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Ethiopia

Ethiopia
July 25, 2010 05:57PM
Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 5
here are few countries covered on this site or in the world as misunderstood as Ethiopia. It is hard to know where to begin in summarising a country like Ethiopia and sadly you have to begin by explaining how it is not, before you can explain how it is. Even then it is hard to begin, with most minds conjuring images of the 1985 famine, deserts and the dark spectres of Africa - images that have unfortunately become synonymous with Ethiopia and indeed most of the continent. Ethiopia, like most of Africa, is desperately poor and yes parts are desert, but for the rest and the areas of most interest to travellers, it is a fertile high altitude plain (providing ~80% of the Nile's water, no less) and what is lacking in road infrastructure, 4 star hotels and country wealth is made up for by a rich and unique culture, intriguing history and welcoming people.

Contra to popular belief, the high plateau which forms central Ethiopia - and for years kept it a virtual mountain kingdom - supports a huge population (Addis Ababa, the capital, is the 3rd highest on a global scale and the population ranks only behind Egypt and Nigeria on the continent). There are deserts (including Africa's lowest and most consistently hottest point), extending from Northern Kenya and Somalia, but they are thinly populated and few travellers ever see them. 90% of what is interesting in Ethiopia is in the highlands and it is the most widely travelled area. Looking very different than you might imagine Ethiopia to be, the highlands have high mountain plateaus, a moderate climate and, depending on the time of year, are pretty green.

Emerging from the 'Scramble for Africa' as one of only two African countries never colonised by a European power (the other being Liberia, which was a American quasi-colony), and with several hundred years of self-imposed isolation in its history, Ethiopia is as unique as it comes. 13 months in a year, a clock starting at 6 each day rather than midnight, Gregorian calendar never adopted... are only a few examples of such, with practically every facet of Ethiopian culture being unique. Ethiopia was also home to one of the world's great empires (Aksumite) with historic ruins abounding and is the world's second-oldest Christian country with examples of Christianity and religious fervour much closer to Christianity's Middle Eastern, Judaic roots than the Vatican inspired version we are familiar with today. The medieval capital of Lalibela with a cluster of churches carved deep into rock (putting Petra to shame) is at certain times of the year one of the most atmospheric and extraordinary places on earth. There are also 17th century castles, interesting food, small friendly towns, a lack of malaria at altitude and some breathtaking scenery - with every flight or bus trip in the highlands a jaw dropping treat.

Ethiopia is extraordinary and highly misunderstood. It is poor and parts might bring to mind @#$%& or Mali and cause sudden spasms of guilt. But people are friendlier and more relaxed than in West Africa and even big cities are fairly calm and neat, a far cry from the chaos in the likes of Bamako (Mali), Lagos or even near-by Nairobi. Infrastructure is equally poor, partly due to the terrain, with bus rides between major points taking long days (or two). However, a great network of cheap internal flights gets you most places with ease. It is not the perfect travel destination by any means and many of the short-comings of African travel are present. Yet for independent travellers it is cheap and easy with okay facilities for the most part and obviously it's fairly uncrowded.

Visiting Ethiopia is not only a revelation, it is humbling and like travelling through time - travel at its most interesting.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2010 06:18AM by intel775.
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