Ethiopia
The landlocked Ethiopia on the Horn of Africa is more commonly
associated with its troubled history than with its abundance of
unique charm that makes it a praiseworthy tour destination. It is a
country that has endured more than its fair share of strife in the
relatively recent past, stemming from war, famine and drought in the
region, and though travellers may be forgiven for opting for an
alternative travel destination in light of the negative headlines
Ethiopia often elicits, they will be sacrificing an opportunity to
explore one of the most fascinating and rewarding countries in
Africa.
Ethiopia prides itself in being one of the oldest independent
nations in the world, as well as being one of the few countries to
have never been fully colonized; aside from a five-year stint during
which the country lay under Italian occupation, Ethiopia has
remained entirely autonomous throughout its long history. As a
result, the land that awaits travellers is one unaffected by the
Western influence found in countries with a colonial history and one
wherein upwards of 77 different ethnic groups, many with their own
unique cultures, languages and customs, live predominantly
traditional lives. An apt reflection of Ethiopia's distinctiveness
and separateness can be seen in the country's continued use of the
Julian calendar at a time when most societies have long since
switched to the Gregorian calendar. This, along with having its own
written system and notation system means that where many
destinations can boast a uniqueness of identity in some aspect or
another, Ethiopia surpasses most by retaining an untouched
individuality of extraordinary depth, a quality that it has been
nurturing since the beginnings of civilisation itself.
View all our Ethiopia Tours
From a nature-lover's point of view, Ethiopia's natural environment
mirrors the richness and uniqueness of its people and their
cultures. More than a dozen wildlife reserves lie within the
country's borders and with a wealth of indigenous animal and plant
life that can be found nowhere else in Africa, Ethiopia promises a
highly memorable and abundant tour. Wildlife aside, Tissisat, or The
Blue Nile Falls, numbers among the most popular and stunning natural
sights of interest in Africa and the rugged mountains that perforate
the landscape make for some breathtaking panoramas, as well as
serving as ideal climbing or hiking locations.
Ethiopia is largely overlooked as a viable tour destination; an unfortunate state of affairs that means that travellers often sacrifice an opportunity to explore one of the most absorbing and rewarding tour destinations in Africa and, indeed, the world. With more than a dozen reserves housing indigenous and endemic wildlife and plantlife, as well as breathtaking mountainscapes and magnificent, roaring waterfalls, the natural environment in Ethiopia rivals any other African country and its urban centres and rural lands prove just as memorable.
Tour Leader Serra Hughes' personal account:
"Leading the tour of Ethiopia during the Timkat (Epiphany) Festival
this past January was amazing. The whole country goes NUTS! We were
in Lalibela for the actual festival and waited along the edge of the
spectacular rock-hewn Church of St.George for the procession of the
tabots (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) to begin. Not utilizing
modern technology, the priests of each individual church signal to the
other that they are ready by blowing loudly on a horn. When they finally
decided they were ready, it was complete chaos. We followed the procession
for the next two hours and it was unforgettable. There's no way to stay
together as you all get caught up in the crowd, but that's the fun part.
So much going on and so much colour! Music, chanting, pushing, laughter
and chaos!
The festival in Lalibela was great, but what I'll never forget was our
drive the following day when we drove through scores of tiny little villages
and towns having their own Timkat celebration and more often than not, our
vehicles would get surrounded by locals caught up in the frenzy of the
festivities. At one point, my vehicle was completely surrounded by local
men all chanting and jumping up and down while waving sticks in the air. They
seemed thrilled to have foreigners there to watch and everywhere we went we
were greeted with cheers and smiles. What a beautiful country. It certainly
doesn't live up to any stereotype or preconception I might have had.
For me Ethiopia is far from a desert-like country plagued by famine.
To me it is gorgeous mountain scenery, unique wildlife, waterfalls, rivers,
strange food, great music, a unique culture, and a bizarre and fascinating
history bordering on mythology."