Ethiopia – Africa’s Next Big Destination

From the fertile west, to forests and rivers, the largest continuous mountain range in Africa, and even the hottest settlement in the world, Ethiopia is a land of natural contrasts.

Ethiopia is also one of the oldest nations in the world, and thus has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa. It’s a land of natural beauty and friendly people, a place you’ll want to visit for your next vacation.

Location:

Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa, and it is a landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley. It covers are area of approximately 1.1 million square kilometers.

Climate:

Even though Ethiopia is located near the equator, its high altitude keeps the temperature moderate throughout the year. There are two rainy seasons during the year, the first from January to March, and the second from June until mid-September. May is the warmest month. That being said, Ethiopia is also home to one of the hottest inhabited places on the planet, Dallol, which reaches a daily maximum temperature of 41 degrees thanks to a hydro-thermal field with salt formations, acidic hot springs, and gas geysers.

People and Culture:

The people of Ethiopia are a diverse group, drawing from many different ethnic backgrounds. 80 different languages are spoken in the country, with Christianity and Islam being their major religions. You will feel welcome everywhere you go, and people are respectful not only each other, but visitors to their country as well.

Major Towns:

The capital city of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa, which offers visitors everything from first class hotels and restaurants, to museums, churches, palaces and shopping centres. It is also home to the Mercato, which is one of Africa’s largest, and most colourful markets. It’s also interesting to note that Addis Ababa is not only home to the headquarters of the African Union, but also one of the largest number of diplomatic missions in the world.
The historical city of Aksum is another “can’t miss” on your vacation to Ethiopia. The city is home to the 4th century Cathedral of Tsion Maryam, the country’s oldest church which is said to be home to the Ark of the Covenant. You will find many sites of interest throughout the city said to be the home of Queen of Sheba, from granite obelisks, to the tomb of King Basen and the mysterious engraving of a pouncing lion in a rock face on Gobo Dura hill.
For those looking for a more royal vacation, they may want to visit Gondor, home to the remains of several royal castles. The city was once a strong Christian kingdom, with the majority of the population still following the religion. The downtown buildings show a strong Italian architectural influence, due to the Italian occupation of the late 1930s.

Major Festivals:

There are several colourful festivals that attract and entertain tourists throughout the year. The country’s New Year celebration (Enkutatash) falls on September 11th. Other festivals that attract thousands of tourists every year include: Ashenda (August 21 -23), Meskel (September 27), Ethiopian Christmas ( January 7) and Timket (or Epiphany on January 19th). There are also several religious festivals throughout the year, including Axum Tsion, Kulubi Gebreil, Sheik Hussein, Gishen Mariam and Sof Omar.

Natural Tourist Attractions:

Ethiopia is a land of natural beauty and many natural attractions you won’t want to miss. While you might not want to stay there to long due to it being the location of the hottest inhabited place on the planet, you will still want to visit the Danakil Depression during your trip. The white salt flats are a thing of beauty, and not to be missed. While in the Eastern part of the country, you will also want to climb the Erta Ale Volcano, and check out the bubbling cauldron of molten black lava. And if you are looking for something more, you will want to explore the Great Rift Valley, which just happens to be the only geographical feature on the planet visible from the moon. Here you will find many beautiful lakes and parks that are home to some of the most fascinating wildlife. Speaking of wildlife, the Simien National Park is home to three of the endemic mammals, the Walia Ibex, Gelada Baboon and Abyssinian Wolf. This park is a registered UNESCO world heritage site, and is also home to Ras Dashen, the fourth highest peak in Africa. From jagged mountain peaks to deep valleys and sharp precipices, is a natural wonder to behold.

Historial Tourist Attractions:

If it is history you are searching for, Ethiopia is the place to visit. The massive ruins of Aksum are dated between the 1st and 13th Century AD, and have everything from monolithic obelisks, to giant stelae, royal tombs and ruins of ancient castles. It’s said to even house the Ark of the Covenant. Harar Jugol is a fortified town located on a plateau surrounded by deep gorges, deserts and savannah. This sacred Muslim city is said to be the fourth holiest city of Islam, with 82 mosques (3 of which are from the 10th century) and 102 shrines. You will also want to visit the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa so you can lay your eyes on ‘Lucy’, the hominoid skeleton that is said to be the earliest human ancestor remains ever found. Lalibela is famous for their rock-cut monolithic churches, which is a site you will want to see with your own eyes. The city is one of Ethiopia’s holiest, and it is widely accepted to be a symbolic representation of Jerusalem.

Sample Itineraries
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