THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU VISIT ETHIOPIA

Main article: Geography of Ethiopia ClimateThe predominant climate type is tropical monsoon, with wide topographic-induced variation. The Ethiopian Highlands cover most of the country and have a climate which is generally considerably cooler than other regions at similar proximity to the Equator. Most of the country's major cities are located at elevations of around 2,000–2,500 m (6,562–8,202 ft) above sea level, including historic capitals such as Gondar and Axum.

The modern capital, Addis Ababa, is situated on the foothills of Mount Entoto at an elevation of around 2,400 metres (7,900 ft). It experiences a mild climate year round. With temperatures fairly uniform year round, the seasons in Addis Ababa are largely defined by rainfall: a dry season from October to February, a light rainy season from March to May, and a heavy rainy season from June to September. The average annual rainfall is approximately 1,200 millimetres (47 in).

There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. The dry season is the sunniest time of the year, though even at the height of the rainy season in July and August there are still usually several hours per day of bright sunshine. The average annual temperature in Addis Ababa is 16 °C (60.8 °F), with daily maximum temperatures averaging 20–25 °C (68.0–77.0 °F) throughout the year, and overnight lows averaging 5–10 °C (41.0–50.0 °F).

Most major cities and tourist sites in Ethiopia lie at a similar elevation to Addis Ababa and have a comparable climate. In less elevated regions, particularly the lower lying Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands in the east of the country, the climate can be significantly hotter and drier. Dallol, in the Danakil Depression in this eastern zone, has the world's highest average annual temperature of 34 °C (93.2 °F).

Wildlife

   Ethiopia has 31 endemic species of mammals.The African wild dog prehistorically had widespread distribution in the territory. However, with last sightings at Finicha'a, this canid is thought to be potentially locally extinct. The Ethiopian wolf is perhaps the most researched of all the endangered species within Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a global center of avian diversity. To date more than 856 bird species have been recorded in Ethiopia, twenty of which are endemic to the country. Sixteen species are endangered or critically endangered. A large number of these birds feed on butterflies, like the Bicyclus 

        Historically, throughout the African continent, wildlife populations have been rapidly declining due to logging, civil wars, pollution, poaching, and other human factors.A 17-year-long civil war, along with severe drought, negatively impacted Ethiopia's environmental conditions, leading to even greater habitat degradation.Habitat destruction is a factor that leads to endangerment. When changes to a habitat occur rapidly, animals do not have time to adjust. Human impact threatens many species, with greater threats expected as a result of climate change induced by greenhouse gases.With carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 of 6,494,000 tonnes, Ethiopia contributes just 0.02% to the annual human-caused release of greenhouse gases.

Ethiopia has a large number of species listed as critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable to global extinction. The threatened species in Ethiopia can be broken down into three categories (based on IUCN ratings): critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable.

 Danakil Depression

The Danakil Depression is the northern part of the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression in Ethiopia, a geological depression that has resulted from the divergence of three tectonic plates in the Horn of Africa.

   The Danakil Depression is the hottest place on Earth in terms of year-round average temperatures. It is also one of the lowest places on the planet (100 m below sea level), and without rain for most of the year. Here, the Awash River dries up in a chain of salt lakes such as Lake Afrera, never reaching the Indian Ocean.

Mount Ayalu is the westernmost and older of the two volcanoes at the southern end of the Danakil Depression. The other active volcano, Erta Ale, is one of several crater lakes of lava bubbling from the Earth's mantle. Additionally, the area contains the Dallol sulfur springs, or hot springs. These wet environments at the Danakil Depression are being investigated to help understand how life might arise on other planets and moons. Many microorganisms living here are extremophilic microbes of a major interest to astrobiologists.
       Erta Ale to mean a smoking mountain in the local language. After looking at the bubbling lava from the volcano and the unbearable heat, you can see why the Afar people in the area call this place the gateway to hell.

The Rock-Hewn Churches Of Lalibela: Ethiopia’s Holy City

Lalibela

One of Ethiopia’s national wonders is its famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. This is Ethiopia’s own Christian holy city featuring a number of ancient churches carefully carved into the rock of the Northern Ethiopian landscape.

The Location of Lalibela’s Rock-Hewn Churches
Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches are situated in the north of the country in the city named after their constructor, a former Zagwe Dynasty Emperor of Ethiopia. The city is located 645km from Addis Ababa in the North Wollo Zone of the nation’s Amhara region, which sits at approximate 2400m above sea level. It is a rocky and mountainous area that is dry and often prone to droughts and was once the location of the historic capital of Ethiopia.

Lalibela’s Origins

      Ethiopia is the African country with the longest history of Christian worship and some of the churches of Lalibela date back to as early as the 7th Century.

The exact records detailing the construction of the churches has unfortunately been lost to time. However, legend states that work was completed on the churches within 23 years, with the help of angelic assistance.

    Gebre Mesquel Lalibela, King of Ethiopia, who ruled the land around the 12th and 13th centuries was the driving force behind the project and was inspired to create his own Jerusalem (the site is sometimes known as “New Jerusalem” for this very reason). This was in response to the Muslim conquests of Saladin in the Levant, which had prevented pilgrimages at that time in history.

The Meaning Of “Lalibela”

   Gebre Mesquel Lalibela was a medieval Ethiopian emperor. His regal name Gebre Mesquel means “Servant of the Cross”, whereas the meaning of his own name literally means “the bees recognize his sovereignty”. This is based on a mythical telling of his birth when a swarm of bees surrounded him as a newborn. The city of Lalibela was originally called Roha but was renamed to honor its former Emperor.
  The Number of Churches at The Site
In total there are 11 monolithic churches dotted around the Lalibela historical site. These are found grouped in 3 separate locations around the area. The complete list of rock-hewn churches found at Lalibela includes:

The Northern Group

• Biete Maryam
• Biete Medhane Alem
• Biete Golgotha Mikael
• Biete Danagel

The Western Group

• The Church of Saint George at Lalibela

The Eastern Group

• Biete Amanuel
• Biete Abba Libanos
• Biete Qeddus Mercoreus
• Biete Lehem
• Biete Gabriel-Rufael

The Significance of This Holy Site
 Unsurprisingly this site has had a large influence on Christianity in Ethiopia and indeed the entire region. The population in this region of the country overwhelmingly identify as Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. For this reason, the site retains its holy status and still remains highly popular with pilgrims in Africa and the world over.

    The churches take inspiration from many Christian symbols such as the 12 apostles, the many saints of the faith and the Virgin Mary. Inside Lalibela’s churches, recreations of famous religious artifacts such as the tomb of Adam and the tomb of Jesus can be found. The historic rock-carved churches have at times in history even substituted for holy sites like Jerusalem and Bethlehem for pilgrims, when travel to the holy land was restricted.

Ethiopia World Heritage Attractions

Axum, Ethiopia’s Ancient Kingdom

    Located close to Ethiopìa’s recently reopened border with Eritrea in the extreme north of the country, these ancient ruins represent the last remains of the powerful Aksumite kingdom, which dominated the area from the 1st to the 8th centuries AD. Alternatively known as Aksum, this impressive Ethiopian World Heritage site boasts a variety of intriguing artifacts, most notably the towering monolithic obelisks (up to 23 meters high) that dominate the area.

Many tourists visit Aksum in search of the Ark of the Covenant, the Biblical artifact which is said to have been brought to Ethiopia by the son of the Queen of Sheba and held under guard near the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in this ancient city.

Gondar

   ‘the Camelot of Ethiopia’, this city near Lake Tana in the northwest is home to the ruins of the fortress-city of Fasil Ghebbi, the residence of Ethiopia’s emperors during the 16th and 17th centuries.

The compound is surrounded by an ancient 900 meter-long wall and boasts the well-preserved remains of various royal castles in the unique Nubian style. Visitors often feel as though they’ve been transported back to Medieval Europe (without leaving Africa!).

perhaps castles are not the first thing that comes to the traveler’s mind when thinking about Ethiopia, but this African country hides many surprises within its territory and tales of emperors and princesses are among them.

One of such wonders is the city of Gondar. This enclave, also spelled Gonder, was home to Emperor Fasildas castle and the walled city of Fasil Ghebbi, now part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Gondar’s History

   Many call Gondar ‘the Camelot of Africa’ but unlike Camelot, Gondar is a real city made out of royalty and blood and its history covers hundreds of years starting as early as the 12th century.

Who Founded Gondar?

      Gondar was the seat of government for the Solomonic Dynasty (descended from the biblical Solomon and Sheba), throughout the 16th -18th century.

Gondar’s fertile lands and strategic placement are a couple of the reasons why Emperor Fasiladas chose this location as his seat of power in 1636. As legend has it, he was led by a buffalo to a pool by the Angered. Once there, a wise hermit announced to the Emperor he would locate his capital there. And so did Fasilidas. He filled in the pool and built his castle right there.

Emperor Fasiladas went on to build a total of 7 churches and the 5 emperors who succeded him followed suit by building even more churches and palaces, some of which still stand today.

Nevertheless, the most famous of all the Gondar palaces is Fasil Ghebbi, built by Emperor Fasiladas.

Towards the end of the 18th century, Gondar’s influence began to decline and 1769 marks the end of ‘the Gondar Period.’ From that point on, even though emperors continued to sit in Gondar, they barely held any power and local governors strated ruling each Ethiopian region.

Best Activities To Do in Gondar

     Gondar sits surrounded by hills and mountains that are populated by endemic flora and animals. The region is home to the Simien Mountains National Park and the tallest peak of Ethiopia, Ras Dejen (or Ras Dashen) at 4,550m.

Things To Do in Gondar

The Ethiopian castle notwisthanding, all of those who visit Gondar will have a hard time running out of interesting activities.

• Take the chance to go on a one or two-hour walking tour in the Simien Mountains. You can then break for lunch and use your afternoon to visit all the old castles and churches in the area. You can guide yourself around or book a tour that will set you back anywhere from $50 to $140 USD per person depending on how big the group is.
• If you want to enjoy some nice views of the surrounding area, you can visit the village of Woleka, an hour’s walk along the main road (about 5 km).
• A trip to the Kidame Gebya Market is also a good idea. Gondar’s weekly market now runs throughout the week with Sunday being its most quiet day and Satuday the busiest. It can be found 500 metres shouthwest of the bus station and you can buy almost anything from clothes to vegetables.

Things To See in Gondar

Some must-see sights no one should miss are:

• Debre Birhan Selassie Church. At the end of the 17th century, a church was built at this location and destroyed. The church that can be seen now dates from the 1880s and is the only one to survive the Sudanese attacks. Twelve towers guard this building, each representing one of the 12 apostles. Do not miss its intricated ceilings of painted angels.
  
  
• Fasil Ghebbi or the Royal Enclosure is an incredible museum complex showcasing the last centuries of Ethiopia’s emperors. It contains Fasilides Castle, Empress Mentewab’s castle, Iyasu Palace, Dawit III Hall, a library, a banqueting hall, and 3 churches among several other buildings. Some of them were destroyed by the Sudanese Dervish, the Italians and also British bombs during Ethiopia’s liberation in World War II.
• Fasilides Castle was built in 1640 as the home of King Fasilides. Once there, do not miss Fasilides Bath. It is separated from the castle and, although it once was the bath for King Fasilides, today it is used as a baptism during Timkat.
• Gorgora is a beautiful quaint town about 70 km from Gondar. It served as Ethiopia’s capital for a short time and it still has some relics from that era. It is great for birdwatching and canoeing with local fishermen. Great to leave tourists behind since they are few and far between in this village.

Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town

      Found close to the border with Somalia in the east of the country, this sacred holy city is surrounded by 13-century fortified walls and boasts over 82 mosques, 3 of which date back as far as the 10th century. However, this historic city really earns its World Heritage site status through the intricately designed merchant townhouses that reflects the diversity of this long-time trading post.

Don’t leave Harar without visiting the cultural center dedicated to famous French poet Arthur Rimbaud, who once made his home in the city, or attending a night-time hyena feeding show just outside the ancient walls.

Explore the Lower Awash Valley

     The Lower Awash Valley, around 300 kilometers north of Addis Ababa, is one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ethiopia. Some of the most significant paleoanthropological discoveries on the African continent have been made in the area, some dating back as much as 3 million years.

These include the unearthing of the bones of Lucy, an early human whose discovery has greatly boosted theories of evolution. A replica of Lucy’s skeleton can now be seen in the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, but it’s worth paying a visit to the site anyway to explore the ongoing excavations. You might even find a fossil or two yourself.

Sof Omar caves

      is the longest cave in Ethiopia at 15.1 kilometres (9.4 mi) long; sources claim it is the longest system of caves in Africa. It is situated to the east of Robe, in the Bale Zone of the Oromia Region in southeastern Ethiopia, through which the Weyib River (Gestro River) flows. It sinks at the Ayiew Maco entrance and reappears at the Holuca resurgence 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) away. According to tradition Sof Omar was the name of a Muslim holy man who lived in the area and Ayiew the name of his daughter. Maco and Holuca are local names for 'name' and 'cave', respectively. Long a religious centre, it is sacred both to Islam and the local Oromo traditional religion. The caves are known for their many pillars, particularly in the 'Chamber of Columns'.

Sof Omar Cave

        The explorer Arthur Donaldson Smith recorded his visit to the cave in 1894.An Italian expedition also visited in 1913. In 1934, Henri Breuil conducted archaeological investigations in the area. The Italians almost certainly visited the cave during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, but apparently none of these early explorers made a through trip from Ayiew Maco to Holuca.
In 1967, Eric Robson, Chris Clapham and Kabir Ahmed explored and surveyed the cave, recording 8 km of passage. Following this the Ethiopian Tourist Board published a brochure about the cave. Although the area was not easily accessible and the organized adventure tourist industry did not yet exist, a few intrepid visitors made the trip to the then remote cave.
In February 1971 Professor Théodore Monod of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in France, Bill Morton (ex Manchester University Speleological Society caver), a geologist at Haile Selassie I University, and Ato Mezmure Hailemeskale recorded another 1 km new passages to the known cave. In the same year Dick Ashford and Malcolm Largen of Haile Selassie University made a study of some of the bats in the cave.

        In 1972, a British Expedition to Ethiopia arrived with a team which included Dick Ramsden and Tim Renvoize (Preston Caving Club), Simon Amatt (Birmingham Plytechnic Karabiner Club), Dave Catlin (University of Bradford Pothole Club), Paul Ramsden (Whernside Manor Scout Centre), Terry Raynor (9th and 12th Royal Lancers) and Steve Worthington (Sheffield University Speleological Society). With some initial help from Bill Morton the group made a systematic exploration and survey of the Sof Omar caves and published a full report of their findings in Transactions of the Cave Research Group of Great Britain.The team discovered 6.1 kilometres (3.8 mi) of new passages, bringing the survey total to 15.1 kilometres (9.4 mi).

The cave is formed along a network of joints: one set runs approximately north to south and the other east to west. This zig-zag of passages runs in an approximately southeasterly direction. Sof Omar has 42 entrances, but generally only four are useful for gaining entrance:

• Two upstream Village Entrances (one to the east and one to the west of the village)
• The Tourist Entrance downstream from the Holuca Resurgence at a point where the abandoned meander forming the dry valley rejoins the Web river
• A right bank entrance downstream of Holuca accessing the Deep South part of the Clapham's Climb Series.

       Entering the cave via either of the Village Entrances the visitor passes a shrine used by the locals. The Ayiew Maco Series is a set of interconnecting passages of varying in width between 1 m and 10 m. Several can be passed through to the pebble beach on the left bank of the river. A less complex series of passages exists on the right bank. These probably connected to those on the left bank until severed by the vadose action of the Web cutting the river passage deeper.
The passage at the pebble beach is about 40 m wide—the widest passage in the cave. At the downstream end of the beach the river disappears between two columns. The continuation crosses the Web at Ford 1 and follows the figure-eight        passage until the river is reached again at Ford 2. At this point it is possible to see down Safari Straight, the most spectacular view in the cave. The river meanders down this 15 m wide, 20 m high rectangular passage for 300 m.

The way onward involves crossing and re-crossing the river from cobble beach to cobble beach at Fords 2, 3, 4 and 5. Small passages exist on both sides. The beach ends after Ford 5 under the 50 m high Great Dome. On the opposite bank a steep rise leads to Molossadie Passage. The deep, short Ford 6, Ford 7 and Ford 8 lead to a cobble beach and the entrance into the Chamber of Columns. Exiting Ford 6 on the left bank it is possible to enter the Railway Tunnel passage, which offers an alternative route into the Molossadie passage and bypasses Fords 7 and 8 into the Chamber of Columns.
          The Chamber of Columns is a unique feature in the world of caves. It looks like a wide passage leaving the Web before sweeping back to the river about 100 m downstream. The passage circumnavigates a cluster of thick columns densely packed in the centre of chamber. The Railway Tunnel and Molossadie Passage enter the chamber from the north.
        The river passage continues from the Chamber of Columns meandering for about 200 m to the Big Rapids. This striking feature is formed from a jumble of huge boulders, well worn by the actions of the river. The river passage continues around a curve for about 250 m before flowing around a massive boulder into the sunlight at the Holuca Resurgence. The Web continues running through a canyon. About 250 m downstream the dry valley appears on the left bank.

          the canyon from the resurgence to the dry valley is riddled with passages breaking out into the canyon walls, forming many of the unusable entrances to the cave. Most of these are small passages exposed as the river cut its way down. The exception is the 25 m wide Great Hall that follows the north – south joint pattern breaking into the canyon at the resurgence. Hidden at the end of the Great Hall behind boulders is the hard-to-find Chameleon Passage. This runs along the east–west joint pattern. Some small passages lead from Chameleon to Blank Passage and back to the Big Rapids. Several small passages run from Blank Passage to Boulder Chokes.

 References:

>http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20140206-is-tourism-undercutting-ethiopias-rock-hewn-churches

>https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa/rock-hewn-churches-lalibela-ethiopia-00154

>https://www.ethiopiaonlinevisa.com/ethiopia-world-heritage-attractions/