Abiata-Shala Lakes National Park
Southern Ethiopia
West of Lake Langano lie the twin lakes of Abiata and Shala, which form part of the national park. Identical twins these lakes are not: Shala’s 410-sq-km…
Must-see attractions in Ethiopia
Eastern Ethiopia
Despite considerable tree cutting, livestock grazing and land encroachment, Babille is better protected than many of Ethiopia’s national parks, and the…
Southern Ethiopia
Hayzo is one of the few Southern Nations’ villages that has succeeded in turning the influx of tourists into a positive experience for all concerned. You…
Addis Ababa
Long the symbol of Ethiopia’s monarchy, the Lion of Judah is ubiquitous throughout the country – and although images of the almighty animal abound in…
Senkelle Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary
Southern Ethiopia
Senkelle was established to protect Ethiopia’s endemic Swayne’s hartebeest, and though the population of around 700 is a far cry from the huge herds of…
Western Ethiopia
Gazetted in 2011, the Gibe Sheleko National Park covers 360 sq km of upland plateau, parts of the Gibe River gorge area and patches of endemic forest. The…
Western Ethiopia
One of the prettiest stands of forest in Western Ethiopia, Menagesha National Forest is an easy day trip from Addis. Almost a dozen trails (up to 9km in…
Addis Ababa
The Bete Maryam Mausoleum is located just south of Menelik’s palace and offers what could be an enchantingly eerie experience for travellers (were it not…
Southern Ethiopia
Although by Ethiopian standards wildlife is fairly abundant in this dramatically beautiful 2162-sq-km park, there’s no chance of an East African-safari…
Dungur (Queen of Sheba’s) Palace
Aksum
The structure at Dungur is popularly known as Queen of Sheba’s Palace, though archaeologists are divided over whether it was the great woman's palace or…
Southern Ethiopia
Where the Kulfo River empties into Lake Chamo you’ll find oodles of crocodiles sunning themselves. Both the size of the congregation and the size of the…
Southern Ethiopia
Shashemene’s Rastafarian community, known locally as Jamaica, straddles the main road just north of town. It’s readily distinguished by its tri-coloured…
Southern Ethiopia
This bizarre crater lake is about 800m across and 600m below the crater rim – it is so dark in colour that it looks like an oil slick amid the ruddy rocks…
Western Ethiopia
A worthwhile excursion from Metu is to the 20m-high Sor River Waterfalls, one of the most beautiful falls in Ethiopia. It lies close to the village of…
Western Ethiopia
Looking more out of America’s Wild West than the Kafa kingdom, the increasingly fragile Palace of Abba Jiffar looks as if a strong wind could blow it away…
Aksum
This well-laid-out museum inside the Northern Stelae Field contains an interesting variety of objects found in the tombs, ranging from ordinary household…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
In a grove of trees on the other side of the same mountain as Abba Yohanni, this architecturally interesting 15th-century church, is entered through a…
Northern Ethiopia
In the mountains about 5km due east of Adwa, the monastery of Abba Garima is said to have been founded by one of the Nine Saints in the 6th century. It’s…
Borana National Park – Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary
Southern Ethiopia
Covering an area of 2496 sq km, this wildlife reserve was originally created to protect Ethiopia’s endemic Swayne’s hartebeest. Hartebeests have since…
Lake Tana & its Monasteries
The original 14th-century (some say 12th-century) church at Debre Maryam was rebuilt by Tewodros in the 19th century. It’s unattractive both outside and…
Harar
Near the middle of the walled city, and often mistakenly called Rimbaud’s House, is this museum dedicated to French poet Arthur Rimbaud with a series of…
Western Ethiopia
Built by the King of Wolega in the 1870s, the Kumsa Moroda Palace has only recently been opened to the public after long years of neglect. It sits 1km…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
Only partly hewn, this wood, stone and mortar church, now out of service, is built on a steep ledge and is more interesting from the outside than in,…
Southern Ethiopia
High above the town, this venture provides a very brief introduction to Konso culture, but it’s the excellent collection of totemistic waga that makes it…
Eastern Ethiopia
Lying just north of the town centre, Lake Hora is the wildest of Bishoftu's lakes and features some outstanding birdlife along its lushly vegetated slopes…
Lake Tana & its Monasteries
Though the 17th-century church at Kebran Gabriel is beautiful, it’s no longer open to the public and the museums (one each for men and women) have nothing…
Lalibela
Lying 7km from Lalibela, just off the airport road, is this simple but attractive church (apart from the outer security wall). It’s attributed to King…
Northern Ethiopia
Of Tana’s four far-northern monasteries, all west of Gorgora, Mandaba Medhane Alem, which hosts ancient biblical manuscripts and some of Ethiopia’s most…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
This crooked cruciform sandstone church is semi-monolithic and boasts beautiful cruciform pillars (notice the swirling sandstone laminae), cubical…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
One of the best museums in Ethiopia's north, Wukro Museum begins with some displays on generators and electricity in Wukro, which are interesting enough,…
Lalibela
This excellent new museum has beautifully presented displays about Lalibela’s history, both past and present. The exhibits range from cultural artefacts…
Ras Tafari's House & Sherif Harar City Museum
Harar
Close to Rimbaud’s House, the conspicuous Ras Tafari’s House was built by an Indian trader and many of its features, such as the Ganesh carving above the…
Eastern Ethiopia
At Filwoha Hot Springs, in the far north of the park, around 30km from the highway, you can swim in the turquoise-blue pools, but they’re not as…
Southern Ethiopia
Spanning the narrow yet mountainous ‘Bridge of God’ that separates Lakes Chamo and Abaya, Nechisar National Park ranks among the most scenic national…
Gonder
Though its early history is murky (it was likely built in the 17th century, though some say the 18th), this attractive palace once served as a retreat for…
Northern Ethiopia
Though there’s little solid evidence about its history, this tall castle peering out over Lake Tana could have been built in the 1580s by Emperor Za…
Northern Ethiopia
Though local guides insist the small stone-arch Portuguese bridge near Debre Libanos was erected by the Portuguese in the 16th century, it was actually…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
Atop a small but panoramic hill and behind an ugly 1960s facade sits this better-than-average rock-hewn church. It has thick cruciform pillars, small…
Rock-hewn Churches of Tigray
High atop the mountain and not visible from the ground below, this rectangular chapel has six freestanding pillars that support a ceiling carved with…
Harar
The tomb of Sheikh Abadir, Harar’s legendary founder and second emir, is an important pilgrimage site. His tomb still attracts worshippers seeking…
