
Chances are you’ll be entering Ethiopia via its capital and Africa’s fourth largest city, Addis Ababa. Situated in the central highlands (around 2,335m above sea level), the city has a near-perfect climate of 21-24 degrees all year round – just make sure you bring an umbrella if you’re planning to be there between July and September. Addis Ababa was founded as the official capital city of Ethiopia in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and his wife, Empress Taytu Betul. Today, Addis Ababa (meaning ‘new flower’) is a booming city inhabited by close to 3.5 million residents. The city radiates energy and chaos, it is Ethiopia’s commercial, political and cultural hub – home to the African Union, the Economic Commission for Africa and 118 embassies so takes its title as the third diplomatic capital in the world.
