Top 10 Places You Should Visit in Ethiopia
- By Karim Hassan
- Reviewed by Sophia Rose
- June 16, 2024
- Travel
Africa is a beautiful and exciting continent with lots of adventures, fun, and amazing wildlife.
Have you heard that Ethiopia is one of the first places where human life began? People often call it the “Cradle of Humanity” because Scientists found the oldest human fossil there named “Lucy” and she’s a 3.2 million-year-old human skeleton.
Ethiopia is also famous for its coffee. The story goes that a goat herder noticed his goats were energetic after eating a certain plant – it was coffee.
In this blog, I’ll tell you about the top 10 places you should visit in Ethiopia.
Table Of Content
1. Simien Mountains National Park
The Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia is a fascinating place for those who enjoy hiking and observing nature.
It’s quite large and covers more than 220 square kilometers, this includes some of the highest mountains in Africa. One of these, Ras Dejen, is incredibly tall, reaching up to 4,550 meters.
What’s really interesting about the Simien Mountains are the stunning views. Imagine large flat areas mixed with deep valleys and sharp cliffs, filled with a variety of plants and animals like the Gelada baboons or the impressive Walia ibex.
2. The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela
The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia are really important and famous. They show how deep the country’s religious history is.
There are 11 of these old churches that were made by carving into rock in the 12th century. This was done during the time of Saint King Lalibela, who wanted to make a ‘New Jerusalem’ for people who couldn’t travel to the Holy Land.
Each church was carefully carved from just one big block of granite. The most well-known of these churches is the Church of Saint George. It’s shaped like a cross and people think it’s an amazing piece of architecture.
3. National Museum of Ethiopia
The National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa is like a big box of treasures. It has lots of things that show Ethiopia’s interesting and varied history.
You can see everything from really old fossils to things that belonged to kings and queens, and even modern art.
One of the coolest things in the museum is “Lucy”. She’s a part of a skeleton from a really old type of human called Australopithecus afarensis.
Lucy was found in 1974 in a place in Ethiopia called the Afar region. She’s super old – about 3.2 million years old.
4. Tomoca Coffee
In Ethiopia, coffee isn’t just a drink; it’s a special tradition that brings friends and family together. This feeling of togetherness is in every cup of Tomoca Coffee.
What makes Tomoca Coffee special is how they mix Ethiopian coffee traditions with Italian ways of making coffee.
This mix makes their special drinks like the Tomoca Macchiato, Tomoca Sprice, and Tomoca Cravate. Each cup gives you a taste of Ethiopia’s coffee history, but with a touch of Italian style.
5. Danakil Depression
The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is a really different and strange place. Some people call it ‘the gateway to hell’ because it’s a tough but pretty desert area.
It’s super hot, has big areas of salt, springs that smell like rotten eggs, and even volcanoes that are still active.
Going to the Danakil Depression feels like you’re on a different planet. The air smells like sulfur, the ground is full of bright colors, and it’s really hot.
It’s a place that’s both beautiful and powerful, where the ground is always changing because of the movements inside the Earth.
6. Black Rose Lounge
Located in the basement of the Ambassador Cinema, the Black Rose Lounge is a beautiful spot in the middle of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It’s known for being a chill place with lots of fun things happening at night.
It’s the perfect place for people who want to see what the city is like after the sun goes down. The lounge is big and fancy, making it a favorite place for the city’s young crowd, people from other countries, and tourists too.
The lounge also has a special VIP feel, so it’s a great place to hang out with friends or people you work with. But what the Black Rose Lounge is really about is enjoying good music, and having a good time.
7. Mercato Market
This market is like a mini version of life in Addis Ababa. It’s one of the biggest outdoor markets in Africa, and Mercato is full of busy stalls and shops that sell all sorts of things, from spices and clothes to gadgets and handmade items.
This is where people who live here come to buy things, make deals, and hang out with each other. It’s a place where you can really feel what the city is like and get into its everyday beat.
8. Lake Tana
Lake Tana is the biggest lake in Ethiopia and it’s a really amazing place to see. It’s up in the northern highlands of Ethiopia, and it’s where the Blue Nile starts.
What makes Lake Tana a great place to visit is all the different kinds of life there and how important it is to the culture.
The lake has lots of different birds and fish, including a special kind of fish called Labeobarbus that only lives there.
There are also lots of islands and peninsulas in the lake where you can find old monasteries and churches, some of which were built way back in the 13th century.
9. Blue Nile Falls
The Blue Nile Falls in Ethiopia is a really amazing place. People often call it the “Smoking Water.” It’s near the city of Bahir Dar, and it’s where the famous Blue Nile River starts its long trip to the Mediterranean Sea.
The falls are really tall, about 40 meters, and when it rains, they can be almost half a kilometer wide.
The water falling makes a mist that looks like smoke, which is why it’s called “Smoking Water.”
With the beautiful green plants all around, it’s like a magical place from a fairy tale, it’s a must-see if you love nature.
10. Bale Mountains
The Bale Mountains in southeastern Ethiopia are a dream come true for people who love animals and nature.
This national park is really big, about 2,200 square kilometers, and it’s where you can find some of the most special and different animals in Africa.
The Bale Mountains are famous for their animals that you can’t find anywhere else, like the Ethiopian wolf, the Mountain Nyala, and the Bale Monkey.
The park has all kinds of places, like high flat areas, lakes high up in the mountains, and forests full of trees, which make great homes for these and lots of other animals. It’s like a big outdoor zoo.
Each of these places shows a different part of Ethiopia’s amazing history, many cultures, and beautiful nature.
So what are you waiting for? Start getting ready for your trip to Ethiopia now. We promise it will be something you’ll always remember.
Like the people who live there say, “Selam” (which means Peace) and have a great trip.
Remember, whenever you pack your bags and you’re ready for an unforgettable African adventure, Gold Coast XP is here for you with incredible tours, fun-packed events, amazing activities and more.
