ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia features large in the history of Africa and with spectacular scenery, absorbing culture and unusual cuisine the country offers holidays that will delight even the most experienced traveller.

Ethiopia is a country that constantly challenges your prejudices and preconceptions. For coffee lovers the fact that the coffee plant is indigenous to the country is an added bonus – a third of the country’s foreign exchange is earned from the brown bean that is so beloved across the world. The landscapes of this ancient land are dramatic. The Blue Nile, which later joins the White Nile to form the world’s longest river, rises in Lake Tana north-west of the capital Addis Ababa. The dramatic Bale Mountains National Park and the equally striking Simien Mountains National Park protect some of Africa’s most unusual wildlife including the rare Simien wolf, the walia ibex and the gelada baboon.

Throughout the country 1000 year old religious ceremonies are performed, and tombs and places of worship bear testimony to the country’s complex and rich history. It is worth noting that this is the only country in Africa that was not colonized. Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian calendar, which dates back to the Coptic calendar 25 BC, and never adopted the Julian or Gregorian reforms.

One Ethiopian year consists of twelve months, each lasting thirty days, plus a thirteenth month of five or six days. Whether your fancy is a holiday exploring remote parks and spotting wildlife or delving into culture and history, Hartley’s experts will carefully craft a memorable experience for you.

ETHIOPIA HIGHLIGHTS

ETHIOPIA EXPERIENCES