Ethiopia

Why it sticks

1. 1

   Apart from a brief Italian occupation (1936–41) it was never colonised, after defeating Italy at Adwa in 1896.

2. 2

   It uses its own calendar with 13 months, running about 7–8 years behind the Gregorian one.

3. 3

   Coffee originated here, and the 3.2-million-year-old hominin 'Lucy' was found in the Afar region.

4. 4

   Its green, yellow and red colours inspired the flags of many newly independent African states.

• Signs use the Ge'ez script of Amharic, unique on the continent apart from Eritrea.
• The capital's taxis and minibuses are painted blue and white.
• High green plateaus and eucalyptus trees; the capital is at about 2,400 m.