Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is a high capital, at about 2,350 metres above sea level, so its weather is mild all year. It is considered Africa's political capital, home to the African Union and the UN's offices for the continent.

The National Museum displays a cast of Lucy, the famous skeleton found in 1974 and dated to about 3.2 million years ago; the original is kept in the museum's vaults. In the west of the city lies Merkato, one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, and on its edge the Anwar Mosque, the largest mosque in the capital.

On the Entoto hills to the north are eucalyptus forests, a view over the whole city and a modern park for families. In the evening, traditional restaurants serve Ethiopian dinners with folk dancing.

Addis Ababa is the gateway to every Ethiopian trip; we suggest at least two nights, in a hotel near Meskel Square or in the Bole district.