First published in 1995, this new edition has undergone a thorough threeway revision. Philip Briggs revisited Ethiopia early in 1997 in order to secure the latest details on upmarket hotels, and to revise his opinions and impressions of various places of interest whilst, for the benefit of independent travellers, his wife Ariadne compiled laborious notes when travelling along the historical circuit through the Rift Valley in October. And, lastly, a whole host of readers sent in updates, corrections, and new information. As a result, we may safely assume it reflects the latest changes in accommodation, restaurants, etc. Structured in two sections, it begins with a practical information section, opening with a look at Ethiopia’s general background, its geography, notes on its government, economy, climate, vegetation, wildlife, national parks and reserves, with an especially good coverage of its fauna; and a swift overview of its people, culture and history, and post‐war politics.
Of particular interest is a section on The Ark of the Covenant which draws on material to be found in Graham Hancock’s admirable The Sign and The Sea: A Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant (1992), and a shorter section, which might profitably have been expanded, on Prester John. This preparatory chapter is followed by others on planning and preparation, including money matters and packing, and planning an itinerary; on bridging the cultural gap, examining the relationship between tourism and the host country; and on travelling and health. All this, of course, is standard practice, but Briggs writes with deceptive ease to imbue his text not only with his own personality, but with a sincere understanding of, and sympathy for, Ethiopian sensitivities.
Section two is a region by region guide, beginning with the capital, Addis Ababa, spreading out to cover The Nazret Road and Harer, Bale and the Arsi Highlands, The Southern Rift Valley and the Kenya border, Western Ethiopia, and those regions comprising the historical circuit, Gojam, Gonder, Tigre, and Wolo, each containing a description of its principal features, and information on how to get there, where to stay, and where to eat, ranging from genuinely upmarket hotels to eminently avoidable scruffy and grotty dollar‐a‐night establishments. Advice along the lines of “don’t ask for a room with a shower (no water, lots of mould)” testifies to Briggs’ no‐nonsense and all‐encompassing approach. Your reviewer was also impressed by his locations of the second‐hand bookstalls in Addis Ababa and by the throwaway sentence “The camel market on Saturdays is well worth a look” (in Negele Borena). Close on 60 maps, some stunning colour illustrations, an appendix on the Amharic language, including some useful words and numbers, and a pleasantly informed descriptive guide to general reading, historical works, and field guides to Ethiopia’s mammals and birds, ensure that this title fully measures up to Bradt Publications impeccably high standards. To put it another way, it is equally valuable as a portable pocket guide for the visitor and as a reliable source of information in the reference library.
