You’ve decided to vacation in Ethiopia and want it to be unforgettable, but you’re not sure what to see and do to make lasting memories.
This beautiful place is known for its stunning and impressive nature, including the well-known Lake Tana, the Ethiopian Highlands, savannahs, and protected areas where endangered species live. You can see tribes whose way of life has remained unchanged for centuries. You can not only observe their lives but also participate in a mysterious and enigmatic ritual, immerse yourself in a festival, and dive into primal culture.
Ethiopia is also famous for its landmarks, which are undoubtedly worth seeing. Let’s look at these cultural monuments and their significance:
1. The city of Axum is located on the northern border of Ethiopia, adjacent to Eritrea. It is a popular tourist destination, famous for its ancient origins established and ruled by Menelik I, son of King Solomon. You can see obelisks here, which, according to legend, were set up by cyclopean people.
2. Fasil Ghebbi is a fortress that consists of historical buildings—temples, castles, palaces dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Here you can observe a mixture of styles such as Baroque, as well as Indian, Arabic, and Nubian styles. Centuries ago, the fortress was the home of a ruler. Today, hundreds of tourists visit and admire its beauty.
3. Saint George’s Church was founded in the 12th century by a ruler who wished to create a new Jerusalem. This building was carved out of rock in the shape of a cross, surrounded by a 25-meter-high stone fence.
4. Fasilides’ Baths were built in the 17th century by Fasilides and are used once a year during the local “Timkat” festival.
5. Erta Ale is the most restless place in all of Ethiopia. It has been active continuously since 1967 and is now over six hundred meters tall.
6. Simien National Park spans 22,500 hectares, featuring the famous Ras Dashen peak, which is over four and a half meters tall. From this vantage point, you can see all the beauties of Ethiopia—savannas, highlands, deserts, and, of course, unique animals.
7. Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile. Its waters are used not only for cooking and quenching thirst but also for a hydroelectric power station. The lake has thirty-seven islands, on which monasteries and temples have been built.
8. Sof Omar Cave is located in Bale National Park. For a long time, it was the site of religious sects and has also been a sacred worship site for Muslims.
9. The Awash River is a sizable river where cotton and cane are grown. You can also see antelopes and gazelles here. When there is a flood, the river rises to a height of twenty meters.
10. Tis Isat Falls is a picturesque spot near the city of Bahir Dar. Here, you can find a large number of tourists eager to admire its beauty and capture these scenic places.
These are just a few of the beautiful places you must visit.
Ethiopia awaits you any time of year, as the temperature here almost never drops below twenty-five degrees Celsius. Only in the east can it fall to fifteen degrees Celsius. So, pack your bags and head to this amazing and beautiful place to enjoy not only the architectural monuments but also the beauty of the flora and fauna.
