Ethiopia

Visited: December 2004

Duration of visit: 37 days

Capital city: Addis Ababa

Population: 75 million (2005)

Ethiopia travel blog reading time: 2 minutes

• Surviving North Ethiopia with its unique historical landmarks.
• Discovering medieval monolithic churches in Lalibela.
• The New Year celebration and comfort in Addis Ababa.
• Meeting Ethiopia’s most famous athlete, Haile Gebrselassie.
• Visiting Omo Valley independently and exploring local tribes.
• A brief 20-minute encounter with Mursi tribe that I will never forget.

Ethiopia was part of my overland trip from Europe, through the Middle East and East Africa – the African Big Tour. I was experienced and knowledgeable about Africa by the time I reached Ethiopia.

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a landlocked country, surrounded by Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Sudan in the Horn of Africa. The 2^nd most populous in Africa, after Nigeria, originally founded in 980 BC, Ethiopia is the oldest independent nation on the continent, where the remains of some of the oldest human beings on earth, dating back millions of years, are found.

Ethiopia is known for its amazing coffee, unique Orthodox Christian traditions, stunning natural landscapes, diverse tribes and ethnic groups, world-famous long-distance runners, and its 13-month calendar.

It is also the country that offers the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa (nine), some of the most linguistically diverse places on earth, where over 80 languages are spoken.

Ethiopia is the only African nation never fully colonized. Italians briefly occupied parts of the country in the 1930s, but Ethiopia successfully resisted two colonization attempts.

From injera to pasta, from poverty, prostitution, and beggars to the lingering Italian influence, Ethiopia is a land of striking contrasts. Its rich history, vibrant culture, breathtaking northern landscapes, wild animals, and distinctive southern tribes make it one of the most intriguing places I’ve ever visited.

While the northern part completely surprised me with the aggressiveness and the amount of people around me, from Addis Ababa onward I began to truly enjoy the wilderness, nature, and many tribes I visited on my own.

In the oldest independent country in Africa, where coffee was first discovered and the Rastafarian movement was embraced by Emperor Haile Selassie, traveling on a budget was challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Ethiopia offers landmarks, many places to visit and a variety of things to do, from exploring ancient rock-hewn churches to visiting remote tribal villages.

My highlights include meeting some of the most authentic tribes in the world and drinking coffee with Ethiopia’s most famous athlete and Olympic champion, Haile Gebrselassie.

All in all, Ethiopia offered me a great adventure, full of challenges and unforgettable experiences that are part of true exploration and learning.