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Learn
more about Ethiopia |
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| AXUM |
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Axum is an ancient town in northern
Ethiopia. It lies at an elevation of about 2100 meters
just west of Adwa in Tigrai region. Once the seat of the
kingdom of Axum, it is now a tourist town and religious
centre best known for its antiquities tall granite
obelisks, 126 in all, stand (or lie broken) in the
central square. Once measuring 33 meters, now fallen, is
said to be the tallest obelisk ever erected. The
obelisks range from nearly plain slabs to intricately
inscribed pillars. Door and window-like shapes are
carved into some of the pillars, giving them the
appearance of slender buildings. The most recent of the
obelisks announces the adoption of Christianity in the
4th century by king Ezana. At least 27 carved stone
thrones have been unearthed in the overgrown ruins of
the ancient palace.
Axum has long been regarded
a holy city for the Ethiopian Orthodox church. It forms
the setting of the 14th century work Kibre Negest
(“Glory of the Kings”), which relates the tradition of
the transference of the Ark of the Covenant from
Jerusalem to Axum by King Menelik I, the son of King
Solomon of Israel and Queen of Sheba (Makeda). It is
still believed that the Ark of the Covenant is located
in the Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum. Over the
centuries, however the church has been destroyed and
rebuilt several times. The present structure is built by
King Fasiledes of Gonder in the 17th century. Emperor
Haile Silassie I built the new Church of St. Mary of
Zion near the old one, in which the Arc of the Covenant
is housed, in 1965.
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| DEBRE DAMO |
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Debre Damo, located 48 kms from Axum,
is the oldest monastery of the nation which dates back
to the early Axumite times. It is closed to female
visitors. Even for men, it needs some courage to access
the monastery, as one need to use a rope to climb the 24
mts (78 ft) high cliff.
The cool celestial
island of rock offers the panoramic views of the
surrounding countryside and complete seclusion and peace
for the hundreds or so monks and deacons who live there.
The treasures include an extensive collection of
illuminated manuscripts among the oldest surviving
fragments of texts not found anywhere in Ethiopia.
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| LALIBELA |
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Lalibela, a medieval settlement in
the Lasta area of Wello, lies at the centre of an
extensive complex of rock churches. Lalibela has 11
remarkable rock-hewn monolithic, semi-monolithic and
cave built churches, built by one of the Zagwe Dynasty
rulers, King Lalibela in the late 12th and early 13th
century. These notable structures are carved, inside and
out, out of one solid rock, and are the unofficial
eighth wonders of the world. Each building is
architecturally unique but each reflects beautifully
executed craftsmanship, and several are decorated with
fascinating paintings. These astonishing edifices remain
places of living worship to this day.
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| GONDER |
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Gonder is 50 kilometers north of Lake
Tana, 700 kilometers north of Addis Ababa and nestles in
the foothills of the Semien mountains at an altitude of
2200 meters above sea level. Gonder, founded by King
Fasiledes in 1936, was the capital of Ethiopia for
nearly 200 years. This fact is reflected by the number
of palace buildings in the castle compound.
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city’s main imperial precinct, known as the Royal
Enclosure, covers an area of 7.7 hectares and contains
five castles raised walkways and connecting tunnels
surrounded by high stone walls. The oldest of these is
the Castle of Fasiledes, built of stone in the mid-17th
century, reflecting a number of influences, mainly
Axumite, Portuguese and Indian. The upper storey offers
panoramic views and Lake Tana is visible on a clear day.
The castle has been renovated recently. Fasiledes’
grandson. Iyasu the great, built his own castle and
decorated it with ivory, gold and precious stones but an
earthquake in the early 19th caused severe damage.
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| BAHIR DAR |
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Bahir Dar is the gateway to the Blue
Nile Falls and the monasteries on Lake Tana and the
surrounding peninsulas. Measuring 68 kms by 73 Kms, Lake
Tana is the largest water body in Ethiopia, is dotted
with 37 islands of which 20 shelters Churches and
monasteries. Bahir Dar is a beautiful town with
tree-lined avenues and set on the shores of the deep
blue Lake Tana.
The city of Bahir Dar lies on
the southern tip of Lake Tana enjoying a pleasant,
tropical type of climate. Today the city is developing
fast into a place of considerable social, political and
economic activities, with a population of about 130,000.
It is also becoming a tip commercial center of the
Amhara National Regional State, with cotton and oil
factories, polytechnic and pedagogical colleges. There
are also a growing number of Banks, Insurance companies,
Tour and Travel Agents, Hotels, Pensions and
Restaurants.
Bahir Dar serves as a departure and
destination point along the “historical routes”. Thus,
it is now hosting an ever increasing number of in-flowing
domestic and international tourists almost throughout
the year. The natural, historical and cultural spots in
and around the city attract the attention of many
visitors; making Bahir Dar a frequently visited place
for both heritage and ecotourism.
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| DALOL (DENAKIL DEPRESSION) |
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The Denakil or Dalol Depression is
one of the earth’s hottest and most inhospitable places.
It’s more than 100 mts below sea level which makes it
the lowest place of our planet. At noon-time,
temperature soars to above 500C.
It is also one
of the very few places in the world that has high active
volcanic activity.
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| HARAR |
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Harar is located in the eastern part
of the country and part of the historic circuits. The
walled city of Harar is an ancient city with rich and
colorful history.
Harar is 523 kilometers east
of Addis Ababa, the capital. The most dominant feature
of Harar is its strong encircling wall, which embraces
the town, its exciting market places, and its 99 mosques.
Harar is the fourth holiest city after Makka, Madina and
Jerusalem.
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| SOF OMAR |
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Sof Omar, a tiny Muslim village in
Bale (south east of Ethiopia), is the site of an amazing
complex of natural caves, cut by the Weyb River as it
found its way from the nearby mountains. The settlement,
which is a religious site, is named after a local
Sheikh. Armed with torches and an official map, visitors
to Sof Omar Cave make their way underground, far into
the bowels of the earth, beside a subterranean stream,
and there can see an extraordinary number of arched
portals, high eroded ceilings and deep echoing chambers.
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| SOUTH AND WEST ETHIOPIA
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The part of the country is known as
the natural and cultural route, it comprises the south
Omo and western area of Gambella.
Here you can
find the truly exotic culture and nature. It is an area
of paradise for nature lovers. There are several and
diverse ethnic groups with their unique life styles each
different in their way that makes one to feel that he/she
is traveling from one country to another, rather than is
in the same region. The untouched nature and culture of
this area will keep any visitor on a constant surprise.
The parks found in this part are truly wild and isolated
enabling you to observe the true behavior of the wild
animals and their habitat. |
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| SEMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK |
The Semien Mountains are a must for
all those interested in wildlife, scenery and
spectacular landscapes; the Park has been declared a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Semien Mountains
National Park - the mountains high lands constitute one
of the major mountain massifs in Africa. The region
includes many summits above 4000 meters in the highest
point in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen, at 4620 meters, the
fourth highest mountain in Africa. Its dramatic
topography is the result of the erosion of basalt lavas,
which have been calculated to be nearly 3000 meters
thick.
It is home to the endemic mammals of Walia
Ibex, Semien Fox, Gelada Baboons and many species of
birds and plants apart from its spectacular scenic
beauty.
Maximum temperatures during the day are
about 150 Centigrade (600 Fahrenheit). At night the
temperature usually drops to 3 - 50C (35 -40 0F). |
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| AWASH NATIONAL PARK |
Awash National Park, 211 Kms east of
Addis Ababa cover 827 square kilometers (319 square
miles). The park takes its name from the Awash River
which marks the park’s southern boundary. The rivers
last gesture is the salt lake, Lake Abbe, on the
Ethiopia-Djiboutian border. The park offers quite good
wildlife and outstanding birdlife viewing. It also
contains an interesting range of volcanic landscapes.
The Beisa Oryx and Sommering Gazelles – in the open
areas, Greater and Lesser Kudus - in the bushed areas,
the endemic Swayne’s Hartbeest – in the grass plains,
the tiny salt Dik-Dik – under the dry acacia bushes and
Defarsa waterbuck – in the bushy river area and the two
monkey species – the Anubis and Hamadryas - can be seen
near the river. Among other monkeys, Colobus and Grivet
monkeys are found in the riverside and drier areas
respectively. Leopards, Lions, Black-Backed and Golden
Jackals, Caracals, Servals and Wildcats are also seen in
the park very rarely.
Until recently, 2003, 462
bird species have been recorded. Of these six are
endemics namely Banded Barbet, Golden-Backed Woodpecker,
White-Winged Cliff Chat, White-Tailed Starling,
Thick-Billed Raven and Wattled Ibis. There are several
bustard species in the park and secretary birds in the
grass plains. The camping grounds, near the bank of the
Awash River, and the Filwoha Hot Spring areas are the
best sites to spot many species of birds such as
Emerald-Spotted Wood Dove, Green Wood-Hoopoes, Red and
Yellow Barbets, Carmine Bea Eaters are to name only a
few.
One of the main features of the park area is
the Fentale Volcano, on the southern flank of which can
be seen the dark scar of the last lava flow of 1820. The
other feature is the turquoise-blue pools of the natural
hot springs in the extreme north of the park where you
can spot Waterbucks and Hamadryas baboons and sometimes
hear Lions at night. |
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| ABYATA-SHALA LAKES NATIONAL PARK
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Abyata-Shala Lakes National Park is
formed by the twin lakes of Abyata and Shala. It has a
total area of 887 square kilometers (550 square miles)
in size, of which 482 square kilometer (300 square miles)
is water. Both lakes are terminal lakes but very
different in nature. The park was created for the many
aquatic bird species that use the lakes, particularly
Great White Pelicans and Greater and Lesser Flamingos.
The surrounding area is mainly acacia woodland, some of
which is very degraded by man.
Lake Abyata is a
shallow pan, only 14 meters (46 feet) deep and its level
fluctuates periodically. The beaches are unstable and
saline, which creates a very real danger of sinking on
the vehicles that venture too close. The lake provides
the main source of food for the colonies of great while
pelicans on the nearby Lake Shala.
Lake Shala by
contrast, is, at 260 meters (853 feet), Ethiopia’s
deepest rift valley lake, possibly the deepest lake in
Africa north of the Equator. Shalla’s islands are used
as breeding sites by many birds, and are home to the
continent’s most important breeding colony of Great
White Pelicans. The color of the water is like cold tea
and there is a high concentration f salts, making it
feel soapy. Few fish are found in this lake. It is also
one of the seven nesting sites of the bird in the whole
of Africa.
Apart from the above mentioned birds,
some others include White-necked Cormorant, African Fish
Eagle, Egyptian Geese, various Plover species, and
Herons. Local mammals are not numerous but include
Grant’s gazelle, Greater Kudu, Oribi, Warthog and Golden
Jackal. Besides, some of the scenery is very beautiful,
especially at dusk; the sight of Pelicans dipping into
the silver waters of Lake Abyata is unforgettable. |
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| BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
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Lying south-east of Ethiopia, Bale
Mountains National Park covers 2400 square kilometers
(1488 square miles) covering wide range of habitats and
ranging in altitude from 1500 to 4377 meters (4920 to
14357 feet) at Tulu Dimtu, the highest point in the
southern Ethiopia. The spectacular Harenna escarpment
running from east to west divides the area into two
major parts. To the north is a high altitude plateau
area known as the Sanetti Plateau (4000m) formed of
ancient volcanic rocks and dissected by many rivers and
streams that have cut deep gorges into the edges. In
some places this has resulted in scenic waterfalls and
alpine lakes.
The vegetation here varies
according to altitude. The park can be divided into
three main zones. Around Dinsho, in the north, there are
grass riverine plains, bordered by bands of bushes,
particularly sagebrush and St. John’s Wort. Wild flowers,
such as Giant Lobelia, Geraniums, ‘red-hot pokers’ and
Alcheilla, form carpets of color. Higher up the
mountains heather appears either as small bushes or as
mature trees.
The second zone, the Sanetti
Plateau, is home to typical Afro-Alpine plants, some
coping with the extreme temperatures by either remaining
very small or becoming large. The best example of the
latter is the curious looking Giant Lobelia, whose stems
stand high against the skyline. Wild flowers are many
and various, the dominant plant being the Helichrysum,
or ’everlasting’ flowers that can be seen in many forms.
Keep an eye on the indigenous Abyssinia rose, with its
lovely subtle scent.
The third habitat which is
the southern part of the park is heavily forested – the
moist, tropical Harenna Forest, is home to tree species
such as Haenia, Celtis and Podocarpus.
The
wildlife of Bale includes many endemic species. The park
was originally established to protect the two endemic
mammals: the Mountain Nyala and the Semien Fox or Jackal. |
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| NECH SAR NATIONAL PARK
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Situated 510km south of Addis near
the town of Arba Minch, in between Lakes Abaya and Chamo.
A wide variety of plains game roams freely amongst 514m2
of savannah, dry bush and groundwater forest, which are
also the habitat of 188 recorded species of birds.
Animals to be seen are Bushbuck, Swayne's Hartebeest (endemic),
Burchell's Zebra, Grant's Gazelle, Guenther's Dik-dik,
Greater Kudu, Anubis Baboon, Grey Duiker. Birds seen
include Red-billed Hornbill, Grey Hornbill, Fish Eagle,
Kori Bustard, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and more.
A backdrop of hills and mountains combine to make
this one of the most attractive national parks in
Ethiopia, and its location makes it very accessible. In
the far eastern part of the park hot springs bubble to
the surface |
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| OMO NATIONAL PARK |
| Omo National Park, located in the
south-west on the west bank of Omo River, is 870km south-west
of Addis Ababa. It is one of the most beautiful national
parks in Ethiopia. The Omo National Park covers 4,068
square kilometres of wilderness bordered by the Omo
river, is home to an amazing range of wildlife. 306
species of birds have been identified here, while large
herds of Eland, some Buffalo, Elephants, Giraffe,
Cheetah, Lion, Leopard, Burchell's Zebra, are quite
common. The park is not easily accessible. The park HQ
is 75km from Kibish settlement. However, a new airstrip
is available close to the HQ and to a pleasant campsite
on the Mui River. |
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