Welcome to Ethiopia

Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. Ethiopia is unique in many ways, it has its own alphabet, its own calendar, and a landscape that is unparalleled. Honestly, one would be tired of listing what Ethiopia does have, especially in tourism and culture aspect. Of the numerous ones, the following are sample:

Natural Attractions

Lake Tana – the largest lake in Ethiopia. The 37 islands that are scattered about the surface of the Lake shelter fascinating churches and monasteries, some of which have histories dating back to the 13th Century. The Blue Nile river flows out of the lake.

The Blue Nile Falls (Tisisat Falls) – 45 metres (148 ft) high, located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) downstream of Lake Tana

• The Sof Omar Cave – one of the most spectacular and extensive underground cave systems in the world
• The Rift Valley – Extending from the Middle East to Mozambique, the Rift Valley passes right through Ethiopia, endowing the country with some spectacular features that range from hot, dry, and barren places to a string of beautiful lakes
• Dallol and Mount Erta Ale
• Rift Valley lakes – Ziway, Langano, Abijatta, Shalla, Awasa, Abaya, and Chamo

Historical Attractions

• Axum – Mysterious Monoliths – Axum is renowned for the world’s tallest monoliths, or obelisks.
• The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela – Lalibela is internationally-renowned for its rock-hewn churches which are sometimes called the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.
• The Castles of Gondar – Gondar is famous for its many medieval castles and the design and decoration of its churches.
• Walled and historic town of Harar
• Addis Ababa

Cultural Attractions

• Omo
• Konso

Archeological Attractions

• Awash Lower Valley palaeontological and prehistoric sites –
• Tiya Ancient Stones
• Yeha – Temple of the Moon

NATIONAL PARKS

• The Simien Mountain National Park – includes many summits above 4,000 meters and culminates in the highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen, at 4,543 meters (14,904 feet), the fourth highest mountain in Africa.
• Bale Mountains National Park
• The Omo National Park
• The Mago National Park
• Gambela National Park

Wildlife Sanctuaries

• Babille Elephant Sanctuary
• Jello-Muktar Mountain Nyala Sanctuary
• Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary
• Yabello Sanctuary, Oromiya region

Ethiopia’s World Heritage Sites

• Axum
• Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
• Gondar
• Walled and historic town of Harar
• Lower Valley of the Awash
• Lower valley of the Omo
• Konso Cultural Landscape
• Tiya
• Simien National Park

Museums

• National Museum of Ethiopia – holds the earliest hominid skeletons of Lucy (3.4 million years old) and Ramidus (4.4 million years old)
• Zoological Natural History Museum

Endemics

There are over 240 listed mammal species of which at least 42 are endemic, the most notable being:

• ·Gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada),
• ·Walia ibex (Capra walie),
• ·Menelik’s bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus meneliki),
• ·Mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni),
• ·Swayne’s hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus swaynei)
• ·Simien fox (Canis simiensis)
• Other mammals include: elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, kudu, oryx, bushbuck, aardvaak, and hippopotamus.

Sources: MFA, Tourism Ethiopia