Ethiopia
Tour & Culture
Ethiopia
is a large country both in terms of population and geographical area. It
experienced no protracted period of colonial rule, although it was partly
occupied by the Italians for six years from 1935. It emerged from a disastrous revolutionary
part-Marxist period under a military regime (1974-1991), which followed the
fall of Haile Selassie. The country experienced wide-scale human rights abuse
and intense economic hardship, including acute famine in 1984-1985.
Visits
to many parts of the country were not possible and permits, issued by an
infuriatingly obstructive and inefficient bureaucracy, were required for travel
outside the capital. Happily this is now all in the past and travellers seeing
the countryside, people, culture, wildlife and historical sites for the first
time are astonished by their richness and diversity.ÂÂ
Top 10 Places to Visit in Ethiopia
1.
Danakil Depression
This
is a surreal piece of real estate that’s strewn with active volcanoes, salted
basins, hot springs, and a lava lake – all of which combine to create a very
lunar-like landscape.
The
Depression overlaps the borders of Eritrea, Djibouti and the entire Afar Region
of Ethiopia; and it contains the lowest point in Africa and second in the world
(after the Dead Sea). Situated in the Afar Triangle, it stretches across
100,000 square kilometers (10,000,000 ha) of arid terrain.
The
Danakil is officially one of driest and hottest places on Earth with
temperatures that often reach 50+ degrees. Do a bit of planning before you go
as the climate can be harsh if you aren’t prepared.
How
to arive there?
By
Road: Drive 797 km north from Addis Ababa to Mekele then drive to Erta ale (200
Km asphalt & 45km sand road, total 245 km from Mekele).
By
Air: Ethiopian airlines flies to Mekele.
2.The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela (UNESCO
Heritage Site)
King
Lalibela, from ZagweDynasty, constructed the churches between 12th and 13th
centuries to be a kind of second Jerusalem, after Muslim conquests halted
Christian pilgrimages to the holy Land.
Unesco
identifies 11 churches and each church has an unique shape, size and a set of
details, derived from a combination of different styles and symbols. The main
influences can be traced back to the local Axumite architecture and early Christian
basilicas. BieteGiyorgis (Church of Saint George) is thought to be the
most finely executed and best preserved church, while Biete Mariam (House of
Miriam/House of Mary) retains vividly colored geometric and biblical scenes
painted on shallowly carved walls, ceilings, and columns.
What
makes the Lalibela churches important is that they are still in use. It's not a
museum; it's a living heritage. Every day, every morning, there is a service in
all the 11 churches."
On
the Ethiopian Christmas (January 7) over 50,000 pilgrims descend on Ethiopia’s
“new” Jerusalem. More than 100 priests climb the rocky steps and chant on the
eve of Christmas. The courtyard priests represent the world's people, and the
priests high above represent the angels.
How
to arrive there
By
Road: Drive 676 km north from Addis Ababa.
By
Air: Ethiopian airlines flies to Lalibela town.
3. Aksum (UNESCO Heritage Site)
Built
by the Axum Kingdom between 1st and 4th centuries the Axum Obelisks are markers
for underground burial chambers. The largest of the grave markers were for
royal burial chambers and were decorated with multi-story false windows and
false doors, while lesser nobility would have smaller, less decorated ones.
The
Obelisk of Axum is a 24-meter-tall (79-feet) granite stele/obelisk, weighing
160 tons. The largest of these towering obelisks would measure 33 meters high
had it not fallen. One of the Obelisks was taken by Italians in the 1930s.
The
Aksum Kingdom at its high incorporated territories that extends from Kush up to
South Arabiya. From 4th century onwards Aksumites adopted the name “Ethiopia”
for their empire and were trading with Gold coins. By 327 Christianity became
the state religion of Aksum kingdom, 53 years earlier before it was the state
religion of Roman Empire. They expanded Christianity within the region and
Churches that they built in South Arabia still survive.
Church
of Our Lady Mary of Zion, found in Axum city is the most important church in
Ethiopia, and claims to contain the Ark of the Covenant.
Nejashi
Mosque, located 200km east of Axum, is the first mosque in Africa. The Axumite
king received the first companions of Prophet Muhammad and Nejashi hosts the
tombs of fifteen of them. Muslims claim the King (Nejashi) himself converted to
Islam.
How
to arrive there
By
Road: Drive 960 km north from Addis Ababa.
By
Air: it takes one and half hour to fly to Aksum town from Addis Ababa
4. Harar (UNESCO Heritage site)
Harar
Jugol is a walled Muslim city with 368 narrow alleyways, with 82 mosques and
102 shrines dating back to the 10th century. The walls surrounding this sacred
Muslim city were built in the early 16th century. Four meters in height with
five gates, this structure, called Jugol, is still intact and is a symbol of
the town.
Harar
was founded between the 7th and the 11th century and emerged as the center of
Islamic culture and religion in the Horn of Africa. It was once the commercial
link between Africa and the Middle East
Tourist
attractions in Harar includes: the hyena men of Harar who hand-feed packs of
wild hyenas every night, house of Jean Nicolas Arthur Rimbaud who was an
influential French poet, and the living rooms of traditional houses in Harar.
The
Babile Elephant Sanctuary is located 31 km away from Harar and roughly 400 Elephants
live there. Only about 1,000 elephants remain in Ethiopia, and by far the
largest and most visible herd lives in the Babile Elephant Sanctuary.
How
to arrive there
By
Road: Drive 514 km east from Addis Ababa.
By
Air: it takes one hour to fly to Harar town from Addis Ababa
5. The Rift Valley
The
Rift Valley includes wonderful lakes, hot springs, and lots of fun wildlife.
Tourists and locals love to spend time near the hot springs for its therapeutic
benefits and to relax. It makes for a nice road trip to travel the entire
length of the valley.
The
Rift Valley is a chain of seven lakes – each with its own distinct feel. A
major tourist attraction, Lake Langano is one of the best beaches in Ethiopia
and is a safe place to swim in unlike many other freshwater lakes in Ethiopia.
It is found 200 km south of Addis Ababa and Sabana Beach and Simbo are some of
the popular resorts located by the lake side.
Lakes
Abijata, Shalla and Chittu, located within 20 km distance from Lake Langano,
are home to over 10,000 flamingos and other bird species. Grant’s
Gazelle, Ostriches and different species of monkeys can also be seen within
Abijata-Shalla national park.
Wondo
Genet, Hawasa and Arba Minch are tourist destinations within the Rift Valley.
Nechisar National park is found a few kilometers away from Arba Minch and is
located in between Lakes Abaya and Chamo. Large number of crocodiles,
hippopotamus and Zebras can be seen within the national park.
6. North Ethiopia
Blue
Nile Falls, Bahrdar, Gondar Castles and Semien Mountains are major
tourist attractions found in North Ethiopia.
The
Blue Nile Falls is a waterfall on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. It is known
as Tis Abay in Amharic, meaning "great smoke". It is found 30km south
of Bahrdar city. Bahrdar is found 560 km north of Addis Ababa and is a city
located on the shores of Lake Tana, the source of Blue Nile. Ethiopia
Contributes in average over 85 percent of the flow arriving at Aswan Dam in
Egypt and the Blue Nile contributes 54 percent.
Gondar
Castles (UNESCO World Heritage Site), were constructed in the 17th and 18th
centuries by Emperor Fasilides. Gondar, the 17th century capital of Ethiopia is
located about 748 km North of Addis Ababa and 174 km away from Bahrdar.
Semien
Montains National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) found in Northern Ethiopia
is an exotic setting with unique wildlife and breath-taking views on a
landscape shaped by nature and traditional agriculture. The margins of this
high plateau consist of precipitous cliffs and deep, canyon-style gorges. The
Walia Ibex and the Gelada baboon, both only found in Ethiopia, can be seen
within the national park. The Park is located 120 km away from Gondar.
7. The Omo Valley
As
the northern part of the country is notable for its historical relics, there
are the Omotic tribes of the south who still adhere to ancient animistic
rituals. Beaded leather skirts and complementing body painting, feathered
headdresses and dramatic scarification make the Hamar, Bumi, Karo, and Bena
people visually outstanding. Even more unusual are the isolated Mursi tribe
whose women wear large clay lip plates symbolizing their worth and beauty. This
itinerary gets travelers “off the beaten path” with an opportunity to learn
about and interact with some of Ethiopia’s most unique cultural groups. Located
900 km south west of Addis Ababa, the lower Omo Vally is a UNESCO world
heritage site for discovery of many fossils there.
8. The Awash Valley (UNESCO world heritage site)
The
oldest remains found at the site date back 4 million years & provide
evidence of human evolution which has modified our conception of the history of
humankind.
9. Addis Ababa
The
national museum is one of the places within the city frequented by tourists.
Set within Haile Selassie’s former palace, the museum contains numerous
antiquities, various historical relics, archaeological, paleontologist objects
including the 3.5 million-year-old skeleton of Lucy.
10. Tiya (UNESCO world heritage site)
The
site contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stelae covered with symbols.
Located 85 km south of Addis, they are the remains of an ancient Ethiopian
culture.
9 things to
do in Ethiopia
World
class treks. Rare wildlife. Other-worldly monuments. Where to start? With our
guide, of course...
1. Meet the locals in the Omo Valley
Spanning
the border of Ethiopia and Kenya, in a remote enclave of the Great Rift Valley,
lies the Omo Delta – a forgotten corner of Africa. Here travellers can
glimpse the continent as the early explorers found it: an Africa
peopled by exotic tribes proud of their traditional lifestyles and ancient
customs.
Central
to these pastoralist cultures are their herds of cattle and goats: people dress
in clothes made from animal skins; blood mixed with milk is a staple drink; and
a man’s wealth is judged by the size of his herds.
If
you’re lucky, you’ll witness a Hamer bull-jumping ceremony, a
seminal moments in a Hamer man’s life, where he runs naked over the backs of
tethered bulls four times to mark his transition to manhood.
2. Make a fuss of drinking coffee
Coffee
is an integral part of social and cultural life in Ethiopia. Indeed, Ethiopian
folklore insists that coffee beans were discovered here around 800 AD when a
goatherder noticed his flock becoming livelier after eating the red berries. It
is almost certain that you will be invited to a coffee ceremony during your
stay.
The
ceremony is performed around a rekbot, a shelf-like box where the
coffee is prepared and served. The beans will be roasted and ground in front of
you and then mixed with spices in an ornate clay pot called a jebena.
The coffee is poured in small cups from a height of one foot and served with a
small snack like popcorn.
Be
warned: You’ll be expected to drink three rounds of coffee. That’s how many it
takes for your spirit to be transformed.
3. Marvel at the stone churches of Lalibela
This
rural town in north east Ethiopia is famous around the world for its monolithic
churches, carved from "living rock." Just as Michelangelo cut
away all the marble that wasn’t David, so these stone carvers had to remove all
the rock that wasn’t a church.
The
11 rock churches of Lalibela are Unesco-listed and remain a place of
pilgrimage for Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christians. The most famous – and
most beautiful – church is the church of St George, carved in the shape of a
cross. As you approach, it looks like a simple carving in the rock. But when
you reach the edge and look down you appreciate the craftsmanship involved.
4. Cry wolf
With
its bright russest coat and black stripes on its tail and nose, the Simien wolf
of Ethiopia is one of the prettiest in the world. It is also one of the rarest,
with less than 500 left in the wild.Simien wolf, Ethiopian Highlands
The
Sanetti Plateau, sitting high in Bale Mountains National Park, offers
the best chance to see them. The wolves survive here amongst the heather
and the cloud forest because it’s too cold and inhospitable for locals to build
homes. However, a new lodge – and conservation program – have
made it easier for you to spot them.
5. Trek in the Simien Mountains
The Simien
Mountains National Park is a designated a Unesco World Heritage site
and it’s easy to see why. Well worn trails lead you along an escarpment 3,500m
high covered in gleaming yellow meskel 'daisy' flowers like an alpine meadown,
before dissolving into an enormous plateau defined by the movement of the
locals and their flocks since time began.
Male Gelada baboon in Simien mountains
Venture
to the edge of the precipice and there, 2,500 metres below, is the Tekeze River,
a shimmering piece of silver thread and the lifeblood of the cattle, mules,
donkeys, goats, sheep that make this lush plateau their home. Keep an
eye out for the thick-coated gelada baboons that live on these rocky cliffs.
Watching them squabble and forage one these precarious footholds is one of the
most unforgettable sights in Ethiopia.
7. Make friends with Injera
Injera
is the staple of Ethiopian cuisine and an acquired taste. It
is made from teff, a wheat-like grain grown in the highlands of Ethiopia,
pounded into flour, mixed with water and yeast, then left to ferment for a few
days. In the countryside, the women cook the pancake-like bread on large,
round, clay cooking plates called mogogos, in much the same way as a crêpe.
Preparing injera near the Blue Nile
Injera
has a distinctive, almost bitter taste. It is served with dollops of tibs
(strips of fried beef), doro (chicken stew) and piles of carrots and spinach
cooked with garlic. Everyone eats together, sitting in a circle tearing off strips
and helping themselves to the injera in the middle.
It’s the
most sociable way to eat in the world. And a highlight of any visit to
Ethiopia.
8. Seek out the holy waters of Lake Tana
Lake
Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake and the source of the Blue Nile. There are 20
centuries-old monasteries on Lake Tana’s islands, and some such as Ura Kidane
Meret allow female visitors. Each is decorated with distinctive, brightly
coloured murals depicting biblical events, holy precursors of today’s cartoon
strips.
Mural in Lake Tana monastery
Just
a few kilometres down the road, the river plunges down the impressive Tis Isat
waterfall, which is a particularly captivating sight during the wet season.
Both the lake and the walk around the waterfall make for good bird-watching
excursions.
9. Sneak a peek at the Ark of the Covenant
9. Sneak a peek at the Ark of the Covenant
Hollywood
would have you believe that one of Christianity’s holiest relics resides in a
nondescript warehouse in America, thanks to the daring deeds of Indiana Jones.
Ask any Ethiopian, however, and they’ll tell you that it is safely tucked away
in Aksum, in the Church of our Lady Mary of Zion.
Ancient obelisks in Aksum
The
church sits amongst a remarkable thicket of some 75 vertical memorial stones,
or stelae, huge 2,000-year-old monuments to imperial power. And, sadly, you
won’t be allowed into the inner sanctum of the church to see the Ark of the
Covenant.
Time
your visit right, however, and you’ll spot the Ark’s guardian, the only living
man to have seen it, making his way to the entrance under a canopy of
umbrellas held by intricately-dressed priests.