Experiencing the land of origins with Exotic!
What to visit?
What to see is other general core point beside that of having a destination to be visited. The first three question that came out of the visitor at the second time beside that of knowing the country have the destination place that are visited is, what does the destination embraced, what makes it unique ( the history, the culture, the duration, the adventure/ other reasons), why worth to see this particular destination beside others…
Northern Circuit (historic route)
For most Ethiopian tour operation activities northern Ethiopia is consider to be the core/vital point for making best itinerary. Most of the route northern Ethiopia starts from the capital of the city which is Addis Ababa and mostly ends at Mekelle /Kombolcha.
When someone asks you where to begin the Ethiopia tour you say northern Ethiopia without hesitation, why? It’s simple b/c the history begins and ends at this region. The 3,000 mysterious accounts will start from the 4th century marvelous city of Axum pass through the 12th century dedicated Christian of the Zagwe kingdom to the timeless classic legend of the 16th century of the Camelot Gondar and join the road to the last legendary 19thC monarchy of the Solomonic dynasty. This region mostly enrich with the legends and the untold tale of the history.
The capital is the starting point for all the tour that you might arrange ‘Addis Ababa’. The new flower is the small interpretation for the name Addis Ababa. This city have a lot to give for the tourist from the traditional activities to the international senses, it is enrich with museums and palaces also ancient library with an ancient unfound books. In the late 18th C this city founded by the emperor Minlik II wife of Empress Taitu. Most of the time historian put this metro at the first place that tourist have to see.
Most of the world heritage sites of Ethiopia are found in this region like that of the 8th wonder of the world ‘Lalibela’. Lalibela is the city which embraced and represent the heavenly also the earthly Jerusalem some called this place the second Jerusalem. Inside this site we found old monasteries also a lot of rock hewn churches. Mostly historian divides these rock hewn churches into three parts pure Monolithic churches, semi Monolithic churches and built up cave churches. Legend says Lalibela built this places by himself in addition it state that Lalibela got the help form the angels to built this tremendous and spectacular 11th rock hewn churches.
When you drive back 395km you found another world heritage sites which is the 16th C capital of Ethiopia ‘Gondar’. Gondar is consider to be the Camelot of Africa till the last king of the Gondarian, the one and the only reason that Gondar consider to be the Camelot of the Africa is b/c of the number of kings that comes in 3qunseqitive centuries’ and comparing to other African nation kings are not seen or count as many as the Gondarian did. In this other world heritage sites we found a lot of castles and palaces with the area enclose of 7.7 hector. Gondar is an Amharic word which drives from two words Gon and dar in turn it means dwell beside me. This site also embraced lot of churches. Some written legends /folktales say’s Gondar great castles are a living example of the dead ark of Noah.
The other wonderful scenery also, another world heritage site of Ethiopia found 130km far from Gondar which is the home of the endemic Ethiopian red heart baboon (golden-maned gelada monkey) which also one embraced one iconic endangered walia ibex is ‘Simien Mountains National Park (SMNP)’. Besides embracing the endemic, this sites also the home of the Ethiopia’s highest mountain Ras Dashen (4543m).
Most says the heart beat of the ancient Ethiopian history still strike here in the home of the last Ark of the Covenant resting place ‘Axum’. Axum also considers being one of the Ethiopian world heritage sites. Consider to be having the last relics that the world wants to discover ‘the ark’ not just the ‘the ark’ they want ‘the last missing Ark of the Covenant’ believe to be the last resting place. These sites also have many ruins of the past kings, steale & obelisks, conies, palaces, Museums, baths, churches… driving 250km to the chain sites of Axum is like that of ‘Mekelle’, you can witness Tigray rock hewn churches and the first oldest town of Ethiopia which is ‘Yeha’ the one thing that you are not gone miss is the eco- tourism sites of the oldest victory place of black history battle field of Adwa (1896).
‘Bahir Dar’ the capital city of the Amhara region, as like the others the name derives from an Amharic Languages in turn it means at the shore of the lake. The lake got many islands they called it ‘the source’ b/c it got two biggest sources of mankind history the one is ‘the Nile’ the others is the ‘21islands’ of the Ethiopian orthodox church monasteries. Each islands got churches, the church got many parchments books also mural inside each monastery. Also other destination like that of ‘Kombolcha’ and ‘Dessies’ are not unforgettable in the route of the northern Ethiopia.
Southern Circuit ( cultural Immersion)
Ethiopia is not only holding the 3,000 account of history but also the diversified and the Varity of cultural ethnicity. Above 80 ethnic groups speaking above 70 different languages, this region holds a lot of tribes, while the southern part knowing in the cultural appraisal but embracing 80% wildlife sanctuary and national parks. Almost 85% of this region is green and enrich of a lot of natural attraction, human made attractions, landscapes and other fascinating attraction. This circuit almost every time begin at the ‘Arab Minch’ region and end at the point of at its regional capital ‘Awassa’.
Unlike the Northern part of the nation, the people in south are not that reach in terms of remnants of old constructions but a living culture that strikes the very existence of the self. Natural beauties are main reasons for many tourists to revisit Southern Ethiopia. ‘Mursi’, ‘Karo’ and ‘Hamar’ tribes of the South will help you recognize what difference was born between the modern life and the natural one. A few days of stay among these people will help you renew your entire life. ‘Tiya stelae’ field is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their attractive and mysterious pillars. ‘Bale Mountains National Park’ gives you the opportunity to see many of the bizarre animals unknown to the world. Supreme Mountain hiking; horse trekking and scenic driving are few of the activities you will take great pleasure from.
As the northern Ethiopia this region also got a world heritage sites, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1980 ‘Tiya’. Tyia stelae are known by 36 stelae in this cemetery. Bodies of people aged 18 to 30 were found in this site. “It is likely
They were warriors, because the sword is the most predominant image on the stelae.”
The region also got the second highest mountain of the country which is mounting ‘Tulu Dimtu (4377m). The region is enriching with a rift valley lakes like that of ‘Lake Awassa’, ‘Lake Abiyata-shala’, ‘Lake Langano’, ‘Lake Ziway’ ‘Lake Chamo’ & ‘Lake Abaya’... another thing that you have to bring up about this southern region tourist site is the national parks and other protected pulse Sanctuary that got. One the well known national park found in this region the ‘Nech-Sar national park’ (NNP). This park found at the shore of the Lake Chamo, Lake Chamo also known by embracing the ‘Nile perch crocodiles’ and ‘hippos’.
SNNPRS (South Nation Nationality and People’s Regional State) has embraces many bird life areas/sites. Ethnicity attraction also takes your breath combining with the physical feature of the land. One of the best natural attractions that found in this site is the ‘Konso soil pinnacles’ what they called it the ‘New York’ not the big apple but the ‘New York’ which in turn means the ‘the new place’. Not like the Northern side of the country but also this particular site got a good tale or what you call it legends, why this place got the name ‘New York’. Amazing thing also you found in this region like that of the northern Ethiopia is the practice, of the culture like that of the Mursi lip stretching, the Erbore decoration of their body by a many different colour, the one believed gods of the Konso Waqa, the ritual activities of the Dasenech, the artist of the body painting the Karo, the master of the Evagandi and the bull- jumping party holder the Hammer, last but not list from the list of our precise tribes the Surma/ Suri known for Stick fighting called Donga or Saginay bringing great prestige to men. This ritual is especially important when seeking a brid. Other thing that has to mention in this region is Paleoanthropological Sites The lower omo valley which is considered to be the world heritages sites.
Eastern part (Adventure, historical and natural Attraction)
When you talk about the eastern Ethiopia your topic will caught up with 3differnt angle/Scopes Paleontological and archeologically findings, history and adventures. You can witness the oldest city to the deepest lowest point of the earth with the beautiful scenery of the live volcanic eruption. Animal sanctuary is other spectacular sites beside that of the well known national parks that hold much endemic life with in their territory. Things can be written and preserve but one thing that can you see the preserved thing alive is right here at the heart of the eastern part of Ethiopia. One of the sites that UNESCO subscribed as the world heritage site is found and considered to be the heart of this region ‘Harar/the wall of Harar’. The Awash National Park (ANP) is also another spectacular place that you can found the endemic animals like that of ‘Oryx’ and other species. Enrich with oldest cave painting like that of ‘Laga Oda’ found near the capital city of the eastern Ethiopia which ‘Dire Dawa’. The other site which is enrich by the archeologically finding is ‘the lower valley of Awash’ which is consider to be a very important place/sites that are registered on UNESCO world heritage site. In this site the important relic of the world is discover (Lucy/ Denkinesh) Australopithecus Afarensis. Also in early the past 7 years geologist discover more fossils like the first early child ‘Selam/Peace’. The other described thing that this site got is a chain lakes and a resort that of Debre Zeyit.
Almost the spectacular site which found in this region is the salt mining site of ‘Afdera’. ‘Erta Ale’ The most regularly visited volcanic range, the most active volcano in Africa, having hosted a permanent lava lake for longer than 120 years, and which has been in a state of continuous eruption since 1967. Dallol, near Lake Asale, the lowest spot of terra firma on the African continent. One of the direst and most tectonically active areas on the planet, the Danakil is an area of singular geological fascination
Western part (Scenery & Bird life Attraction)
Western Ethiopia, the birth place of an Arabica Coffee. This particular site is consider to be non seeing site /off beaten track site. As that of the northern, southern and eastern part of Ethiopia this destination is not explore yet. In this destination we can witness the natural attraction sites pulse places and river sites. Western Ethiopia embraced Organic coffee plantations sites, palace and Museum, fountain, hot springs, Traditional gold mining sites, Coffee Museum, Deep forest, national parks also some birding areas. One the astonishing and fascinating chief of the western Ethiopia is birth here also made a written and seen history; you can wittiness it at the capital of the western Jimma/ Aba Jifar Palace. Bareda fountain which is also not a missing spot for a tourist to see, Kumsa Moroda 19th century palace and Wollega Museum in Nekemte city definitely worth to see it. Organic coffee plantations in Gimbi and its surroundings, Traditional gold mining sites in Nejo and Assosa, Shek Hojale palace in Assosa, Choche Coffee Museum (the origin of coffee Arabica) site in Agaro; Sor river fall in Illubabora, Mettu; Deep forest in Illubabora.
The other amazing site which has to mention in the western Ethiopia part is the Mt. Menagesha, this mount is categorized to one of the mountains from the five mountains that surround the capital city of Ethiopia. In this mountains site we found a deep forest that hold many museums, praying caves, bird life and churches with a wild life conservation beauty. One the legend that tell about this place is that the Jesus Christ right hand cross was beard for a long years after Zera’yakob went to Sudan and brought it and till take it to Gishen Amba the place where the cross-like mountain. Ambo also the sites that get the fame name from the well known drinking mineral water throughout the country. The site got a fountain, colorful market areas, island monasteries, churches and embracing other unforgettable visiting areas. Gambela, Gambela national parks, Didessa wild life sanctuary pulse the Gefersa Reservoir for the best bird seeing place to Emperor Menelik II’s future capital; Addis Alem literally means ‘New World’ in Amharic. Will take your breath away for a while when you visit this particular fascinating off beaten track region.