Ethiopia is not only about breathtaking and exhilarating landscapes and a variety of animals. This is an opportunity to touch the ancient culture and history of the country by visiting unique monuments or attending religious ceremonies, the rules of which have practically not changed over the past several thousand years.
Ethiopia: how to get there, where to stay
There is only one international airport in Ethiopia, located in the capital of the country - the city of Addis Ababa. The flight is quite expensive, but flights around the country operated by Ethiopian Airlines are cheap, the same can be said about hotels - you will have to pay only $ 5 to $ 35 per night (prices soar to $ 50 only for the period of holidays and festivals).
Top attractions in Ethiopia Tourist Route
You can start exploring Ethiopia from any part of the country, but it is better to do it in Simien Mountains National Park. The landscapes and landscapes that open to the eye will leave speechless even those tourists who, it would seem, have already seen everything on planet Earth. It takes your breath away for another reason - the air in the park is very thin. In Simmen Park, different types of landscapes harmoniously coexist - from mountain deserts and deserts to savannas. Leopards, Ethiopian jackal, Nubian mountain goat live here, you can see a variety of birds of prey. On the territory of the park is the highest peak of Ethiopia - Mount Ras Dashen.
The next destination is not very hospitable - the Danakil Desert with sulfur springs and volcanoes, the air temperature here can reach 50C. The best views of the alien landscapes are from the Dallol volcano, and the best time to visit is December-February, when the weather favors courageous travelers.
In the city of Gondar (once the capital of Ethiopia), there is the Fasil Gebbi fortress. Its architecture harmoniously combines different styles - Indian, Moorish and Portuguese. In the 16th-17th centuries, Fasil-Gebbi, similar to a small city behind a high wall, served as the residence of the emperor Fasilidas and his successors. Churches, monasteries and the most beautiful palaces of that era were located near the fortress. The beauty of the fortress is complemented by the views from its windows.
Epiphany in Ethiopian style - Timkat - falls on January 19-20. The traditions of the holiday have remained virtually unchanged for over 1000 years. What is happening captures 3 cities (Gondar, Lalibela and Axum), the celebration lasts 3 days. The participants of the ceremony are dressed in their satin and velvet clothes, part of the dress is a fabric umbrella. In this procession, the priest stands out, carrying on his head the personification of the tablets - the slab of tabot. The unforgettable sight is accompanied by the ringing of bells, the smoke of the censers complements the atmosphere. The apogee is the consecration of the waters in the river, while the ceremony begins late at night and continues until the morning. After washing the golden cross, all the shrines return to their places.
When planning your trip to Ethiopia, keep in mind that local airlines are not punctual, and sometimes flights are canceled altogether, so leave time for unforeseen adjustments to plans and routes.
