Places to Visit in Ethiopia
THE BLUE NILE FALLS The Nile River is the longest in Africa and its two tributaries are the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The Blue Nile begins in Ethiopia and along its course you’ll find the Blue Nile Falls– a spot to rival Niagara. About 90 minutes from Bahir Dar the scenery here is truly breath-taking. Locally known as Tis Abbay, or ‘great smoke,’ the falls are about 45 metres high during the rainy season. Just downstream from the falls you’ll find Ethiopia’s first stone bridge, built in the 17th century. BABILE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY Only about 1,000 elephants remain in Ethiopia, and by far the largest and most visible herd lives in the Babile Elephant Sanctuary. A short drive from Harar, Babile is also home to gazelles, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and tons of exotic birds. The landscape morphs from rocky outcrops to lovely tree dotted landscapes. Roughly 400 elephants live here and you’ll really love the walking safaris that run each day. AKSUM Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia. It’s known for its tall, carved obelisks, relics of the ancient Kingdom of Aksum. Most are in the northern Stelae Park, including a huge fallen pillar, now in pieces. Centuries-old St. Mary of Zion is a Christian church and pilgrimage site believed to have housed the biblical Ark of the Covenant LALIBELA This medieval settlement was designed to be a kind of second Jerusalem and modern day inhabitants remain proud of this distinction. Lalibela is perched in the middle of a broad church complex made entire of rock. There are 11 churches in the settlement, monolithic and grand, all built by King Lalibela as early as the 12th century. Remarkable because of the architectural design, the churches are actually dug into the ground. The most famous, and most beautiful, is St George’s Cathedral. An awe-inspiring sight.
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