Ethiopia is a landlocked nation located in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea forms Ethiopia’s northern border; Djibouti lies to the northeast; Somalia lies to the east; Kenya lies to the south; South Sudan lies to the northwest; and Sudan lies to the west encircle Ethiopia. With a total size of 420,000 square miles (1090000 sq km), Ethiopia is the second most populous nation on the African continent. Ethiopia’s largest city and capital is Addis Ababa. Ethiopia’s largest city and capital is Addis Ababa. After fending off Italian soldiers in the Battle of Adowa, Ethiopia is one of only two nations in Africa that was not colonized. Learn about the activities available to you in Ethiopia.
1. A Visit to Lake Tana
Ethiopia’s largest lake, Lake Tana, is the source of the Blue Nile. The lake was created approximately 5 million years ago during the early Pleistocene epoch by volcanic activity that blocked the path of inflowing rivers. The lake was substantially bigger when it first started. The lake is fed by 40 tiny seasonal rivers in addition to seven main permanent rivers. The Little Nile River (Gilgel Abbay) and the Megech, Gumara, and Rib rivers are the lake’s principal tributaries. The quantity of islands in Lake Tana changes according on the lake’s level. Numerous Ethiopian rulers are renowned for having been buried on a number of islands. According to legend, Tana Qirqos held the Ark of the Covenant before it was moved to Axum. On the Island of Tana Qirqos is a rock on which the Virgin Mary had rested on her journey back from Egypt.
2. A Visit to the Gondar Castle
Many people believe Ethiopia is just an arid terrain because of negative portrayal from the Western media. That perspective will alter upon visiting Gondar, which is the site of a castle of the same name. In Amharic, Fasil Ghebbi is the name of a fortification in Gondar, Ethiopia’s Amhara Region. Ethiopian emperors called it home after Emperor Fasilides established it in the seventeenth century. Its distinctive architecture demonstrates a variety of influences, including as Baroque, Arab, and Hindu elements. The fortress’s architectural and historical significance led to its induction as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The Amharic word for a compound or enclosure is ghebbi.
3. Have a Taste of Ethiopia’s Distinct and Flavorful Arabica Coffee
Coffee is a beverage made from the roasted and ground seeds of African-originated tropical evergreen coffee bushes. It is believed that coffee came from Kefa (Kaffa), Ethiopia, and was brought to southern Arabia in the fifteenth century, where it was planted. Ethiopia is where the coffee plant, Coffee Arabica, originated. According to legend, the herb was found by a goat herder in the ninth century who noticed that it gave his herd more energy. Ethiopia’s economy depends heavily on coffee; between 30 and 35 percent of its foreign income is generated by the crop, and 15 million people are thought to be employed in some capacity related to coffee cultivation. So in case you visit Ethiopia be it Gondar Castle or Tana River, ensure to have a fresh cup of coffee.
4. Indulge with the delight of Ethiopian Cuisine with traditional Injera
Made primarily from teff flour (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter), injera is a classic Ethiopian staple dish that has experienced fermentation. The outstanding nutritional qualities of this Ethiopian national superfood, particularly its lack of gluten and good mineral composition (rich in iron), have made it popular in many western countries. With a pleasantly spongy texture and a tangy flavor, this everyday flatbread is made with fermented teff flour. A visit to Ethiopia should have you drop by any Ethiopian restaurant and place an order for Injera.
5. A visit to the Danakil Depression
The Danakil Depression is a geological depression that results from the divergence of three tectonic plates in the Horn of Africa. It is also known as the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression in Ethiopia. With a complicated geological past, the Danakil Depression is located at the triple intersection of three tectonic plates. It evolved as a result of rifting and volcanic activity brought on by the separation of Africa and Asia. One of the strangest places in Africa is the Danakil Depression. a harsh, scorching desert region with lakes, acid springs, volcanoes, and salt flats among its breathtaking natural marvels. Travel north to experience the surreal Dallol landscapes, the effervescent Erta Ale lava lakes, and the setting sun over Lake Afrera. Combine this with a visit to Gheralta’s rock churches. It is feasible to arrange a day trip from Mekele, the base town, for anyone who would like a quick exposure to the strange terrain of the Danakil Depression.
Visit Ethiopia
These are a few things you can do while in Ethiopia, but if you have time, you should also see Lucy, the National Museum’s 3.2 million-year-old fossilized skeleton. Her findings altered the narrative of human evolution.
