Ethiopia - Useful information for your trip

Ethiopia is a country located in the Eastern Africa without any access to the sea. Its territory is extremly heterogeneous, indeed it is possible to find mountains, steep hills and the Great Rift Valley surrounded by lowlands, steppes and semi-desertic areas. The climate changes according different altitudes, causing a diversification of flora and fauna from region to region. This is why Ethiopia boasts several amazing landscapes and natural beauties, which are preseved through national parks. 

The most important parks are Simien Mountains National Park, located in the northern part of the country, which was declared World Heritage Site by Unesco. It boasts many high mountains from which it is possible to admire breath-taking landscapes. Awash National Park, in the central part of Ethiopia, includes the Fantale volcano. Visits to its crater are some of the main attractions of the park. Nechisar National Park is located in the Southern part, hosting the greatest variety of landscapes . Here it is possible to find savannas, forests and rare animal species such as a particular genre of big-size antelope and the Abyssinian lion. 

The population is characterized by the union of different ethnic groups that lived in this area since ancient times. Their traditions come also from this mixture, and can be identified in the local architecture and cuisine. The typical Ethiopian houses are called tukul. They are primitive houses built with trunks covered by mud and a thatched roof or a roof made with shaped tinplate. The traditional cuisine includes a national dish called uòt, a particular sauce made with chicken and ram, that accompanies berbere, eggs and chickpeas.

Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world, it does not have a very developed economic system. The main source of income is the cultivation and exportation of coffee. Tourism has had a small increase only over the last few years. Visitors are attracted by the natural beauty and by the local culture, which is still preserved in both small villages and big cities.

Visiting Ethiopia means discovering a new lifestyle different from one's routine, strong national traditions and enjoying amazing and breath-taking wonders of the natural world.