land of origins ETHIOPIA INVITES YOU TO DISCOVER WHY IT IS THE ORIGIN LAND OF ORIGINS Make time to explore Ethiopia and you will be put in touch with OF SO MUCH HISTORY your own origins AND CULTURE, As you travel across her great heights and explore her deep places you will experience breath-taking beauty and astounding VIBRANTLY ALIVE achievements. For this is a land of origins. It is the cradle of humanity, where we first walked on two legs. It is also the source of the Blue Nile, the great IN A LANDSCAPE OF river whose power and fertility nurtured the origin of civilization itself. And it is the origin of one of life’s great pleasures – coffee, our DRAMATIC BEAUTY. gift to the world. So come to Ethiopia and take the time to be enchanted by her extraordinary past and to share in her dynamic present. Come, and you will discover why Ethiopia is original in many ways. highlights Ethiopia will give you a wealth of discoveries to stimulate your senses and satisfy your curiosity ONLY IN ETHIOPIA - 10 EXPERIENCES THAT MAY WELL CHANGE YOU FOREVER Meet your ancient ancestor the hominoid skeleton ‘Lucy’ at the National Museum. Marvel at the mystical churches of Lalibela, hand-hewn from rock to create the Jerusalem of Africa. Find out where the biblical Ark of the Covenant is kept in Aksum and walk in the footsteps of the Queen of Sheba. Visit the castles of Gondar, unique in Africa, and go back to a time of powerful kings. Discover the astonishing mix of ethnic groups in Southern Ethiopia and learn about their traditional ways of living. Wander in colourful Harar, the old walled city of a hundred mosques, and the fourth most holy site in Islam. Trek the Simien Mountains, the Roof of Africa, and enjoy endless vistas or hike in Gheralta to experience the spirituality of centuries old churches dotted among steep pink cliffs. Explore the out-of-this-world landscapes of the Danakil Depression, the lowest and hottest place on Earth, and climb the Erta Ale volcano. Tour the lakes and parks along the Great Rift Valley - the only geographical feature visible from the moon. Take a boat trip on Lake Tana, the source of the mighty Blue Nile, to discover its islands and monasteries. A history that goes back as far as myth and legend but also boldlyembracestoday A historythatgoesbackasfarmythandlegendbut spirit ofplace ITS 8 WORLD HERITAGE SITES HERITAGE WORLD ITS 8 INCLUDES RICHPAST OFETHIOPIA’S THE LEGACY century, giving herpeoplealegacy giving ofdignity andself-confidence. century, the20th asitentered independent andwas beencolonised never istheonlycountry timesEthiopia has that inAfrica In recent more ofhistory. piece anotherastonishing encounter Gondar withits17thcentury fairytale will Every you day castles. ofpowerful splendourto monoliths, kingdomsits giant gave that with andAksum, Yeha like civilisations ofgreat theremains world, inthe theoldesttools andtreasures: sites ofarchaeological wealth willfinda you Here isstilltangible. ismuchthat there intermingle, atimewhenfact backto andfable stretches thenarrative Though walked upright. first we where istheplace This whichspanourevolution. beenfound have ‘Lucy’ like fossils that here story itis bethestory besaidto could ofhumankind. For Ethiopia’s TRAVEL TIP ! T AKE THE TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRADITIONAL COFFEE CEREMONY AND LEARN ABOUT E THIOPIA ’ S UNIQUE HISTORY AND TRADITIONS . Explore Ethiopia and you will find solace for the soul andinspirationforthesenses Explore Ethiopiaandyouwillfindsolaceforthesoul spirit ofthepeople A MOSAIC OF CULTURES LIVINGINHARMONY OFCULTURES A MOSAIC other and a genuine warmth towards guests in the land of which they are soproud. guestsinthelandofwhichtheyare towards other andagenuinewarmth respectfor each inmutual united languages, andspeakingbackgrounds 80different ethnic different many from isalivingkaleidoscopeThis ofpeoplesdrawn Harar. Muslim city ofLalibelaandinsidethewalled of churches extraordinary underground the bothat welcomed willfeel neighboursandyou andmosquesare churches how canwitness you Here andexcitement. withenergy isdynamicandalive settings, itshistory arising from andintunewithitsbeautiful rich diversity, Ethiopia’s TRAVEL TIP ! N ATIONS , N ATIONALITIES AND P EOPLE ’ S D AY , CELEBRATED ANNUALLY IN D ECEMBER , GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE ETHNIC DIVERSITY OF E THIOPIA IN ONE PLACE . Mingle with locals at an Ethiopian festival to feel the country’sheartbeat Mingle withlocalsatanEthiopianfestivaltofeelthe festivals TIME-HONOURED CELEBRATIONS vast crowds. vast SheikHusseindraw Chambalala, GishenMariam, andDire Ashenda, Irecha, Tsion, Mary Gabriel, Aksum suchasKulubi festivals Elsewhere celebrations. withtheirtraditional Year Eid andtheIslamicNew includingRamadan, oftheiryear Muslims mark themajorevents musicanddance. sacred particularly hasitssolemnrituals with specialinLalibela.Easter everywhere Christmas but Ethiopian isuniqueandwondrous Cross. True ofthe theFinding on September 27thcommemorates whileMeskel oftheArk oftheCovenant, replicas around centre onJanuaryTimket 19thrituals andceremonies or Epiphany At withenduring memories. leave other andto bepart to thechance unlikeany experience you ofanauthentic give festivals religious andspiritually Ethiopia’s uplifting, Flamboyant TRAVEL TIP ! E THIOPIA HAS ITS OWN CALENDAR SO DATES FOR N EW Y EAR , C HRISTMAS AND E ASTER ARE DIFFERENT FROM W ESTERN ONES . C HECK THE EVENTS CALENDAR AS SOME CELEBRATIONS MAY VARY SLIGHTLY BY LOCATION . Be inspired by the endless panoramas of the most varied sceneryintheworld Be inspiredbytheendlesspanoramasofmostvaried awe inspiringlandscapes EXTRAORDINARY CONTRASTS EXTRAORDINARY OF LANDSCAPES DRAMATIC glistening lakes such as those dotting the Great Rift Valley. Rift lakessuchasthosedottingtheGreat glistening waterfalls stunning and rivers, fastflowing And caverns. underground andcool savannah andfertile rolling farmlands, forests lush rain andhugesaltbedsbutalso active volcanoes hotsprings, features, andwonderful 4000m,weird geothermal haspeaks over Ethiopia For onEarth. place andhottest lowest the Danakil to -the Depression bothinthehighlands, Mountains, SimienMountains andthe softer Bale the majesticAfro-Alpine every at awe-inspiringplummeting depthsunfolding turn. From and heights great experience you Ethiopia across Traveling TRAVEL TIP ! C ONSIDER INCLUDING IN YOUR ITINERARY THE STEEP AND SCENIC ROUTE THROUGH THE S IMIEN M OUNTAINS BETWEEN A KSUM AND G ONDAR . Be astoundedattheanimalsyouwillseeonlyinEthiopia nature andwildliee IN THEIR NATURAL HABITATS THEIR NATURAL IN A LANDOFRARESPECIES and protect them. and protect Reserves Biosphere preserve parks to has24national andfour now Ethiopia that resources allthesenatural are andprecious So diverse hippos andzebras. allthisplustypical faunasuchaselephants, African There’s mane. lionwithhisblack spottheAbyssinian to the chance have even may andyou habitat mingling withthegeladababoonsintheirnatural will enjoy You ibex. Walia Nyalashy the shaggy mountain and horned, thetwisted wolf, rarest willseetheworld’s you Ethiopia Touring paradise. lover’s other country –andawildlife inAfrica onEarth zone diversity thanany uniquespeciesofflora –withmore thefourth makeEthiopia bio- largest andclimate ofterrain range The TRAVEL TIP ! W HEN TRAVELLING TO THE S OUTH DON ’ T MISS THE C ROCODILE M ARKET IN L AKE C HAMO – IT ’ S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE DOZENS OF LARGE N ILE CROCODILES MEET TOGETHER AT THE LAKESIDE . Walk theRoofofAfricaordiscovermanyothertrails hiking andtrekking SLOW THE PACE &EXPERIENCEMORE THE PACE SLOW ormule. thetransport willarrange vehicle luggageby operators ofyour most makethemostofevery alongtheway you step ensure To andlakes. deepgorges explore ofBaleMountains to forest orhorsebackride Ortakeaneasywalk inthelushHarena mountain’. ‘smoking theactive Erta ascending or bethrilled by –the volcano Ale hikeinGheralta Heritage Site), World Natural Mountains (aUNESCO alongtheRoof theSimien ofAfrica, yourself canstretch So you round. all year walking, hiking offers andtrekkingside -Ethiopia at every and level onthewild orawalk beautifulsurroundings through stroll A gentle TRAVEL TIP ! I F YOU ’ D LIKE TO EXPERIENCE LOCAL LIFE YOU CAN JOIN TREKS ORGANISED BY COMMUNITIES IN A BUNE Y OSEPH NEAR L ALIBELA AND THE G UASSA C ONSERVATION A REA . 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V ISIT THE SMALL TOWN OF B EKOJI , THE ORIGIN OF MANY LONG DISTANCE CHAMPIONS , TO LEARN THEIR SECRETS AND BEAT YOUR TIME AT THE G REAT E THIOPIAN R UN . A ND CHECK THE CALENDAR FOR THE INCREASING NUMBER OF RUNNING EVENTS . leading birdingdestinations You canspotunusualbirdsalloverEthiopia–oneofAfrica’s