Image – © Kibran Tours
Ethiopia, a land of ancient culture, stunning landscapes and diverse flora & fauna is gaining popularity amongst travellers who are interested to soak up ancient history and explore this fascinating destination.
Situated in the Horn of Africa and surrounded on all sides by the following countries: Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan, Ethiopia covers an area of 1,120,000 sqkm, which includes salt flats of Danakil, the Simien Mountains, Afromontane forests and moorlands, savannahs and UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Lalibela, considered the 8th Wonder of the World.
Ethiopia is one of the world’s oldest countries, with palaces and temples dating back 3,000 years to the reign of Queen Sheba and King Solomon and where the oldest and most complete human fossil, Lucy was found, dating back to 3.2 million years.
As well as fascinating culture and heritage, Ethiopia is also a nature lovers dream. The country is regarded as one of Africa’s key birding destinations, with a full 860 species recorded, including 18 found nowhere else in the world – these include Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco, peculiar Stresemann’s Bush Crow and melodious Abyssinian catbird.
Visitors can also observe a wide array of wildlife, including endemic species such as the Ethiopian Wolf, Walia Ibex (one of the rarest animals) and the Mountain Nyala to include a few. Larger mammals such as lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffe can be seen in National parks and protected areas.
The country is a diverse ethnic and linguistic mix, with over 80 different languages spoken (English and Arabic are widely spoken). It has it’s own unique alphabet called the Fidel derived from Ge’ez, which is one of the oldest languages in the world.
It is easily accessible for international travel with direct flights from London Heathrow to Addis Ababa and due to its location is also a great destination to combine with other East African destinations, for example it is only a 2hr 10 min flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi.
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This is a year-round travel destination with two main rainy seasons (June-August and September-October). The high season is October-January when the rains have finished but the landscape is still lush and green. Moving into February to May, which is dryer and hotter before the rains begin again, which can be as early as April in the far south of the country.
To find out more about this fascinating destination, contact us to discuss your travel plans with one of our dedicated travel consultants. We offer a selection of lodges & hotels in Ethiopia as well as tours and we can tailor a trip to suit your requirements and budget.
