As you journey south of Addis, the Ethiopian landscape changes noticeably. The weather is warmer and there is arguably more colour everywhere you look. Scenically, the region is dominated by the Great Rift Valley, a great intra-continental fissure that is lined with six stunning lakes teeming with flamingos, pelicans, and other charismatic African birds. Rising to the east of this, Bale Mountains National Park is unquestionably the best part of the country for viewing endemic wildlife, including the iconic Ethiopian wolf. Culturally, the highlight is the ethnic groups that inhabit the Omo River Valley. Their ancient traditional rituals such as body painting, scarification and bull jumping can be as disturbing as they are mesmerizing to behold. Other lesser attractions include Sheshamene, haven of tranquillity, and a patch of Jamaica that Rastafarian settlers – mainly from the Caribbean and some from the United States – call home.
When you think of Ethiopia, it is undoubtedly its churches that are among the first things that spring to mind – and in the north, they are particularly spectacular. As one of the first countries to adopt Christianity, Ethiopia has a legacy of churches and monasteries, built on hilltops or hewn out of cliff faces, as well as vibrant traditions of worship.
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