The following guide is designed to help you get the most out of your visit:

September / October / November

11 September. 'Enkutatash' (Ethiopian New Year). Also signifies the end of the rainy season and therefore the beginning of the new tourist season.

27 September. 'Maskal' (The Feast of the Finding of the True Cross). An ancient Christian feast traditionally celebrated with bonfires and processions. It is said that the embers from Maskal bonfires foretell the course of the year to come.

At this time of year, the highland fields are picturesquely carpeted in the bright yellow blossom of the small Maskal flower and wildlife seems more abundant. This is a good season for viewing wildlife and birds, especially in the Rift Valley Lakes.

After the rains, the rivers flowing from the Ethiopian plateau are high and fast and there is a significant difference in the northern rivers Abay (Blue Nile) and Tekeze, the eastern rivers Awash and Wabe Shabelle. In the south-west this is usually a good time for white-water rafting along the River Omo.

The Tissisat (Blue Nile) Falls are an awesome sight at this time of year.

The Bale Mountains in the south-east are at their best in November and December. Further north-west, the Simien Mountains are acceptable but still cold and fresh.

Special attention is reserved for St Mary's feastday on 28 November in Axum

December / January / February

The most popular time to travel to Ethiopia, perhaps to escape cold winters elsewhere.

Birds migrate to Ethiopia at this time of year, so this can be a very fruitful time for birdwatchers, with over 800 recorded species and 30 endemics.

The Simien Mountains are probably best and driest between December and May.

National Parks such as Omo, Mago and Nechisar all offer good conditions for photographic safaris.

The historical route is at its peak. The Orthodox feasts of 'Genna' and 'Temqit' are very popular, but hotels on the historical route are heavily booked. It may be worth checking out lesser-known locations and feastdays, which are numerous.

7 January. 'Genna' (Christmas).

19 January. 'Temqit' (Epiphany).

March / April / May

These months can be very pleasant. The main highland areas are subject to 'small rains' in February and March, but these are irregular and not a deterrent.

Harar and Dire Dawa in the east may be visited at any time of year, but check out the dates of the moveable feast of Ramadan.

In the south-west, the rainy season proper may be under way by March and this should be borne in mind if travelling to Mago and Omo national parks, where tracks can soon become impassable.

Trekking in the (Northern) Simien Mountains is still good, and will appeal to those who do not want to travel at the busiest times.

Weddings are a prominent and colourful feature.

June / July / August

The rainy season in the highlands, including Addis Ababa. Trekking is inadvisable as rivers can rise quickly. But not all sightseeing areas are equally affected.

A window of opportunity opens up in the Omo Valley in the south-west, where the rains have usually been and gone. Nechisar NP is also worth trying.

On the historical route, Lalibela was traditionally inaccessible at this time of year but the new all-weather airstrip will enable visitors to arrive all year round and Ethiopian Airlines are providing more and larger aircraft to cope with the increased demand.

Published in Travel Africa Edition Four: Summer 1998. Text is subject to Worldwide Copyright (c)