Ethiopia, located at the horn of Africa, is a magical country that boasts of having the most World Heritage Sites (UNESCO), as compared to any other African country. With its rich cultural and religious ancestries, natural exquisiteness, and archaeological pedigree, Ethiopia is a hidden gem that is often overlooked by many tourists.
Tourism accounts for at least 5.5% of the country’s gross domestic product. Although it is not a famous tourist destination yet, Ethiopia has a lot to offer and should be on top of your next to visit list.
Just like in all countries worldwide, Ethiopia has been greatly affected by the novel coronavirus. Strict measures were put in place, including temporary entry restrictions into the country to curb the spread of the virus.
However, Ethiopian borders have since been opened, and anyone planning to visit this beautiful country should check Ethiopian travel restrictions to find out what measures are still in place even post COVID-19.
In this article, we are going to look at some of the top places that you should visit while in Ethiopia.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia and the fourth largest city in Africa. Sitting atop the Entoto mountains, Addis Ababa is a lively city with beautiful museums and orthodox churches that you can explore.
The home to the African Union, Addis Ababa, has exciting nightspots with eateries serving exotic Ethiopian food. Some of the places to visit in Addis Ababa include; the hot springs at Awash national park, the Entoto mountains, and the crater lakes at Debre Zeyit.
Harar
Harar is among Ethiopia’s most impressive historical sites. Harar reflects the long and colourful history of the country and is located in the East of Ethiopia. With its many fascinating sites, Harar is one of the prominent Muslim pilgrimages.
Some of the main attractions in Harar include the old walled town, which is said to have been established in the 1540s and houses a total of 90 mosques, and the town’s oldest custom where a chosen inhabitant walks out of the city where he calls and feeds the hyenas that live in nearby places, right from his hand. Interesting right?
Lalibela
Lalibela is a small town that is located up in the Lasta mountains, adjacent to eleven ancient churches that were built in the 12th century. These churches were carved out of gigantic lumps of volcanic rock under the directive of King Lalibela.
Being one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lalibela is still a popular pilgrimage site for Christians. The most beautiful medieval church is Biete Ghiorgis, popularly known as the house of Saint George, which is commonly known for its cross-shaped plan and numerous channels that connect it to the other churches.
Danakil Depression
The Danakil depression is situated in northern Ethiopia bordering Eritrea and Djibouti. Danakil is one of the lowest places (with some parts being over 100 meters below sea level) on earth, and it is also one of the hottest with an average of 94F in temperature.
If you are not much worried about the temperatures, then this is a must-visit site. Some of the exciting places in the depression include; the multi-coloured hydrothermal sparkling lakes, Mount Ayalu and Erta Ale; which are active volcanoes forming large lava lakes. You also get to see some of the ancient hominid remains.
Fondly referred to as the “land of thirteen months,” Ethiopia is a great tourist destination. There are many sites to visit and these mentioned here are some of the top places that you should not miss when you visit this beautiful country.
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