Backpacking Ethiopia: Top experiences Camping on the rim of an active volcano, Danakil Depression Watching early-morning mass at Bet Giyorgis, Lalibela Getting lost in the markets and alleys of Harar Jugol Hiking around Tigray in search of ancient rock-hewn churches Feeding wild hyenas with the “hyena men” of Harar Jump to the list of posts from Ethiopia for […]
Tag Archives: Ethiopia
17
Aug
Aug
On Tuesday, I turned 30. I celebrated my birthday on the road through Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. As I’ve been spending a lot of time on buses staring out the window at the East African savanna, I’ve been reflecting on my first 30 years of travel. So I put together this list of […]
18
Mar
Mar
Solo female travel is all the rage these days. More and more women are taking off on adventures alone and learning just how empowering it can be. Destinations like Portugal, Thailand and Bali are at the top of every list of best destinations for solo female travellers. Don’t get me wrong, those are great places […]
25
Sep
Sep
Stepping off the plane, I felt like I’d arrived in a different country. I was instantly hit by the sticky heat typical of lowland East Africa. I could hear the Call to Prayer echoing from a nearby mosque. Instead of white-clad Christian shepherds, I was surrounded by black-robed businesswomen in high heels. I hadn’t originally […]
23
Sep
Sep
It should be one of the Wonders of the World. And if it weren’t so hidden away, high in the mountains in Ethiopia, it probably would be. The tiny town of Lalibela contains the world’s most impressive complex of ancient rock hewn churches. In this post, I’ll cover how to see the churches in two […]
20
Sep
Sep
Axum, Ethiopia may be the most interesting place no one has ever heard of. It was once the center of Africa’s largest ancient civilization, rivaling Rome and Persia. But sometime during the 10th century, the Kingdom of Axum (also spelled Aksum) collapsed. Given its remote location, high on the Ethiopian plateau, the once-great Kingdom of […]
18
Sep
Sep
Ethiopia is incredibly gifted when it comes to ancient artifacts. It’s no surprise, really — the country is home to at least two ancient civilizations. Its citizens practice what is arguably the oldest continuously practiced form of Christianity in the world. Around the 13th century, this gave rise to the construction of hundreds of rock […]
Addis Ababa is one of the major gateways to East Africa, India and the Middle East. Ethiopian Airlines offers cheap flights to these otherwise-hard-to-reach destinations. So many travelers find themselves with a long layover in Addis Ababa either at the beginning of their Ethiopia journeys or en route to somewhere else. But there’s no […]
17
Jun
Jun
When I told people that Ethiopia was my dream trip, they looked at me like I’m a crazy person. “Isn’t it all just starving people and barren desert,” they’d ask. Or “isn’t it dangerous?” Or “you can’t possibly go alone!” Of course, the doubters have never deterred me. After five long years of anticipation, […]
23
Aug
Aug
The Danakil Depression: An incredible four days in the hottest place on Earth The last four days of traveling through the Danakil Depression were probably the greatest adventure I’ve ever had. I don’t even know where to begin. The Danakil Depression is the “hottest place on Earth.” Summer temperatures routinely soar over 120 […]
