HISTORICAL ANCESTRALITY
Ethiopia is considered one of the oldest areas of human occupation in the world, if not the oldest, according to some scientific discoveries.
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Ethiopia is considered one of the oldest areas of human occupation in the world, if not the oldest, according to some scientific discoveries.
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One of the most important collections in sub-Saharan African is housed within the walls of the National Museum of Ethiopia in the capital city of Addis Ababa. Founded in 1944, the museum is divided into four sections: paleontology and prehistory, history, ethnography and modern art. The collections together paint a picture of Ethiopia’s natural and cultural history.
The star of the collection, which includes traditional and ceremonial costumes, paintings, sculptures and relics from the Pre-Aksumite civilization, is the partial fossilized skeleton of Lucy, a female hominin who lived some 3.2 million years ago. While the original fossils belong to the museum, what’s on display for visitors is a cast of our ancient ancestor. |
1. CRADLE OF HUMANKIND
Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old member of Australopithecus afarensis, is the most complete skeleton of an early human ancestor ever discovered. The fossil, housed in Ethiopia’s national museum. 2. CONNECTIVITY Ethiopia is connected to Brazil with four daily flights from Addis Ababa to Sao Paulo on Ethiopian Airlines. 3. THE LANDSCAPE Ethiopia has an array of sights to be seen. Among these are the Simien Mountains, the Danakil Depression, and the Blue Nile Falls. 4. THE WILDLIFE Ethiopia has numerous national parks, such as Simien National Park,Awash National Park, Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park, Nechsar National park, Mago National Park, and more. These parks, along with the lakes of the Great Rift Valley, are home to rare species of birds and animals, such as the Mountain Nyala, the African antelope, the Walia Ibex, the mountain horned goats, and the Ethiopian wolf. |
5. HISTORICAL PLACES
Ethiopia has a rich history which can be seen through its historical structures. The 11 churches of Lalibela, for instance, were built during the 12th and 13th centuries. These churches are cut from rock. The Castle of Fasilides built in the 17th century is a popular destination among tourists. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 6. CUISINE One of the best known Ethiopian dishes is injera. Injera is used not just as a serving dish, but also as an eating utensil for sauces. 7. COFFEE Ethiopia is the origin of Coffee. Taking part in an Ethiopian coffee ceremony is considered a good cultural experience. 8. FESTIVALS Ethiopia has a year-round calendar of celebrations which offer an insight into Ethiopian culture and tradition. |
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9. NIGHTLIFE
Addis Ababa boasts of its nightlife. The place is said to be flooded with numerous bars, traditional music houses, clubs, discs and other night spots. 10. CULTURE Ethiopia is an independent African country, Ethiopians were able to protect their country from the European colonizers which helped them in keeping their culture from the exposure of becoming a mixture of another. Every ethnic group has its own way of dealing with life. 11. TRIP TO DANAKIL DEPRESSION It is one of the lowest-lying places in the world, dropping to 116 meters below sea level, while temperatures on its shade less plains often soar above 50° Celsius. |
Ethiopia’s excellent network of national parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other tourist attractions can be explored along several well-established routes.
A varied selection of exciting destinations awaits the visitor to Ethiopia. National parks include the scenic Simien and Bale Mountains, with their wealth of endemic wildlife, while historical sites range from the atmospheric rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to the towering stelae of Aksum and castles in Gondar. Other highlights are the awe-inspiring Erta Ale Volcano, the cultural mosaic of Konso and South Omo, and bird-rich lakes strung along the Rift Valley floor. An array of five well-established routes can be followed to explore Ethiopia’s best known destinations, along with some more off-the-beaten-track gems. Ethiopia’s immense cultural, palaeontological and natural wealth is reflected in its tally of nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the most of any country in Africa. Eight of these nine sites are cultural, and one - the Simien Mountains National Park - is natural. Five other sites in Ethiopia are currently under consideration by UNESCO as Tentative World Heritage Sites. |
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