Ethiopia is truly a land of discovery - brilliant, beautiful, secretive, mysterious, and extraordinary. Above all things, it is a country of great antiquity, with cultures and traditions dating back more than 6,000 years. The traveler in Ethiopia makes a journey through time, transported by beautiful monuments and the ruins of structures built many centuries ago.
Modern archeology has discovered that the two known earliest human ancestors lived in Ethiopia. Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis), discovered in 1974, lived about 3.2 million years ago. Ardi (Ardipithecus ramidus), discovered more recently in 1994, lived 4.4 million years ago.
Few nations, if any, can boast the historic splendor of Ethiopia, evidence of whose extraordinary past is everywhere, from its rock-hewn churches, still places of living worship, to its ancient historical traditions and magnificent cultures. Ethiopia is a nation of surprises, full of diversity and contrast, from the ancient to the modern.
Addis Ababa
Founded in 1887 by Emperor Menelik II, the capital city is an important administrative center not only for Ethiopia but also for the whole of Africa. It’s name means “new flower”.
Awash National Park
This park is the oldest and most developed wildlife reserve in Ethiopia. The wildlife consists mainly of East African plains animals, including 450 species of birds.
Axum
Known for its massive, towering sculptures, this ancient city was the birthplace of the Queen of Sheba. The original Ark of the Covenant is believed to be guarded here by warrior monks.
Bahir Dar
This small town is on the southeastern shore of Lake Tana, the famed source of the Nile river. Ancient monasteries have been built on the many islands in the lake and on the shores.
Bale Mountains National Park
The largest area of Afro-Alpine habitat in all of Africa offers visitors the chance to view many of Ethiopia’s endemic birds and mammals, including the rare Ethiopian wolf.
Gonder
The 17th-century capital of Ethiopia is notable for its medieval castles and churches unlike any in Africa. The architecture reveals the Axumite traditions as well as the influence of Arabia.
Harar
This ancient city has always been an important trading center. Considered to be the spiritual center of Ethiopia’s large Islamic community, it is also the birthplace of H.I.M. Haile Selassie I.
Lalibela
Known for its rock-hewn churches, this was the capital of the Zagwe Dynasty. Built by the 12th-century King Lalibela, the structures originally formed his palace and office complexes for his government.
Omo Valley
Many different cultures inhabit a relatively small area in the south of the country. The peoples of the lower Omo Valley are considered among the most fascinating in Africa.
Simien Mountains National Park
This is an excellent area for trekking with an extensive network of tracks and impressive scenery. Ras Dashen, the highest point in Ethiopia, is a part of this large mounatin range.
Suba (Menagesha) National Forest
The oldest conservation policy in African history protects this area which contains the most substantial remaining patch of indigenous forest in the Addis Ababa region of the country.
Wenchi Crater Lake
Formed by an extinct volcano that reaches 3,386 meters, the area is famed for its beautiful mountainous landscape, used partly as farmland and partly covered by natural forest.
