Ethiopia Guide
The land of the Queen of Sheba, the Blue Nile, and humankind's oldest anthropoid ancestors, Ethiopia stretches through time from modern Addis Ababa into the heart of Amharic civilisation in Aksum and Gondar in the north and colourful savannah tribes in the south.
Discover the contrasts of sprawling metropolis Addis Ababa – from wattle-and-daub huts to St George's Cathedral, the Great Mosque and turn-of-the century public buildings. Visit the Menelik Mausoleum and humanity's 3.5 million year-old ancestor, ‘Lucy', in the National Museum. Be awed by the dramatic medieval churches and castles of Gondar, unique in Africa.
Spot Nile crocodiles in the varicoloured Rift Valley lakes. Explore the monasteries of Lake Tana then follow the Nile to the spectacular Blue Falls. Trek with baboons and jackals in the Simien Mountains National Park. Explore the 12th century Lalibela rock-hewn monasteries, meet tribal people in the Ogaden desert, and pay your respects at legendary Aksum, Ethiopia's ancient holy city.
Buy hand-crafted silverware and jewellery from the smiths of Muslim city Harar and aromatic coffee beans, tea spices and Ethiopian food spice, berbere , at the huge mercato (market) in Addis Ababa. Comb the capital's shops for quality cotton, or have a bag or jacket custom-made from local leather.
Savour lamb tibs (stir-fried) or enter vegetarian heaven with misir and shivro (spicy lentils and chickpeas). Scoop up your chicken or vegetable wat (spicy stew) with flat spongy bread injera . Experience the aromatic Ethiopian coffee ceremony while sipping tej (hops and honey wine).
Take half a day to gallery-crawl in Addis Ababa and discover Ethiopia's vibrant artistic and artisan life – ancient scrolls and Christian paintings, naïve and avant-garde art, and high-quality crafts. Glimpse Ethiopia's ethnic wealth at the Ethnological Museum.
