Ethiopia Holidays

What can you find in Ethiopia that you won’t find elsewhere?

Wildly contrasting landscapes, from fertile forests in the west, to Danakil in the low north - which is the driest and hottest place on earth. Considered the birthplace of civilisation, traces of medieval structures and holy landmarks are scattered across Ethiopia. Such architectural treasures include the ancient city of Lalibela, with its rock-sculpted churches - which are an emotionally stirring symbol of Jerusalem, as well as the 17th-century castles of Gondar - that led to the city being coined the Camelot of Africa. The most famous hominid discovery, Lucy, and her 3.2 million old skeletal remains can be ogled at in in Addis Ababa - a city on-the-up thriving with galleries, eateries and craftwork. As you travel on your Ethiopia holidays, you’ll discover its rich cultural diversity, evident in the 90 different languages spoken throughout the country.

Who is Ethiopia best for?

Intrepid travellers looking to discover a lesser-known slice of the world, that is relatively unspoiled by tourism. While this means that luxury hotels are few and far between, visitors are instead rewarded with pristine national parks, isolated archaeological sites and little-visited tribal villages. Avid hikers and nature lovers could spend days traversing the Simien Mountains, home to gelada baboons, caracals and impressive bearded vultures. History nerds can revel in Ethiopia’s ancient relics, many of which you can see today whether in a museum or the rolling highlands.

What are the best ways to discover Ethiopia?

Take 12 to 15 days to discover Ethiopia’s highlights, with some off-beat adventure in between. We recommend roaming from south to north, for a complete picture of the country, throw in a mix of 4x4 journeys and short flights, that will help you gain ground - combine this with a private expert, who can decipher the different monuments and bring history to life. In the south, venture through the Great Rift Valley’s stunning scenery such as Lake Chamo, full of hippos and Nile crocodiles, and Konso, (UNESCO-listed), for its cultural significance, with wooden waga sculptures and unique religious traditions. It’s fascinating to spend time with the rural hill tribes of this area, completely immersing yourself into their ancestral customs. Heading north, make sure to visit Lalibela to stand in awe at its monolithic rock-cut churches before hiking the Gheralta mountains, one of Ethiopia’s far-flung jewels. Stop at the holy cities of Axum and Gondar before cruising Lake Tana’s remote wilderness to see its monasteries.

Special things to do in Ethiopia

Take a boat out onto the sun-baked Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake. Hop from island to island visiting it’s various painted monasteries, rich with manuscripts, religious artefacts and other treasures from the Ethiopian emperors. Along its aquamarine waters, you’ll no doubt see hippos wallowing in the shallows as well as great white pelicans and fish eagles. Listen to calls to prayer, resonating through the wilderness as you gaze out to fishermen drifting along in papyrus reed boats that have been used for centuries.

If you’re visiting Lalibela’s churches, why not journey to the nearby Ashetan Maryam. It’s a steep climb to the monastery (we can arrange mules to help you) which is perched on top of the Abune Yosef mountain and fashioned out of a cave. At the top you’ll be rewarded by outstanding mountain scenery.

Travelling to Ethiopia in January? Don’t miss Timkat festival, the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian festival. During the celebration, the Tabot, a replica of the Ark of the Covenant is paraded through the streets – a moving experience with festivities that carry on well into the night.

Random fact, but spotted hyenas have lived in the old city of Harar for over 500 years. Here, people known as the ‘hyena men’ regularly feed these wild creatures by hand. Watch these spectacles for yourself and learn about this remarkable relationship between man and beast.

Northern Ethiopia

Northern Ethiopia is a treasure trove of historical capitals where religious customs from the Middle Ages continue to thrive - the Queen of Sheba's Axum, Lalibela with its 13th century rock-hewn churches, and Gondar, capital in the 17th and 18th centuries. Here too is Lake Tana, home for hundreds of years to several island monasteries and also the source of the Blue Nile, which makes its way over the nearby Tissisat Falls and all the way to the White Nile at Khartoum.

The Original Travel team has extensive travel experience of the country and can arrange guided treks into the habitat of the gelada baboon in the Simien Mountains (nicknamed God's chess set for their weather eroded shapes), or through the Bale Mountains to the south, home to the endangered Ethiopian wolf.

The Rift Valley

South of Addis Ababa, the Rift Valley is punctuated by a series of lakes (many bordered pink with thousands of flamingos), and descends to Kenya via the territories of tribes whose way of life has remained unchanged for centuries.