Ethiopia. What a country. A country that consistently seems to fly under the radar. We've put together a list of reasons why we think you should make this wonderful country part of your travel plans for 2020.
1 Tree Planting - Guinness World Record or not
Last August Ethiopians throughout the country took part in a massive tree planting initiative, claiming they planted 350 million trees. Whether or not it counts as a world record, what an amazing thing to commit to as a country! Ethiopia aimed to plant 4 million trees in 2019 to combat deforestation and climate change - amazing!
2 Top Gear
When the series restarted, the guys took their "best car under £4000" challenge from Gondar to the Danakil Desert - we bet our truck is better!
3 The Food
Ethiopian food proves popular with every Oasis group that travels there, and it's such a social way to eat. The injera bread may take a bit of getting used to, but being able to sample lots of dishes all at one, plus being able to eat with your hands - it's a winner all around!
4 Underground Churches
Yes, places of worship that were built underground. The incredible rock-hewn churches of Lalibela were chiselled out of volcanic rock in the 12th century and are one of the original 12 UNESCO heritage sites. They remain an important pilgrimage site and are incredible to wander around and wonder at!
5 The Coffee
According to legend, the first coffee bean was discovered in Ethiopia by a goat herder. The drink is hugely important socially - make sure you get invited to a coffee ceremony to see for yourself the role it plays in tradition. A word of warning - sip your cup slowly, they make it strong!
6 Time Travel
The country follows the ancient Coptic calendar, and never amended the calendar when the Roman's changed ours here in the West. That means they still count 13 months in the year! Travel to Ethiopia, and you'll be back in 2013!
7 The Origin of Mankind
The discovery of a 3.2million year old skeleton of a human ancestor, as well as other fossils, have underlined the role this country plays in the history of mankind. You can see a replica of the skeleton - Lucy - in the National Museum.
8 Colonialism Missed
Ethiopia is one of the only countries in the African continent that wasn't colonised. As a result, it's retained a rich and varied cultural history that's well worth discovering. Over 80 ethnic groups exist, some whose traditions have barely wavered from years ago.
9 African wildlife with a difference
Ask anyone visiting Africa what they want to see, and often lions and elephants are at the top of the list. But Ethiopia, boasts something different. There are 10 animals that you'll only find in this country, including the Gelada Monkey, the famously agile Walia Ibex and the endangered Ethiopian Wolf.
10 Scenic Landscapes
Ethiopia hosts more than 70% of the continents mountains, yet is also home to the Danakil Depression at over 100m below sea level! The Simien Mountains are a UNESCO site and have been referred to as "God's playground", Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile...there's so much to discover!
To visit Ethiopia, check out these trips:
Nile Trans (38 days) Cairo to Addis Abbaba (or vice versa)
Nile Trans (64 days) Cairo to Nairobi (or vice versa)
Nile Trans (17 weeks) Cairo to Cape Town (or vice versa)
Happy Travels! :)