By Rina Chandarana

With undeniable mystique, Ethiopia’s history is one of the planet’s most profound and captivating tales, matched only by the country’s deeply diverse natural gifts. Old customs remain unchanged in tiny villages dotted with thatched-roof huts — a stark contrast to the frenetic pace and traffic of the capital city, Addis Ababa. In the Omo Valley alone, there are 18 different tribes, each with unique painted body art, beaded jewelry and garments. Close to 100 different languages are spoken across this land-locked nation. It’s also home to “Lucy,” one of the world’s most renowned early human ancestors whose 3.2 million-year-old skeleton was found in the Awash Valley in 1974. 

According to local lore, ancient Ethiopia’s Queen of Sheba bore King Solomon a son, Menelik I. In the 10th century B.C. he established the first Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia, which lasted until the 1974 deposition of Emperor Haile Selassie. Legend also has it that the stolen Ark of the Covenant, said to contain the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, now resides in Aksum’s Chapel of the Tablet. Despite the unknown validity of this claim — and the fact that no one is allowed inside to see the revered relics — the site is still a pilgrim magnet for those that travel to Ethiopia. Though Ethiopia is predominantly Christian, a number of faiths live here side by side.

More than 300 slender, pastel-hued alleys wind through the fortified city of Harar, where a towering wall shields more than 100 mosques, some dating back to the 10th century. Because of its proximity to the Arabian Peninsula, this city was once a center of Islamic learning. At dusk, hyenas scavenge for food in the city streets, but by the day the lanes are a hive of activity. Peddlers squat behind sacks overflowing with paprika, lentils, and chickpeas, and colorfully clad women carry equally vibrant woven baskets on their heads. An old man, cane in hand, lounges on a stoop near a mosque topped with four mint-hued minarets, as a bajaj, or motorized rickshaw, darts past. The sound of the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer and the whirring of a tailor’s sewing machine both add to the cacophony. 

The rounded turrets of the northern city Gondar’s castles rise towards the heavens. Emperors and princesses called this royal city home for nearly nine centuries, earning it the nickname of Ethiopia’s Camelot. 

Pro Tip: Go in January to experience the celebration of Ethiopia’s Timkat festival. You will see singing, dancing, and Orthodox priests carrying vibrant umbrellas and replicas of the Ark of the Covenant. – Jamie Bell, Designer 

The Ethiopian Rift Valley cuts through the country from the Red Sea to Kenya, and contains some of the world’s oldest lakes. In the northwest highlands, Lake Tana, a UNESCO site, is the source of the Blue Nile. The region is also home to important 13th-century Ethiopian Orthodox churches and monasteries. Erected in the 18th century, the Narga Selassie church on Dek Island is simple on the outside, but stunningly ornate inside. A uniquely African take on Christianity abounds in its depictions of lions, ibex, acacia trees, and negarit drums, alongside tanned images of angels and saints. 

Whatever you do, don’t miss the distinct and delicious cuisine when you travel to Ethiopia. Gently tear and roll up a delicate, spongy injera — a staple flatbread — and wrap it around a big mouthful of mesir wat (lentil stew). You are going to need some serious sustenance to get through all of Ethiopia’s offerings.

Ready to travel to Ethiopia? Contact your Ker & Downey designer to start planning your journey today.