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21.07.2023 - 07:28 / roughguides.com / Lake Turkana
Often incorrectly presumed by outsiders to be a tract of featureless desert, Ethiopia is in reality one of the wettest, most fertile and most beautiful countries in Africa. The «Land of 13 Months of Sunshine» is a profoundly underrated travel destination. This is a land of awe-inspiring beauty, cultural treasures, and a tapestry of ancient history. Here is our pick for the best things to do in Ethiopia.
The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide books — your essential guide for visiting the world.
Set at an elevation of 2355m in Ethiopia’s fertile central highlands, Addis Ababa is both the nation’s capital and its largest city. As the main point of arrival for international travellers, it’s also the hub from which the overwhelming majority of visitors explore the rest of the country, whether by road or air.
Fortunately, in most respects, visiting Addis Ababa is one of the best things to do in Ethiopia for an introduction to the country. The climate is agreeably temperate, hotels and restaurants are plentiful, and areas such as the Mercato and Piazza boast a compelling urban vibrancy. There are also enough worthwhile museums and other landmarks to keep new arrivals busy for a day or two.
Find more accommodation options to stay in Addis Ababa.
Injera © MagicBones/Shutterstock
South Omo is a vast semi-arid region flanking the lower Omo River before it flows across the border into Kenya’s Lake Turkana. In contrast to the Christian and Islamic cultures of the highlands, this area is home to some of the continent’s most staunchly traditional animist ethnic groups.
The region is scattered with small villages and isolated family homesteads, but the focal point of community life is those larger villages that host weekly markets. Market days are when the villages are at their busiest and when locals tend to be least self-conscious in their dealings with outsiders, so try to tailor your itinerary around them.
One of the best things to do in Ethiopia is to get to know the local culture in South Omo© hecke61/Shutterstock
Aksum (also spelt Axum) stands at the epicentre of Ethiopian history. Most dedicated students of Ethiopian history regard this oldest and holiest of towns as the most rewarding stop along the northern historic circuit. However, many casual visitors may dismiss it as dull in comparison to Lalibela or Gondar.
Nonetheless, Aksum is studded with some extraordinary antiquities. Here you'll find the tallest stelae (obelisks) ever erected by the ancients and engraved trilingual tablets dating to the time of Christ. All of them can be hugely rewarding when approached with realistic expectations.
Aksum, Ethiopia © Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock
Located 100km north of Gondar, the Simien
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Update: September 27, 2019
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Renowned the world over for its decorated tribes, the Omo Valley is a stop on many a tourist route in Ethiopia . But visits to the area can cross ethical boundaries, and few tourists are allowed the pleasure of a genuine experience with local people. Here, Rough Guides photographer Tim Draper tells us about his experience photographing some of southern Ethiopia's most fascinating tribes.
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