Ethiopia, Land of Unmatched Beauty & Diversity

A Photo Essay

Ethiopia first showed up on our travel radar years ago, well before we moved to Kenya. It quickly vaulted to the top of our "off-the-beaten-path" travel wish list – like all sufferers of incurably itchy feet, we keep more than a few of these travel lists. As we learned more about Ethiopia’s unique wildlife, hospitable people, and remarkable and diverse landscapes, we finally made plans to visit this extraordinary country.

This past November, we seized the opportunity to visit our neighbour to the north, and spent three memorable weeks adventuring through Ethiopia. We bounced from 100 meters below sea level and the hottest inhabited place on the planet, to 4,000 meters above and freezing our buns off. We enjoyed the calming awe of ancient iconic rock-hewn churches, as much as we did the rush of adrenaline while hand and mouth feeding wild hyenas. We saw Gelada Baboons, Walia Ibex, Ethiopian Wolves, and Lammergeiers. And all along the way, we shared many a delicious meal, local beer, and story with warm and welcoming Ethiopians.

Below is a photo essay of our three weeks there but looking back it feels like we simply scratched the surface. We can't wait to return.

"Ethiopia always has a special place in my imagination and the prospect of visiting Ethiopia attracted me more strongly than a trip to France, England, and America combined. I felt I would be visiting my own genesis, unearthing the roots of what made me an African" - Nelson Mandela

We love using LOTDP’s to showcase travel to places that are easily accessible from Kenya: Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles and now Ethiopia. Coming soon: Madagascar.