Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Land of beginnings, volcanic nature and deep African history
From Addis Ababa to Lalibela and Lake Tana
The Prophet's Companions made the first hijra to Abyssinia; today it holds cities and mountains like nowhere else.
The destination
About Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of the most distinctive and culturally rich destinations in Africa. It kept its independence through its long history, apart from a few years of Italian occupation between 1936 and 1941. It is the Abyssinia to which the Prophet's Companions made the first hijra, seeking the protection of the Negus, and about a third of its people today are Muslim.
The country combines high peaks, deep gorges and unusual volcanic lakes with a mild climate all year, thanks to its altitude, and it is the original home of arabica coffee. The capital, Addis Ababa, stands at about 2,350 metres and is the seat of the African Union.
Its great destinations are Addis Ababa with its National Museum and Merkato market, Lalibela with its rock-hewn churches, the volcanic colours of the Danakil Depression, Bahir Dar on Lake Tana at the source of the Blue Nile, and the Simien Mountains, a World Heritage Site.
Before every trip we check official travel advice: parts of the north, including the Amhara region, where Lalibela, Bahir Dar and the Simien Mountains lie, and the Afar region, where the Danakil lies, are currently under travel advisories. We plan them only when the advice allows, and otherwise build your trip around Addis Ababa and its surroundings.
Ideal for
Regions
Where to go
01 · City
Addis Ababa
The National Museum and Lucy, Merkato market, Mount Entoto and the great Anwar Mosque.
02 · City
Lalibela
Eleven 12th- and 13th-century churches carved down into the rock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
03 · Region
The Danakil Depression
Yellow and fluorescent-green volcanic pools, sulphur springs and the Erta Ale volcano.
04 · Lake
Bahir Dar and Lake Tana
Ethiopia's largest lake, with island monasteries, and the Blue Nile Falls nearby.
05 · Highlands
The Simien Mountains
Peaks above 4,500 metres, sheer escarpments and rare animals found nowhere else.
Experiences
What to do
Where to stay
Hotels and resorts we recommend
Taste and addresses
Flavours and places to know
The Ethiopian table is built on injera, a soft flatbread of teff, used to scoop spiced wot stews and tibs. A meal ends with the coffee ceremony. Halal meat is available, and we point you to Muslim-run restaurants.
Questions