Ethiopia

Ethiopia is a highland country with its own calendar, script and cuisine: Addis Ababa sits high enough to stay cool in the tropics. Local food and transport are cheap, while international-standard housing, imports and internet are expensive. The year splits into a long rainy season from June to September and the dry months when people travel. Entry is arranged online, and the difficulties are connectivity interruptions, regions closed to travel and an altitude that takes a week to accept.