Ethiopia Destinations
Discover the Unmatched Beauty of Ethiopia: A Comprehensive Destination Guide
In over a 1000 years many of the ancient historical and religious sites have not changed. So we invite you to walk through medieval rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, get as close as possible to the Ark of the Covenant and photograph everything that surrounds to your heart's content.
This is Ethiopia that we fell in love with, this is the Ethiopia where her people so proud in nature just wanted to show her off. If anything was learnt while we were there it was that this country will soon be up there with the best in Africa making her a must visit destination.
Having just returned from a quick safari through this amazingly beautiful and historic country we have compiled a small destinations guide based on what we saw and experienced. All these pages have photo galleries attached, so have fun and explore Ethiopia.
Our Ethiopia safari experts will guide you through all the best options available to you based on your interests and budget.
Destinations In Ethiopia
Lalibela
Lalibela, originally known as Roha, was renamed after Saint Gebre Mesqel Lalibela—a truly transformative honor. The town has rightfully earned its nickname as the "New Jerusalem" thanks to its extraordinary collection of religious sites that are without a doubt among the most spectacular in Ethiopia. The local river, impressively named the River Jordan, further amplifies this sacred atmosphere. This is unquestionably one of Ethiopia's most spiritually significant destinations, offering not only exceptional religious experiences but also breathtaking scenic beauty that will leave you in awe.
Axum
Axum and its spectacular surrounding area are steeped in an incredibly rich history. As the heart of the legendary Aksumite Kingdom—which reigned gloriously for nearly 900 years starting in 100 BC—this region was once rightfully counted as one of the four greatest superpowers of the ancient world alongside Rome, Persia, and China. Today, the kingdom’s crowning achievement is on full display near the vibrant town center: the magnificent, towering "Stelae."
Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar is spectacularly impressive—a refreshingly clean town that radiates a distinctly modern, Western sophistication unlike anywhere else we've encountered. Aptly nicknamed the 'Riviera of Ethiopia,' this exceptional destination without a doubt boasts some of the finest hotels and restaurants the country has to offer. From the meticulously maintained streets to the exceptional quality of hospitality, every detail speaks to a level of refinement that sets Bahir Dar apart.
Gondar
Often referred to as the 'Camelot of Africa', Gondar is without a doubt one of Ethiopia's most spectacular royal cities, having been home to numerous Kings from the Solomonic dynasty as far back as 1635. During our visit, we were fortunate enough to explore three truly remarkable destinations within Gondar: the awe-inspiring Fasil Ghebbi, the historically rich Fasilides Bath, and the breathtakingly beautiful Debre Birhan Selassie Church.
Ethiopia Travel Topics
Visiting The Lalibela Rock Churches
Your correspondent has been travelling in Africa for over three decades. I feel that I know sub-Saharan Africa; its smells, its peoples, its geography and its wildlife. Ethiopia is different, as different as snow is to sand. So different that you could get a very sharp knife and detach it somewhere in the Red Sea because it is not similar to any of its Arab world neighbours either.
Where To Travel In Ethiopia
New on Uyaphi.com is our Travel in Ethiopia portfolio featuring safaris and tours to this somewhat new African safari destination; we are very excited about Ethiopia and all that she has to offer. Think of Ethiopia as a more cultural safari destination than what one is used to in Africa.
Palace Of Haile Selassie
Haile Selassie, King of Kings, Lion of Judah, by the grace of God, Emperor of Ethiopia. Quite a mouthful of a title for a single man or, as the Rastafarians would have it, the son of God. So awe-inspiring are the adjectives that you would have expected him to live in a magnificent palace made of the finest Carrara marble or a granite stone castle in the tradition of Gondar.