Geo Travel Blog

Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in Sub Saharan Africa, is a landlocked country situated in Eastern Africa. The country is neighbored by Somalia and Djibouti on the East, Eritrea on the Northeast, Sudan on the West, and Kenya on the South. Occupying over 1,000,000 sq km, Ethiopia is a country with an amazing landscape ranging from mountain forests to desert landscapes.

Bole International airport is the main point of entry for international travellers to Ethiopia. Located in Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa, this airport is the fifth busiest in Africa. The airport is the home of Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s pioneering airline that currently operates flights between Ethiopia and 48 other travel destinations in the world. Addis Ababa has a population of over 2 million people. The city is nestled at the bottom of the 3000 metres Entoto Mountains, presenting a pleasant landscape of wooded hillsides and gullies occupied by fast flowing streams.

Ethiopia is home to some of the most scenic sites in Africa, among them the Danakil depression and the rugged Simien mountains. Lying at 120 metres below sea level, the Danakil depression is one of the lowest lying dry points in the world. Simien mountains on the other hand are a UNESCO world heritage site.

Ethiopia is reputed as the “water tower” of Eastern Africa because of the many rivers flowing from its high tableland. The country has over 20 mountains towering at 4,000 metres and above, the tallest among them being the 4,260 metres high Ras Deshen, which is also the fourth tallest mountain in Africa. The rivers that flow from these Ethiopian highlands include the Blue Nile, Awash river, Omo river, and Baro river.

The Blue Nile makes up about 80% of the Great Nile River’s water volume. Originating from Lake Tana, the Blue Nile merges with the White Nile (origin- Lake Victoria), to form the Nile River, the longest river in the world. The Blue Nile Falls, along the rivers route, is among Ethiopia’s leading tourist attractions. The falls are located near Tis Abay, 30km to the east of Bahir Dar.

Located about 560 km from Addis Ababa, Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia. The lake has 37 islands some of which harbor churches and monasteries. These buildings carry beautiful murals and paintings, remains of emperors, church crosses, icons, manuscripts, crowns and other articles of historical and cultural significance.

Among the activities you can enjoy while on an Ethiopia vacation, mountain trekking is perhaps the most popular. Both Simien and Bale mountains national parks provide good conditions for trekking as well as some excellent spots for mountain climbing. The highland regions to the east and the west of the Omo valley are the other increasingly famous areas for trekkers.

Another popular tourist attraction in Ethiopia is birdwatching. Ethiopia has over 800 bird species, 16 of which are endemic. You can spot a wider variety of bird species in the national parks owing to reduced human interference there. In Bale national park alone, a record 161 species of birds have been observed. The best time for birdwatching falls between early September and February. During this time, especially from November, many migratory birds flock into the region, significantly increasing the bird population and widening the bird species diversity.

Abyssinia, as Ethiopia was formerly called, has a long history with a culture and traditions dating back over 3,000 years. The country has over 80 different ethnic groups with their own languages, culture and traditions. The strong religious setting, celebrations and festivals play an important part in Ethiopian culture.

Ethiopia hotels provide good accommodation, with some international hotel chains having a presence in Addis Ababa. Top hotels include Sheraton hotel, Dagim Millennium Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Adot-Tina hotel, among others. Before you get into Ethiopia, you require at least a one-month Visa. The entry visa can be obtained at the airport at US$20. Visitors also need a valid health certificate for yellow fever. If having visited or passed through a region infected with Cholera six days or less prior to getting into Ethiopia, you will need to provide proof of vaccination against the disease (cholera).