Environment

Wildlife

Ethiopia has a large variety of indigenous plant and animal species. In some areas, the mountains are covered with shrubs such as pyracantha, jasmine, poinsettia, and a varied assortment of evergreens. Caraway, carcade, cardamom, chat, coriander, incense, myrrh, and red pepper are common. The lakes in the Great Rift Valley region abound with numerous species of birds, and wild animals are found in every region. Among the latter are the lion, civet, serval, elephant, bushpig, gazelle, antelope, ibex, kudu, dik-dik, oribi, reedbuck, wild ass, zebra, hyena, baboon, and numerous species of monkey. As of 2002, there were at least 277 species of mammals, 262 species of birds, and over 6,600 species of plants throughout the country.

Climate

There are two seasons: the dry season, which prevails from October through May; and the wet season, which runs from June to September. Even in the wet season, however, it rarely rains for a full day, and traveling is usually quite pleasant. In Addis Ababa and the central part of the country the weather is Spring- like year round, with warm days and only a sweater of light jacket required at night.

INTERESTING FACTS

Ethiopia is the only country in the world with 13 months.
In Ethiopia time is counted on the opposite side of the clock: 6 o’clock is said to be 12 o’clock, and at 16:00 Ethiopians say it is’ 10 o’clock.
Ethiopia is one of only two countries in the world that have never been occupied.
Ethiopia was the birthplace of Pan-Africanism.
Ethiopia is the homeland of coffee.
Archeological digs show that it was the valleys of Ethiopia that man came out of.
Traditionally, parents and children do not share a last name.
The word “Rastafari” comes from “Ras Teferi Meconen" the former name of Emperor Haile Selassie I.