Worldwide brochure 2022-2023

Experiences in Ethiopia
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Experience the holy festival of Timkat
Ethiopia’s most celebrated festival is Timkat
(Epiphany), commemorating Jesus’s baptism.
Each January, priests lead a procession of the
Tabot – a replica of the Ark of the Covenant
– around local towns, preceded by people
drumming and singing. The Tabot is then
placed in a white tent overnight while pilgrims
and priests pray and sing until morning.
Visit Lucy, humanity’s ancestor
Some of the best-preserved ancient hominid
remains have been discovered in Ethiopia. The
most famous is Lucy, named after the Beatles’
song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, which
was on regular rotation at her excavation. In
Ethiopia, this three-million-year-old skeleton
is called Dinkinesh, meaning ‘Marvellous One’.
Visit Lucy at the National Museum of Ethiopia.
Hike the Simien Mountains
With endemic wildlife, few tourists and
UNESCO status, the Simien Mountains make
for a worthy destination. Here you can admire
Ethiopia’s native fauna, including the walia
ibex, gelada monkey and Ethiopian wolf. We
recommend spending a few nights in this
wilderness to fully appreciate the natural
beauty of Ethiopia’s highlands.
National parks of Ethiopia
Encounter gelada monkeys • Endemic wildlife
• Stunning mountain scenery
The historical north
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Gelada monkeys, Simien Mountains National Park
Most of Ethiopia is more than 1,500 metres
above sea level and some areas are as high
as 4,500 metres. For this reason, it is often
referred to as ‘the roof of Africa’. Ethiopia has
two highland national parks. The wild alpine
scenery of the Bale Massif National Park in the
south-east is the favoured habitat of Ethiopian
wolves and is the best place in Ethiopia to spot
endemic birds, including a variety of raptors.
In the north, the Simien Mountains National
Park, with its spectacular jagged peaks, often
features in itineraries to provide an interesting
contrast to the monuments of the north. As
well as mountains, the park is known for its
endemic walia ibex (mountain goats) and
gelada monkeys.
Explore Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches • Boat
the Blue Nile • Visit Ethiopia’s ‘Camelot’, Gondar
The historical northern circuit is Ethiopia’s
most visited region, and encompasses Lalibela,
Gondar and Bahir Dar – all of which can be
easily combined into an expert-led tour. The
most famous site on the route is Lalibela, the
‘new Jerusalem’, whose 11 rock-hewn churches
were built in the 12th century by King Lalibela
– with the help of angels, so the story goes.
Bahir Dar, Amharic for ‘beside the sea’, is an
attractive town; Lake Tana creates a tranquil
backdrop for palm- and jacaranda-fringed
avenues dotted with restaurants, shops and
fascinating architecture. In Gondar, there are
a dozen castles built by various emperors
over 236 years, making it Ethiopia’s very own
imperial city.
Church of St George, Lalibela
For more information or to book, contact us on 020 3930 5008 or speak to your travel agent
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