian birr. As for local folks, there are more than 100 representatives of different nationalities living in this country.
5 Interesting Facts about Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a dynamic and not always understandable African country. For example, you might have never heard, but primitive tribes still live in Ethiopia according to their laws.
For tourists, we have compiled five interesting facts about Ethiopia:
- The birth of a girl to wealth. Among the tribes, it is believed that if girls are born into a family, then the family will be rich, if boys, then poor. When a guy wants to marry a girl, he has to pay the girl’s parents about 40 cows (from Mursi). It all depends on the upbringing, beauty, and skills of a girl, which her parents endowed her with. Besides, polygamy is widespread in this country. This way, local men can marry as many women as they can provide a decent life for!
- Religion. In the 1st century AD, Ethiopia adopted Christianity! At the moment, 70% of the country’s population, which is 70 million people, are Orthodox! On Christmas Eve, it’s fantastic here! People walk from villages to churches and temples for several days, fast, pray, and wait for a bright holiday! The religious center of Ethiopia — Lalibela immerses the traveler in the sensations of the Middle Ages! Temples carved from solid stone, wise elders reading the Bible, age-old dust standing over the city, cattle going somewhere, and, for some reason, the smell of incense and coffee.
- Calendar. One more interesting facts about Ethiopia is that the Ethiopian calendar consists of 12 months of 30 days each, which is almost similar to the Gregorian calendar that we follow. But there is a slight difference in that there is a 13th month, which consists of five to six days. These extra days ensure that the calendar matches the seasons and phases of the moon. This addition resulted in a difference of seven years compared to the regular calendar. Ethiopians also adhere to a completely different time frame. They adhere to a 12-hour schedule, unlike the 24-hour system that the rest of the world adheres to. As for us, the day starts at midnight, and Ethiopians start their day at dawn.
- No surnames. In this country, children take their father’s name as a surname. The globally accepted naming convention prescribes using a person’s name followed by a surname. But in Ethiopia, the rules are slightly different. People’s names consist of their name followed by their father’s name. Sometimes, one can take the name of their grandfather or any other male ancestor in the family.
- Coffee. There is a saying in Ethiopia – “Coffee is our bread.” This clearly shows how important coffee is to the people of Ethiopia. And why not? It is widely believe that Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee. There is a popular legend in the country related to this. A herder named Kaldi was busy grazing his goats when he noticed that one goat was very excited. As it turned out, this animal was eating berries from a bush. It was a coffee bush.
There is no evidence of this legend to be 100% true, but it coincides with the time when coffee began to be grown in Ethiopia.
3 Places to Visit in Ethiopia
- Addis Ababa. Many travellers start their trip to Ethiopia by visiting the ancient city of Addis Ababa. The city is located at an altitude of 2,400 m above sea level, which makes it the third-highest capital in the world. Travelers like the bustling Piazza shopping district and Mercato Market were founded during the period when Italy was trying to seize power in the country. The two most famous cathedrals in Addis Ababa belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church: the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the Cathedral of St. George.
- Bahir Dar. This city is located in the north-west of Ethiopia, on the coast of Lake Tana. Bahir Dar is one of the most significant centers for tourism: people visit it not only for the beauty of nature but also for the sake of a vibrant social life, as Bahir Dar is full of restaurants and nightclubs. Among the attractions are the Imperial Palace and the ancient monasteries of Lake Tana, standing on small islands of land in the middle of the reservoir.
- Tis-Ysat Waterfall. This place is situated on the Blue Nile River in the Amhara region, near the village of Tis-Abbay, 30 km southeast of the city of Bahir Dar and Lake Tana. Translated from Amharic, its name means “steaming water”. This waterfall is not the highest in the world, but it is worth a look if you find yourself in those parts.
What is an eSIM?
The eSIM is a digital card that allows you to use cellular data without using a physical card. This is the same SIM, but physically soldered to the motherboard of a phone. The letter “E” of the Latin alphabet means — “embedded”. Unlike a classic SIM card, an electronic one cannot be held in your hand since it is not framed in a plastic case and does not fit into a physical slot.
The SIM card works like a memory device: it stores data (profiles) about phone numbers, operators and tariffs. You can store up to 5 data plans at a time. By switching from one number to another, you can quickly use what you need.
This is very convenient when, for example, you are roaming. This format allows you to save time, money, and nerves — because you can choose a foreign electronic SIM card in advance, and then connect it on the spot.
Plastic SIMs do not have such functionality. There is only one tariff and number for each physical card.
The Best Providers of eSIM Ethiopia
To stay in touch while on trips to Ethiopia choose the best eSIM deals:
- Maya eSIM. If you want an Ethiopia eSIM plan with instant activation, fast data transfer for apps, and support for sharing access points, choose Maya eSIM. Today, the best offer for tourists is here: Ethiopia 10GB – 5 days price 94 for 1 GB.
- Yoho Mobile. Another popular operator to stay in touch with eSIM in Ethiopia is Yoho Mobile. Right now, you can buy 1 GB for 30 days here. You will pay $54 for this.
- Global YO. This company offers the best eSIM in Ethiopia data deals, cheap calls, free indie movies, radio stations, specially selected maps, live DJ performances, and more. To date, you can buy 1 GB for seven days. The price is $44.99.
