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15 Best Places to Visit in Ethiopia

Amanuela — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0200

1. Danakil Depression

Danakil is Positioned on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea. It’s officially one of the driest and hottest places on Earth. With temperatures that often reach 50 plus degree centigrade, it’s easy to see why. 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.

Sitting below sea level, it’s the lowest point in Africa and second in the world (after the Dead Sea). Do a bit of planning before you go as the climate can be harsh if you aren’t prepared. But the beauty and mystery of this place make any preparation well worth it.

2. Lalibela

Lalibela pretty much blows the mind of everyone who visits. This medieval settlement was designed to be a kind of second Jerusalem and modern day inhabitants remain proud of this distinction.

Lalibela is perched in the middle of a broad church complex made entire of rock. There are 11 churches in the settlement, monolithic and grand, all built by King Lalibela as early as the 12th century. It is remarkable because of the architectural design. The churches are actually dug into the ground. The most famous and beautiful. If you’re so inclined, there are several monasteries in the nearby area that are worth visiting.

3. Harar

Harar is a holy, historic, and a walled city with an astounding web of narrow alleyways. Built in the early 16th century, it’s the oldest Islamic city in Africa. It was once the commercial link between Africa and the middle east and today is an enchanting lost-in-time city that’s famous for the impressive walls and centuries-old buildings.

There are roughly 99 mosques within the city. A popular attraction is the nightly ritual of feeding hyenas which happens on the outskirts of the city. It’s been taking place for generations and you can participate if you’re feeling adventurous.

4. Babile Elephant Sanctuary

Available sources show that only about one thousand elephants remain in Ethiopia, and by far the largest and most visible herd lives in the Babile Elephant Sanctuary. A short drive from Harar, Babile is also home to gazelles, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and tons of exotic birds. The landscape morphs from rocky outcrops to lovely tree dotted landscapes. Roughly four hundred elephants live here and you’ll really love the walking safaris that run each day.

5. The Rift Valley

At the Rift Valley,you find a chain of seven lakes – each with its own distinct feel. The passage includes wonderful lakes, hot springs, and lots of fun wildlife. If you’ve come to Africa for the wildlife, you’ll love the Rift Valley. Tourists and locals love to spend time near the hot springs for its therapeutic benefits and because it’s a fabulous way to relax. It makes for a nice road trip to travel the entire length of the valley.

6. The Blue Nile Falls

The Nile River is the longest in Africa and its two tributaries are the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The Blue Nile begins in Ethiopia and along its course, you’ll find the Blue Nile Falls – a spot to rival Niagara. About 90 minutes from Bahar Dar, the scenery here is truly breath-taking. Locally known as Tis Abbay, or ‘great smoke,’ the falls are about 45 meters high during the rainy season.

Just downstream from the falls, you’ll find Ethiopia’s first stone bridge which was built in the 17th century.

7. The Omo Valley

You will be amazed at the sight of a wonderfully unique look into the tribal people of Ethiopia. Similar to the Maasai in Kenya, the villages in the Lower Omo Valley haven’t been influenced by the outside world. Here you’ll interact with people whose culture is dramatically different from your own. Visit Daasanach village, try not to stare at the Mursi’s unbelievable lip-plates, or view the jumping of the bull’s ceremony with the Hammer. The region itself is a lovely open savannah leading up to forests in the hills. And if you’re interested, you can also try an African safari while you’re here.

8. Gondar

The 18th century of Ethiopia was Gondar, where the then Emperor Fasiladas built his fairy tale castles. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is now a wonderful museum complex that showcases the last centuries of the country’s emperors.

The wealth and splendor of this ancient capital can still be seen in the modern city. Despite its size, Gondar is extremely walkable – start from the Italian piazza in the city center and enjoy a stroll through tin-roofed stone buildings. Great shopping, restaurants, and hotels are all available here. In the nearby Gorgora, you’ll find a small but impressive Christian monastery.

9. Aksum

Aksum is a land steeped in folklore. It is believed to have been the home of the Queen of Sheba and the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. It is also one of the oldest cities in all of Africa. Look over the walls of the St Mary of Zion Church Complex where the Ark is supposedly kept and visit the Northern Stelea Field to see the ancient Aksumite Obelisks.

Despite the incredible history here, because it’s a small town, Aksum is often overlooked by tourists. Enjoy discovering the relics throughout the city, visit mountaintop monasteries, and go underground to view Aksumite empire tombs. Don’t forget to check out Mai Shum, a large rock-hewn reservoir that local tribes believe the Queen of Sheba used as her bath.

10. Addis Ababa

Though Addis Ababa is a large city crowded with traffic and urban sprawl, cars still have to make way for shepherds herding their flocks across the road. Many call it the capital of Africa because the African Union is headquartered here (all but one of Africa’s 57 countries belong to the AU). Addis Ababa has the largest market in Africa, incredible cathedrals, churches, and mosques, and the museum that is home to Lucy, the oldest known humanoid in the world. For the surrounding locals, a city is a magical place whose streets are paved with gold, for visitors, it’s the perfect blend of traditional and modern Ethiopia.

11. Simien Mountains

The Simien Mountains range is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site and is rightfully known as God’s playground. A trek along the escarpment provides one of the most phenomenal vistas in the country. You’re also guaranteed to run into a group of the Gelada bleeding-heart baboons. Inside the Simien National park are a wide variety of wildlife like the Walia ibex, a goat found nowhere else on Earth.

12. Bahir Dar

The third-largest city and the first stop on the historic circuit in Ethiopia are Bahar Dar. The vibe in the town is relaxed and the nearby lake and monasteries only add to this. If you haven’t spent time lounging by the lake, then you haven’t had the real Bahir Dar experience. You’ll marvel at the tankwa canoe, seemingly flimsy vessels made out of woven papyrus which is absolutely unsinkable. They can handle men and ox!

13. Rift Valley Lakes

The Rift Valley stretches from the Red Sea to Mozambique. It’s an incredible piece of real estate and millions of years from now the rifting process that is ongoing, will entirely split the African continent in two.

It’s one of the few geographic features that’s visible from space! It’s an incredible route to travel overland, heading southeast from Addis Ababa, through Mojo, Lake Ziway, Awahs National Park, and beyond. There are a total of five lakes along the route, each with their own unique look and feel.

14. Lake Chamo ‘Crocodile Market’

If you’re imagining a lively bazaar filled with crocodile products made for tourists, you couldn’t be more wrong. Nothing is for sale and the crocs are alive and well at Lake Chamo. Take an afternoon or early evening boat ride on the lake where you’ll get an up-close and personal view of these massive and magnificent creatures. You’ll be surprised to see entire banks along the lake covered with huge Nile crocodiles – some reaching over six meters long.

15. Arba Minch

Named after the Amharic word for ‘forty springs,’ Arba Minch is an area of many tiny springs that bubble up from the ridge below them. It’s a lovely 3km walk through Nechisar National Park to reach the springs. If you use this area as a stop on the southern Ethiopian circuit, you won’t be disappointed.

Reasons to Visit Ethiopia

Amanuela — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0200

The People

With over 80 ethnic groups and some 200 dialects, each ethnic group preserves its own unique customs and traditions. In the remote mountains and in the Great Ethiopian Rift valley, you’ll find unique tribes living a lifestyle they were living thousands of years ago. The Omo valley was isolated from the rest of the world for more than 1000 years and is home to an exciting mix of many small and distinctive tribes, including the Karo, the Mursi, and the Hamer. All of the tribes retain their age-old traditions and rituals, and some communities have been opened to tourists who are privileged to learn about their tribal traditions.

Although there are many tribes that are found within this area, it’s fascinating to learn how they find unique ways of expressing their artistic expression. For all the exotic variety, there is a similar thread in all of Ethiopia’s people: they’re incredibly friendly, hospitable and proud to show you their beautiful nation.

Beautiful Scenery

Ethiopia’s landscape varies from deep depressions, the vast expanse of Lake Tana and the arid plains of Omo Valley to the sprawling city of Addis Ababa and the craggy peaks and valleys of the Simien Mountains. You’d be hard-pressed to find a place with more striking contrasts than this one. It’s anything but those images you probably remember from back in the 1980s, which showed Ethiopia as a barren land, filled with dirt, dust and more dirt, without a plant in sight. While there are a few areas like that, there are plenty of lush, green areas. More than 70 percent of the mountains on the African continent can be found in Ethiopia, making it a hiker’s paradise too.

Contrasting Landscapes

Stepping into Ethiopia, you’ll not only feel as if you’re worlds away from home in an exotic land, but you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. As the world seems to get smaller and smaller, and the streets start to look more similar, it’s rare to find yourself somewhere that truly feels different. Ethiopia certainly provides that, and a whole lot more. Many people here get around the old fashioned way – by donkey cart or horse and buggy. The donkeys aren’t just a gimmick, in rural parts of the country and provincial towns such as Awassa, horse-drawn buggies and donkey carts are the standard mode of transport. Out in the country, wooden plows are drawn by oxen, women wear traditional dress, children offer to shine your shoes for pennies, and while there is still poverty, most have enough to eat.

Here there are contrasts with the new and old everywhere you look. Unlike the countryside, in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa, there is a massive building boom with modern glass buildings going up side by side with tiny street shops. Many of the women here dress as they might in any European capital, and they walk by talking on their smartphones too.

Diverse Wildlife

Africa is renowned for its wildlife, and Ethiopia is home to many of its more unique, lesser-known animal species, like the Gelada baboon, the mountain nyala, the Ethiopian wolf, and the Walia ibex. This is also an exceptional spot for birdwatchers with some 850 bird species, many of which are endemic to this country. At Awash National Park, Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park, Mago National Park, Bale Mountains National Park, Omo National Park, Neshisar National Park, Simien National Park, and Yangudi National Park, as well as the seven lakes in Rift Valley, you’ll not only discover astounding natural beauty, but you’ll have the chance to spot many of these rare species, including the mountain nyala and Walia ibex as well as the African antelope, mountain horned goats, and the Ethiopian wolf.

Religious Sites

Ethiopia’s also offers a fascinating mix of religious sites. The small town of Lalibela is home to one of the world’s most sacred sites with 11 rock-hewn monolithic churches, each carved from a single block of granite back in the late 12th- or early 13th-century. The structures are noted for their artistic splendor, and each has a distinctive architectural design. They’re actually dug into the ground, with the roofs at ground level. The walled city of Harar houses 99 mosques, you’ll find island monasteries at Lake Tana, and one of the oldest churches in the world, the Ethiopian Orthodox church, which was founded more than 1,600 years ago. There are many religious ceremonies held throughout the year that are unique to this country too, particularly Timket, Genna, and Meskel.

A Rich History

History buffs will be in heaven here, with Ethiopia’s history including everything from hominid ancestors and Stone Age hunter-gatherers to emperors, invaders, castles, palaces, and a lot more. You’ll find practically an endless number of outstanding historical sites to explore, and with knowledgeable guides, leave with a real insight into the country’s fascinating history. In Ethiopia’s most ancient city, Axum, the capital of the historic Axumite site, is a wealth of remarkable monolithic obelisks, the three most important being decorated to represent multi-storied buildings, complete with doors and windows. The largest, nearly 115 feet long and weighing 500 tons, is the biggest piece of stone ever cut by humanity anywhere on earth. Just outside of town are the remains of an early Axumite palace, believed to have belonged to the Queen of Sheba.

Delicious Cuisine

Ethiopian food is one of the world’s most exciting cuisines. Eaten with friends and family, it’s extremely unique and extraordinarily flavorful. The way that it’s served, on a communal platter, is specifically designed for sharing the food, as it isn’t meant to be eaten alone in Ethiopian culture. The most well-known dish is injera, a large, spongy, pancake-like bread on which portions of spicy meats and veggies are served. The injera is actually used not just as a serving dish, but as an eating utensil for scooping up the sauces – a messy, but delicious experience. If you’re a vegetarian, you can enjoy dishes like Shiro wat. Along with injera, Shiro wat, sometimes simply called Shiro, is one of the most widely consumed dishes in Ethiopia. It consists of chickpea and broad bean flour, mixed with garlic and onions, and made into a thick, almost paste-like substance – similar to refried beans, but smoother. While non-vegetarian versions of Shiro often include quite a bit of butter, the vegan version usually uses olive oil instead.

Historic Coffee

If you’re a coffee-lover, visiting Ethiopia means you’ll be able to say you’ve been to the place where coffee was first discovered. In the 9th-century, a goat herder found that after his goats nibbled on the coffee beans they wouldn’t sleep at night. Today, coffee is still grown and roasted across much of the country. Taking part in an Ethiopian coffee ceremony – an integral part of Ethiopian’s social and cultural life – is an especially eye-opening cultural experience, which is always followed by a massive jolt of caffeine in the freshest cup of coffee you’ll ever taste. All you need is a tiny cup and it will keep you going for hours. In most parts of Ethiopia, the ceremony takes place in the morning, at noon, and again in the evening as the main social event in the village where the community, politics, and personal lives are discussed.

Colorful Festivals

In Ethiopia, you can attend a festival at just about any time of the year. They offer lots of color and insight into Ethiopian culture and tradition. Cultural affairs and sporting events abound throughout the year, the biggest of which are held in Addis Ababa. Dance and musical performances are a common theme of traditional events, along with art and religion. The Timkat Feast is a three-day festival held annually on January 19 that celebrates the baptism of Christ on the Jordan River. Beautifully decorated tabots (tablets onto which the Ten Commandments are inscribed) that represent the Ark of the Covenant are paraded around the capital city. Both the Ethiopian Film and Music Festivals are held in May and feature outdoor film screens along with a series of musical events and concerts that celebrate the wide variety of genres and styles that have emerged here.

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Is it safe to travel to Ethiopia in 2020/21?

Amanuela — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0200

In order to ensure your bio safety and well-being against the risk of covid-19, Ethiopian Airlines has already redefined its services. These customer services are strictly implemented in line with the guidelines and recommendations of World Health Organization /WHO/ and other global aviation regulatory bodies like the International Air Transport Association /IATA/.

Ethiopian Airlines has redefined customer services by transforming them into digital platforms. One such platform is the Company’s mobile application. If you download and use it, you benefit a lot in terms of your health, time, finance, and energy. Actually, you can enjoy the end-to-end process of your flight. Additional digitized service features with a number of languages and payment options in the app can surely minimize your contacts both at the airport and during flight.

Not only this, Ethiopian has also recently launched a global COVID-19 insurance coverage named Sheba Comfort as extra security measures to ensure passengers’ health as its top priority. The insurance covers medical insurance costs including repatriation, evacuation and quarantine costs related to COVID-19. The global insurance has been effective as of the 1st of October 2020. Therefore, we strongly advise you to fly Ethiopian to be more guaranteed.

Ethiopia has recently restarted tourism-opening its doors to its international tourists after successfully putting in place Tourism Protocol Strategy, The strategy is a necessary precondition to reactivate safe tourism. You are only expected to come up with a medical certificate with a negative Polymerize Chain Reaction /PCR/ COVID-19 test result in print form. This result should not exceed five days/120 hours/ prior to your arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. No COVID test is done when you arrive at Bole. In your visit, you are provided with face masks to wear at public places. This rule is also applicable for tourist guides, and related tourism professionals. Hand sanitizer is available at the desired places to be used by everyone. Moreover, public traffic areas, as well as tourist destination facilities, are disinfected regularly. All in all, all anti-COVID measures are put in place with closer observation and follow-up.