Ethiopia - Africa's Undiscovered Horn

Ethiopia is not only off-the-beaten path for most travelers, but in many ways it is still shrouded in mystery and lost in time. We've carefully designed each itinerary to include the highlights, as well as hidden gems of the region. In addition to our set itineraries including the Historical North, Trekking Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Epic, we offer custom-crafted adventures to suit your interests - maybe you want to spend a week in the remote Bale Mountains hiking in search of the elusive Ethiopian wolf (Simien fox) or perhaps quietly watching priests deep in meditation on the island monasteries of Lake Tana is your dream...whatever your interest, we can design your personal adventure to meet your travel goals. Also, we're pleased to announce that our Ethiopia program was recently recommended in the San Francisco Chronicle.

While on our initial exploratory trip almost two years ago, our staff was accompanied by professional photographer, Andy Richter. You'll see Andy's work on the pages of our itineraries and here on our blog. He's an acclaimed travel photographer who has had work published in Time Magazine, Outside, NEED Magazine and others. Andy beautifully captured on film our experience in Ethiopia and helped to convey the adventure, mystery and energy of what we saw daily. Visit Andy Richter Photography for more information on Andy and his projects.

We recommend every traveler to Ethiopia visit the following sites:

Lalibela
Home to the famous subterranean stone-carved churches dating back over a thousand years. The collection of over 10 churches lies beneath the rich red-colored earth and is surrounded by hidden passageways, caves and crypts. The site is a living museum and travelers can freely wander among the churches, watching pilgrims and priests go about their daily lives. Visiting the site in the morning and evening light is magical. Lalibela is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gondar
Known by many as ‘Africa’s Camelot,’ Gondar looks more like a medieval city than an Africa town. With 17th century castles, bathing pools and churches covered in frescoes, Africa often seems a far-away memory in Gondar. The town is an ideal spot to enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony or a Ras Dashen beer at sunset from the terrace of the Goha Hotel.

Axum
Many travelers agree...upon arrival, Axum doesn’t seem to offer much. It’s a simple frontier town, windy and dusty, but after first impressions, Axum’s treasures are revealed. Axum was once the home of Ethiopia’s greatest ancient civilization. Throughout the town and surrounding area, travelers will find soaring steale, ruined palaces, holy churches (perhaps the resting place of the Arch of the Covenant) and underground tombs complete with ancient inscriptions. Axum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site—one of eight in the country.

Bahir Dar
This lakeside city offer wide, palm lined streets, a true café-culture and beautiful vistas across Lake Tana. Bahir Dar is also the base for explorations of the mysterious island monasteries that dot Lake Tana. The Blue Nile Falls is also a short trip away.

If you are interested in a bit more activity and adventure, check our the Simien Mountains:

Simien Mountains
Trekking in the Simien Mountains can be both a challenging and rewarding experience. Ras Dashen, the fourth highest peak in Africa at 14,928 ft, is the tallest mountain in the range. Extended trekking options are available, as well as shorter day hikes. The mountains are home to several of Ethiopia’s rare endemic species including the Ethiopian wolf, the most endangered canid on the planet, and the populous gelada baboon.

And, of course the Lower Omo Valley is home to some of the most intact, traditional tribal cultures in Africa.

The Lower Omo Valley
The Lower Omo Valey is arguably one of the most remote destinations in Africa. Spanning a great distance from the Kenyan border north along the Rift Valley, the Omo Valley is home to many of the most well-preserved tribal groups in Africa. Travel in the region is arduous, with no few paved roads, only basic accommodations and extreme climate conditions. The pay-off is spectacular, other-worldly scenery and the opportunity to witness Ethiopia’s rich and colorful tribal population.

Culturally, the Omo Valley is quite rich with some 45 languages spoken by people of many different ethnic origins. These nations, from the many thousand-strong Borena to the just 1000-strong Karo, exhibit a fascinating range of cultural practices.

All photos by Andy Richter.