Ranging from 10,000 ft mountain peaks, to the depths of the Rift Valley, Ethiopia's climate varies with equal drama. The Highlands see average daytime temperatures in the mid-60's, with chilly evenings, while the southern border regions near Kenya are hot and dry. The main rainy season for most of the country is from June to September, when travel can be difficult as roads are muddy. Further south, in the Omo region, the main rains are from March - May, with short rains in October. Travelers should be aware of the country's altitude: in some areas, acclimatization can take about three days. Travelers with heart conditions or high blood pressure should seek medical advice.

As diverse as its landscape are Ethiopia's people. Over 80 languages are spoken by the many different ethnic groups. The Amhara and Tigrayan, making up nearly a quarter of the population, are Orthodox Christian, while the largest ethnic group, the Oromo, reflects the country's spiritual diversity, with some communities Christian, others Muslim, and many following at least a partial form of traditional animism. Northern inhabitants tend to be settled agriculturalists, while many of the southern border people are nomadic pastoralists. Ethiopia's Christian communities are known for their vigorous celebration of religious festivals throughout the year. Many of the Southern tribal communities are recognizable by their body decoration: ritual scarification, extending of lips, and body painting are followed by many groups, with each having their own unique styles and traditional patterns.

One of Ethiopia's primary attractions for the visitor is her plethora of historical sites, unique in sub-Saharan Africa. While much of her history is impenetrably bound up in myth and legend, a great deal of it is well documented. The Axumite Kingdom flourished from the 3rd century BC to the 10th century AD. Records of the empire are carved in the stone stelae still to be found in Axum. The Menelik dynasty is believed to have flourished from this period - with only a few brief interruptions - through to Haile Selassie's downfall in 1974. The empire was converted to Christianity in the 4th century AD. As Islam spread throughout the region from the 7th century onwards, Ethiopia's Christian empire became increasingly isolated. This isolation resulted in a vibrant if unique indigenous faith, marked by pageantry and festivals. The Portuguese sent Jesuits in the 16th century, in a futile attempt to convert the people to Catholicism - the only result of these efforts being the banishment of the Jesuits. By the 17th century, Gondar was the political and commercial center of the country. The 19th century saw a period of relative anarchy, which led to eventual national unification, if for no other reason than to strengthen the country against potential European incursions. As in so many other cases, European powers found an inroad into local politics, and Italy claimed Ethiopia in 1936. After five years' of Italian occupation, Emperor Haile Selassie was returned to the throne in 1941, and reigned until the Dergue regime took control in 1974. Their Marxist-Leninist style of government held sway until 1991. In recent years, Ethiopia has struggled to regain national coherence after disastrous famines and war with Eritrea - a border conflict aptly described as the equivalent of "two bald men fighting over a comb". Today, Ethiopia is a country of relative calm, tranquility and stability, whose immense natural beauty and cultural diversity surprises and entrances visitors