Introduction
Ethiopia is a land of breathtaking historical landmarks and compelling cultural traditions played out across an incredibly powerful landscape. It's a wonder Ethiopia isn't spoken of in the same breath as Egypt or Greece more often, so important is it as a centre of civilisation, so numerous are its ruins of tombs and obelisks, the remains of an ancient African society.
In Ethiopia you can trek in the towering Ethiopian Highlands and visit the weird and wonderful Danakil Depression, a tectonic hotbed 100 metres below sea level. Travellers can also meet Lucy, the 3.2 million-year-old skeleton of one of the world's oldest hominids ever found, discovered in the country and now on display at the Ethiopian National Museum in Addis Ababa, Africa's highest capital city.
Other Ethiopia travel options include wandering around the cool walls of the famous Lalibela rock churches and discovering the historic cities of Gondar and Axum. Being entertained by local azmaris - wandering minstrels - and spotting zebras, ostriches, crocodiles and flamingos in Nechisar National Park, one of the least visited national parks in East Africa, are other highlights on a tailor made Ethiopia holiday.
In southwestern Ethiopia, the pastoralist tribes of the Omo Valley maintain a way of life that has existed by the Omo River for centuries. The Mursi, Hamar, Suri and Nyangatom and some of the better-known tribes in this region, part of the Great Rift Valley, and tours can be arranged to some villages - giving visitors an illuminating insight into tribal culture.
