The Miracle Land by Fekade Tadesse

CEDAR INTERNATIONAL

The Miracle Land Ethiopia A Land of Discovery!

CEDAR INTERNATIONAL SEVICES PLC P.O.BOX 110629 TEL: +251913212868 E:mail– ethiocedar@gmail.com, biniamhirut@yahoo.co.uk, biniamhirut@aol.com ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

A BRIEFE HIGHLIGHT ABOUT ETHIOPIA’S ATTRACTIONS

Table of Content 1. Ethiopian History 2. Ethiopian Wild Life A. Gelada Baboun B. Walia Ibex C. Menelik’s Bushbucks D. Mountain Nyala 3. Ethiopian National Parks A. Mago National Park B. Gambela National Park C. Nech Sar National Park D. Omo National Park E. Bale Mountain National park F. Abyata‐Shala lakes National Park G. Awash National Park 4. Ethiopian Lakes and Rivers A. Lake Langano B. Lake Tana C. Baro River D. Lake Zwai E. Lake Awassa F. Lake Abaya and Chamo 5. Addis Ababa and Its Surrounding A. The National Museum B. Mount Entoto C. The Jubilee Palace D. Trinity Cathedral E. Africa Hall F. The Merkato G. Debre Zeit

6. 7.

10.

H. Nazareth I. Sodere J. Ambo and Wonchi K. Debre Libanos L. Mountain Ziquala Ethiopian People and Culture Ethiopian Attractions A. Sof Omar Cave B. Lalibela C. Gondar D. Axum E. Harrar and Dire Dawa F. Negash G. Yeha H. Bahir Dar I. Debre Damo Natural Attractions A. The Blue Nile Falls B. Dalol (Denkel Depression) C. Ethiopian Rift Vally Cultural Attractions A. Enkutatash‐ Ethiopian New Year B. Timket – The Ethiopian Epiphany C. Meskel – The finding of The Cross Archeological Attractions A. Lucy B. Hominids C. Homo Sapiens

Ethiopia A Land Of Discovery

Ethiopian History Ethiopia’s history as an organized and independent polity dates back to about 100 BC with a kingdom at Axum in the Northern Regional state (Killil) of Tigray. But the Axumite kingdom as a state, emerged at about the beginning of the Christian era, i.e.,4th A.D and flourished during the succeeding six or seven centuries. It then underwent prolonged decline from the eighth to the twelfth century A.D. Axum’s period of greatest power lasted from the 4th through the 6th centuries .Its core area lay in the highlands of what’s today southern Eritrea, Tigray, Lasta (in the present‐day Wallo), and Angot (also in Wallo); its major centers were at Axum and Adulis. Earlier centers, such as Yeha, also contributed to its growth. At the kingdom's height, its rulers over the Red sea coast from Sawak in present day Sudan, in the North to Berbera in the present‐day Somalia and inland as far as the Nile valley in modern Sudan. On the Arabian side of the Red sea, the Axumite rulers at times controlled the Coast and much of the interior of modern Yemen. During the sixth and seventh centuries, the Axumite state lost its possessions in South West Arabia and much of its Red sea coast line and gradually shrank to its core area, with the political center of the state shifting farther and farther southward. The rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula had a significant impact on Axum kingdom during the seventh and eighth centuries .By the time of the Prophet Mohammed’s death (A.D.632), the Arabian Peninsula, and thus the entire opposite shore of the Red sea, had come under the influence of the new religion. The steady advance of the faith of Mohammed through the next century resulted in Islamic conquest of all of the former Sassanian Empire and most of the former Byzantine domination. During the spread of Islam by conquest, the Islamic State's relations with Axum were not hostile at first. According to Islamic tradition, some members of Mohammed’s family and some of his early converts had taken refuge in Axum during the troubled years presiding the Prophet’s rise to power, and Axum was exempted from the Jihad, or Holy war, as a result. The Arabs also considered the Axumite state to be on a par with the Islamic State, the Byzantine Empire, and China of the world’s greatest kingdoms. Commerce between Axum and at least some Ports on the Red sea continued, albeit on an increasingly reduced scale. When Axum collapsed in the eighth century, power shifted to South. As early as the mid‐seventh century, the old capital at Axum had been abandoned; thereafter, it served only as a religious center and 2

as a place of coronation for a succession of kings who traced their lineage to Axum. By then, Axumite cultural, political, and religious influence had been established South of Tigray in Agew districts such as Lasta,Wag, Angot and eventually, Amhara. This southward expansion continued over the following several centuries. The favored technique for expansion involved the establishment of military colonies, which served as core centers from which Axumite culture, Semitic language, and Christianity spread to the surrounding Agew population. By the tenth century, a post‐Axumite Christian kingdom had emerged which controlled the central Northern highlands from modern Eritrea to Shewa and the coast from old Adulis to Zeila in present‐day Somalia, territory considerably larger than the Axumites had governed. During the eleventh and twelfth centuries, Shewa region became the scene of renewed Christian expansion, carried out by Semities people‐the Amhara. About 1137 A.D. a new Dynasty came to power in the Christian highlands known as the Zagwe Dynasty and its center was based in the Agew district of Lasta. It developed naturally out of the long cultural and political contact between Cushitic and Semitic‐speaking peoples in the Northern highlands. Staunch Christians ,the Zagwe ,devoted themselves to the construction of new churches and monasteries. These were often modeled after Christian religious edifices in the Holy Land, a locale the Zagwe and their subjects held in special esteem. The Zagwe kings were responsible, among other things, for the great churches carved into the rock in and around their capital at Adefa. During the time Adefa became known as Lalibela, the name of the Zagwe king to whose reign the Adefa churches’ construction had been attributed. Despite the Zagwe's championing of Christianity and their artistic achievements notwithstanding, there was discontent among the populace in what is now Eritrea and Tigray and among the Amhara, an increasingly powerful people who inhabited a region called Amhara to the south of the Zagwe center at Adefa. About 1270 A.D., an Amhara noble, Yekuno Amlak, drove out the last Zagwe ruler and proclaimed himself king. The new dynasty that Yekuno Amlak founded came to be known as the "Solomonic" Dynasty because its scions claimed descent not only from Axum but also from king Solomon of ancient Israel. According to traditions that were eventually molded into a national epic, lineage of Axumite kings originated with the offspring of an alleged union between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Consequently, the notion arose that royal legitimacy derived from descent in a line of Solomonic kings. The Zagwes were denied to have any share in that heritage and viewed as usurpers. Yekuno Amlak’s accession, thus, came to be seen as the legitimate “restoration” of the Solomonic line. Beginning in the thirteenth century, one of the chief problems confronting the Christian kingdom, then ruled by the Amhara, was the threat of Muslim encirclement. By that time, a variety of people East and South of the highlands had embraced Islam, and some had established powerful sultanates (or Sheikhdoms) .One of these was the Sultanate of Ifat in the North Eastern Shewa foot hills, and another was centered in the Islamic city of Harar farther East. In the lowlands along the Red Sea were two other important Muslim peoples ‐ the Afar and the Somali.

Although the Christian state was unable to impose its rule over the Muslim states to the East, it was strong enough to resist the Muslims incursions throughout the fourteenth and most of the fifteenth century. By the second decade of the sixteenth century, however, a young soldier in the Adali army, Ahmed Ibin Ibrhim Al Ghazi ,had begun to acquire a strong following by virtue of his military successes and in time became the de facto leader of Adal. Concurrently, he acquired the states of a religious leader. Ahmed, who came to be called Gran (the “left handed“) by his Christian enemies, rallied the ethnically diverse Muslims, including many Afar and Somali, in a Jihad intended to break Christian power. It was not until 1543 that Emperor Galawdewos (reigned 1540‐49), joined by a small number of Portuguese soldiers requested earlier by Lebena Dengel, defeated the Muslim forces and killed Gran. The death of charismatic Gran destroyed the unity of the Muslim forces that had been created by their leader’s successes, skill, and reputation as a warrior and religious figure. Christian armies slowly pushed Muslims back and regained control of the highlands. With the request of the Christian kingdom of Ethiopia, Portugal gave an assistance for the defeat of the Muslims .The first Portuguese forces responded to a request for aid in 1541, although by that time the Portuguese were concerned primarily with strengthening their hegemony over the Indian Ocean trade routes and with converting the Ethiopians to Roman Catholicism. Nevertheless, joining the forces of the Christian kingdom, the Portuguese succeeded eventually in helping to defeat and kill Gran. Efforts to induce the Ethiopians to reject their Monophysite beliefs and accept Rome’s supremacy continued for nearly a century and engendered bitterness as Pro‐and Anti‐Catholic parties maneuvered for control of the state . At last the expulsion of the Jesuits and all Roman Catholic missionaries followed. This religious controversy contributed to the isolation that followed for the next 200 years. Emperor Fasiladas kept out the disruptive influences of the foreign Christians, dealt with sporadic Muslim incursions, and in general sought to reassert central authority and to reinvigorate the Solomonic monarchy and the Orthodox church .He established his camp at Gonder ‐ a locale that gradually developed into a permanent capital and which became the cultural and political center of Ethiopia during the Gonder period. After the 16th century of Fasiladas’s time most of Ethiopia’s history was dominated by regional nobility. But through this nobility sentiment, a certain king who was devoted to the unity of the country, rose. Tewodros II’s origin was in the era of the princess, but his ambitions were not those of the regional nobility. After controlling Shewa, he faced constant rebellions in other provinces, despite the fact that he could reign in a relatively peaceful atmosphere from 1861 to 1863. After 1863 internal and external oppositions were enhanced against Emperor Tewodros and Emperor Yohannes succeeded him in 1868. By the late 18th century; although powerless Emperors and the Ethiopian Orthodox (Coptic) church provided an element of continuity, real power was in the hands of provincial Nobles from the highlands of Tigry, Oromo and Amhara, who fought for control of the throne .In 1880’s Yohannes IV from Tigray region successfully fended off Egyptians, Italians and Dervishes; his successor, Menilik of shoa, reunited 4

and expanded the empire to the East, South and West of Shoa, taking over largely Oromo inhabited areas rich in coffee, gold, ivory and slaves. Menilik‘s successes coincides with the arrival of the European colonial powers. He defeated the Italians at the battle of Adowa in 1896. Menilik (who died in 1913) presided over the first stages of Ethiopian’s modernization Haile Selassie (Emperor during1930‐74) ;turned Ethiopia into a centralized autocracy. The process was interrupted by the Italian invasion and conquest of 1935‐41. But after Ethiopia’s liberation Emperor Haile Selassie continued a largely successful policy of centralization, playing off the United Kingdom, which came close to occupying Ethiopia after 1941 (it only withdrew from the Ogaden in 1948 and reserved Haud area in 1954), against the USA. In 1952, after protracted discussion, Eritrea, a UN‐mandated territory after the war, was federated with Ethiopia. Haile Silassie immediately begun dismantling its institutions, including the press ,trade unions, political parties and the elected parliament ,an anathema to his own highly centralized structure of control. In 1962 Eritrea became a province of Ethiopia, igniting the Eritrean struggle for independence. The struggle originally led by the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), suported mainly by Muslim pastoralists from low land areas, by the early 1970’s was joined by the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), which was more representative of the Tigrian highland agriculturists. Emperor Haile Sellasie supplied the trappings of a more modern state, including, in 1955, a constitution with an elected, though powerless, parliament. He made no real effort to change land policy, or adjust the hierarchies of administrative power. During his reign Ethiopia remained essentially feudal, with small Amhara‐dominated modern sectors in the bureaucracy and in industry. This provided the impetus for opposition among non‐Amhara nationalities, in Tigrai region in 1943, among Oromos and Somalies in Bale in 1963‐70 , and after 1961 in Eritrea. Emperor Haile Sellasie himself preferred to concentrate on international affairs. During his era Addis Ababa became the head quarters of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and the UN Economic Commission for Africa. His main ally was the USA. Ethiopia, the main recipient of US aid in Africa in the 1950s and 1960s, provided the USA with a major communications base at Kagnew, in Eritrea. Long term weaknesses of the regime included a growing agrarian crisis, inequitable distribution of land, and lack of development. More immediately, the costs of the revolt in Eritrea after 1961, drought and famine in Wallo in 1972‐74 (in which 200,000 people died), and, by 1973, Haile Sellasie ‘s own near senility and his failure to designate an heir, fuelled the grievances of the military, students and workers. A series of army mutinies, started in January 1974, accompanied paralleled civilian strikes.Attempts at reform by a new Prime Minister made little progress, and from June a coordinating committee of the armed forces begun to arrest leading officials. Haile Sellasie was deposed in September, and was murdered the following year. His remains were finally reburied in Trinity Cathedral in November 2001, with the presence of many of the exiled royal family.The monarchy was formally abolished in March 1975. Under the influence of left‐wing politicians, the Provisional Military Administrative Council (PMAC), which replaced the Imperial regime, begun to see itself as the vanguard of Ethiopian revolution. In December 1974, Ethiopia was declared a Socialist state, and a program of revolutionary reforms called Ethiopia Tikdem ('Ethiopia First’) was initiated. 5

Derg was able to intimidate and create disarray within the civilian opposition by detaining many leaders of labor, teacher and student groups because of their agitation against the military rule. The Derg’s hand against the opposition was strengthened resulting to an escalated struggle for freedom and democracy. As a result of these enhanced struggles, the regime was overthrown after 17 years of dictatorial rule, by the coalition Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front ( EPRDF )on May 1991. source : Foreign ministry of Ethiopia

Ethiopian Wildlife Gelada Baboon The Semien highland massif is considered to be the finest scenery in all Africa and it is for this reason, and the fact that the area is the home of the Walia Ibex, the Semien Fox and the Gelada Baboon that it has now been gazetted as a national park. The Gelada is not in fact peculiar to the Semyen as is the exclusive Walia Ibex, but they are more numerous here than in their other habitats Some live at Debre Sina not far from Addis Ababa and others at Debre Libanos on the way to the Blue Nile; there are also small populations in the Mulu and Bole Valley gorges. But in the Semyen there may be as many as 20,000, and troops of 400 together may be seen. They do not molest humans and, more surprisingly, the local people do not molest them. Thus they are very tame and will allow humans to approach quite close to the troop before moving nearer to the cliff edge. The Gelada was discovered in 1835 by the explorer Ruppell, who nan;ed it by the local name used by the inhabitants of Gonder region where he first observed it. They are not difficult to study as they are very tame, however, little interest was shown in them until recently, when Patsy and Robin Dunbar made an exhaustive study of their social behaviour. The social behaviour of the apes and monkeys is evidence of a very high degree of intelligence and studies of their rudimentary social structures are proving of considerable value in analysing the origins of human social behaviour. Walia Ibex The habitat of the Walia Ibex is the High Semien, Ethiopia

dramatic high mountain terrain. In the earth long history of violent geographical change, the most recent volcanic upheavals took place in eastern Africa, followed by torrential rains which created the thousand gushing waterfalls which in turn eroded away the newly formed mountain massive, creating the great gorges and gully which are so typical of the region. South west of Axum the land descends gradually southwards toward the Takeze river. At the lip of the gorge at about 1,400 metres (4,600 ft.) one can look across the chasm to a similar plateau beyond. On top of this plateau, adorned with steep turrets and bastions rising in three distinct steps, is perched the north wall of the Semyen. Meneliks Bushbuck The family of Mountain Nyala, the Kudu, the Bango, etc. Over 40 races of Bushbucks are identified in the world so far; two of them Menelik and Powelli Bushbucks are found in Ethiopia. Menelik Bushbuck has white or black hairs than run down to the center of the bank while the female has white spot on the cheek and blackish collar on its lower neck. Bushbuck is widely spread on highland forests of up to 40 meters. It is easier to see the Buck in the Bale mountains and Subba forest. High altitude with lower temperature is conducive for solitary Bucks. But Bucks are commonly seen in pairs in the Bale mountain national park. Bushbuck stands from 80‐90cm at the shoulder and higher at the ramp. Horns, which characterized only the male, reach a length of up to 34.93cms. Bushbucks spend the day lying in the bush where there is no chance of hunting them. They have loud alarm call, which at times is made repeatedly. Bushbuck can see at anytime of the day, yet more common from about 4 o’clock onwards in the early morning. The mountain massif is a broad plateau, cut off on the north and west by this enormous single crag over 60 kms. (40 miles) long and 1,000‐1,500 metres (3000‐5000 ft.) high. To the south the table and slopes gently down to 2,200 metres (7,000 ft.) divided by deep gorges 1,000 metres deep and taking two days to cross. Time has not yet been sufficient to soften the contours of the crags and buttresses of hardened basalt. As far as the eye can see looking north from the escarpment, the fused volcanic cores stand starkly defying the elements. Overhead stretches the vast dome of a sky of the deepest blue, which spreads downwards as clear as sapphire to the mauve of the horizon. Mountain Nyala Another of Ethiopias many endemic species stately, the mountain Nyala has white marking on the legs and white spots on the face. The female are seen in parties of 10‐15. However, males are commonly observed lonesome. An old male Nyala has dark gray colour while

the female is redder. Females possess long necks and large ears but not horns like the males whose horns extend 88cm. A Nyala stands 135cm at the shoulder and weights 200‐250kgs. And the weight of the bull reaches to 300kgs. Nyala lie in shady places during the hottest time of the day. Therefore, the best time to watch Nyala is 5 in the afternoon. It is also seen in the morning and evening when it descends down the mountain for grazing. Though little is known about the habitats of Nyala, is not and endangered species. The Bale mountain national park alone hosts about 4,000‐5,000 Nyalas. Some are seen in Arsi highlands. Nyala is the most impressive mammal with worth watching, especially the old bull.

Ethiopian National Parks Mago National Park Located on the eastern bank of the Omo River, it is 2162 sq km in area. The abundance of wildlife in the park is equally fascinating as the Omo Park.Within dense acacia scrubs, rolling grassland and deserts, birds dart in and out and the game roams freely.Like in the Omo Park area accessibility is very difficult in this region. Size:‐ 2,162 square kilometer Region:‐ Gamo Gofa Geographical location:‐ 770 kilometer south‐west of Addis Ababa, touching east bank of Omo River. Established to protect large mammals of the plains (elephants, buffaloes, giraffes etc.) Altitude:‐ 450‐2,528 meter Physical features:‐ The highest point is Mount Mago situated in the north of the park. Temperatures here swing between 140C and 410C and rainfall, which falls from March to May and October to December, is low, being 480 millimeter on average. Vegetation:‐ Mainly grass savannah, with some forested areas around the rivers. Very dense bush makes for difficult game viewing. Animal life:‐ The park was set up to conserve the large numbers of plains animals in the area, particularly buffalo, giraffe and elephant. Also among the fifty‐six species of mammals seen here are topi and lelwel hartebeest, as well as lion, cheetah, leopard, burchell's zebra, gerenuk, oryx and greater and lesser kudu.

Bird life:‐ The birds are typical of the dry grassland habitat, featuring bustards, hornbills, weavers and starlings. Kingfishers and herons can be seen around the Nile River, which provides an alternative habitat. There are 153 species, three of them endemic. Gambela National Park Located about 600 kilometres from Addis Ababa on the river Baro, Gambela has a strange history. From 1902 until it was captured by the Italians in the Second World War, it was administered by the British, the only part of Ethiopia to be so governed, The reason for this is that the British opened a port there on the wide and navigable Baro River, which during four months of the rainy season is navigable and provides direct access to the sea via the Nile through Khartoum. Ethiopian coffee was exported via this route, up to 1940. Now the port has fallen into disrepair, though remains of the warehouses and jetty can be seen. At its peak, up to 40 ships would be in dock at any one time. Gambela (sometimes spelt Gambella) gives access to the GambeIa National Park. The undulating plains of high Sudanese grass offer excellent opportunities for wilderness exploration. It is not particularly easy to access however. Beyond Gambela towards the Sudanese border, the Anuak cultivators give way to the nomadic Nuer. These pastoralists herd their long‐horned cattle into huge camps when they stop for the night. Wildlife In the river are to be found huge Nile perch, up to 100 kilograms, crocodiles and hippos. Other wildlife includes buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, Roan antelope, zebra, bushbuck, Abyssinian reedbuck, warthog, hartebeest, hyena, lion and elephant. Unfortunately, there are very few animals to be seen in the park, but the birds are many and varied, the olive baboon and the local race of the vervet, with its white whiskers, are the very common, as is the black and white colobus monkey. Size:‐ 5,060 kilometer. Region:‐ Illubabor Geographical location:‐ West Ethiopia, 850 kilometer west of Addis Ababa Altitude:‐ 400‐768 meter Physical features:‐ Extensive swamps and wetlands of the Akobo river system. Rainfall is 1,500 millimeter a year, falling between April and October. Temperatures are high. Vegetation:‐ Semi‐arid open woodland, savannah, swamp.

Animal life:‐ The park contains forty‐one species, many representative of neighboring Sudan and not found elsewhere in Ethiopia, such as Nile lechwe and the white‐eared kob, the latter migrating in large numbers. Roan antelope, topi, elephant, buffalo, lelwel hartebeest, lion and giraffe are also present. Bird life:‐ The most important of the 154 bird species present here is the whale‐headed stork, an unusual large‐billed, tall bird seen standing in the swamps. Nech Sar National Park Situated 510km south of Addis near the town of Arba Minch, in between Lakes Abaya and Chamo.A wide variety of plains game roams freely amongst 514m2 of savannah, dry bush and groundwater forest, which are also the habitat of 188 recorded species of birds.Animals to be seen are Bushbuck, Swayne's Hartebeest (endemic), Burchell's Zebra, Grant's Gazelle, Guenther's Dik‐dik, Greater Kudu, Anubis Baboon, Grey Duiker. Birds seen include Red‐billed Hornbill, Grey Hornbill, Fish Eagle, Kori Bustard, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and more. A backdrop of hills and mountains combine to make this one of the most attractive national parks in Ethiopia, and its location makes it very accessible. In the far eastern part of the park hot springs bubble to the surface Omo National Park Omo National Park, located in the south‐west on the west bank of Omo River, is 870km south‐west of Addis Ababa. It is one of the most beautiful national parks in Ethiopia. The Omo National Park covers 4,068 square kilometres of wilderness bordered by the Omo river, is home to an amazing range of wildlife. 306 species of birds have been identified here, while large herds of Eland, some Buffalo, Elephants, Giraffe, Cheetah, Lion, Leopard, Burchell's Zebra, are quite common. The park is not easily accessible. The park HQ is 75km from Kibish settlement. However, a new airstrip is available close to the HQ and to a pleasant campsite on the Mui River. Size:‐ 4,068 square kilometer. Region: ‐ Kaffa Geografical location:‐ 870 kilometer south‐west of Addis Ababa, on west bank of Omo River. 10

Altitude:‐ 440‐1,183 meter. Physical features:‐ Belts of forest along the Omo and Mui rivers, hot springs, extensive wilderness. The grass plains are relived by hands of hills to the north and south of the centrally located park headquarters. Temperatures are high, ranging from 140C to 410C, and the rainfall averages 500 millimeter a year, falling between March and April, and September and October. Vegetation:‐ Savannah, riverine forest, deciduous woodland, acacia bush. Animal life:‐ The park's wildlife includes large herds of eland and buffalo, elephant, giraffe, cheetah, lion, leopard and Burchell's zebra. Lesser kudu, lelwel hartebeest, topi and oryx are all found here, in addition to deBrazza's and colobus monkeys and Anubis baboon. A total of fifty‐seven species of mammal can be found in the park Bird life:‐ Three hundred and six species, one endemic. Visitor facilities:‐ Campsite on Mui River, museum. Bale Mountain National Park Lying south‐east of Ethiopia, Bale Mountains National Park covers 2400 square kilometers (1488 square miles) covering wide range of habitats and ranging in altitude from 1500 to 4377 meters (4920 to 14357 feet) at Tulu Dimtu, the highest point in the southern Ethiopia. The spectacular Harenna escarpment running from east to west divides the area into two major parts. To the north is a high altitude plateau area known as the Sanetti Plateau (4000m) formed of ancient volcanic rocks and dissected by many rivers and streams that have cut deep gorges into the edges. In some places this has resulted in scenic waterfalls and alpine lakes. The vegetation here varies according to altitude. The park can be divided into three main zones. Around Dinsho, in the north, there are grass riverine plains, bordered by bands of bushes, particularly sagebrush and St. John’s Wort. Wild flowers, such as Giant Lobelia, Geraniums, ‘red‐hot pokers’ and Alcheilla, form carpets of color. Higher up the mountains heather appears either as small bushes or as mature trees. The second zone, the Sanetti Plateau, is home to typical Afro‐Alpine plants, some coping with the extreme temperatures by either remaining very small or becoming large. The best example of the latter is the curious looking Giant Lobelia, whose stems stand high against the skyline. Wild flowers are many and various, the dominant plant being the Helichrysum, or ’everlasting’ flowers that can be seen in many forms. Keep an eye on the indigenous Abyssinia rose, with its lovely subtle scent. 11

The third habitat which is the southern part of the park is heavily forested – the moist, tropical Harenna Forest, is home to tree species such as Haenia, Celtis and Podocarpus. The wildlife of Bale includes many endemic species. The park was originally established to protect the two endemic mammals: the Mountain Nyala and the Semien Fox or Jackal. Abyata‐Shala Lakes National Park Abyata‐Shala Lakes National Park is formed by the twin lakes of Abyata and Shala. It has a total area of 887 square kilometers (550 square miles) in size, of which 482 square kilometer (300 square miles) is water. Both lakes are terminal lakes but very different in nature. The park was created for the many aquatic bird species that use the lakes, particularly Great White Pelicans and Greater and Lesser Flamingos. The surrounding area is mainly acacia woodland, some of which is very degraded by man. Lake Abyata is a shallow pan, only 14 meters (46 feet) deep and its level fluctuates periodically. The beaches are unstable and saline, which creates a very real danger of sinking on the vehicles that venture too close. The lake provides the main source of food for the colonies of great while pelicans on the nearby Lake Shala. Lake Shala by contrast, is, at 260 meters (853 feet), Ethiopia’s deepest rift valley lake, possibly the deepest lake in Africa north of the Equator. Shalla’s islands are used as breeding sites by many birds, and are home to the continent’s most important breeding colony of Great White Pelicans. The color of the water is like cold tea and there is a high concentration f salts, making it feel soapy. Few fish are found in this lake. It is also one of the seven nesting sites of the bird in the whole of Africa. Apart from the above mentioned birds, some others include White‐necked Cormorant, African Fish Eagle, Egyptian Geese, various Plover species, and Herons. Local mammals are not numerous but include Grant’s gazelle, Greater Kudu, Oribi, Warthog and Golden Jackal. Besides, some of the scenery is very beautiful, especially at dusk; the sight of Pelicans dipping into the silver waters of Lake Abyata is unforgettable. Awash National Park Awash National Park, 211 Kms east of Addis Ababa cover 827 square kilometers (319 square miles). The park takes its name from the Awash River which marks the park’s southern boundary. The rivers last gesture is the salt lake, Lake Abbe, on the Ethiopia‐Djiboutian border. 12

The park offers quite good wildlife and outstanding birdlife viewing. It also contains an interesting range of volcanic landscapes. The Beisa Oryx and Sommering Gazelles – in the open areas, Greater and Lesser Kudus ‐ in the bushed areas, the endemic Swayne’s Hartbeest – in the grass plains, the tiny salt Dik‐Dik – under the dry acacia bushes and Defarsa waterbuck – in the bushy river area and the two monkey species – the Anubis and Hamadryas ‐ can be seen near the river. Among other monkeys, Colobus and Grivet monkeys are found in the riverside and drier areas respectively. Leopards, Lions, Black‐Backed and Golden Jackals, Caracals, Servals and Wildcats are also seen in the park very rarely. Until recently, 2003, 462 bird species have been recorded. Of these six are endemics namely Banded Barbet, Golden‐Backed Woodpecker, White‐Winged Cliff Chat, White‐Tailed Starling, Thick‐Billed Raven and Wattled Ibis. There are several bustard species in the park and secretary birds in the grass plains. The camping grounds, near the bank of the Awash River, and the Filwoha Hot Spring areas are the best sites to spot many species of birds such as Emerald‐Spotted Wood Dove, Green Wood‐Hoopoes, Red and Yellow Barbets, Carmine Bea Eaters are to name only a few. One of the main features of the park area is the Fentale Volcano, on the southern flank of which can be seen the dark scar of the last lava flow of 1820. The other feature is the turquoise‐blue pools of the natural hot springs in the extreme north of the park where you can spot Waterbucks and Hamadryas baboons and sometimes hear Lions at night.

Ethiopian Lakes and Rivers Lake Langano Two hundred and ten kilometers south of Addis Ababa, the brown and copper colored Lake Langano beckons. It is a popular resort for swimming, aquatic sports, sunbathing and bird‐watching. Halmet shrikes are also found in great numbers, along with the butcher‐birds. Lake Tana Lake Tana, the largest lake, in Ethiopia is the source and from where the famed Blue Nile starts its long journey to Khartoum, and on to the Mediterranean. The 37 islands that are scrattered about the surface of the Lake shelter fascinating churches and monasteries, some of which have histories dating back to the 13th Century. However, it should be noted that most of the religious houses are not open to women. The most interesting islands are: Birgida 13

Mariam, Dega Estefanous, Dek, Narga, Tana Cherkos, Mitsele Fasiledes, Kebran and Debre Maryam. Kebran Gabriel is the principal monastery visited by male tourists from Bahir Dar, with its impressive Cathedral‐like building first built at the end of the 17th Century. Dega Estephanos, which is also closed to women, is on an island in the lake, and the monastery is reached by a very steep and winding path. Although the church is relatively new (only hundred years old) , it houses a Madonna painted in the 15th century. However, the treasury of the monastery is a prime attraction, with the remains of several Emperors, as well as their robes and jewels. On the banks of the lake are many more religious houses, such as Ura Kidane Mehret and Narga Selassie, many of which are aslo open to visit by women. Near Gorgora, at the northern end of the lake , the Susneyos palace is a forerunner of the magnificent palaces and castles of Gonder, and dates from the reign of Emperor Susneyos. In the same area the medieval church of Debre Sina Mariam is particularly important. A sail or cruise on lake Tana is one of the most pleasant excursions for visitors to this region, particularly in the heart of the summer. Boats can be hired from the Marine Transport Authority in Bahir Dar. Along the lakeshore birdlife, both local and migratory visitors, make this an ideal place for birdwatchers. Bird lovers will not want to miss Fasilidas Island, which is especially famous as an important wetland. The whole of the Lake Tana region and the Blue Nile Gorge have a wide variety of birds both endemic and visitors. The variety of habitats, from rocky crags to riverain forests and important wetlands, ensure that many other different species should be spotted. Baro River The Baro River area, accessible by land or air through the western Ethiopian town of Gambella, remains a place of adventure and challenge. Traveling across the endless undulating plains of high Sudanese grass, visitors can enjoy a sense of achievement in just finding their way. this is Ethiopia’s true tropical zone and here are found all the elements of the African safaris, enhanced by a distinctly Ethiopian flavour. Nile perch weighing 100 kilos can be caught in the waters of the baro, snatched from the jaws of the huge crocodiles that thrive along the riverbank. the white eared kob also haunts the Baro, along with other river‐bank residents that include the nile lechwe, buffalo, giraffe, tiang, waterbuck, roan antelope, zebra, bush‐buck, Abyssinian reedbuck, wart hog, hartebeest, lion, elephant and hippopotamus. 14

Lake Zwai South of Addis Ababa, some 160 kilometers away, lies Zwai, the northernmost and largest lake in the chain. It is filled with fresh water and extends over 434 square kilometers. The lake’s average depth is four meters. Its extensive aquatic vegetation attracts a variety of interesting water birds. Commonly seen and easily identified are the long‐tailed cormorant, darter, and various herons and storks – including the distinctive saddle bill stork. Wading through the water lilies are long – toed marsh birds such as the greater jacana. The hand some African fish eagle, green pigeon, black‐headed oriole, wood hoopoe and barbet are also zwai residents. Lake Awassa When it comes to lacustrine peace and serenity, Lake Awassa‐ lying just south of the town of Sashemene and close to the town of Awassa. A gentle chain of mountains and a low plateau surround the lake, opening to a wide, low bay in the south. Swampy bays interspersed with volcanic rocks, sandy shores with bare rocky hills, and every formulation of terrain imaginable can be found near Awassa. The lake seems with a great variety of fish and, as elsewhere in the Rift Valley, endless species of birds. Lake Abaya and Chamo The two southernmost links in the chain of ethiopia’s Rift Valley Lakes – Abaya (551 square kilometers) and Chamo(1,160 square kilometeres) – are also the lushest in vegetation, richest in wildlife and, to many, the most beautiful. The lakes support numerous species of fish, and hordes of hippos and crocodiles. The bluff between the two lakes, known locally as the ‘Bridge of Heaven’ is carpeted with luxuriant vegetation and gives life to numerous springs. The nearby town of Arba Minch‐ meaning ’40 springs’‐ takes its name from these gushing streams. The shores and islands of Abaya and Chamo are populated by the Ganjule and the Guji , who both follow ancient traditions of hippo hunting.

Addis Ababa and Its Surrounding Addis Ababa is the country's commercial, manufacturing, and cultural center. It is the focus of a highway network, the site of an international airport, and the terminus of a railroad to the Gulf of Aden port of Djibouti. In the city there are printing industries, and manufactures include footwear, clothing, asbestos and metal products, processed foods, cement, and plywood. Flourishing handicraft industries produce leather, metal, and textile goods, which are traded along with the regional agricultural produce, such as coffee, tobacco, and dairy items, in the vast open‐air market known as the Merkato, on the W side of the city. Addis Ababa, the Capital of modern Ethiopia, and gateway for most tourists, is the political and commercial heart of the Country. Now a city of 4 million people, it was founded by Emperor Menelik in 1887. The National Museum This famous museum, close to the University of Addis Ababa Graduate School, houses numerous antiquarian relics and archaeological artifacts showing the history of Ethiopia from prehistoric times to the modern day. Its most famous exhibit is the 3.5 million year old skeleton of Lucy Mount Entoto Addis Ababa is built in the foothills of Mount Entoto, and the panorama from the peak (3,200m3, either by day or night, is a breathtaking spectacle. The Church of St Mary (1885) overlooks the entire city and the surrounding area. The Entoto Museum, with its historical exhibits is well worth a visit The Jubilee Palace On Menelik II Avenue, this modern palace was completed to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I. The park is home to a collection of rare indigenous wildlife. Zoological Natural history Museum The only natural history museum in Ethiopia with exhibits including examples of most of our indigenous wildlife, often displayed in panoramas showing the relationship of the animals to their natural habitats. Trinity Cathedral Trinity Cathedral was constructed by Emperor Haileselassie in 1947 and dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The architecture of the cathedral is very unique to both Ethiopia and Africa. It is ornamented with carvings and mosaic and other artistic works such as paintings of saints and the apostles on the stained glass. Within the compound and gardens of the church are found the crypts of the Imperial family. Africa Hall

The Africa hall, which is situated opposite to the Grand palace, is the seat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. It was built in 1961 by Ethiopian government as a monument to African Unity. In the lobby there is a stained glass window by Ethiopia's most well known artist, Miter Artist, World Laureate Afework Tekle, depicting the Africans of yesterday, today and tomorrow in their struggle for freedom and progress. The Markato The grand market (Markato) is a place where a commercial activity of the capital city takes place. It is one of the largest open‐air markets in Africa. The normal market days are Wednesday and Saturday. It is true that anything you might want can be found here, only if you know where to look. Markato is not only Addis Ababa's commercial center, but also the dynamo of the country's business and industry. Here bargaining is a way of life. DebreZeit DebreZeit, which is found 50 kms, south east of Addis Ababa is an attractive town surrounded by lovely crater lakes. The lakes within a radius of 5 kilometers are Hora, Babogaya, Kurriftu and Bishoftu. It is also an ideal place for bird watching and boat riding. Nazreth Nazreith, situated some 100kms south east of Addis Ababa, is simply a pleasant big town and an example of one of the country's fastest growing commercial centers. The town lies on a warm valley adorned with bougainvillea flame and palm trees. Sodere Sodere is situated 126 kms southeast of Addis Ababa. It is a very popular resort area with a new hotel complex. Numerous birds, and monkeys, can be seen. The hot spring Olympic size swimming pool and physiotherapy centers are frequented visited by visitors of all ages. Ambo and Wonchi Ambo is situated 125 kms west of Addis Ababa. It can be reached only after two and half hours drive. The magnificent landscapes, the volcanic Hot springs, surrounded by shady trees are enjoyable. Ambo yields the most popular mineral water in the country. Its hot springs have been turned in to modern spas. After half an hour drive (32kms) south of Ambo on the left side to Wolisso, Lake Wonchi could be reached. The lake lies in unique and irregular shaped basin surrounded by chain of circular height covered by greenish Alpine vegetation. There is a small monastery church called Saint Kirkos on the island. Debre Libanos After 103 km to the north of Addis Ababa there is a side road, which leads to the ancient monastery of Debre Libanos. The monastery was established by a 13th century Ethiopian saint called Abune 17

Tekelehaimanot. There stands an imposing beautiful church with magnificent murals. Near by a 16th Century Bridge, which was said to be built by a Portuguese engineer, is spotted. Mountain Ziqualla Mountain Ziqualla is an extinct volcano rising to 600 meters above sea level with a large crater and a monastery at its summit. It is on the right turn before entering DebreZeit town. It is 85 kms away from the capital. The view from the top includes many small hills and chains of mountains. The Crater Lake surrounded by Juniper trees and thick bushes with Columbus monkeys adds to its beauty.

Ethiopian people and culture Ethiopia is truly a Land of discovery ‐ brilliant and beautiful, secretive, mysterious and extraordinary. Above all things, it is a country of great antiquity, with a culture and traditions dating back more than 3,000 years. The traveller in Ethiopia makes a journey through time, transported by beautiful monuments and the ruins of edifices built long centuries ago. Ethiopia, like many other African countries, is a multi‐ethnic state. Many distinctions have been blurred by intermarriage over the years but many also remain. The differences may be observed in the number of languages spoken ‐ an astonishing 83, falling into four main language groups: Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic and Nilo‐Saharan. There are 200 different dialects. The Semitic languages of Ethiopia are related to both Hebrew and Arabic, and derive from Ge'ez, the ecclesiastical language. The principle Semitic language spoken in the north‐western and central part of the country is Amharic, which is also the official language of the modern state. Other main languages are Tigrigna, Guraginya, Adarinya, Afan Oromo, Somalinya, Sidaminya, Afarinya, Gumuz, Berta and Anuak. The Tigrigna‐ and Amharic‐speaking people of the north and centre of the country are mainly agriculturalists, tilling the soil with ox‐drawn ploughs and growing teff (a local millet), wheat, barley, maize and sorghum. The most southerly of the Semitic speakers, the Gurage, are also farmers and herders, but many are also craftsmen. The Gurage grow enset, 'false banana', whose root, stem and leaf stalks provide a carbohydrate which, after lengthy preparation, can be made into porridge or unleavened bread.

The Cushitic Oromo, formerly nomadic pastoralists, are now mainly engaged in agriculture and, in the more arid areas, cattle‐breeding. The Somali, also pastoral nomads, forge a living in hot and arid bush country, while the Afar, semi‐nomadic pastoralists and fishermen, are the only people who can survive in the hostile environment of the Danakil Depression. Living near the Omo River are the Mursi, well‐ known for the large clay discs that the women wear inserted in a slit in their lower lips. The people of Ethiopia wear many different types of clothing. The traditional dress of the Christian highland peasantry has traditionally been of white cotton cloth. Since the time of Emperor Tewodros 11 (mid‐1800s), men have worn long, jodhpur‐like trousers, a tight‐ fitting shirt and a shamma (loose wrap). The Muslims of Harar, by contrast, wear very colorful dress, the men in shortish trousers and a colored wrap and the women in fine dresses of red, purple and black. The lowland Somali and Afar wear long, brightly colored cotton wraps, and the Oromo and Bale people are to be seen in the bead‐decorated leather garments that reflect their economy, which is based on livestock. Costumes to some extent reflect the climates where the different groups live ‐ highlanders, for instance, ‐use heavy cloth capes and wraparound blankets to combat the night chill. In the heat of the lowland plains, light cotton cloths are all that is required by men and women alike. Traditional dress, though often now supplanted by Western attire, may still be seen throughout much of the countryside. National dress is usually worn for festivals, when streets and meeting‐places are transformed into a sea of white as finely woven cotton dresses, wraps decorated with coloured woven borders, and suits are donned. A distinctive style of dress is found among the Oromo horsemen of the central highlands, who, on ceremonial days such as Maskal, attire themselves in lions' manes or baboon‐skin headdresses and, carrying hippo‐hide spears and shields, ride down to the main city squares to participate in the parades. Ethiopians are justifiably proud of the range of their traditional costumes. The most obvious identification of the different groups is in the jewellery, the hair styles and the embroidery of the dresses. The women of Amhara and Tigray wear dozens of plaits (sheruba), tightly braided to the head and billowing out at the shoulders. The women of Harar part their hair in the middle and make a bun behind each ear. Hamer, Geleb, Bume and Karo men form a ridge of plaited hair and clay to hold their feathered headwear in place. Arsi women have fringes and short, bobbed hair. Bale girls have the same, but cover it with a black headcloth, while young children often have their heads shaved.

Jewelery in silver and gold is worn by both Muslims and Christians, often with amber or glass beads incorporated. Heavy brass, copper and ivory bracelets and anklets are also worn. Ethiopia also has a rich tradition of both secular and religious music, singing and dancing, and these together constitute an important part of Ethiopian cultural life. Singing accompanies many agricultural activities, as well as religious festivals and ceremonies surrounding life's milestones ‐ birth, marriage and death.

Ethiopian Attractions Sof Omar Cave Sof Omar, a tiny Muslim village in Bale (south east of Ethiopia), is the site of an amazing complex of natural caves, cut by the Weyb River as it found its way from the nearby mountains. The settlement, which is a religious site, is named after a local Sheikh. Armed with torches and an official map, visitors to Sof Omar Cave make their way underground, far into the bowels of the earth, beside a subterranean stream, and there can see an extraordinary number of arched portals, high eroded ceilings and deep echoing chambers. Lalibela Lalibela, a medieval settlement in the Lasta area of Wello, lies at the centre of an extensive complex of rock churches.Lalibela has 11 remarkable rock‐hewn monolithic, semi‐monolithic and cave built churches, built by one of the Zagwe Dynasty rulers,King Lalibela in the late 12th and early 13th century. These notable structures are carved, inside and out, out of one solid rock, and are the unofficial eighth wonders of the world. Each building is architecturally unique but each reflects beautifully executed craftsmanship, and several are decorated with fascinating paintings.

Four are completely free‐standing, attached only to the surrounding rock by their bases. These are Beta Medhane Alem, the House of the Savior of the World; Beta Ghenetta Mariam, the House of Mary; Beta Ammanuel, the House of Emanuel; and Beta Ghiorghis, the House of St George. Although their individual

dimensions and configurations are extremely different, the churches are all built from great blocks of stone, sculptured to resemble normal buildings and wholly isolated within deep courtyards. They represent, as one authority has put it, the ultimate in rock‐church design.One is amazed at the technical skill, the material resources and the continuity of effort.which such vast undertakings imply. Gonder Gondar is 50 kilometers north of Lake Tana, 700 kilometers north of Addis Ababa and nestles in the foothills of the Semien mountains at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level. Gondar, founded by King Fasiledes in 1936, was the capital of Ethiopia for nearly 200 years. This fact is reflected by the number of palace buildings in the castle compound. The city’s main imperial precinct, known as the Royal Enclosure, covers an area of 7.7 hectares and contains five castles raised walkways and connecting tunnels surrounded by high stone walls. The oldest of these is the Castle of Fasiledes, built of stone in the

mid‐17th century, reflecting a number of influences, mainly Axumite, Portuguese and Indian. The upper storey offers panoramic views and Lake Tana is visible on a clear day. The castle has been renovated recently. Fasiledes’ grandson. Iyasu the great, built his own castle and decorated it with ivory, gold and precious stones but an earthquake in the early 19th caused severe damage. General Information Population (2006): Regional (Amhara): 19,120,005 Gondar urban Center: 194,773 Geographical Location Altitude: 2,000m (6,560ft) Journeying south and west out of the Simien from Sankaber, down a good gravel road to the town of Debark and then to the great and ancient city of Gondar. The town is flanked by twin mountain streams. Gondar commands spectacular views over farmlands to the gleaming waters of Lake Tana thirty‐five kilometers to the south. What to See Place to Visit • • • • • •

Medievel castles Qusquam Church Felasha (Ethiopian Jews) village Palace of Emperior Fasilidas Library of Emperior yohannes Debre Birhan Selassie Church

Axum Axum is an ancient town in northern Ethiopia. It lies at an elevation of about 2100 meters just west of Adwa in Tigrai region. Once the seat of the kingdom of Axum, it is now a tourist town and religious centre best known for its antiquities tall granite obelisks, 126 in all, stand (or lie broken) in the central square. Once measuring 33 meters, now fallen, is said to be the tallest obelisk ever erected. The obelisks range from nearly plain slabs to intricately inscribed pillars. Door and window‐like shapes are carved into some of the pillars, giving them the appearance of slender buildings. The most recent of the obelisks announces the adoption of Christianity in the 4th century by king Ezana. At least 27

carved stone thrones have been unearthed in the overgrown ruins of the ancient palace. General Information Population (2006): Urban Center: 47,320 Regional (Tigray): 4,334,996 Geographical Location: Altitude: 2,150 m (7,052ft) Ethiopia’s northern most state, Tigray, contains the first outposts of the high and mountainous escarpment in which this country’s remarkable civilization was born and nurtured. Towards the edge of this escarpment, the city of Axum emerged. Axum is set amid a smooth grassy plain, in contrast to the jagged peaks and maze of ravines which virtually isolates it from the outside world. What to See Place to Visit: • • • • •

Church of St.Mary of Zion Stelea field Tombs of kings Kaleb and Gebremeskel Ruin Palace of Queen Sheba Archeological Sites

Harar & Dire Dawa Harar is located in the eastern part of the country and part of the historic circuits. The walled city of Harar is an ancient city with rich and colorful history.Harar is 523 kilometers east of Addis Ababa, the capital. The most dominant feature of Harar is its strong encircling wall, which embraces the town, its exciting market places, and its 99 mosques. Harar is the fourth holiest city after Makka, Madina and Jerusalem.Harar in the old days could be reached only by a long caravan or mule journey of many days, weeks, or months; today, however, the city is little more than an hours drive from Dire Dawa, a modern

Ethiopian railway town, with an international airport and several first‐class Government and private hotels. Harar is located in the eastern part of the country and part of the historic circuits. The walled city of Harar is an ancient city with rich and colorful history.Harar is 523 kilometers east of Addis Ababa, the capital. The most dominant feature of Harar is its strong encircling wall, which embraces the town, its exciting market places, and its 99 mosques. Harar is the fourth holiest city after Makka, Madina and Jerusalem.Harar in the old days could be reached only by a long caravan or mule journey of many days, weeks, or months; today, however, the city is little more than an hours drive from Dire Dawa, a modern Ethiopian railway town, with an international airport and several first‐class Government and private hotels. General Information Population (2006): Urban center: Dire Dawa: 281,750 Harar: 122,000 Regional: Dire Dawa: 398,000 Harari: 196,000 Geographical Location(Altitude): Harar: 1,856 m (6,088 ft) Dire Dawa: 1,160 m (3,805 ft) Harar stands amin green mountains on the east wall of the Great Rift Valley near the Somali border. Dire Dawa lies 525 kilometers east of Addis Ababa marking approximately the halfway point to Djibouti. What to See Place to Visit • • • •

Building by Emir Nur (five large gates supported by oval towers) Mosques and Muslim shines Handicrafts, including weaving, basket‐making and book‐binding Silversmiths 24

• • • • • • • • • •

Gate of the Duke and Berbera Gate Ras Makonnen’s stately old palace Rimbaud House Jami mosque Gidir Megala, Big market Hyena‐man, feeding of the wild beast in the evening Dire Dawa Afetiessa market Lege Oda, cave paintings Railway town and station

Negash Negash is a small village located 60 Kms East of Mekele, the Capital of Tigray region. It is Anonymous with Islam as it is the place were the first mosque was constructed in Ethiopia. It also serves as enduring reminder of the warm welcome extended by the Ethiopian king of the time when those Muslims including the family of the prophet Mohammed fled from persecution in their own land found refuge in Ethiopia during the early years of the Seventh century. Since then, Negash has been a place of great historical and religous significance in a sense that it is a symbol of peaceful coexistence between Muslim and Christian religions. Yeha Ethiopia's earliest known capital, Yeha, is less than two hours' drive from Axum through some dramatic highland scenery. As the birthplace of the country's earliest high civilization, it is well worth visiting. To get there, head east for twenty kilometers (Bahar Dar is a town 12 miles ) to Adwa. Continue along the main road towards Adigrat for another twenty‐four kilometers (15 miles) and then turn north on to a short dirt track, where you will see the imposing ruins of Yeha's Temple of the moon about four kilometers (2.5 miles) to the right of the track. The ruins of this large, pre‐Christian temple, erected around the fifth century BC, consist of a single roofless oblong chamber 20 meters (66 feet) along by 15 meters (50 feet) wide. The windowless 10 meters high walls are built of smoothly polished stones, some of them more than 3 meters long, carefully placed one atop the other without the use of mortar.

Archeological research at Yeha has unearthed many historical treasures, including a number of Sabean inscriptions and a variety of animal figurines. Several of these antiquities are on display in the National Museum in Addis Ababa. Bahir Dar Bahir Dar is a modern small town on the southeastern shore of Lake Tana in the north of Ethiopia. It hosts the fabled Blue Nile falls, the beautiful highland Lake Tana and 14th‐century island monastic churches. It lays on a altitude of 1850 metres and has a very nice center with wide lanes, surrounded by palmtrees, lots of gardens and tropical flowers and plant. From Bahir Dar you have to explore some of the ancient monasteries that have been built around Lake Tana or on the many islands in the lake. There are 37 islands dotted all over the lake and 30 of them house churches and monasteries of great cultural and historical interest. They contain beautiful manuscripts, objects of worship and crosses dating back to the dawn of Christianity. These include Dek Stephanos, with a good collection of icons, as well as the remains of several medieval emperors, Kebran Gabriel (closed to women), and Ura Kidane Mehret with its famous frescoes. General Information Population (2006): Regional (Amhara): 19,120,005 Bahar Dar & its Surroundings: 270,000 Geographical Location: Altitude: 1,802 m (5,910 ft) Situated on Lake Tana’s south‐eastern shore, it is the starting point of any visit to the Blue Nile Falls. Covering more than 3,600 square kilometers, Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake.The Blue Nile River flows out of the lake with tremendous force and volume over the basalt shoulder of a giant cataract and downwards towards the deserts of Sudan, on its way to Egypt. The power of the river is relly felt at the Blue Nile Falls, also known as Tis Isat. Rivaling the attraction of the Blue Nile Falls are 37 islands. Some 20 of these shelter churches and monasteries of significant historical cultural interest. 26

What to See Places to Visit : • • • •

Kebran Gebriel monastery Ura Kidane Mehret monastery Dega Estefanos monastery and other monasteries Blue Nile Falls

Debre Damo Damo is unique and unforgettable although, as with most Ethiopian monasteries, women are not allowed to enter it. Even so, there is a daunting obstacle to the monastery: the only means of access is a climb of twenty‐five meters up a sheer cliff. Monks lower a safety rope which visitors tie around their waists. Then they use a second, thicker rope to climb with. Some may reflect, as they make their way to the top, that because of this arduous, dangerous ascent the art treasures of Debra Damo have remained intact through the monastery‐s 1,400 tumultuous years of history. The treasures include an extensive collection of illuminated manuscripts ‐ among them the oldest surviving fragments of texts anywhere in Ethiopia ‐ and intricate carvings on the beams and ceiling of the ancient church around which the monastery is built. There are no murals as such, but a large number of paintings are preserved there including several that depict the legend of the foundation of Debra Damo by Abuna Aragawi. He is a Saint who is believed to have been lifted onto the cliff top by a giant serpent. According to the legend expressed in a number of the paintings, the Archangel Gabriel stood by with a sword ready to slay the snake if it attacked Abuna Aragawi. It did not, however, and wrapped in its coils the Saint reached the top safely, dropping his cross on a stone, which is today kissed by all who enter the monastery.

Natural Attractions The Blue Nile Falls Known locally as Tis Isat ‐ 'Smoke of Fire' the Blue Nile Falls is the most dramatic spectacle on either the Blue Nile rivers. Four hundred metres (1,312 feet) wide when in flood, and dropping over a sheer chasm

more than forty‐five metres (150 Feet) deep the falls throw up a continuous spray of water, which drenches onlookers up to a kilometre away. This misty deluge produces rainbows, shimmering across the gorge, and a small perennial rainforest of lush green vegetation, to the delight of the many monkeys and multicoloured birds that inhabit the area. To reach the falls, which are about thirty‐five kilometres (22 miles) away, drive south from the town of Bahir Dar for about half an hour and stop at Tis Isat village. Here travelers will quickly find themselves surrounded by a retinue of sometimes overzealous youthful guides who, for a small Fee, will show the way and point out several places of historic interest en route. After leaving the village the footpath Meanders first beside open and fertile fields, then drops into a deep rift that is spanned by an ancient, fortified stone bridge built in the seventeenth century by Portuguese adventurers and still in use. After a thirty‐minute walk, a stiff climb up a grassy hillside is rewarded by a magnificent view of the falls, breaking the smooth edge of the rolling river into a thundering cataract of foaming water. A rewarding but longer trek is to walk along the east bank all the way to the back of the falls; crossing the river by papyrus boat known as 'Tankwa'. Dalol(Denakil Depression) This part of Ethiopia is called the Danakil Depression, one of the remotest and lowest places in the world. It is a unique land formation within the Great Rift Valley system. Until today, this part of the earth is unstable pulling each other to the opposite side. Erta Alle is particularly a unique Lave Crater Lake that erupts all the time. Erta Alle is the best place to study geology particularly the volcanic eruption, besides it has a great adventurous value. Erta Alle means Smoking Mountain according to the local Afar Language. Normally, the caravan is taking of late afternoon and will travel the whole night with some stops. Along the route, while walking at night, one can admire the reflection of the volcanic lave that frequently erupts from the Crater Lake situated on the hill 613 meters high. Without over exaggeration the journey, walking on strange but amusing extensive dry lava feels like walking on the moon.

Dalol is, 100 km from North West of Erta Alle, the lowest part of Danakil Depression, 116 meters below sea level. It is an extremely hottest (with average temperature of 30‐50 degree centigrade) and inhospitable but enjoyable place. It is an extraordinary colorful landscape for real adventures. Another wonderful event is the salt extraction from the nearby lake Asale. The local people supply salt to the Tigray dwellers. The only means of transportation in Camels.It is an unforgettable experience to see the hundreds of camels' passing by. Ethiopian Rift Valley One of the most striking geographical features of Africa is a giant tear across the earth’s surface: the Great Rift Valley. Extending from the Middle East to Mozambique, the Rift Valley passes right through Ethiopia, endowing the country with some spectacular features that range form hot, dry, and barren places to a string of beautiful lakes. Volcanic activity, which greatly contributed to the formation of the Rift Valley, continues up to present times. In Ethiopia, it finds expression in the presence of hot springs in many parts of the country, as well as volcanic cones in the Danakil Depression in the north‐east. The Southern Lakes [The Great Rift Valley] General Information • • • •

Population: (2006) Northern Omo Zone: 3,741,304 Arba Minch: 72,507 Geographical Location:

Along the southern stretch of the Rift Valley, the so –called ‘southern wilderness’ beckons. Ninety kilometers north of the konso’s remote lands stands Arba Minch, set amid a country overlooking two of the southern Rift’s most beautiful lakes‐Chamo and Abaya.perched on the foothills of 4,200 meter‐high (13,440 ft) Mount Guge, Arba Minch is directly opposite the Nechisar National Park entrance. The two lakes is overlooks are lake Abaya and lake Chamo which are divided by a hilly ridge with delightful name for the ‘Bridge of Heaven’. Many small rivers empty into both lakes. What to See • • • • • • •

Places to Visit Nechisar National Park Spring Waters Lake Chamo Lake Abaya Guge Mountains Dorze Village

The Northern Lakes [The Great Rift Valley] General Information • • • •

Population: (2006) Regional (Oromia): 26,553,000 Ziway: 35,931 Shashemene: 93,156

Geographical Location: The Great Rift Valley, which extends from the middle east to Mozambique, passes right trhough Ethiopia, endowing the country with some spectacular features that range from hot,dry and barren places to a string of beautiful lakes.between the two escarpments, and far below, lie the glittering watery jewels of Lake Awasa, Lake Shala, Lake Abijatta, Lake Langano and Lake Ziway. What to See Place to Visit • • • • •

Lake Ziway Lake Langano Lake Awasa Lake Shala Lake Abijata

How to get there By Air There is no flight the Northern Lakes of the Rift Valley By Road Abijatta‐Shalla Lake National Park 215 kilometres(133 miles) from Addis Ababa, 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Mojo and fifty‐five kilometers (33 milees) from Lake Ziway, can be reached by a good asphalt road. The town of Ziway itself is twenty‐nine kilometers (18 miles) past Meki, Ten kilometers (6 miles) past Ziway is Adami Tulu. From the Horacallo River turn left along a track that leads to Lake Langano.

The track to Lake Shalla is now the main trails through the national park.it turns west off the main road about five kilometers (3 miles) south of the Bekele Mola hotel turnoff. Drive trough the park gate and follow, a reasonably good track (in dry weather).The track emerges at the Lake shore of Shalla. Returning to the main road south you will come to Awasa, the capital city of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State.

Cultural Attraction 'Enkutatash' ‐ Ethiopian New Year The Ethiopian New Year falls in September at the end of the big rains. The sun comes out to shine all day long creating an atmosphere of dazzling clarity and fresh clean air. The highlands turn to gold as the Meskel daisies burst out in all their splendour. Ethiopian children clad in brand new clothes dance through the villages giving bouquets of flowers and painted pictures to each household. September 11th is both New Year's Day and the Feast of St. John the Baptist. The day is called Enkutatash meaning the "gift of jewels." When the famous Queen of Sheba returned from her expensive jaunt to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her back by replenishing her treasury with enku or jewels. The spring festival has been celebrated since these early times and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can be heard at every village in the green countryside. After dark on New Year's Eve people light fires outside their houses. The main religious celebration takes place at the 14th‐century Kostete Yohannes church in the city of Gaynt within the Gondar Region. Three days of prayers, psalms, and hymns, sermons, and massive colourful processions mark the advent of the New Year. Closer to Addis Ababa, the Raguel Church, on top of the Entoto Mountain north of the city, has the largest and most spectacular religious celebration. But Enkutatash is not exclusively a religious holiday, and the little girls singing and dancing in pretty new dresses among the flowers in the fields convey the message of springtime and renewed life. Today's Enkutatash is also the season for exchanging formal New Year greetings and cards among the urban sophisticated in lieu of the traditional bouquet of flowers. Timket – The Ethiopian Epiphany This is the greatest festival of the year, falling on 19 January, just two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is actually a three‐day affair, beginning on the Eve of Timkat with dramatic and colourful processions. The following morning the great day itself, 31

Christ's baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is commemorated. The third day is devoted to the Feast of St. Michael, the archangel, one of Ethiopia's most popular saints. Since October and the end of the rains, the country has been drying up steadily. The sun blazes down from a clear blue sky and the Festival of Timkat always takes place in glorious weather. Enormous effort is put into the occasion. Tej and tella (Ethiopian mead and beer) are brewed, special bread is baked, and the fat‐tailed African sheep are fattened for slaughter.Gifts are prepared for the children and new clothes purchased or old mended and laundered. Everyone men, women, and children appears resplendent for the three‐day celebration. Dressed in the dazzling white of the traditional dress, the locals provide a dramatic contrast to the jewel colours of the ceremonial velvets and satins of the priests' robes and sequinned velvet umbrellas. On the eve of the 18 January, Ketera, the priests remove the tabots from each church and bless the water of the pool or river where the next days celebration will take place. It is the tabot (symbolising the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments) rather than the church building which is consecrated, and it is accorded extreme reverence. Not to be desecrated by the gaze of the layman, the engraved wooden or stone slab is carried under layers of rich cloth. In Addis Ababa, many churches bring their tabots to Jan Meda (the horse racing course of imperial day) accompanied by priests bearing prayer sticks and sistra, the ringing of bells and blowing of trumpets, and swinging bronze censors from which wisps of incense smoke escape into the evening air. The tabots rest in their special tent in the meadow, each hoisting a proud banner depicting the church's saint in front. The priests pray throughout the long cold night and mass is performed around 2:00 a.m. Huge crowds of people camp out, eating and drinking by the light of flickering fires and torches. Towards dawn the patriarch dips a golden cross and extinguishes a burning consecrated candle in the altar. Then he sprinkles water on the assembled congregation in commemoration of Christ's baptism. Many of the more fervent leap fully dressed into the water to renew their vows. Following the baptism the tabots start back to their respective churches, while feasting, singing and dancing continue at Jan Meda. The procession winds through town again as the horsemen cavort alongside, their mounts handsomely decorated with red tassels, embroidered saddlecloths, and silver bridles. The elders march solemnly, accompanied by singing leaping priests and young men, while the beating of staffs and prayer sticks recalls the ancient rites of the Old Testament. 'Meskel' ‐ The Finding of the True Cross The festival of Meskel is second in importance only to Timkat and has been celebrated in the country for over 1,600 years. The word actually means "cross" and the feast

commemorates the discovery of the Cross upon which Jesus was crucified by the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. The original event took place on 19 March, AD 326, but the feast is now celebrated on 27 September. Many of the rites observed throughout the festival are said to be directly connected to the legend of Empress Helena. On the eve of Maskel tall branches are tied together and yellow daisies, popularly called meskel flowers, are placed at the top. During the night these branches are gathered together in front of the compound gates and ignited. This symbolizes the actions of the Empress whom, when no one would show her the Holy Sepulchre, lit incense and prayed for help. Where the smoke drifted she dug and found three crosses. To one of them, the True Cross, many miracles were attributed. Meskel also signifies the physical presence of the True Cross at the remote mountain monastery of Gishen Mariam located in the Welo region. In this monastery is a massive volume called the Tefut, written during the reign of Zera Yacob (1434‐1468), which records the story of how a fragment of the Cross was acquired. In the Middle Ages, it relates, the Christian monarchs of Ethiopia were called upon to protect the Coptic minorities and wage punitive war against their persecutors. Their reward was usually gold, but instead the Emperor Dawit asked for a fragment of the True Cross from the Patriarch of Alexandria. He received it at Meskel. During this time of year flowers bloom on the mountains and plains and the meadows are yellow with the brilliant Meskel daisy. Dancing, feasting, merrymaking, bonfires, and even gun salutes mark the occasion. The festival begins by planting a green tree on Meskel Eve in town squares and village marketplaces. Everyone brings a pole topped with meskel daisies to form the towering pyramid that will soon be a beacon of flame. Torches of eucalyptus twigs called chibo are used to light the bundle of branches called demera. In Addis Ababa celebrations start in the early afternoon, when a huge procession bearing flaming torches approaches Meskel Square from various directions. The marchers include priests in their brightly hued vestments, students, brass bands, contingents of the armed forces, and bedecked floats carrying huge lit crosses. They circle the demera and fling their torches upon it, while singing a special Meskel song. Thousands gather at the square to join in and welcome the season of flowers and golden sunshine called Tseday. As evening darkens the flames glow brighter. It is not until dawn that the burning pyramid consumes itself and the big tree at the centre finally falls. During the celebrations each house is stocked with tella, the local beer, and strangers are made welcome.

Archeological Attractions Ethiopia is the earliest known home of humankind. A skeleton of an older human ancestor Australopithecus Afarensis was discovered in 1974 in the Afar region. Anthropologists have established that the skeleton covering 40% of the human body had belonged to a twenty‐years‐old female that lived 3.5 million years ago. Registered by the United Nations Education, 33

Science, and Culture Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage, the site of the discovery is called Hadar ‐ situated 160 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa. The Skeleton is popularly known as Lucy or Dinkinesh. The discovery has completed the missing link between apes and men ‐ paving the way for the search to human origins. In addition, the earliest known hominid, 4.4 million years old Ardipithecus Ramidus was discovered in the Middle Awash in 1992. The recent discoveries include Australopithecus Garhi, 2.5 million‐years‐old hominid. Garhi means 'surprise' in the Afar language ‐ a language spoken in the internationally acclaimed archeological site. Discovered by an international team led by Ethiopian Anthropologist Berhane Asfaw in the Middle Awash, Garhi is said to be a surprising hominid shaking the family tree. Paleontologist Tim White of the University of California at Berkeley was also the CO‐leader of the team. The species discovered by the team is descended from Australopithecus Afarensis and is a candidate ancestor for early Homo. Bones from antelopes and horse were found 278 meters from the site of Garhi skull fragments at the same layer of sediment. "The bones show unmistakable gashes left by stone tools: the animals were butchered, the meat cut away, and the bones hammered open to extract marrow. This is by far the earliest proof of tool‐based butchery and may well provide the evolutionary driver that led to big‐ brained humans. LUCY Lucy, 3.5 million years old, and the recent discovery Ramides, 4.4 million years old hominid fossil, are discovered in Haddar, along the Awash River, east of the country. They completed the missing link between Apes and men. Melka Konture is also an important archeological site where 1.5 million years old stone tools were found. Several cave paintings and stone monuments are found in different parts of the country like Dilla, southern Ethiopia and Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia. HOMINIDS Fragments of a frontal bone and of a femur were recovered in the Pliocene Formations of Maka. In the Middle Pliocene Formation of Bodo d'Ar, dated to 300,000 ‐ 150,000 years, a frontal and other remains of a human skull were discovered in 1976. This fossil probably belongs to an archaic Homo Sapiens. HOMO SAPIENS The fossil skulls known as Omo I and II come from the kibish formation (200,000/100,000 years ago) in the Omo Valley. Not withstanding the presence of some archaic features, such as the thickness of the cranial walls, the appearance of modern anatomical features, the elevated frontal and the presence on

the mandible of Omo I of a real bony chin, allow them to be considered, without doubt, close to Homo Sapiens Sapiens.