Ethiopia has a proud and long history extending
to the known beginnings of humankind. The Axumite kingdom was one of
the great civilizations of the ancient world and has left behind the
mystery of the great Stellae found at Axum. In the late middle Ages
great religious civilizations flourished in many parts of the
country, particularly at Lalibela where churches hewn out of massive
monolithic rock testify not only to great faith but also to great
architectural skills.
And in the former capital of Gondar many
significant castles speak of the same legacy. All these would be
enough to make Ethiopia a fascinating place to visit and travel
through, but Ethiopia has so much more to offer.
List of
Historical Sites are available HERE.
Ethiopia, an old country beyond all
imaginations, has culture and traditions dating back over 3000
years. With over 80 different Ethnic groups with their own language,
culture and traditions. The strong religious setting, celebrations
and festivals play an important part in every ones daily life.
Church ceremonies are a major feature of
Ethiopian life. The events are impressive and unique. The Ethiopian
Orthodox Church has its own head, follows its own customs, and is
extremely proud of its fourth century origins.
Ethiopia's Islamic tradition is also strong and offers colorful
contrast, particularly in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the
country. In fact, there were Ethiopian Muslims during the lifetime
of Prophet Mohammed. This rich religious history is brought to life
in the romantic walled city of Harar, considered by many Muslims to
be the fourth "Holy City" following Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.
Click
HERE for more
information.
Ethiopia is a land of natural contrasts, from
the tops of the rugged Simien Mountains to the depths of the Danakil
Depression, at 120 meters below sea level one of the lowest dry land
points on earth. The cornucopia of natural beauty that blesses
Ethiopia offers an astonishing variety of landscapes: Afro-Alpine
highlands soaring to around 4,300 metres, moors and mountains, the
splendor of the Great Rift Valley, white-water rivers, Savannah
teeming with game, giant waterfalls, dense and lush jungle... the
list is endless.
Ethiopia's many national parks enable the visitor to enjoy the
country's scenery and its wildlife, conserved in natural habitats,
and offer opportunities for travel adventure unparalleled in Africa.
The wildlife consists mainly of East African plains animals, but
there are now no giraffe or buffalo. Oryx, bat-eared fox, caracal,
aardvark, ccolobus and green monkeys, Anubis and Hamadryas baboons,
klipspringer, leopard, bushbuck, hippopotamus, Soemmerings gazelle,
cheetah, lion, kudu and 450 species of bird all live within the
park's 720 square kilometres.