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Ethiopia Birr
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, to give Ethiopia its full title, has the birr as its official currency. Each birr is then further divided into 100 santimes (singular santim).
The currency is in the form of both notes and coins, with coins issued in 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 santim pieces and the notes issued as 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 birr notes.
The currency is issued by the National Bank of Ethiopia and it is identified by the letters ETB.
History of the Birr
The birr was first introduced into Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia) in 1893, when it was issued as a coin called the talari, which was also known as the birr. Birr in the local Ethiopian languages means silver and so it originated as a nickname, having been in use when the previous currency, the Maria Theresa thaler was in circulation. Interestingly, before the thaler and talari were introduced, blocks of salt had also been used as currency in Ethiopia!
Then in 1903, the talari was officially replaced with the birr, since this was the name that everyone used for the currency anyway.
The early part of the 20th Century saw some upheaval in Ethiopia and the currency was no uniform, with the thaler still in circulation.
This situation got even more confusing when the Italians invaded Ethiopia in 1936 and made the lira the official currency. However, when the British arrived to liberate Ethiopia and carry out their East Africa campaign as part of the Second World War, they brought with them various types of currency, with the East African shilling becoming official tender.
But after the war had ended, the birr was once again re-introduced and was officially titled the birr, although banknotes had English text on them as well, which described the currency as the 'Ethiopian Dollar'. However, in 1976 this was scrapped and the currency simply was called the birr.
Getting Hold of Birrs
Ethiopia is a country that has for many, many years been blighted by famine, droughts, political unrest, attacks and skirmishes with other countries and fighting within its own people.
As a result there is little in the way of 'infrastructure' in this country and so the financial institutions are basically still in their infancy. This means that there are no tourist type facilities and getting hold of cash in Ethiopia is not a straightforward process, as it is in many other countries.
In the capital Addis Ababa there are some ATM facilities, but not all may accept foreign cards. In part this is also due to the fact that Ethiopia gets so few tourists, that it is not seen as being important to develop ATM facilities for foreigners, so prior to travel (and see safety section below) it is always best to check with your bank that the card will be accepted.
Traveller's cheques are probably the best way of taking cash into the country. These should be in euros or US dollars. Banks are more enthusiastic about US dollars, so they will be the easiest currency to exchange, but if you have euros, or British sterling you should be able to exchange them, even if all banks will not accept them. One important point to bear in mind is that once you have left Addis Ababa, you probably won't be able to exchange money, so ensure that you change enough to keep you going.
Banking hours tend to be from about 8 am until 3 pm and they are usually open on a Saturday till about 11.30, but do not rely on this, instead, change money during the week, just in case there is any problem on the Saturday morning, since the banks will not open again until the Monday.
Credit cards are for emergencies only. Some of the biggest hotels in Addis Ababa will accept credit cards, although not for smaller purchases, but their use really is strictly limited.
Ethiopia is a very poor country, much dependent upon foreign aid and it needs cash, so credit is a luxury that they simply cannot afford at this period of time.
Safety Issues
Travellers who are thinking of travelling to Ethiopia should make sure that they check thoroughly whether it is safe to travel there. The country is one that is far from stable and it is likely that the problems and political unrest will not die down for some time, so it may be years before Ethiopia becomes a country that is safe to travel to.
The problems that this country is experiencing are almost too numerous to mention. First of all there is a serious risk of terrorism and that terrorism is directly targeted towards westerners, regardless of nationality. In other words, this is not terrorism against the US or Europe, but simply against the West as a whole.
In particular the risk of terrorism is a risk in Jijiga which is in the east of the country. Hotels are suspected of being amongst the targets.
Addis Ababa is also designated as a high risk destination, again because of the threat of terrorism.
Next there are problems with neighbouring countries, which, it is thought could easily escalate at any point, with all out war a distinct possibility. Ethiopia has been having problems and skirmishes with Somalia and Eritrea but also with Kenya and the Sudan. So there is in effect no safe way in and no safe way out from these countries.
In addition, there have been several kidnappings in the eastern part of the country, these have specifically targeted western travellers and as such this area is simply not safe.
Addis Ababa has also experienced many political demonstrations over recent years and these usually culminate in violence, with several protestors killed during the demonstrations.
So all in all, this is not a country that affords a warm welcome to travellers. Instead it almost seems like a smoking gun, which is likely to go off at any point.
As if all those reasons were not enough to deter visitors, there is also a real risk of people having their bags snatched or being pickpocketed. It is true that there is little risk of facing armed robbers (although armed kidnappers are more of a risk) but the country is so poor and has been poor for so long that people simply see westerners as having money, so they steal from them.
The Country Itself
If, however, you have checked up to see whether or not it is safe to travel to Ethiopia and you find that the situation has eased, then you will discover a country that is almost completely undiscovered by westerners and as such, even being in the country means that you are almost a novelty.
In Addis Ababa there are some luxury hotels, where you will pay more to stay, but you will be afforded real luxury. They may as a result be more prone to terrorist activity, but on the other hand the hotel management will be keen to ensure that there are no terrorist attacks, so security may be higher.
One thing you will probably find in Ethiopia is that people try to charge you foreigners rates. This is because the cost of living is just so low locally, that a profit has to be made somewhere and so foreigners can help boost the local economy. Often it is possible to beat down the initial price that you are quoted, but this will still be much more than for locals.
That being said, in the state run Ghion hotels, there is a fixed price and it is not possible to barter over the cost. Since these are state run they may be safer, due to the fact that the government does not want any negative publicity.
Most of the towns offer a range of hotels, with some pretty basic, but some quite comfortable and with adequate facilities, although you are not going to find luxury spa facilities in many of them.
The cost of food and drink is remarkably low in Ethiopia and it is possible to eat quite well and some of the food is still influenced by the Italian invasion during the 1930's with spaghetti dishes often served, although with a slightly Ethiopian twist.
In Ethiopia there are quite a few national parks and some interesting towns and cities, such as Harar which is considered to be one of the holiest Islamic cities in the world and is a medieval walled city, which is of such significance, that it has been listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. With some 82 mosques, some of which date from as early as the 10th Century, it is a fascinating insight into Ethiopian history and shows just how Islam has shaped this country.
Axum is also a city worth visiting (when it is safe to do so: it borders on Eritrea and may well be volatile). However, for fans of archaeological sites, this is a dream come true, with ruined palaces and ancient tombs to be seen.
Overview
Ethiopia is often seen as simply being poor and underdeveloped and yet it has been culturally quite sophisticated for some time, with various religious influences at play.
This is not a destination that should be travelled to without first undertaking some serious research as to whether or not it is safe. You will also need to be careful to take out an insurance policy that will cover any eventualities when in the country.
But Ethiopia is more than just famine, droughts and civil unrest or disputes with its neighbours and hopefully it will regain some stability and open its borders up for visitors again. Not least of all because the country not only has a lot to offer, but the revenue that tourists can generate could help kickstart this country and help it find its feet once more.
So before you travel, do not finalise your journey without making sure that you will be safe. Each country publishes advice on travel to Ethiopia, so visit the website of your Foreign Office or Foreign Department, before you make any bookings.
Comment
Wow I had never heard of the birr before now. It’s a weird name for a currency but then perhaps that is just because I’m not used to it. After all it is split into a hundred pieces much like many other currencies are.
Having read this report I certainly wouldn’t consider going to Ethiopia anytime soon. It sounds like the most unsafe country you could ever want to visit. It’s not exactly a holiday destination anyway but I pity anyone who would want to visit for the purpose of business or anything else. I think I will steer well clear.
— Kate · Feb 24, 01:05 PM · #