a rare treasure
Little considered and under-visited, even by avid world travellers, Ethiopia is a rare treasure, waiting to be uncovered. Amongst its gems are a huge number of tribal people whose customs and rituals haven’t changed appreciably in centuries. And then there’s the stunning scenery and riotous birdlife of the Rift Valley. The Sanetti Plateau – home to the exquisite Ethiopian wolf. The churches and palaces that are unlike any other buildings in Africa. All waiting for you to discover them.
Our expert consultants can think of any number of reasons to visit Ethiopia. Here are their favourites.
LALIBELA
Prepare to be rendered speechless. The wonder of Lalibela rock hewn churches rivals even the spectacular scenery from the top of the Mount Yusef escarpment; the location of the mighty rock church of Asheten Mariam.
GONDAR
Gondar was the 17th century capital of Ethiopia, so it presents you with a fantastic array of mediaeval castles and fortresses. Not to mention ancient baths, ruins and royal palaces – the legacy of a whole range of emperors and their long-vanished dynasties.
AXUM
Here you’ll find what is believed to be sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest church. But the most amazing feature is the Stelae Field full of huge monoliths carved from single pieces of granite – to form weird and wonderful sculptures.
LAKE TANA
This immense lake – the largest in Ethiopia – is a fundamental outlet of the Blue Nile and provides as much as 85% of the main river’s flowing waters. It’s truly beautiful with wildlife and scenic islands, many with 14th century monasteries.
SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
The Simien Mountains have been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the view from Ras Dashen – at 4550 m Africa’s highest peak – is well worth the adventurous trek. The Simiens are also home to ‘lion monkeys’; gelada baboons.
BALE MOUNTAINS
If you like to view wildlife and then retire to luxury surroundings, the Bale Mountains are for you. They’re the natural habitat the endangered Ethiopian wolf – amongst other fascinating creatures and birds – and also the ultra-luxurious, new Bale Mountains Lodge.
LAKE LANGANO
If you’re a nature lover there can be few better experiences than trekking through the idyllic East Langano Nature Reserve or riding a horse slowly along the banks of the majestic Lake Langano. This Rift Valley lake also offers a wonderful array of birds.
GHERALTA AND MEKELE
The whole of Ethiopia is under the radar of most holidaymakers, but the Gheralta and Mekele area is truly off the beaten track. That won’t stop you being totally fascinated by the awesome Tigray Churches and enjoying the luxury of Gheralta Lodge.
THE OMO VALLEY
If you want to meet local people, visit their markets, witness their traditions and understand a lifestyle that hasn’t changed in centuries, you should visit the Omo Valley – home to over 200,000 truly unchanged tribal people.
