Ethiopia

Ethiopia is unlike any other country in Africa, Christian before much of Europe and yet never colonised by the European powers. Famous as the home of the late Emperor Haile Selassie, formally known as Ras Tafari, the land of the Queen of Sheba, the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant and the birthplace of ‘Lucy’ and the coffee bean. Ethiopia is steeped in tangible history and traveling through this rugged country is to step back in time.

In 1991 Ethiopia emerged from civil war with an elected government and a desire to see the cruelties of famine as a thing of the past with an ambitious development programme. This now land-locked nation in the heart of the Horn of Africa has the second largest population on the Continent with an estimated 85 million people, made up of 80 different ethnic groups, the largest being the Oromo and the Amhara. The official language is Amharic. Ethiopia adopted Christianity in the 4th Century AD and two thirds of the population are Christian with one third Muslim.

A land of extreme cultural contrasts, from the obelisks of Axum and the 12thC AD monolithic churches of King Lalibela to the lip plate wearing Mursi, the Hamer, the Nyangatom and other tribes of the Omo River Valley. Physically, Ethiopia varies from the Simien Mountains through fertile highlands to the extreme desert of the Danakil Depression. Although not a classic safari destination the country has some fascinating wildlife of its own including the Walia Ibex, Mountain Nyala, Gelada Baboon and the critically endangered Ethiopian Wolf.

With currently limited accommodation options and internal travel not as smooth as it could be Ethiopia is still not for those seeking luxury. However, for those with an interest in ancient African culture, traditional tribes and breathtaking landscapes, Ethiopia is an absolute must.