Course Title: Ethiopian Tourism Resources

Course Objectives: At the end of the course students will be able to:
 Discuss the different (natural and cultural) tourism potential of the
country
 Acknowledging and valuing Ethiopia's potential tourism resources
 Explain how these resources are important to the development of
the country's tourism sector.
Course Content:
Chapter 1: Introduction to tourism resources
1.1 Definition and concepts of tourism resources
1.2 General facts about Ethiopia's cultural and natural features:
culture, heritage, climate, wildlife, topography, water bodies
1.3 Categories of tourism resources
1.2.1 Cultural tourism resources
1.2.2 Natural tourism resources
1.4 Values of tourism resources
1.5 Ethiopia's cultural and natural world heritage sites
Chapter 2: Northern Ethiopia tourism resources
Chapter 3: Tourism Resources of Southern Ethiopia
Chapter 4: Tourism Resources of Central Ethiopia
Chapter 5: Tourism Resources of Western Ethiopia
Chapter 6: Eastern Ethiopia tourism resources
Chapter 7: Nature and Culture Based Tourism in Ethiopia: Past,
Present and Future
References
 Bahru Zewde, (2002) History of Modern Ethiopia 1855 - 1991
 Briggs, P. (2012). Ethiopia, The Bradt Travel Guide. ed. England:
Bradt Travel Guides Ltd.
 Phillips, M., & Carrillet, JB (2006). Ethiopia and Eritrea . lonely
planet Lonely Planet Publications PTV Ldt.
 Sergew Habteslase (1972) History of Ancient and Medieval
Ethiopia up to 1270 . United Publishers, Addis Ababa.

Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, College of Business

and Economics, Debre Berhan University
 Chapter- One: Introduction to tourism resources
1.1. Definition and concepts of tourism resources

Tourism Heritage Resources (Primary Sources) They are often the prime movers in stimulating
travel to destinations. The most visited attractions in the world are natural features, national
parks, world heritage sites and other monuments.

Tourism resources enable the production of a tourism experience and include:

 Tangible resources (facilities, attractions, infrastructure, etc.) - Tangible resources are

the key "attractions" in a destination. This includes tourist attractions, historical sites,
beaches, national parks, events, cultural facilities, sports activities, etc. These attractions
are initially useful in motivating the visitor to go to the destination.

 Intangible resources (image, reputation, culture, etc.)

of the destination for value for money, quality of service, hospitality, norms, trust,
culture etc.
 The image of the destination is related to safety and security, the unique experiences
offered, the readiness to receive tourists, etc.
 Destination culture eg reception of tourists, hospitality, lifestyle, etc.

1.2. General facts about Ethiopia's natural and cultural conditions

1. Geography - The topography of Ethiopia is the volcanically formed highlands of Ethiopia or
Abyssinia. The central plateau, with three sides of low-lying semi-desert or desert, has an
average elevation of over 2,000m and includes 20 peaks of 4,000m or more. The highlands of
Ethiopia are divided into two by a rift valley, starting from the Red Sea and continuing
through the Danakil Depression and southern Ethiopia. The Rift Valley section south of
Addis Ababa is famous for its eight lakes .
Landscape is generally divided into two categories, high land and low land

It includes highlands - 1. Northern Highlands: It includes Northwest and Central

Highlands
 Beshlo, Wengchi, Guna and the chain up to Namen mountains
2018-05-21 121 2 . Southeast and eastern highlands

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• The Arsi Bale mountain range, and the eastern Hararge highlands including Dengo
Ethiopian Lowlands:
A. Awash-Afar Lowlands: Very Low Land, Awash and Rift Valley Lowlands
B. South-Eastern Lowlands: O Gaden, Bale (Guineer, Berberi), Borna .
C. Western Lowlands - Anger, Barrow
2. Climate - Ethiopia has a wide range of climates, from the Bale peaks with regular snowfall
to normal daytime temperatures in the Denakal desert reaching over 50 oC . The climate of the
central highlands has an average daily temperature of 16 o C , reflecting their proximity
to the equator .
The eastern lowlands and the far south are dry and hot . The western
lowlands are wet and hot , making this part of the country really hot .

The southern rift valley , most of which is at a relatively high altitude of 1,500 m, is associated
with heat and seasonal humidity .

 Northern and Central Highlands - Rainfall between mid-June and early October .

 Rift Valley - Rains generally start and end a few weeks earlier than in the highlands.

 South Omo - Most of the rain falls in March, April and May , while other parts of the south
have two rainy seasons, from July to September in the highlands with both sides of the rainy
season.

 The southwest average annual rainfall is over 2,000mm.

 The northeastern highlands (Tigray and parts of Amhara) do not have a drier and more
reliable rainy season than other highland parts of Ethiopia. It is prone to a complete lack of
rain; It happens once every ten years.

 Ethiopians traditionally recognize five climate zones, each with specific characteristics
related to altitude, rainfall, and temperature . These are:

I. Arid or desert (locally known as desert)

ot and includes dry desert areas, especially below 500 m. It receives less than 500 mm of rain
per year , and it cannot be developed in general. Mostly pastoralist, for example much of the
Somali border area and the Rift Valley north of Addis Ababa .

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II. Semi-arid / semi-desert (locally called Kola)

It varies from warm to hot , moderate elevations that receive sufficient rainfall for agriculture
without relying on irrigation . Places like the Rift Valley between Addis Ababa and Hawassa
or the Gambella region.

III. Subtropical ( locally known or plateau )

a semi-humid zone that varies from hot to cold Mid-elevation areas receive more than
1,500mm of rain per year. This climate zone is very good for growing crops (especially tiff) And
coffee. Below the 2,600 meter contour , it includes areas such as Addis Ababa, Gondar, Asela,
Goba, Jimma, Matu and other highlands . Most of it is naturally forested, but much of it has
been cleared over the centuries

IV. Temperature zone ( locally called Degas )

It is temperate to cold, moderate to high rainfall, high elevations that naturally support
grasslands or forests . It is suitable for growing grains such as barley and wheat . Places like
Dinsho, Debre Berhan, Medhal Meda, Ankober and other highland areas with an altitude of
2,600-3,200m.

V. Alpine and Afro-Alpine ( locally called months )

he is cold The moderate and low rainfall Afro-alpine regions generally support non-
agricultural vegetation such as grasslands . Such as the Saneti Plateau (part of the Bale
Mountains National Park), the East Simin Heights , the Gwasa Plateau and other highlands
or areas at an altitude of 3,200-3,500m.

3. Biodiversity and Endemism - According to their changing environment, Ethiopia has

different species such as: 277 mammals (31 endemic); 862 bird species (16 endemic); 201
reptile species (10 endemic); 63 species of amphibians (24 endemic); 150 species of fish (4
endemic); 324 species of butterflies; More than 7000 species of higher plants (15% are very
vulnerable). Their distribution and incidence varies with altitude .
4. Wildlife - Flora - Ethiopia is a country of amazing natural contrasts. The vegetation is as
varied as the topography and climate, consisting of arid desert, dry rainforest, and scrubland

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 such as Afro-alpine moorland and the like. Ethiopia's southern and western highlands boast
some of the most extensive indigenous rainforest in the eastern half of Africa. Although the
central highlands are more transparent, the vegetation is green, fertile and dense. At the end
of the monsoons, in September and early October, the wildflowers that cover the highlands
are second only to Namaqualand in South Africa. The Rift Valley south of Addis Ababa has
an African appearance, with vegetation covered in grass and flat acacia trees. The western
lowlands around Gambella have lush vegetation.
5. Wild animals - mammals - wild animals - although once abundant, are being hunted in
most areas, and those savannah national parks - Nechisar, Mago, Omo and Awash - that
protect the typical African savanna areas support a lower amount of game compared to their
counterparts. In most East and South African countries. From this point of view, the fauna
and flora of Ethiopia, although common to sub-Saharan African countries, show strong
connections with countries north of the Sahara, namely North Africa, Europe and the Middle
East. One example is the existence of several species in Ethiopia due to the isolation of the
native Ethiopians, the Gelada monkey, the Nyala mountain, the Walia ibex and the Somali
wild ass from the same habitats.
Large mammal species are comparable to states such as Kenya and Tanzania, but populations
are generally low and many species are "restricted to remnant pockets in remote areas".
6. Predators - A large predator that can be seen in Ethiopia is the Spotted Hyena, which is
found in the thinnest parts of the country, especially at lower altitudes , and can reasonably
be seen in most national parks and reserves. Spotted hyenas are found in large numbers on
the outskirts of cities. The safest place to see hyenas is Harar, where a hyena man is lured
with raw meat every night. Other species of hyenas occur in Ethiopia, but are secretive and
nocturnal, so they cannot be seen. The three largest carnivorous species in Africa - the lion,
the leopard and the cheetah - are all found in Ethiopia.

The tiger is probably the most numerous of the big cats , because its favorite forest and rocky
areas are well served. Tigers are recorded in most of the national parks and it can be assumed
that they live in the forests of the south and west , but they are characterized by secrecy
(which is why they are still common outside reserves throughout Africa). The Abyssinian
lion breed , distinguished by its below-average size and the striking black spines of the males,

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 is still widespread, but less widely distributed, especially in the dry thorn thickets of the Rift
Valley and border areas of Somalia and Kenya . .

1.3. Classification of tourism resources (typology).

Tourism heritage (tourism resources) can be classified according to their importance and values:

I. Cultural heritage : Here cultural things are needed for interpretation. It is an amalgamation of
human characteristics and traditions and practices like habits, customs, stories, skills, dance,
food etc.
Cultural heritage can be divided into :

A. Indigenous Places and Values: Indigenous means native/original of a particular place. It

refers to the spices that are unique to a region or the cultural characteristics of a people. A
type of tourism to experience such people is called indigenous tourism.
B. Historic Places and Values: Includes monuments, palaces, historic towns, buildings and
structures passed down through generations that are of fundamental importance to culture
and heritage. For example Battle of Adwa, Faisal Palace, Great Wall of China.
C. Special Events : This includes cultural celebrations (such as festivals, carnivals, religious
festivals, parades, heritage commemorations), arts and entertainment, trade and business
fairs, games and sports, etc. that are of various importance to the community . For example .
They serve as tourist attractions, enrich life and give meaning to the community and their
lifestyle.
II. Natural Tourism Resources : These are resources that derive their characteristics from nature
and sites. It also deals with the natural environment and related tourism activities.
Natural resources include ecosystems, biodiversity and geo-diversity that are valuable to present
and future generations in scientific, aesthetic, evidential, historical, memorial, socio-political,
spiritual and economic aspects.
Because of their values, they are worthy of protection and protection to be passed on to the
next generation

Source of natural tourism: It is divided into two broad categories

1. Biological - plant and biosphere as well as animal and national park

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2. Physical: Body of water and landscape

Natural values or elements are considered to interpret heritage. It includes animals, plants and
many biological and geological features. There are four main natural resources to maintain,
protect and restore ecological balance :
A. Morality : All living beings have the right to live, and man has no right to destroy them.
B. Effective Organism: Animals and plants are becoming part of the family in this modern
society.
C. Ecosystem : Man becomes a part of ecological process, so protecting nature means
protecting human existence.
D. Element of Beauty: Because nature and biodiversity are sources of beauty, enjoyment and
learning. Nature conservation and protection is important
III . Mixed Heritage : This type of heritage combines both natural and cultural values. These
properties are rare all over the world and most of them are traditional landscapes. For example,
the village of Dagon in Mali; Machu Picchu in Peru
1.4. World heritage sites

World Heritage Sites are places of international importance for the preservation of human culture
and natural heritage and must be preserved for future generations. Places of cultural and natural
importance are mainly owned by the local community. However, their importance may include a
wider regional and national level. However, what makes World Heritage Sites unique is their '
universal value' . World Heritage Sites belong to all peoples of the world, regardless of their
territory.

Requirements for inclusion in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cultural sites

1. It must represent the core of human creativity.

2. Show important changes in people's values over time.
3. Give special testimony to a cultural tradition that was or has been lost.
4. A type of construction, landscape, or technology that illustrates the stages of human history.
5. An example of a traditional human settlement that is vulnerable and irreversible.

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 6. Connect directly or indirectly with events, ideas, living traditions, beliefs, artistic and literary
works.
Natural places

7. Be a unique example of the major phases of Earth's natural history, including ongoing
geologic processes, records of life, and geographic features.
8. Exemplify significant ongoing ecological and biological processes, such as those associated
with marine ecosystems and animal and plant communities.
9. It contains places of outstanding natural phenomenon or outstanding beauty and aesthetic
significance.
10. It contains important and significant natural habitats for the conservation of biological
diversity.
1.4.1. Ethiopian World Heritage Sites
Ethiopia has 13 properties registered by the World Heritage Committee (UNESCO). Efforts
are being made by the Ministry of Tourism to register many heritage sites as World Heritage
Sites.

The name of the world heritage site area/zone/ Year of recognition Selection
criteria
/registration/

Lalibela Rock North Wolo

Churches /lasta/; to eat September: 1978 1, 2, 3

Race National Park North Gondar; Around September: 1978 7, 10

Debarak

Fasil's royal courtyard and other Gondar North Gondar; Gondar October 1979 2, 3
style monuments

Axum: Historical and Archaeological Site Tigrai; Axum September: 1980 1, 4

Pale ontological and prehistoric space of afar September: 1980 2, 3, 4

the lower Awash valley

Tia, prehistoric site Southern Ethiopia; September: 1980 1, 4

Gurage
Omo Valley prehistory and pale Southern Ethiopia; September: 1980 3, 4
ontological space Gamo-gofa

Harar Jegol, a fortified historical city Harar/Eastern Ethiopia August 2006 2,3,4,5

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Konso's traditional appearance South Ethiopia 2010 2, 3, 4

Finding the true cross Addis Ababa 2013 6

Ethiopian baptism festival (Timiquet) Gondar 2019 6

Fetche Chambalala/ Sidama New Year Hawassa 2015 6

Festival

Oromia, Borena, 2016 6

Geda system - the indigenous democratic Ethiopia
socio-political system of the Oromo
people
Table 1. Ethiopia's World Heritage Sites, Location, Year of Registration and Selection Criteria.

1.4.2. Ethiopia's biosphere list is protected by UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves.

To date, Ethiopia has five UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves. See Table 2 for details.

The name of the Area Year of Special features / difference

World Biosphere recording
Reserve

Lake Tana Biosphere Bahr Dar Tana 2015 - Recognizing its national and international
Reserve Lake natural and cultural importance
27 species of fish in Lake Tana and 20 of
them are endemic .
- A unique cultural, historical and aesthetic
value with several monasteries and churches
dating back to the 13th century .
Kaffa Biosphere Bonga region of 2010 - The birthplace of the most famous coffee in
Reserve southwestern the world , Coffea Arabica .
Ethiopia -5,000 wild species of plants in this biodiversity
hotspot
See the coffee forest Ilu Aba Bore / 2010 - It is important to protect natural and cultural
Ilibabure, landscapes.
Oromia
- Popular Arabic coffee

- Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Point and

Important Bird Areas of International
Importance

Sheka forest Sheka Zone 2012 - Includes forest, bamboo groves, wetlands,
farmland, rural settlements and cities.

- Over 300 species of higher plants , 50

mammals , 200 birds and 20 amphibian
species.

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 Afromontane forest vegetation.

Ma Jang forest Majang Zone 2017 - Rich in biodiversity , it includes 550 species of
Gambella higher plants, 33 species of mammals and 130
species of birds.

1.5. Cultural heritage and their components

Cultural heritage refers to anything tangible or intangible that is the product of human
creativity and labor in prehistoric and historical times. It describes and witnesses the evolution of
nature and is of great value in its scientific, historical, cultural, artistic and craft content.

Cultural heritage is the traces of people's old way of life, energy and creativity. It is broad and
versatile in nature. It includes; Fossils of animals and plants, historical objects, ancient coins,
stamps, various ethnic groups and their tools, old books, parchment (parchment) writing
materials, statues, churches, mosques, etc.

1. Intangible cultural resources: It refers to any cultural resources that cannot be felt by hand
but can be seen and heard and includes various performances and performances, folk,
religious, faith, weed and mourning ceremonies, music, drama, literature and others . Cultural
values, traditions and costumes of nations, nationalities and peoples.
2. Tangible cultural resources: Look at cultural resources that can be seen and felt.
2.1. Tangible Mobile Cultural Resource: It refers to cultural resources that are not attached
to their base and are easily moved from place to place and inherited from past generations.
This includes;

 Manuscripts, stone paintings, tools, sculptures and statues made of gold, silver, bronze,
copper, wood and stone; Leather, horn, ivory, archaeological and bone or earth inscriptions
or any other material and also pale ontological remains.
 Written and graphic documents or cinematographic and photographic documents.
 Coins
 Traditional items, jewelry and other traditional items of nations and peoples.
2.2. Tangible Immovable Cultural Resources: See land-related cultural resources that can
only be moved by foundation and demolition. These include:

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 Pale ontological historical and prehistoric archaeological sites
 Buildings, palaces, monuments and memorials
 Remains of ancient cities, cemeteries, cave paintings and inscriptions
 A church, monastery, mosque or other place of worship
1.6. Values and benefits of tourism resources

Tourism resources have various associated benefits. The degree to which society accepts and
accepts certain cultural resources depends on the level of awareness of the value of those
particular resources. Economic Importance: It helps the economic and social development of
the country through the spending of visitors on culture and entrance fees. It also helps to improve
the quality of life of the community through employment .

Socio-cultural significance: helps define a sense of place; Creating an environment where

people can use their tourism resources to stay connected to the environment and maintain an
enduring sense of place. It plays an important role in helping the next generation to develop a
deep and broad understanding of the culture and history that characterizes its identity, thus
encouraging the conservation and preservation of heritage. It helps with information sharing and
creative methods. It also helps preserve and promote indigenous beliefs, practices and traditions.

Political Significance: Heritage has its own spiritual and political significance. It serves as a
good symbol of identity, unity and strength. It is the true cause of peace and harmony.

Scientific and Educational Significance: Medicines to treat various diseases are first tested on
mice and rats. For example, vaccines for measles, smallpox, and many other previously feared
diseases were developed through animal research. Organ transplants, blood transfusions,
microsurgery and other procedures are performed on animals. In addition, many medicines are
prepared from plants to treat diseases.

It even helps to facilitate education for the local residents. It contributes more to the development
of science. Cultural heritage serves as a source of information for the purpose of human origin
and evolution study and research. example; Archaeological sites

Artistic and aesthetic value: It is common for historic cities and old buildings to be valued
solely for their aesthetic value or simply because they are old and have " scarcity value".

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Environmental significance : Once lost, places of historical value cannot be recreated or
restored, even if living replicas are created, they cannot replace the original in scientific,
aesthetic and educational terms. Because of their irreplaceable environmental value, many
cultural heritage sites should be preserved and preserved.

Functional value: It is common for historic properties to be renovated and repurposed for other
uses than their original purpose. Consider the value of heritage conservation and evaluate the
reduced utility against the cost of constructing new buildings.

It promotes historical value, innovation and other values and future value

Ecosystem Services : Regulates climate, carbon sequestration, evolutionary processes, life

support, biodiversity conservation, etc.

 Basin values : flood control, stream flow control, groundwater recharge

Evidential value - such values are associated with the importance of artifacts that provide
evidence of natural phenomena and past activities of people associated with certain places .
In this value, natural resources play an important role in predicting biological and geological
future processes .

1.7. Culture: Art and Religion

Theatre : Ethiopia has the oldest and most flourishing theater in Africa. There are about five
government theater companies in Addis Ababa (Ras Theatre, National Theatre, Hagar Fikir
Theatre, Addis Ababa Theater and Culture Hall, Children's and Youth Theatre, etc.). Ethiopian
theater was written in Amharic and resisted European influence. Moreover, it played an
important role in the history of Ethiopia; He kept his local taste or attitude.

Painting : Mostly limited to religious subjects. The paintings served a very important purpose;
To educate, inspire and inculcate admiration in the ignorant and uneducated. Early manuscripts
of Ethiopian paintings are the basis of modern painters' 20th century
oil paintings. The most famous
painter in Ethiopia is Afework Tekle, the honorable world laureate artist.

Traditional building styles of Ethiopian churches

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In Ethiopia, churches are spread across the country and built on hilltops. They control the life of
the society physically and psychologically. They vary in size from small circular to large
rectangular churches. Among the famous four-cornered churches in Ethiopia are the beautiful
Debre Damo Monastery, Lalibela Beth Madhanemalem and Axum Zion St. Maryam Church.

Round Churches: Round churches have different entrances. The east gate is for the priests to
enter the Holy of Holies where the Holy Ark (the ark of the covenant) rests and is for priests
only, the north gate is for men and women and the south gate.

Structured Churches: The churches of Lalibela are mainly known as Structured Churches.
They are among the first Christian churches in the world. Therefore, many of them are unique in
that they show various simple technical skills such as stone free standing, painting, design,
decoration etc. Like Lalibela, it represents the highest level of stone carving tradition in Ethiopia.

Calendar - The Ethiopian calendar is very similar to the Egyptian Coptic calendar with 13
months of 365 days and 366 days per year (every fourth year) and is heavily influenced by the
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Ancient calendar laws and beliefs. The Ethiopian
calendar is always seven years (from September to the end of December) and eight years (from
January to the end of August) after the Gregorian (Western) calendar.

The Ark of the Covenant; Many Ethiopians believe that the Ark was and still is in Axum. It
seems that the ark came to Ethiopia when Menelik I visited his father King Solomon in
Jerusalem and returned to Axum. According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the
Ark of the Covenant has been kept in a small chapel at the heart of Zion Maryam (Mary of Zion)
monastery in Ethiopia since ancient times. This makes Axum the holiest place in Ethiopia.

The Ark of the Covenant became the most preserved part of God and became part of the
Orthodox Christian faith. A copy of the Ark of the Covenant, known as the Tablet, is kept in the
Holy of Holies in all Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo churches. The presence of the ark indicates
that the church was properly consecrated and that the belief in the ark has a great influence on
the imagination and spiritual life of many Ethiopians. A holy monk is chosen and is responsible
for taking care of it. He will be the custodian of the Ark. No one is allowed to enter the chapel
except the official custodian (monk) who guards the Ark. Before the guardian dies, according to
Aksumite tradition, he must appoint a successor.

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The Cross (The Search for the True Cross)

Cross Festival is celebrated by dancing, feasting and lighting a huge bonfire known as "Damera"
in Ethiopian culture. The cross is in reference to the discovery of the true cross in the fourth
century when Constantine the Great's mother, Empress Helena, found the true cross on which
Christ was crucified. The festival is celebrated on September 17 in the Ethiopian calendar
(September 27 in the Gregorian calendar), which is 6 months after the discovery of the true
cross. The celebration of the Crucifixion marks the presence of the true cross on the Mount of
Geshen Mariam Monastery and also shows the activities performed by Empress Eleni.

According to tradition, Empress Helena lit incense and prayed for guidance. The smoke drifted
toward the buried cross. She dug up three crosses; One of them is the real cross used to crucify
Jesus Christ. Then Empress Helena gave a piece of the true cross to all the churches, including
the Ethiopian Church. This piece was taken to Ethiopia. According to Ethiopian legend, when
people approached the real cross, the powerful light would make them distant. As a result, it was
decided to be buried in Mount Maryam Monastery in Wolo region. Geshen Mariam Monastery
contains a volume of books that tells the story of the true cross of Christ and how it was found.

Debre Damo (Saint Gerawi Festival)

The Orthodox Tewahedo Christians celebrated the old age of Saint (Abune) on October 14
(October 24, Gregorian calendar) across the country in the celebration of migration held in Debre
Damo, which is 25 kilometers away from Adigrat.

Qulubi (Saint Gabriel's Feast)

The feast of Archangel Gabriel (Qulubi Gabriel) is celebrated on December 19th in the Ethiopian
calendar (December 28th in the Gregorian calendar) and the end is in Qulubi, which is 68
kilometers away from Dredawa. The followers of the Orthodox Tewahedo faith celebrated the
festival with colorful parades and ceremonies. Pilgrims climb Church Hill to make vows and
make offerings to the church. Some pilgrims carry heavy rocks on their backs to carry them up
the hill to the church.

Lady (Christmas)

Birthday (Christmas) falls on December 29th in Ethiopian calendar (January 7th in Gregorian
calendar). Nativity (Christmas) is celebrated after 43 days of fasting, known as Fasting Gahad

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(Advent); A colorful ceremony that lasts from 6 am to 9 am. After the mass, people go home to
break the fast with chicken or lamb or beef along with bread and traditional drinks (ie tel or tej).

Timket (Epiphany)

Baptism is one of the biggest festivals in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church calendar. It
celebrates the baptism of Christ by St. John in the Jordan River. The baptism festival is
celebrated on January 11 Ethiopian calendar (January 19 Gregorian calendar) two weeks after
the birthday (Ethiopian Christmas) with a ceremony ending on January 12th (January 20
Gregorian calendar) with a ceremony that ends with colorful parades and ceremonies. During the
baptism, Tila and Tej are dipped, special bread is baked called "Himbasha" (in Tigrinya)
"Ambasha" (in Amharic), and sheep are slaughtered for a three-day festival.

Ethiopian
Christian holidays Gregorian calendar
calendar

September 11 (September 12 in a
New Year's Eve September 1
leap year)

The Cross (The Search for the True

September 17 September 27
Cross)

Debre Damo (Saint Gerawi Festival) October 14 October 24

Axum Maryam Zion November 21 November 30

Qulubi (Saint Gabriel's Feast) December 19 December 28

Lady (Christmas) December 29 January 7

Timket (Epiphany) January 11 January 19

Good Friday March/April March/April

Easter March/April March/April

Judaism

Although the Aksumite kingdom accepted the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ during and

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after King Izana, the Ethiopian Jews, known as Falasha or Beta Israel, still practice their Old
Testament faith, refusing to accept Christianity. The Falashas (Beta Israel) people are found in
northwestern Ethiopia, especially in the western provinces of Gondar, Gojam, Wolo and Tigray.

The Falasha (Ethiopian Jews) have lived in Ethiopia since before Christ. Although they fought
for years to protect their freedom and independence, few remain now: war, persecution, and
persecution reduced their numbers significantly
in the latter part of the 20th century. In the year Almost all
were airlifted to Israel between 1985 and 1993, but some still live in Ethiopia. This shows that
Ethiopia has an uninterrupted tradition of Old Testament and Jewish culture since the time of
Menelik I. Indeed, many Ethiopians believe that they are of Jewish descent.

Jewish holidays

 Rosh Hashan - New Year

 Yom Kippur - The end of the ten days of fasting and the most solemn day in the Jewish
calendar.

 Sukkot - the harvest festival and commemorates the journey of the Jews from Egypt to
Israel.

 Simkat Torah - Torah celebration

 Hanukkah - The celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

 Tu B'Shevat - The end of the winter season, the New Year of trees and communities plant
trees.

 Purim - the celebration of Queen Esther who saved the Persian Jews from Haman.

 Pesach (Easter) - an eight-day fast that commemorates the Jews who escaped slavery in
Egypt and returned to the Promised Land.

 Shavuot - The Feast of Weeks, Jews celebrate receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Islam

Islam entered Ethiopia in 615 AD when the followers of Prophet Muhammad, including his wife,
sought refuge in Aksum. The king of Axum accepted them and respected their religion and gave
them protection

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Although there have been bloody wars in the past, the Ethiopian Christian and Muslim residents
live together together. Ethiopia's oldest and holy mosque, the mosque located in Negashi, north
of Tigray , is believed to have been started since the 8th century . The Sheikh Hussain Shrine in the Bale region is
also highly revered and attracts national and international pilgrimages.

Islamic holidays Islamic calendar

Muharram/Al-Hijra (New Year) Month 1 (Muharram)

Milad-an-Nabi (Mohammed's Birth) Month 3 (Rabi'ul Awal)

Lail-Isra (Night of Ascension) Month 7 (Rejab)

Laylat-ul-Baraa' (Night of Mercy) Month 8 (Sha'ban)

Ramadan (month of fasting) Month 9 (Ramadan)

Eid Al-Fitr (End of Ramadan/Fasting) Month 10 (Shawwal)

Hajj (Pilgrimage) and

Month 12 (Duhul-Hijjah)
Eid al-Adha (End of Hajj)

Public holidays Ethiopian calendar Gregorian calendar

The victory of Adwa February 23 March 2

Victory day of the patriots March 28 April 6

Labor Day April 23 May 1

The collapse of the Derg May 20 May 28

1.8. Archaeological and paleontological resources

Archeology is the scientific study of the behavior and culture of past human societies and their
relationship with the environment from the origins of humans to the historical period.

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Archaeological research has three main goals. These are the study of cultural history, the
reconstruction of past ways of life and the study of cultural processes.

Paleontology deals with the study of fossils to reconstruct the history of life on Earth.

Although Ethiopia is one of the countries rich in archaeological resources in the world,
archaeological work and research is still in its infancy.

The main aspects of Ethiopian archaeological heritage

Ethiopia is one of the countries with the most archaeological and paleo-anthropological
resources. Some of them include;

Human evolution: Evidence of early human evolution found in Ethiopia. A large number of
fossils have been found in prominent areas of the country, especially around the Awash and Omo
valleys.

Ethiopian archaeological sites are one of the world's most productive sources of fossil data,
helping to study human evolution. Fossils of both human ancestors (Hominids and
Australopithecus species) and the genus Homo (modern human species) have been found in
Ethiopia. The following are good examples of fossils from human ancestors.

 Ardipithecus ramiduscadaba: An ancient fossil found in the Central Awash Valley and
dated to 5.8 to 5.2 million years ago. 'Kadaba' in Afar means the 1st ancestor of the family because it

must be at the root of the hominid family tree.

 Ardipithecus ramidus: Found in the Middle Awash Valley and is 4.4 million years old.
The fossil gets its name ramidus from the Afarian 'ramis' meaning root.
 Lucy or Australopithecus afarensis: It is the most famous fossil found in Hadar, Afar
region, which is more than 3.18 million years old. Lucy is famous because the skeleton is
so complete that it is modeled with about 52 bone fragments. Lucy's discovery was a
golden age for Ethiopian paleontology and archeology in Ethiopia, and since then, Wards
says, Ethiopia has been considered "the birthplace of mankind."
 There are many other recently discovered fossils such as Australopithecus garhi (Buri
Hatta-Middle Awash) and SELAM (3.3 million years old). Hello, the three-year-old girl
is a skeleton. In 2006, she joined Dikika's leading group in Ethiopia.

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  Fossils of the genus Homo are found mostly in the Lower Omo Basin and Middle
Awash. These include Homo Habilis (the development of man's ability to make tools),
Homo Erectus (walking upright), and Homo Sapiens (the use of knowledge).
 Homo sapiens idaltu: In the Middle Awash, the Afar Triangle area was identified in
1997, specifically known as Herto Bowen. It is between 154,000 and 160,000 years old.
It is roughly translated as " old sage ".

Stone tools (lithic) technology: Considering their quality and chronological development,
stone tools are divided into old Wan, Achulan and micro lithic tools. The earliest tools are
called old wans because many of them were found in Olduvai George, Tanzania, mostly by
Homo habilis. They are found in Gona (Afar), Lower Omo and Melka Kunture in Ethiopia.
Aquilan tools are more complex and standardized than Old Wan and were mostly made by
Homo erectus. Konso-Gardula, Gadeb and Melka Kunture are the main places in Ethiopia. Other
advanced stone tools are found by Homo sapiens in many areas of Ethiopia. They are
characterized by microlithic blade technology and are known as composite tools.

Coinage began in the Aksumite period from the 3rd century

AD. It has been since. We have silk
coins in the Middle Ages and others in recent times as well. The following main features
distinguish Aksumite coins;

 The coins are made of gold, silver and bronze with the type of metal indicating the value
of the coins. example; Gold coins were more valuable than silver and bronze.
 Both the Geez alphabet (for the domestic market) and the Greek alphabet (for the
international market) were used on the coins.
 Most of the coins have images of kings surrounded by stalks of wheat and barley.
 The coins provide valuable information about the culture, economy, religion, art and
history of the Aksumite period.

Inscriptions and Monuments: Inscriptions are among the most important archaeological
resources, providing archaeologists and historians with valuable information about the political,
social, economic, and religious aspects of historical Ethiopian society. There are many
inscriptions in Ethiopia in Sabian, Greek, Geez and Arabic languages. The known inscriptions of
the Izna are trigonal inscriptions in Sabian, Greek, and Geethic scripts.

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Ethiopia is also rich in many other archaeological sites, including ruins, monuments, temples,
palaces and tombs such as the Aksum Monuments.

Chapter two: North Ethiopia's tourism resources

Cultural attractions in and around Axum
Axum is the 1st
major historical city in Ethiopia and it was the capital of the Aksum Empire
probably from the middle of the 2nd century BC to the 7th AD .

Stele Park: Axum is widely known and famous for its famous Monolithic Steles. Aksumite
steles are the best known examples of monolithic stone fragments from the ancient world. But
the giant steel is located in Steele Park.

North Stele Park - The largest and most important stele field with over 120 steles. The length of
the steles ranges from 1 meter to 33 meters in height. These people are related to burial. Most
stelae are made of simple stone slabs and some dressed blocks that are rectangular in shape,
often with flat sides and a rounded or conical base. The most famous stelae in this park are as
follows

The Great Stele : It measures 33m and weighs about 500 tons , and whether or not it was built
is debated. In the year With further investigations in 1998, scholars now believe that the
monolithic never stopped. But some argue that it was planted and suggest that the fall of this
huge metal contributed to the conversion of people to Christianity. It is also considered a symbol
of the permanent defeat of paganism in Christianity.

Izana Steel: Although it is earlier than Izana, it is called Izana steel. It is 24 meters high and is
described as the most impressive of its kind. English traveler Henry Salt described the first alien
in 1805, declaring it 'the most admirable and perfect of its kind'.

Rome Stele: It is the 2nd largest stele

, 25 meters high and was shipped to Italy in 1937. It is also
one of the most beautiful steles in the northern park. However, due to the diplomatic efforts of
the current government, the steel was returned to its original location in April 2005.

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Gudit Stela Field: Although smaller than the others in the city, the Gudit Stela Field, located
south of Queen Saba's Palace, is worth a visit. Gudit Plain is named after the queen who
destroyed Axum around the 10th century .
The area is 500m, by 200m, and contains several hundred
stele. Most of them are small, wearing clothes and sleeping on the ground. Excavations were
carried out in 1973 and 1974 and 1994 and 1996, but little is known about the Stele field.

Tombs : Aksumite tombs were first dug underground, then covered with very large, often
beautiful, granite blocks. The False Gate Tombs ( known as the Tombs of King Remhai) on the
western edge of the North Stele Plain, the Bazen Tombs and the megalithic tombs known as the
Wind's Outlet (Tombs of Caleb and the Cross) are some of the most famous. . It is believed that
in their unknown rooms, wonderful discoveries, treasures and secrets are waiting to be
discovered.

Mary of Zion Church: It is the first church in Africa . The first beautiful church was built by
King Izana or Caleb, who spread Christianity as a national religion in Ethiopia for the first time.
This church was destroyed by Queen Judith Goodit. The existing rectangular old church was
built by the founder of Gondar, Emperor Faciledes, in 1636, and the huge new Zion Church was
built in the 1960s by Emperor Haile Selassie. Including the Ark of the Covenant, the church has
6th century paintings depicting the nine saints.
In the small museum in the same building, the crowns belonging to
the former rulers of Ethiopia are on display. Neither the chapel nor the museum is open to
women, but treasures from the museum can be revealed to visitors.

Archaeological Museum: It has good and well-preserved Sabian and Geez inscriptions. An
interesting variety of objects found in tombs, cups, lamps, incense burners, elaborate glassware,
perfume bottles. Collections of coins from the 4th C
to the 6th C are displayed in the museum.
These coins
provide an important and fascinating source of information about the ancient Aksumite kingdom.
Much of the pottery was produced in ancient Axum, and the tradition continues today.

Izana Gardens: Lying in a park in the center of the city is a famous 4th C stone .

My-Shum Reservoir: The largest open-air reservoir is also called the Queen of Sheba . It
forms the main center of the annual ceremony of baptism (Ethiopian baptism festival).

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The Bilingual Inscription of King Izana: It was made in the 4th century
to record the victories of
King Izana and was written in Sabian, Geez and Greek scripts.

Important cities and attractions around Axum

Adwa, the city has a great meaning for all Ethiopians. In this historical place, for the first time,
brave black Africans defeated white Europeans and made other Africans to strengthen their
struggle against colonialism. Adwa is a base for visiting Yeha and Debre Damo Monastery.

Adigrat: The configuration of Tigray is the basis for finding churches.

Debre Damo Monastery: The founder of the monastery is one of the nine saints known as
Abune Argawi and the church was built during the reign of King Gebre Cross. It shows the most
authentic architecture of the Aksumite civilization . It currently houses more than 150 monks,
but the number of monks under the church cliff has dwindled to almost none. Only men are
allowed to climb the top of the mountain, but it is difficult for women to find shelter even at the
bottom of the monastery.

Yeha : It is not visited often but it is exciting to visit. It is considered the birthplace of Ethiopia's
early civilization. Ruins of buildings show its connection with Yemen. It is believed to have been
established by colonists from South Arabia. The massive, windowless sandstone walls of the
ruins are enigmatic. The walls of the famous temple are built only from flat stones but they are
well preserved. There is a small museum with both archaeological and ethnographic artefacts.

Al-Negashi: The small town of Negashi is located on a small hill about 10 kilometers north of
Kokoro. It is a very ancient and holy place for Muslims. The mosque was built in the 7th c .
Negashi was the first Muslim settlement in Ethiopia, where they fled the persecution in South
Arabia and were supported by their fellow Muhammadans. Every year an important festival is
held at Negashi which attracts pilgrims.

The Churches of Tigray : Chronology, Art, and Technology probably show the crucial
relationship between Aksum and Lalibela. Some churches may be earlier than the one in
Lalibela. Their architectural style is less perfect than that of the Lalibela stone carving tradition.
Many are pretty unattainable; The security issue is considered a concern. In other words, visiting
some churches involves a very steep climb, while visiting others involves scrambling almost

21
entirely up the rock face using stilts. Until the mid-1960s, the churches were almost unknown to
Ethiopians outside of Tigray. Even today, very little is known about their origin, history or the
architects who designed them.

Although not absolute, the number of churches is estimated to be over 120. Many of the churches
are in groups called "clusters." The most famous clusters : Geralta - contains the largest
churches, Takatifi ( Tseda Emba) - the most accessible Temben and Atsbi cluster. Mekele is the
basis for examining the churches.

Attractions in and around Lalibela

Lalibela was originally a monastic settlement. After Aksum, it became the permanent capital of
the central government of Ethiopia.

It is also known as 'Petra of Africa' . The churches of Lalibela and rock formations are
undoubtedly the top attractions of Ethiopia. It is one of the great religious historical places not
only in the African continent but also in the Christian world. The churches are thought to be from
the 12th or 13th century. When King Lalibela built the rock-hewn churches, his purpose was to build
the second Jerusalem on the African continent and to reduce the suffering of the Christian
community on their journey to Jerusalem. Ironically, Lalibela is the holiest place in the Orthodox
Christian community. It is no exaggeration to say that Ethiopia is a country of churches carved
out of rock. There are numerous rock-hewn and cave churches.

Who built the churches? Some scholars estimate that the construction took 40,000 manpower,
but locals and believers believe that the work will prompt celestial help. However, Lalibela
represents the pinnacle of Ethiopia's long-standing architectural tradition.

The two international names used for Lalibela ; 1) New Jerusalem 2) The eighth wonder of the
world

King Lalibela built 11 rock- hewn churches in 23 years. According to their representation, the
churches are divided into three groups.

 The first group refers to the land of Jerusalem

 The second group refers to the heavenly Jerusalem

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  The third group refers to Noah's Ark or ARK.

The architectural types of churches are monolithic, semi monolithic and cave. There are three
factors that make churches unique and special.

1. Many of them are not carved in stone, but are completely detached from it.
2. The buildings are clean.
3. There are a lot of them in such a small area.

"Buildings like this - and many of them - cannot be found anywhere else in the world," he
explained.

into three based on where they are divided by the river Jordan .

Northwest Churches (Earthly Jerusalem): Life on Earth

o Beth Madhanemalem (House of the Savior of the World): It is the largest rock-hewn
church in the world . Measuring 33.5 meters by 23.5 meters, it is supported by 74
pillars/columns – 34 large columns on the outside and 38 on the inside supporting the pitched
roof. The interior of the church has a barrel-vaulted nave and four aisles. The tourists are also
allowed to see the 7 kg gold cross of Lalibela . The panels that fill the windows are
decorated with various crosses.
o Beth Maryam (St. Mary's House) : It is the first building of Lalibela and it is fully
decorated to a high level. The ceiling and upper walls are painted with very early frames, and
the columns, capitals and arches are covered with beautifully carved details. The church is
dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is especially revered in Ethiopia. At the eastern end of the
nave there is a column wrapped in cloth . The words 'Past and Future of the World' are said
to be written under the cloth.
o Beth Kress (House of the Cross) : Four pillars divide the gallery into two aisles and are
covered by arches. Some of the larger caves in the temple are still inhabited by ghouls.
o Bete - Denagle (House of Virgins) : The least impressive of Lalibela's churches, it is rough
and windowless.
o Beth Golgotha , Beth Michael and Trinity Church: The twin churches of Beth Golgotha
and Beth Michael are known as Beth Debre Sinai. Golgotha is the only church where

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 women are not allowed to enter. Beth-Golgotha is known for having the best examples of
Christian art in Ethiopia. It contains the tomb of Christ, the tomb of Adam and a movable
stone slab that is said to cover the most secret place in the Holy City (Tomb of King
Lalibela). The two churches (Bete Golgotha and Bete Michael) boast among the most
important religious treasures of Lalibela, such as fine processional crosses.

Southeastern Churches (Heavenly Jerusalem): Life After Death

o Bete Emanuel (House of Emanuel ): The free-standing, unique Bete Emanuel Church is
considered one of the finest carved churches in Lalibela. It is more Axumite than the other
Lalibela churches .
o Beth Merkorios (House of Saint Mercorios): It is decorated with beautiful bas-reliefs.
o Beth Aba Libanos (Father Libanos House): The only roof in the church is attached to the
rock above, so it is unique from other churches in the city. It is said that this church was built
in one night with the help of an angle after the cross of Lalibela's wife was buried. It also
reflects the architectural style of Aksumite.
o Bête Gebriel-Rufael : This courtyard is made up of three halls and two squares. His huge
facial features are his most interesting feature. It is said that King Lalibela delivered his
speech from the top of the church.

Third Group Churches (Noah's Ark)

Beth Giorgis (St. George's House); This is an isolated location away from the main northern
cluster - a little further south of the city. King Lalibela built this church last. It is the most
famous and photographed of all Lalibela churches and represents the rock-hewn tradition of the
time. Inside the church is an olive box carved by Lalibela himself and used to store his famous
instruments. There are also various religious texts and paintings that provide additional
information.

Churches outside the city

o Y emrehana Christos : It is the most beautiful of all the churches outside the city. The top
of the cave has water and marble and olive wood panels. At the back of the church, there are

24
 countless human remains that were desired to be buried here after receiving Holy
Communion.
o Asheta Maryam: It was founded on the top of the mountain, and its construction was started
by Lalibela's son Benakuto Laab. There are spectacular views from the hill in all directions.
King Neakuto Laab is believed to have been buried.
o Neakuto Laab is a simple but attractive church built under a natural cave. Some very old
stone vaults hold the precious holy water that drips from the roof of the church (faithful use
of various abominations) in the second part of the church . The church has a variety of
treasures, including crucifixes, a gold-painted drum, and an illuminated Bible.

the city of Lalibela there are other different churches with beautiful settings and treasures.
Erbatu Ensisa, Blabla Giorgis, Blabla Kirkos, Abune Yosef are among the wonderful churches
that should be visited.

Attractions in and around Gondar

was the 3rd capital of Ethiopia

after Axum and Lalibela . It was founded in 1636 by Emperor Facildes and
became the capital for almost 200 years.

It is called the 'Camelot of Africa' . Churches and castles are the main attractions of the city.
Some of the main attractions of Gondar are:

Royal Fort: The Royal Fort of Gondar covers an area of 75,000 square meters. km The
enclosure is surrounded by high stone walls and connected by a series of tunnels and elevated
walkways. It is not yet known who built the palaces. However, it is thought to be due to Indian,
Portuguese and Moorish influences. There are six magnificent palaces within the palace
grounds built by the kings of Gondar in the 17th and 18th centuries .

1. Faciladas Palace: The oldest, largest and most impressive of the palaces. It is two stories
high and is topped by four small domed towers. The palace is made of roughly hewn brown
basalt, and shows an unusual fusion of Indian, Portuguese, Moorish and Aksumite influences.
It has a dining room and reception area, a prayer room with four windows overlooking one of
the many churches (1st floor ) and a bedroom (2nd floor ).

25
2. Palace of John I: once decorated with ivory and built by Phaceledus' son and successor;
John. It is commonly known as the " Library of John ".
3. Yasu I (Yesu the Great) Palace: Built by Yasu I, it looks like a saddle-shaped tower. It was
well decorated in the past. Visitors described it as 'more beautiful than the others'. But it was
later damaged by the 1704 earthquake and British bombing in the 1940s.
4. King David III's Palace: Used for religious, entertainment and lion housing - Abyssinian
lions. It is known as " Song House" in the area .
5. Emperor Bekafa Tower is a long V-shaped multi-storied palace located on the north and
left side of the courtyard. It has two tall towers; One of them served as a reception hall.
6. serves as the home of souvenirs and a public library . Empress Mentwab (Emperor Kafa's
wife and mother of Joshua II) arrested him.
There are also various attractions outside the royal enclosure.

Faciledes Bath: 2 kilometers northwest of the city center, the bath is named after Emperor
Faciledes and Joshua. Surrounded by a stone wall, the two-storied fort is a large, shady, beautiful
and rectangular deep pool. It is known as the Bath Palace and is built for important religious
festivals such as the Timket ceremony. Once a year, Faciladas bath is filled with water for an
important Timket ceremony . After being blessed by the priest, the pool becomes splashing
water, shouts and laughter, when the people jump in, the celebration repeats the baptism of
Christ in the Jordan River.

Kuskum Complex: It lies on a hill 3.5 kilometers northwest of the city center and was built by
Empress Mentwab. This royal court is less protected than the royal court of Fasiladas; It consists
of a series of buildings, including a long two-story palace used for state receptions and royal
barracks. Kuskum Church contains many paintings depicting religious subjects of the Orthodox
Church. The first floor of the church contains the remains of the deceased Mentwab and her son
Joas, the grandson of Joshua II. There is a room in the church that contains many royal treasures.

Debrebarhan Selase: It is located 2 kilometers northeast of the kings' enclosure and is one of
the most famous churches in the country and one of the main sites of Gondar and Ethiopia. The
founder of the church is Yasu I and Debrebaran Selasei, which means "Trinity in Light
Mountain". It shows about 80 Ethiopian cherubs ; Pictures of the Trinity, angels and others. The
paintings on the walls depict various saints and the life of Christ from conception to resurrection

26
or ascension . All those wonderful pictures were painted by artist Haile Kress . They give a
summary of the Ethiopian saints, martyrs and sages in a state full of color, life, wisdom and
humanity in Ethiopian art. The building itself has a rectangular shape. In the 1880s, only the
Gondar Church survived the attack of the Mahdis . According to local tradition, the church
was saved from being chased by dervishes by a swarm of bees.

Falasha village (Woleka): 6 kilometers north of Gondar is Woleka village, which was the home
of Falasha or Ethiopian Jews or Beth Israel. Judaism was the dominant religion in northern
Ethiopia before Christianity was introduced. But after the introduction of Christianity, Judaism
became a name in the country. Blacksmiths are renowned craftsmen and are good at pottery.
Their handicrafts, synagogues and houses are worth visiting. Nowadays, due to war, emigration
and migration, the number of falshas decreased. Many of them were airlifted to Israel from 1985
to 1991.

Gorgora: Located 67 kilometers south of Gondar, the small town of Gorgora on the
northern shores of Lake Tana makes for an interesting trip from Gondar city for those with
time, especially birdwatchers. The most attractive part of Gorgora's capital city is the Mount
Sinai Round Church built by Emperor Susnios in 1608 AD. It is decorated with fine
paintings, such as those of St. Mary. Other places to visit are Susanios Ancient Palace, Brigida
Mariam Church and Mendaba Madhanemalem Monastery.

Another good time to visit Gondar is during major Ethiopian festivals such as baptisms and
birthdays.

Churches and Monasteries of Lake Tana (around Bahardar)

Bahr Dar is one of the most attractive cities in Ethiopia and is a city located near the plan, palm
trees and Lake Tana. It is a base for visiting the monasteries of Lake Tana and the Blue Nile
Falls.

Lake Tana: Lake Tana covers more than 3500km.sq which is the largest lake in Ethiopia. It is
located near Gondar in the highlands of Ethiopia on the north-central Amhara Plateau. It was
known by different names to outsiders. The Egyptians called it Choloi Pulas , and the Greeks
called it Pboi .

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 Today, Lake Tana is home to several monasteries founded on 20 of its 37 islands. 16th C. to 17th C.
Most of the monasteries counted up to
Some were even pre-Christian shrines. Currently, there are
more than a thousand monasteries in different areas of Ethiopia.

Monasteries of Lake Tana: Using a boat trip as a group and planning at least 2 days can be a
trip to visit all the monasteries. Among the famous monasteries are:

I. Ura Kidane-Mihret : The most famous and most beautiful of the monasteries of the Zegi
Peninsula. The
16th to 17th century
crucifixion and crown collections are the most visited in
Abune Beth Maryam.
II. Narga Trinity: Built in the mid-18th century in the style of a Gondar palace, it is rarely visited.
Portraits of Mentwab and James Bruce are carved on the exterior of the church. It is known
for its amazing wall paintings.
III. Kebran Gabriel: It is a monastery very close to Bahardar and it was founded by Abune
Yohannes. It was founded in the 17th century
and is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric
monasteries. It is open to men only . The inner sanctum is decorated with fine paintings. It is
the monasteries of the Zighi Peninsula.
IV. Tana Kirkos: It is said that the ark of the law has been hidden in this monastery for 800
years, and Saint Jared sat for a few years and wrote various books that have been preserved
until now, so it is very mysterious and important from a historical perspective. It also has
remains that show a Jewish connection. It is open to men only .
V. Daga Stephen: The founder of the monastery, Abune Hirut, is known as God. The stone
used by the monk to cross Lake Tana in a boat can be seen today in the monastery. It is one
of the holy monasteries. It is open to men only . Remains of ancient kings such as Emperor
Phasiledus, God of Kuno, David and Susnyos are found there.

Battlefields as historical heritage sites

Battlefields are immobile cultural relics. As much of Ethiopia's history is more or less related to
war, battlefields have great symbolic significance. For many times, the country has faced
repeated threats from foreign invaders. However, Ethiopia is the only African country that has
preserved its independence in its history. Local conflicts and power struggles have also been

28
common throughout the country's history. Here are some of the battlefields in chronological
order;

Shimbra Kure and Wine Plateau War: The battle of Shimbra Kure (in Debrezeit area) took
place in 1529, and in this war, the Christian highland kingdom (led by Belne Dengal) was badly
defeated by Adalok (leadership). Ahmed Garan) As a result of this victory, the Adalites
destroyed a large number of national heritages, including the historic Zion Church of Axum and
Mount Lebanon Monastery, from their priests and clergy. In contrast to the Battle of Shimbra
Pond, the Adalyans were defeated and the Christian government killed Ahmed Grane Ahmed in
the battle of Wine Plateau (Tana Lake area) in 1543 AD with the help of the Portuguese soldiers
led by Christopher Dagama.

Battle of Mekedla (1868): This war was fought between the British Army General Robert
Napier and Emperor Theodore because of the arrest of Emperor Theodore by the Europeans. In
this battle, Theodore killed himself and the British army took Alemayehu Theodore (Emperor
Theodore's son) out of the country, including a large amount of Ethiopian gold resources from
Magdala.

Gundat (1875) and Gura (1876) war: In these wars, the Ethiopians destroyed the desire of the
Egyptians during the reign of Emperor John. After the Gura War, the Egyptians did not attempt
to invade Ethiopia by force. Ethiopia's military victory in these wars destroyed the Egyptians'
plan to expand and attack once and for all.

Metema War (1889): The first main reason for this war is the Treaty of Life signed between Britain and Ethiopia on June 3,

1884
. The main purpose of the British treaty was to save the Egyptian military base in eastern
Sudan. Attack of the Mahdis (Derbus). In return, the British promised many things to Ethiopia,
including the Ethiopian territories previously held by Egypt. But in the end the British did not
honor their promise and a conflict broke out between Ethiopia and Sudan. At the end of the
Matema War, when Emperor Yohannes IV was killed, the Mahdists moved to Sudan. Many
historians believe that as a result of the Hewet Treaty, Ethiopia replaced one weak enemy
(Egypt) with two strong ones (Italy and the Mahdists).

Battle of Adwa: The Treaty of Adwa was signed on May 2, 1889

between Cante Pietro Antonelli
and Menelik II. The Italian version of the Treaty of Accession 1VII restricted Ethiopia from

29
using Italy for foreign relations. However, Emperor Menelik rejected the entire agreement in
February 1893. Finally, on March 1, 1896, it led to the decisive Battle of Adwa, which ended in
complete victory for Ethiopia. The Battle of Adwa was the first major battle in world history in
which blacks defeated whites using the most basic weapons. This great war has far-reaching
consequences - both nationally and internationally.

 Francesco Crispi, Italy's prime minister during the war, was forced to resign.
 On October 25, 1896, the Treaty of Addis Ababa was signed between Italy and Ethiopia.
According to this agreement, Italy accepted the full independence of Ethiopia and canceled
the annexation agreement.
 Ethiopia's political independence has been fully accepted and the European Legation has
begun to open in Addis Ababa.
 A border demarcation was signed between Ethiopia and neighboring colonial powers
(Britain, France and Italy).
 The victory inspired black solidarity and nationalism. It became a symbol of black self-
control and dignity.

The Unforgivable War (1936) : War between Ethiopia and Italy on March 3, 1936. It was due
to the 2nd Italian invasion to avenge the humiliating defeat at the Battle of Adwa . On the Ethiopian side,
Emperor Haile Selassie ordered an endless war. Ethiopia lost this war.

In Ethiopia's long history, before the founding of Addis Ababa, there were three known
permanent political centers. These were Axum, Lalibela and Gondar. We have a lot of
resources in these permanently used capital cities, which have become major tourist attractions.
These places are now popular tourist destinations as they are the main repositories of the
country's cultural heritage. Therefore, it is important to review some of these places from a
historical perspective.

Natural tourism resources of northern Ethiopia

The well-defined historic district in northern Ethiopia is the center of the country's tourist
industry. It would not be an exaggeration to say that 98 percent of those who travel to
Ethiopia base their travel plans around this district.

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Nothing prepares visitors to sub-Saharan Africa for the ancient and living treasures of
northern Ethiopia . The circuit revolves around four cities , all of which are very different from
the others.

The first stop on the North Ethiopian Standard is the modern city of Bahr Dar, a commercial
center on the southern shores of Lake Tana , the largest body of water in Ethiopia and the
official source of the Black Nile. Besides hosting a wonderful daily market and rich bird life, the
shores of Lake Tana are also the base for many day trips : to the many atmospheric monasteries
and wonders around the forested Lake Tana island and peninsula, and the Nile Falls. Gondar
is a
popular second stop in the northern district north of Lake Tana . To the north of Gondar lies
the stunningly beautiful Mount Semen National Park. A common third stop on the historic
circuit is the ancient capital of Axum , known for its monumental monuments, tombs, palaces
and monasteries.

For most Ethiopian visitors, northern visitors The district's medieval capital is Lalibela, home
to 12 churches nestled in the snowy Wolo Mountains and rightfully ranked as the Eighth
Wonders of the Ancient World.

The natural attractions of the Nile River and the coast

important landscape between Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar is the Black Nile Gorge. Between
Addis Ababa and the Blue Nile Gorge, the main points of interest are the impressive and low
Mugher River Gorge and the famous medieval Mount Lebanon Monastery .

km north of Addis Ababa, there is a big fork in the road shortly after passing through Degen on
the northern edge of the Blue Nile Gorge. There are two routes , namely the eastern route
through Mota , which is less interesting, and the route is unsealed, but shorter at around 240
km. The 90km long Western Route passes through Mount Markos and offers some of the most
interesting yet accessible treks in the Kosovar area , including montane forests, lakes ,
waterfalls and the 'real' source of the Nile. James Bruce.

Jama Valley - The beautiful Jama Valley to the east of the Mount Lebanon Road is named after
the river that created it. A tributary of the Black Nile . The area is very attractive to the bird,

31
as it is restricted to a few areas in the Blue Nile watershed, as it is the most favorable spot
for marking the Harwood Francolin .

The valley is located at an altitude of 1,300 to 2,000 meters and is covered with a grove of
trees , and supports other interesting birdlife including Rupel's cliff chat, white-billed starling
and white-throated sow and other bird species.

The valley turns right from the main road to Lake Tana and reaches Mekaturi, which is 40
kilometers north of Ondalcho and 20 kilometers south of Mount Lebanon.

Blue Nile Gorge - From 2,500m to 1,200m high, this truly spectacular gorge can be compared
to the Grand Canyon of America and is often said to be the largest canyon in Africa . The
gorge follows the course of the Black Nile as it descends south of Lake Tana before flowing out
of Ethiopia and into Sudan.

Zengana Lake : Among the beautiful places of Awi, located 6 kilometers south of Kosobar, is
the amazing rainwater Zengana rock lake on the side of Debre Markos road. The forested crater
of this near-perfect volcano is at an altitude of 2,500m , and the lake's shore is perhaps 30m
below, but the crater itself - and the lake - is said to be about 1,000m deep . The muddy
northern slopes support man-made cypress plantations as well as the recently built Church of St.
Gabriel, while the southern slopes are covered with lush native acacia wood. Grevet monkeys
and abundant bird life are evident in the area.

Lake Tana - Located at an altitude of 1,830m , Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia with a
surface area of 3,673 km. Tana was called Psebo by the ancient Greeks and Koloi by the
ancient Egyptians. In the 5th
century , Greek dramatists described it as 'a copper colored
lake...the jewel of Ethiopia' . Tana was formed 20 million years ago , acting as a natural
dam for ancient water drainage . With an average depth of 14 meters and more than three dozen
islands, Tana harbors at least 26 different species of fish, 17 of which are found in the lake. It is
also known for its birdlife and hippopotamus.

Blue Nile Falls : After 30 kilometers of Lake Tana, the Black Nile falls over a 45-meter high
rock face to form one of Africa's most spectacular waterfalls , known as Tis Abai ('Nile Smoke')
or Tis Isat ( Smoke of the Nile) . 'Smoking water') . Tis Abaya has four different streams that

32
are 400m wide above the falls . It follows a very narrow course that is estimated to be 37 meters
deep in the gorge below. Birds abound, including parrots, bee-eaters, lovebirds and turacos.

Gorgora :- The small town of Gorgora that we visited is located on the northern shore of
Lake Tana and is an attractive place for bird watchers. It was an important port during the
Italian invasion . It is one of the new tourism product development of the current government.

Semen Mountains National Park, located 100 kilometers east of Axum Road, north of Gondar
, the Semen Mountains are one of the largest mountain ranges in Africa and are ranked
among the most beautiful mountains in Africa . It is filled with at least a dozen peaks at the
4,000 meter mark . With the exception of Ras Dejen , it was named the Semen Mountains
National Park in 1969 , and the entire region was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1979 . The area is 179 km2 225 km2 , with 21 mammal species (3 endemic), 7 endemic bird
species and some unique plant species , olives, cedar, Abyssinia rose, pine, giant heather,
giant lobelia, erica.

Wildlife in SMNP-t hree Ethiopian wide mammals live in simians. The most common of these
is the Gelada monkey, with an estimated population of at least 7,000, often seen grazing with up
to 400 individuals. In contrast, the Ethiopian wolf is very rare in the mountains, with no more
than 50 individuals on the upper slopes of the Afro-alpine moorland in Bwahit, Ras Dejen and
Saint Jared.

The Walia ibex was nearly extinct in the late 1960s. The number increased in 1989 but decreased
after the collapse of the Derg. The population is increasing again. Ibex are often seen along the
Emet Gogo in the valley between Gich and Chenek.

Danakil Depression: With many points over 100 meters below sea level and midday
temperatures reaching over 50C, it is one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on Earth.
The subduction process that created the Danakil Red Sea was effectively spread over the south-
east, and the lower surface was once completely submerged in salt water. Relics of those distant
days include Lake Asale and Afrera. It has attractive attractions like Dalol, Airtale and wildlife
especially zebra and wild ass. Travel to this site should be done during the cooler months of
December to February and it is best to consult local guides on how and when to travel and also
having a local guide is best.

33
Mount Abune Yosef is 3750m high and is one of the highest peaks in Ethiopia and is popular
for its scenic beauty and home to the Ethiopian wolf mammal.

Lake Ashenge: It is one of the most beautiful and fresh round lakes in highland Ethiopia at an
altitude of 2440m. It is located near the western edge of the Raya Valley by making the main
road to Mekele. Ashenge is underlain and surrounded by volcanic rocks. The lake is an excellent
target for birders, especially during the European winter when over 20,000 waterfowl
congregate.

Bordering Ashenge, the Hashengu Forest Reserve is the highest part of the extensive indigenous
forest on the Alamata escarpment and is home to forest birds such as the Abyssinian catbird.

Among the highland lakes in Ethiopia is Lake Tana, Ethiopia's largest lake, located in the
northwestern highlands and a flooded river basin that is home to the spectacular Blue Nile Falls.
The only large lake is fill - a suspended depression. Other large lakes in the northern highlands
are Lake Wolo and Ardibo in the south and Ashenge in the Tigray region .

Chapter 3: South Ethiopia tourism resources

The culture of the people in the villages of South Omo Valley

It seems fitting to call it a living museum . South Omo is often described as some sort of
cultural garden . South Omo is amazing and unique. It is a region where centuries-old African
traditions are still practiced. In the Omo area, the style of dress for men is very simple; From
nothing between Bume, Karo and Galebi, to wrap around clothes and toga between Amer and
Bena. Many incomes, elaborate hairstyles are also characteristic. The markets in the Omo Valley
are colorful.

This area is almost unique in the world. Different ethnicities from all over such as Cushitic,
Nilotic, Omotic and Semitic. The people are known for their jewelry, lip plaster hairstyles and
various cultural traditions.

34
 Seasonal ceremonies of Hamer and Bana (Bull or Maze Jumping) are held from July to
September and 1st half
of December. It will be done in Turmi and Dimeka areas. It refers to
the imitation of young adults. The fate of the pale youth depends on this ceremony. In
addition to the Maz ceremony, a great deal of attention is paid to the hairstyle and decoration
of the Hamer people. The pale night dance is known as Ivangadi .
 Karo People: Besides hummer bull jumping is an important feature of Karo people. They
call it Pila . More body painting and scarosis characterize the Karo people than other Omo
Valley peoples. The Karos are also famous for their traditional dance. They are considered
dangerous groups.
 Mursi and Surma People: Women's lip plates and ' Donga' ( stick fighting) are the main
characteristics of the Surma and Mursi people of the Omo Valley. Currently, the practical use
of lip liner is as a beauty symbol. Body image is also an important part of making these
people more attractive to the opposite sex. The Mursi have been the subject of more recent
television documentaries and are best known as the people of the Omo Valley.
 Dorze: One of several branches of the Omotic people in the southwest, the Dorze are
famous for their large beehive houses ( up to 12 meters high ). The huts look fragile but
they are made of strong wooden poles and can last up to 60 years. They can be easily
transported to the new location. The Dorze people are known locally for their woven fabric
called ' Shema '. The Dorjes are best known for their flamboyant celebration of the Cross .
 Xancha:- The famous weavers are known for the best woven cotton and it is the place to buy
good cotton shawls (cotton togas), gabi (thick shawl ). Hence, there is a colorful market
that displays distressed products made from textiles .
 Konso: Konso refers to the land and the people . The town of Konso is the gateway to the
Omo Valley and beyond. Many of them are pagan communities. The Konso people have a
tradition of commemorating their dead heroes with carved wood carvings called Waka,
which means grandfather. Konso is famous for its agricultural economy and boasts a rich
culture. There are strong stone walls around the villages and fields, which are used to protect
cattle and floodwaters as well as intruders. Visitors must enter Konso's house on hands and
knees, through wooden tunnels. A popular excursion from Konso is to the village of
Gesergio (pronounced gas-ag-ee-yo), the famous ' New York' . Local tradition - When a
sacred drum is stolen, God himself retrieves it with his own hands.

35
 Jinka: Located 138 km north of Konso, it is the closest town to Omo and Mago National
Parks. At 1490m above sea level, it feels like a breath of fresh air after trekking through the
lowlands . After the foray into Omo, Jinka, with the addition of services and amenities, may
seem like Paris on a level.
 Ari: They are known for keeping large numbers of animals, often producing large amounts
of honey for commercial use. Women wear dresses made from the enset tree.
 Bana: Although their food is supported by hunting, most of them practice agriculture. If they
manage to kill buffaloes , they decorate themselves with clay and organize a special festival
and feast for the entire village.
 Bumi: They are agro-pastoralists. They are known as war movers and are at war with almost
everyone, especially Karo, Hammer and Surma. Bumi use scarification for cosmetic
purposes, tribal identification and to indicate their prowess in battle.
 Dizzy: They are sedentary agriculturalists. They also practice terrace work on the mountain
slopes.
 Koigu: Also known as Muguji . They are known for fishing and hunting hippopotamus .
They use both guns and traps for hunting .
Natural tourism resources of Southern Ethiopia

Compared to the northern part of Ethiopia, it is known for its natural attractions . It has a
beautiful landscape, interesting wildlife and a very diverse and fascinating people of the
country . This region is said to represent the other parts of Ethiopia and is almost opposite the
northern highlands and is considered as Ethiopia's African region.

The African Rift Valley dominates the south and is home to magnificent lakes with abundant
bird life. National parks are very different from each other, offering different landscapes and
wildlife species. The Omo region in the southwest is known as the last great wilderness on the
African continent and is home to some of Ethiopia's few large mammals, such as lions and
elephants, in addition to the last "untouched peoples ".

Bale Mountain National Park is also located in the southeast region.

Unlike northern Ethiopia, the southern part does not have a clearly defined tourist district .
The main transport hub of the region is Shashemene and it is located at the junction of the roads

36
from the north to Addis Ababa , from the west to Arba Moshan and South Omo, from the
south to Awasa, Dila and Moyale, and from the east to Dodola and Bale .

 The main attraction of the region is a string of six lakes, each located near the main Awasa
road. The northernmost of these, Koka Lake and Zwai, are known for their rich bird life. To
the south is a group of three lakes, Langano, Abiata and Shala, known for their rich bird
life and hot springs . Finally, there is Awas lake .

 Lake Zwai (Dembal): i t is the largest of the Northern Rift Valley lakes including Chamo,
Abaya, Awasa, Shala, Abyata and Langano. The lake is located 1.5 kilometers east of
Zwai/Batu town, at an altitude of 1,636m and surrounded by blue volcanic hills. It is best
known for its abundant bird life such as white pelicans, saddle bill, yellow bill heron,
marabou heron, various kingfishers and waterfowl.

 Lake Zwai is home to five small volcanic islands :

 Tulu Gud o ( Debre Zion Debre Zion): Located 14 kilometers from Zway, it is the largest
of all the islands and consists of three monasteries. Among them, Debre Zion is the most
famous monastery that once hosted the Ark of the Covenant. Other islands include Mount
Sinai, Galilee and Bird Island (bird nesting site). In general, the lake is one of the best places
in Africa and is also known as the black heron ('umbrella bird') in the area . In addition, the
town of Zwai is a fishing center and home to important gardens.

 Lake Langano: It is located in the south of Zway and is more developed for tourism than the
lakes in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia . Lake Langano has soft brown water and contrasts with
the blue mountains of Arsi and is an ideal base for visiting Lake Abiata Shala . For many,
the main attraction of Lake Langano is that it is suitable for swimming due to the absence
of bilharzia . It is not advisable to visit the site on weekends, rather weekdays are preferred,
and using an unestablished campsite is not recommended for safety reasons.

 The forested coast is a great attraction for bird enthusiasts: not only does it support excellent
species of waterfowl and acacia, but two birds, a grebe and a white-bellied serine, have
recently been reported.

37
Wondo Garden: - A popular hot spring resort located in the forested hills near the village of
Wesha , 20 kilometers south of Shahmeneh . Its namesake attraction is a spring-fed swimming
pool. The springs are said to have healing properties, which encouraged Emperor Haile Selassie
to build a private lodge. The area is of great interest to hikers and nature lovers. There are
various bird species (six endemic birds) and animals such as bushbuck, anubis monkey, colobus
and vervet monkey.

Other nearby attractions include Wondo Garden College of Agriculture , an arboretum

nestled in a picturesque forest with over 124 species of trees , and the swampy Dabashi Lake, 4
km west of Usha. The swamps are believed to be home to hippos , crocodiles and support many
water and forest birds.

 Hawassa :- Hayk Dar city Awasa is located at an altitude of 1,685m in the Rift Valley, 275
km south of Addis Ababa and 25 km south of Shashemene. It is an exciting fast growing city
and is the capital of Sidama region and Southern region. Awasa is the largest city in
Ethiopia's Rift Valley and a convenient base for a trip to Moyale . The main attraction of
Awasa is undoubtedly the lake, which is the smallest in the Ethiopian Rift Valley . Set in an
ancient volcanic caldera. The lake is ideal for fishing and boating, and has good hotels and
campsites, as well as attractive countryside with coffee plantations and the Bale Mountains
to the east. The city is an agricultural research station.

Bale and Aris

Bale and Arsi are located in the humid green highlands southeast of the Rift Valley . The
eastern parts of Bale are flat , dry and hot, giving way to the Somali desert .

Bale Mountains National Park protects Ethiopia's second highest mountain range and is home
to the country's unique vertebrates, including the Ethiopian wolf, Mount Nyala, Minilik
bushbuck, giant molerat and 16 species of birds . The National Park provides good services
for hikers and outside the National Park, a new hiking and trekking circuit has been developed
near Little Dodola , which is easily the most organized eco-tourism project in Ethiopia . The
BMNP landscape covers an area of 2,200km2, identified in the 1960s but never officially
gazetted. It protects the height of the Bale range, including Mount Tulo Demtu , which at

38
4,377 meters is the second highest in Ethiopia. The main attractions of the park are the wild
alpine areas, especially on the 4,000 meter high Saneti Plateau. The road across the Saneti
Plateau, built by the Derg to provide an alternative emergency access road to the south, is said to
be the highest climate in Africa .

40 streams, including the Derr, Ngile and Wolmel, emerge in the shadow of Bale Water, most of
which eventually flow into the Juba or Wabe Shebele rivers after crossing the border into
Somalia.

protected by Bale are pine and hajania woodland , Afromontane forest and Afro-alpine
moorland, mostly on the northern slopes, such as around the park headquarters in Dinshaw .
At the same altitudes on the southern slopes , the extensive and less studied Harena forest is
the main Afro-montane forest of the park . Afro-alpine moorland is characteristic at
altitudes above 3,500 m , with the widest patches found in the Saneti Plateau and the Der
River Valley .

Harena Forest: - On the southern edge of the Saneti Plateau, 2,000m below the Harena
escarpment. The forest is much denser than the pine lands around Dinsho , and consists of a
variety of tree species with a similar appearance and composition to other forests in the East
African mountains. They are a rich resident of birds and mammals.

Sof Omar Caves : This extensive network of limestone caves is said to be the largest in Africa
and is located 100 km east of the Bale region at an altitude of 1,300m . It is carved by the
Web River, which descends from the Bale Highlands to the flat arid plains and extends to the
Somali border . After traveling for 16 km from the underground river of clear aquamarine webs,
the caves are reached through a wide portal that leads to the Chamber of Columns, a cathedral
hall filled with limestone pillars up to 20 meters high . The caves were named after the 12th

century Muslim leader Sheikh Suf Omar who used them as a refuge. Sof Omar is regularly
visited by bird watchers because it is one of the two places where it is reasonably easy to see the
Salvadoran Seri , a threatened and localized dryland with a bright yellow throat.

Arbaminch

39
The capital of southwestern Ethiopia and a very convenient overnight stop between Addis
Ababa and South Omo . The town offers great views of the Chamo and Abaya Rift Valley
lakes and can be used as a starting point for visiting Nechisar National Park.

The hot water : Arba Moshan is translated as 'forty springs' and the hot water field from which
the city is named is located at the bottom of the cliff. The area around the springs is densely
forested, making it the only groundwater forest in East Africa . The path along the forest offers
good bird watching, with vervet and gureza monkeys and olive monkeys in abundance, and the
rare dik-dik and bushbuck.

Abaya and Chamo Lake: Abaya is the longest and largest of the Rift Valley lakes. It has a
special dark red color due to the hydroxide suspended in the water. Khamo Lake in the south is
home to many crocodiles. Both lakes are ringed by savannah plains . " God's Bridge " or "
Paradise " is a ridge of land that divides the two lakes.

The Crocodile Market, also known as Azo Gabaya, is said to have the largest display of large
crocodiles and hippos in Africa.

Arba Source Crocodile Breeding: - It is managed by the Department of National Resources

and is located 6 kilometers away from the city.

Lake Chew is a vast but little-visited expanse of salt water near the Kenyan border . It is also
called Lake Stephanie . Due to the level of the Chamo Lake , which is fed by the Segen and
Gelana Delia rivers, the lake exhibits high water level fluctuations.

Chewing Marine Wildlife Reserve : The reserve's lake and backland dry acacia preserves a
still smaller population of Gravy's wildebeest, big and small kudu, gerunk and gnarled deer, lion,
spotted hyena and a variety of small carnivores.

Chapter 4: Tourism Resources of Central Ethiopia

National Theatre

It was established in 1944 as part of the National Library and moved to its current location in
1966. It is ranked among the most important museums in sub-Saharan Africa.

40
It is now a part of the Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH).
His exhibitions are mainly devoted to the departments of paleontology and history, historical
archeology, art and culture. Lucy and other hominids are shown here.

It provides laboratory services to local and foreign researchers. He prepared molds and casts of
rare artifacts for display purposes. It is responsible for controlling the export of historical and
cultural artifacts. Arranges special tour programs for students and interested groups upon request.

Entoto St. Mary's Museum

It contains a lot of religious and historical values. Many of the museum's items are related to the
reign of Menelik II, the Battle of Adwa, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. There are also
many donations from abroad including great runners and famous Ethiopian personalities. Among
the exhibits are the drum that announced the march to Adwa against the Italian occupation, the
bed of Menelik II and the ceremonial clothes of Emperor Menelik II and his queen dowager .

Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies (IES)

The focus is on the material culture and traditional arts of nations. The ethnographic room is on
the 1st floor
and the art gallery is on the 2nd floor
. Various Ethiopian works of art and traditional
musical instruments are on display in the art gallery.

Museum of Natural History of Animals

It was established in 1955 and is the only one of its kind in the country, where specimens of
Ethiopian wild species are available. It contains a collection of birds and mammals. It also serves
as a research center on Ethiopian plants.

Saint Mary's Church Museum

It was built by order of Empress Menelik and is commonly known as the Mausoleum of Menelik
II. The skeletons of Emperor Menelik, Queen Dowager, Empress Zewditu, Abune Mateus (the
archbishop who crowned Menelik II) and Princess Tshai (daughter of Emperor Haile Selassie)
are found there. In the museum, including many precious relics, the gold cross used by the
emperor Menelik when he attended the church mass, the gold cross of Abune Kerilos of

41
Alexandria, the prayer stick of the empress, and the palm leaf prepared and released in metal
sheets. The French president is mourning the death of Menelik.

St. George's Cathedral Museum

In 1990, with the intention of preserving the ecclesiastical wealth of the Ethiopian Orthodox
Tewahedo Church and passing it on to future generations. The museum's exhibits include
clothing of spiritual leaders, various types of crosses, religious books written on parchment, and
numerous arts and crafts .

Ethiopian Postal Museum

It preserves all samples of Ethiopian stamps from 1894 until now. Additionally, it features
sample stamps from other members of the Universal Postal Union.

Addis Ababa Museum

The commemoration of Addis Ababa's 100th anniversary was established in October 1986. The
museum's collections aim to show the historical, political, economic and social developments of
the city since its foundation. It is intended to help researchers in their research on various issues
of Addis Ababa. It has six halls known as Finney Hall, Edget Hall, Adwa Hall, Handcrafts Hall,
Modern art Hall and Future Vision Hall. Each room has its own display. 1st class images
in Ethiopian
class can be seen here. For example, 1st motor car, 1st phone etc.

Hot mountains

It has an excellent view of the site of the former capital of Menelik and the new one below. At
least 8 endemics and semi-endemics can be seen, for example the black-winged lovebird

Enteto Natural Park

This park, which was recently established, and the entrance gate of which is located a short
distance from Entoto Mariam Church, has great significance for the protection of the remaining
natural resources of Addis Ababa. The park has an altitude of 2,600m to 3,200m and offers
spectacular views in all directions.

Mengashea Suba Forest

42
It can be considered as the oldest conservation effort in Africa by Emperor Zara Jacob (1434-
1468 ). It is located about 10 km from Sebet and has a lot of wildlife like Podocarpus, Olea,
Hagenia, Minnik Dicula and various species of birds. Recently established tourism products such
as Science Museum, Sheger Park/Friendship Park, Unity Park and Entuto Park are must-visits.

Chapter 5: Tourism Resources of Western Ethiopia

Jimma

Jimma was the former capital of Kafa province and is the largest city in western Ethiopia. Jimma
is the capital of Lelu region and is considered as Ethiopia's promised land.

Jimma Museum: It has a great significance to show the culture and tradition of the local people
and to show the life of the kings who ruled the region. It mainly showcases the traditional arts,
crafts, and woodwork of the Jama'a, the creative works of ancient times. It also contains musical
instruments and modern weapons such as Italian guns.

Aba Jafar's Palace: King Aba Jafar was one of the most important of King Kefa's kings. He
acquired the region around the 19th century . The palace has two floors and contains a private family
mosque with various library rooms, a throne room, a reception room, a guard room, a watch
tower and a guest house.

Natural tourism resources of western Ethiopia

Western Ethiopia is a less known and less developed region compared to other parts of Ethiopia.
In general, the western world is inhabited by Nilotic people and is characterized by lowland
plains, gentle hills, fertile valleys, montane forest, small streams, humid climate, birdlife,
wildlife, fruits, crops, vegetables.
It was once a part of the Welga district and I lubabbu r is rich in culture and natural beauty. The
area, especially the old Kefa region, is said to be the origin of coffee. The best time to visit the
region is mid- November and mid- January when the weather is very dry. Nearby is Mount
Mangesha, which served as an ancient crown site.

43
Chalmo Forest is located 87 kilometers west of Addis Ababa on the Ambo road. It is a small
area with indigenous forest. It is a legacy of the dry evergreen montane forest that once covered
most of Ethiopia.
Ambo
of Ambo , it is a good base for a trip to Mount Wenchi, a volcano with an island and a church
at an altitude of 3,220 km . Outside of Ambo, there are few natural attractions such as Guder
Falls and Huluka Falls of the Blue Nile which is an important river. Vineyards and coffee
plantations can be seen around the river
Plantation of mature coffee
Ethiopia's largest and oldest coffee plantation , it also hosts an experimental spice and fruit
farm and a coffee arboretum , with nearly 40 different varieties of coffee from all corners of
the world, including Brazil, Cuba and India .
A tea plantation can also be visited.
Kaffa Biosphere Reserves
Covering more than 700,000 hectares, it contains more than 50% of Ethiopia's remaining
Afromontane evergreen forest ecosystem.
The site is considered as a scientific, economic, aesthetic and cultural treasure house
numerous waterfalls , caves, natural bridges, fertile valleys, hot springs, wildlife and birdlife
like Bertha and Wushi.
It is the origin of rare and critically endangered Arabica coffee .
is located in the south-west Ilubabor zone
Gibe River can also be visited.
Alatish National Park
The park is located in the southwest of North Gondar and the altitude is 450-2528m.
Vegetation Type - Savannah, Comeratum, Terminalia Woodland, Grassland and Riverine Forest
Main wild animals - 137 mammals, 204 bird species
Top Mammals - African Elephant, Greater and Lesser Kudu, Anubis Monkey, Monkey, Jackal,
Warthog, Hyena and several cats.

44
The main physical features - 97% of the area is plains , a few small hills and the rivers Ayma
and Alatish .

Chapter 6: Eastern Ethiopia tourism resources

Harar
is the 4th holiest city
in the world after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem .

As a crossroads for every imaginable trade for centuries, the city flourished, great dynasties of
rich and powerful merchants grew, and the arts flourished. Then it served as an art center for a
long time. Harare became a trading hub for Africa, India and the Middle East. It was the most
important market in Horn until 1850. It still has special significance for Ethiopian Muslims. It is
probably Ethiopia's most underrated attraction, regardless of its amazing mind.

During the 17th and

18th centuries
, Harar was known as an important center of Islamic scholarship.
Crafts abound, try bookbinding, weaving and basketry. From 1875, Harare was controlled by the
Egyptians for ten years and was finally defeated by Menelik II in 1887. In 1854, Richard
Burton was the first non-Muslim to enter the city. But later the city attracted many foreign
merchants from India, Armenia, England and France. The famous French poet Arthur Rimbaud
spent his last days in this city.

In 1995, under the new government and new federal constitution, Harare became an independent
city-state among the nine regions and two metropolitan administrations. There are more than 90
mosques in Harar, which is the largest mosque in the world.

Silk Tower

In the year In 1520, the local emir Abu Bakr moved his capital from the original capital of Adal
to Harar. But the Emir was deposed by the famous Ahmad Ibn Ibrahim Al Ghazi (Left Ahmad).
Fourteen years of war with the Christian Empire in the West, during which the city's rich wealth
was depleted . At the time when the great leader himself was killed. The city has fallen on hard
times. Then a new threat arose; The expansion of Oromo in the northern province. In response ,
Nur Ibnul Wazir Mujahid built thick 5-meter high walls around the city to this day.

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Within the walls: The walled city of Harar covers an area of 1 square kilometer. An exploration
of the walled city, locally known as Jegol , begins at the main gate (Durke Gate). There are
seven gates in total (Harar Gate, Shawa Gate, Buddha Gate, Sangha Gate, Err Gate, Falna Gate
and Duke Gate). The most important landmark within the walls, at least for objective purposes, is
the central square known as the "Horse Megala"; Literally "horse market". Among the main
attractions of the walled old city of Harar are;

 Beth Madhanemalem Cathedral

 Arthur Rimbaud's House; It now serves as a museum with a series of panels on
Rimbaud's life, old photographs, traditional arts and crafts.
 The House of Rasferi - The house was named after their pre-Christian name.
 largest mosque built in the 19th century
 Gidir Megala; It used to be called the Muslim market.
 Traditional guesthouses (Gegar).
 Shrines and tombs of religious leaders and rulers.

outside the wall; The main attractions include;

- Asma Addin Bari Market or New Market (also known as Christian Market).

- Center of Ras Mekonon Square ; A bronze sculpture of a horseman by the famous artist
Afework Tekle. The monument was demolished by illegal people in 2020.

- Hyena Feeding :- Hyena feeding is the biggest attraction of Harare and can definitely be
popular. He was recently featured on CNN-Clips 'World Culture'. Hyena feeding takes place
outside the walls. As night fell, the remaining hyenas stationed themselves outside the city walls.
It is an unforgettable scene. Hyena people know animals on an individual basis and call them by
names like krinkayo (grinder), chaala (big girl), defikinator (no fuss) etc.

Sheikh Hussain

It is located to the north of Sof Omar Cave and is one of the most important places for Muslim
pilgrimages. The complex has charming small mosques, tombs and caves. It is said that Sheikh
Hussain himself used it to pray for some peace and quiet in the cave. It is at least 500 years old
and is attributed to the 13th holy man who led many Bale and Arsi Oromos to Islam.
This peaceful and atmospheric

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place attracts small festivals in May and October and February and September. The place is
open to all faiths. The trip to the place allows for a trip through the most beautiful areas.

Thea

Surprisingly, little is known about the origin of the Tia or the meaning of the symbols carved on
them. The Steel Fields in Thia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, currently consist of 45 stones
up to 2 meters high. The largest stele in the field was originally 5 meters high, but only the base
remains in place - the upper part has been moved to Addis Ababa University. The main carved
designs of Thia statues are swords, plant type or leaves below the sword, carved circles, letter
'M' on the side and slightly curved lines like letter 'X'. .
Different scholars give different interpretations to the designs of the carved statues of Thia.
Engraved Basic features Delegation suggestions
designs
Swords - They are carved differently on the - Number of enemies or large wild
monuments. animals killed by warriors.
- Some point up and others down; Even on the - War monuments
same stone. - Victory celebration.
Leaf  They are plants or carved leaves under the  Images of Enset or false
shapes sword. banana.
 Wooden pillow figures of
ancient Ethiopia.
Engraved - They are mainly located under or with the Images of the sun and the
circles hilt of the sword. moon.
- Sometimes circles are placed in pairs. Tombs of women or wives of
warriors.
Table 3: Carved patterns and representations of Tia statues

Dire Dawa

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It boasts of unusual urban planning diversity. It is the second most populous city in the country.
The city features straight, tree-lined streets, neat squares and some interesting colonial Italian,
French and Arabic architectural influences. Indeed, Dredawa is a commercial hub and includes
markets such as Kafira Market, some Moorish architectural styles, Dredawa Market for cheap
electronics in Taiwan, and Ashawa Market .

Natural tourism resources of Eastern Ethiopia

Eastern Ethiopia contrasts with the green, densely populated, Christian highlands; Because it is
mostly arid, sparsely populated, low-lying and Muslim.
One of the great attractions in Ethiopia: - The ancient walled city of Harar has many shrines
and served as an important center of learning and art for Ethiopian Muslims.
There are natural attractions such as Awash, Yangudi Rasa and Dera Delfakar National Park,
Babylon Elephant Sanctuary and Kunu Mukhtar Mount Nyala .
in the world and a relaxing break known as chaat or chaat.
is located at the center of the most accessible lake field in Africa . There are at least six lakes
dotted around Bischoff, two of which - Bischoff and Hora - are located in the city center -
making it a great first stop for a day trip from the capital or before heading east or south.
Crater lakes close to Bishop
Bischoff Lake : This is the most central of the lakes and attracts good bird life, especially the
wintering duck population and breeding pairs of Rupel's Griffon vultures.
Hora Lake :- Located 2 kilometers from the city center, the salt water is about 40 meters deep
and is the largest lake in the Bishoftu area . According to the local tradition, an important and
very colorful Oromo thanksgiving festival called Irecha is held every year on the shores of
Lake Hora. There are plans to turn the place into an international sports center, with pools as
well as boat trips and water sports on the lake.
Kuriftu Lake : Perhaps more than any other attractive features, it is known for its amazing
fishing . It is especially known for its tilapia (freshwater fish) and birdlife
Bishoftu Guda Lake : 3 kilometers north of Debrezeit is a large and very attractive lake with
lush beaches.

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Lake Chelelik : It is not a volcanic lake but a shallow plain with seasonal changes in water
level and often dries up completely by the end of winter. It is very attractive with the Yar
Mountain in the background , and offers the best bird's eye view in the area .
Green Crater Lake : It is located 10 kilometers south of Debrezeit, off the Nazareth road,
beyond the air force camp. It is big and green (the result of algae). At sunset or sunset there is a
wonderful view of the lake and the little flamingo birds. The lake is known as Green Sea or Hora
Hado
Zqalala Mount : This 2,989-meter-high extinct volcano, of relatively recent geological origin,
rises over 600 meters above the countryside 30 kilometers south of Bischofstu, and dominates
the skyline for several kilometers. The pine forest on the edge of the cliff supports large
mammals such as Guerza monkeys, Common Duiker and Klipspringer. It is also rich in
forest birds including Black-winged Lovebird, Abyssinian Catbird and Abyssinian
Woodpecker and various forest starlings . The beautiful lake in the middle of a 2-kilometer-
wide hole is sacred to the Orthodox Ethiopians . The main attraction is the Zzkala Mariam
Church and Monastery.
Mount Yerer: Mount Yerer, 3,100 meters high, is a four-million-year-old extinct volcano
(caldera) located on the wall of the West Rift Valley. North of Duke village (10 km) on the
Addis - Bishoftu road. This bridge offers great views of the surrounding lakes and the city of
Addis Ababa.
Sodore : - Located at an altitude of 1,700 meters, Sodore Hot Spring Resort is located 25
kilometers south of Adama, about 1 kilometer on the banks of the Awash River. Vervet
monkeys, crocodiles and hippos are often encountered. The riverine forest offers excellent
birdlife.
Lega Oda Cave : Dredawa is known for its ancient cave paintings in Ethiopia that started around
10,000 BC.
 Cow milking

 Using bows, arrows, spears and shields

 Humped and small cattle, goats, lions

Chapter Seven: Nature and Culture Based Tourism: Present, Past and Future

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Nature-based tourism: It is based on nature-related activities.

 Ecotourism
 Wildlife tourism

Adventure tourism : deals with activities that involve risk and danger, and includes mountain
biking, river rafting and paragliding.

Water-based tourism : It is based on water transportation, which includes boat tourism, boat
tourism and river tourism.
Soft Tourism : Include activities like sightseeing, travel photography, bird watching etc.
 Natural resources are also distributed
 The past process
 current conditions,
 Future processes
 Past Processes - Those that are evidence of biological and geophysical evolution in the
past, such as the Omo Valley and Afar archaeological sites
 Contemporaries – include existing natural diversity and natural conditions (position)
and natural diversity again includes both bio-diversity and geo-diversity.
 Future processes - They are an ongoing natural process that includes both biological and
geophysical future evolution.

Culture-based tourism - includes cultural heritage tourism, religious and pilgrimage tours,
MICE tourism, urban tourism and rural or village tourism.

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