Still little touristic, Ethiopia possesses traditions and a culture of a great richness as well as a variety of astonishing landscapes. An East African nation that does not deserve the only image of a poor, hungry and desert country but is worth discovering.

From snow-capped peaks peaking at nearly 4,300 m from Simien to the depths of the Danakil depression, 120 meters below sea level, Ethiopia, located in the Horn of Africa, is a land of natural contrasts.

The Simien is an imposing rocky massif whose slopes end in vast meadows. The arid plateaus of the Rift Valley are often swept by swirls of sand. With its yellow, green, white and brown acid pools, the Danakil desert is one of the hottest regions in the world. Near Lake Tana, the waterfalls of the Blue Nile are dizzying.

A stay in Ethiopia in the savannah and the many national parks of the country gives the possibility to observe almost all the animals of plain of Africa: baboons, leopards, guibs, hippos, gazelles, cheetahs, lions, koudous... and nearly 450 species of birds. Ethiopia is a paradise for ornithologists.

At an altitude of 2,400 m, the capital Addis Ababa, with its 4 million inhabitants, is a huge, sprawling city. It is in its national museum that are preserved the remains of Lucy our ancestor Australopithecus, discovered in 1974 in the valley of the Awash.

The country is rich of a history several millennia and preserves many traces of this distant past. You must take a plane ticket to go to Abyssinia and more particularly to Aksum, in the far north of the country, the cradle of one of the most important civilizations in Ethiopian history. Here are the ruins of King Kaleb's palace as well as those of Sheba palace. Ethiopian religious life is marked by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which is characterized by a strong monastic tradition. Lake Tana is dotted with small islands that are home to the most famous monasteries, including Kidene Mehret, Kebran Gabriel (forbidden to women) and Debre Maryam. In Lalibela, the eleven stone churches carved from rock dating from the 12th century were built in a century. They contain sumptuous decorated crosses, bibles with rich illuminations and illustrated manuscripts. Located at an altitude of 1,750 m, the town of Harar is an exception in Ethiopia: of Muslim faith, it houses 87 mosques, some of which can be visited. It is also a traditional city where the women's dress and the ancient architecture of the houses seduce the traveller, transported in another time. Ethiopia is a pleasant destination all year round, with average temperatures of 20°C in Addis Ababa, whatever the season. Due to heavy rains in the country, June and July are not the best months to fly to Ethiopia. . From September to February, the sun is almost daily and the temperature is mild. Ethiopia is a huge country, very contrasted. In the north, the high volcanic plateaus, the peaks reaching over 4,000 metres, the steep valleys, the rock churches and their religious festivals. While the Danakil desert dominates the Rift Valley, incredible volcanoes, deserts of sand or lava. In the south, a unique ethnic approach in the Omo valley: extraordinary encounters with the Mursis, the Hamers with body paintings, scarifications, labial trays... Little frequented, Ethiopia presents an unsuspected diversity of landscapes, an abundant and varied fauna and an atypical culture in Africa. Ethiopia is a remote and wild country with a remarkably preserved ancestral culture and traditions. The country has more than 80 ethnic groups, each with their own language and customs. An integral part of Ethiopian life, religious ceremonies are impressive and unique events. No other country offers the possibility of such a spectacular journey through time or of participating with such freedom in the sacred rituals of an archaic faith. Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which puts the country seven years and eight months behind our Gregorian calendar. The year, which thus begins on September 11 (or 12), is divided into 12 equal months of 30 days, plus one-thirteenth of 5 or 6 days in leap years.

Art and culture in Ethiopia
Ethiopian crafts are strongly marked by religious art. In another genre, the African headrest or pillow is an important object. Pottery is of great diversity and quality. There are also colourful basketry items decorating the interiors of some houses. Ethiopian art is also corporeal.