EPIC Ethiopia

Africa’s oldest independent country

Epic Journeys

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is Africa’s oldest independent country and the second largest in terms of population.

Simien National Park, or The “Simiens”, was one of the first places to be made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. With incredible views and spectacular scenery in every direction, its fantastic hiking country is renowned.

Three of Ethiopia’s endemic wildlife and mammal species live here. The graceful Walia Ibex, found nowhere else on earth outside of the Simien borders; rare Gelada Baboons; and Ethiopian Wolves. Lammergeyers, the bearded vultures, soar over incredible drops of more than 1500 meters to the valley floor below.

Lalibela is home to eleven rock-hewn monolithic churches, believed to have been built by King Lalibela in the late 12th or early 13th century.

These amazing medieval structures are carved, both internally and externally, from the volcanic rock in which they stand. Considered among the wonders of the world, each building is beautifully crafted and architecturally unique. Lalibela is a high place of pilgrimage and devotion.

Bale Mountains National Park and its beautiful high country is an absolute highlight of Ethiopia. Plateaus tower above 4000 meters, endangered Ethiopian Wolves roam, and mountain tarns and trout filled streams exist undisturbed.

This area is a ramblers dream. Horse trails, mountain biking and game drives are also on offer so its easy to explore off the beaten track.

The national park has one of the highest concentrations of endemic species in the world. Fern-laden Harenna forest is home to rare endemic Bale MonkeysBlack-Mane Lion and Leopard.

The Omo Valley is undoubtably one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world today. The Valley is a rich kaleidoscope of tribal ceremonies and traditional people with the languid flow of one of Africa’s most important waterways.  Providing insight into incredibly preserved pastoral lifestyles, simplistic yet so emotionally powerful will leave visitors in awe.

Ethiopia’s attraction is the incredible diversity of experience – particularly the land and its people.

 

Read about Rob’s latest Epic Ethiopia journey here.


Best Months

November – March

Shoulder Months

October – April

 

Ethiopia
Epic Suggests

Allow 12-14 Days

Sample Itineraries

Every journey with Epic is tailored to your specific needs…or designed to inspire your next journey.

  • 14 Days Epic Ethiopia
    14 Days Epic Ethiopia
    Pricing On Request, dependent on season

    A safari to Ethiopia offers a fascinating mix of the markets of bustling developing city of Addis Ababa to the ancient Coptic Christian rock hewn churches of the Tigre region, to the traditional pastoralists tribes of the Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia. The route takes you through dramatic scenery of the Simien Mountains to view Gelada Monkeys and Walia Ibex to the Bale Mountains to see the critically endangered Ethiopia Wolf hunting mole rats on the high montane plateaus. Ethiopia offers a unique cuisine and is the original home of coffee and offers plenty of opportunities to be active. Lodges and camps are comfortable and homely without being luxurious to the standards of South Africa and Botswana or Eastern Africa. This destination is suited the well travelled traveller who wishes a unique travel experience to a comparatively rarely visited country.

    Best Months

    November – March

    Shoulder Months

    October – April

     

    View the itinerary

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