Author: eatours

The mysterious and extremely holy city of Lalibela is located approximately 700km north of Addis Ababa. The city is the home to what some consider being the eighth wonder of the world.

The town has 11 rock-hewn monolithic churches built by King Lalibela in the late 12th and 13th century. These miraculous churches with spectacular ancient architectural structures are caved, inside and out, out of massive rocks that took almost 25 years to complete.

King Lalibela was the second son of King Zan Seyum – the 7th King of Zagwe dynasty. He had lived in Jerusalem for 5 years before he became king and aimed at establishing New Jerusalem in Ethiopia. UNESCO has recorded this site as one of the world’s wonders. The Lalibela rock-hewn churches apart from their historical significance are renowned for their excellent and unique rock caving that is believed to have been partly built by angles. The detail displayed on the rocks reflects the beautifully executed craftsmanship of this time.

Sometimes named ‘The Camelot of Africa’, Gondar is situated 700 kilometers north of Addis Ababa at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level. This medieval city was Ethiopia’s capital from 1632 to 1868 and is still one of the prominent historical cities in Ethiopia.

King Fasiladas officially founded Gondar in 1632. It was this Gondarine period that is considered to be the third major dynasty after the Axumite and Zagwe dynasties. The dynasty is historically important for the introduction of a permanent capital. Gondar’s 17th century castles reflect the strong dynasty and the power of progressive rulers. Seven of the dynasty’s kings had their own castles built to show their power and independent, efficient ruling styles.

The 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. His castle reflects a number of influences, mainly Axumite, Portuguese and Indian. The tower offers divine panoramic views, even Lake Tana is visible on a clear day.

Gondar is especially significant to the Ethiopian Orthodox community and considered a pinnacle of religious centers across the country. Among the churches in town, Debre Berhan Selassie is famous for its typical Gondarine style and extraordinary ceiling.

Bahir Dar, meaning “sea shore” in Amharic, is an especially beautiful city set on the southeastern shore of Lake Tana which is in fact Ethiopia’s largest Lake. It is also only 30km from the spectacular Tissisat Falls (Blue Nile Falls), which stems off Lake Tana. The falls are always more amazing in the rainy season due to the rising water levels and enormous amounts of water that come crashing down and create that magical mist.

There are picturesque churches and magnificent murals from the 16^th & 17^th centuries. One of the more famous churches is two stories tall, carved out of stone and has an outside staircase. There are also a number of monasteries on surrounding Bahir Dar islands that can be visited by boat very easily. It is important to always respect these holy grounds of prayer and of course the people that worship.

Daily & weekly markets are a must in Bahir Dar. Beautiful ornaments, jewelry & crafts are available here that would make beautiful gifts for back home

The Semien Mountains are north east of Gondar. They are spectacular and are the perfect trekking site for the adventure seeking traveller. They are listed as one of the official World Heritage Sites. The terrain is magnificent, Ras Dashen being the tallest peak at 4,550m.

The best time of year to visit the Semien Mountains are between November & July, the rainy seasons are too cold and wet and visibility tends to be relatively bad.

It is also possible to see villages along the way where you can meet diverse people and immerse yourself in their culture.

Exciting Ethiopia Tours recommends at least 3 days trekking in this region to fullest experience the calm and peaceful atmosphere in these extraordinary ranges.

Please contact us for more details

Konso Region is located 90 km from Arbaminch with isolated region of the basalt hills. The Konso tribe make the most of the hard, rocky slopes that characterize their relatively dry and infertile homeland. You can visit the old village of Mecheke which is an excellent example of a traditional Konso village. You can see over 800 years of history when you see the wagas, memorial statues to a dead man who has killed an enemy or an animal.

These ancient wooden carvings are arranged in groups, representing the man, his wives, and his vanquished adversaries. Unfortunately the majority of these significant pieces have been stolen or sold to high-end antiques galleries in Europe and America. The Konso people are a reasonably rich tribe, as they have a vast number of terrace fields in the hills. The villages are relatively large and ruled by the elders of the region. Yazai is the charismatic king of Konso, what an honor it is to meet this exceptional human being. The Konso had an fascinating tradition after having a fight with an other tribe. They would take the tibia bones of their dead rivals and during a huge celebration would burn them to ashes.
Many years ago the women were all half nude with a typical white colourful skirt which can still be seen, but as missionaries are very active in the area, they tend to wear Arsenal tee-shirts to hide their breasts. There is in fact a challenge in Ethiopia between Christian and Muslim activists to convert the isolated villages.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added in September 2011 the ‘Konso Cultural Landscape of Ethiopia’ to it’s World Heritage List.

The ‘Dorze’ tribe reside in Chencha, approximately 3000m above sea level. These divine & loving people are renowned for their weaving. Their houses are tall beehive-shaped dwellings and are among the most distinct traditional structures to be seen anywhere in Africa.

In addition to the stunning mountains & lakes, this park protects 84 species of unusual mammals including bushbuck, bushbig, Anabas baboon, velvet & colobus monkey, swayne’s hartebeast, bushel’s Zebra, African wild dog, greater kudu, gent eat, didk-dik jackal, crocodile and hippopotamus and many more! Moreover, there are 88 bird species to be spotted in the park. During a one day tour including a boat trip in one of the Rift Valley lakes, Lake Chamo a vast allay of wildlife can be seen living peacefully in their own habitats

Arba Minch means ‘Forty Springs’. It is the former capital city of the defunct Gamo- Gofar province.

Despite the name of the city, there are over 80 natural springs in Armament. All of which are open to tourists to drink the one of the purest waters of the world.

The Rift Valley can be seen from outer space. On its north eastern side you can fine the ‘Dankil Depression’ It is one of the lowest points on the earth at 116m below sea level, and by far THE hottest place on earth. However the Rift Valley also hosts Ethiopia’s second highest peak in the Bale mountains at 4373m above sea level on its south eastern side.

The Valley includes four national parks including ‘Abita Shala’ & ‘Bale Mountain’ and more than six crater lakes including the beautiful ‘Lake Zway’). The Rift Valley provide a fantastic environment for bird watchers as well as general nature lovers. Birds in these lakes include flamingo, pelicans, strokes, herons, cormorants and many more

Omo National Park is one of the national parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region on the west bank of the Omo River, the park covers approximately 4,068 square kilometers, about 870 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa; across the Omo is the Mago National Park. Although an airstrip was recently built near the park headquarters on the Mui River, this park is not easily reachable; the Lonely Planet guide Ethiopia and Eritrea describes Omo National Park as “Ethiopia’s most remote park.”

It has long been one of the most remote parks in Ethiopia and travelling here can be incredibly tough – but never less than fascinating. Because there is virtually no tourist infrastructure within the park, you will need to be totally self-sufficient with your own food, camping gear and a reliable, fully-equipped 4WD vehicle.

Are you a bird watcher? If so, this is by far your ultimate dream. Omo National Park is home to over 318 species of bird, one of which includes the rare black-winged lovebird. This is undoubtedly the most remote and unspoiled of all the Ethiopian National Parks and it is also the largest at 4,068 square kilometers.

Wildlife here includes large herds of eland and buffalo, elephant, giraffe, cheetah, lion, leopard, burchel’ zebra, lesser kudu, lelwel hartebeast oryx and the Colobus monkey.