Our years of experience and extensive network of local partners can help you build your dream trip from the endless possibilities of Ethiopia. We’ll talk through your ideas, give you some suggestions, set it all up and advise on travel, kit and preparation, so that you get the Ethiopian adventure you’ve always wanted.
About Ethiopia
Ethiopia, land of origins, known for its many wonders has been delighting and surprising travelers for many years. There is so much to discover with an ancient African civilization, its colorful festivals, breath-taking landscapes, diverse tribal culture and most of all, its friendly, welcoming people.
Apart from being the oldest independent country in Africa with over 3000 years of independence, Ethiopia is also the earliest known home of humankind. With more than 80 ethnic groups and some 200 dialects, Ethiopia is home to a multitude of cultures all with their own customs and traditions to preserve.
The Orthodox Church is the oldest Christian establishment in Africa and officially the third oldest in the world. Ethiopia is unique with its own alphabet and number system dating back to those ancient times. Ethiopia is the land of the Queen of Sheba, a place of legendary rulers, remarkable kingdoms and ancient histories.
Ethiopia descends to 120 meters below sea level in the Danakil Depression and reaches up to the dizzy heights of Ras Dashen at 4624m in the Simien mountains.
Nature’s Bounty
Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most beautiful countries and its landscapes are epic in both scale and beauty. Here is a place where you can trek more than 3000m above sea level (the Simien and Bale mountains) or visit the lowest place on the African continent, the Danakil Depression. In between, there are lush highlands and stirring deserts, vertiginous canyons and sweeping savannah, vast lakes and high plateaus. If you look hard enough, you’ll also find landmarks of great significance, from the source of the Blue Nile to, again, the mesmerisingly desolate Danakil Depression, peppered with an astonishing 25% of Africa’s active volcanoes.
Ethiopia
Historical Wonders
Ethiopia, the only African country to have escaped European colonialism, has retained much of its cultural identity and its story is one of Africa’s most fascinating. It all begins with Lucy, one of our most celebrated ancient ancestors, moves effortlessly into the realm of ancient Aksum with its oblelisks and echoes of the Queen of Sheba, and then takes on power and passion as Christianity, with mysterious echoes of Ancient Israel, takes centre stage. And unlike so many other places in Africa, the ancients here left behind some extraordinary monuments to faith and power which serve as focal points for so many wonderful journeys.
Outdoor Adventures
Welcome to Africa’s most underrated wildlife destination. The Ethiopian wolf, that charismatic canid from the high country around the Simein Mountains, Menz-Guassa and Bale Mountains, is the ultimate prize, the sighting of a lifetime. There are gelada monkeys across the high northern plateau as well as other primates, while watching the extravagantly horned and sure-footed walia ibex cling to a rocky precipice is one of the great sights in nature. The birdwatching, too, ranks among the best in Africa. And there are elephants at Babille, crocodiles in Nechisar and the hyenas of Harar. It’s quite a line-up, one that could add a whole new dimension to your trip.
Proud Traditions
When it comes to human cultures, Ethiopia has an embarrassment of riches. There are the Surmi, Afar, Mursi, Karo, Hamer, Nuer and Anuak, whose ancient customs and traditions have remained almost entirely intact. Venturing into these communities and staying among them is akin to receiving a privileged initiation into a forgotten world. A highlight of any trip here is witnessing one of the many festivals that are an integral part of the traditional culture, from age-old ceremonies marking rites of passage to Christian celebrations of singular passion, the impact upon those who witness such events can provide travel memories to last a lifetime.