Destination: Ethiopia

Articles and advice on traveling to Ethiopia, including visiting Lalibela, Simien Mountains, Gheralta Mountains, Addis Ababa, Gondar and Axum. Also includes an overview of Ethiopian food and history.

Ethiopian Food: A Culinary Travel Guide to What to Eat and Drink

Ethiopian food

Ethiopian food is one of the world's most unique, fascinating and delicious cuisines. In addition to its flavorful dishes, stews, and spices, Ethiopian cuisine also features a strong culture around how food is served and shared with friends and family. This Ethiopian food guide is drawn from experiences across the country, including visits to local markets, meals in homes and an impromptu cooking course. It offers an extensive list of traditional dishes as well as tips on what to eat and drink when you visit.

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Travel to Ethiopia: Why Visit and What Might Surprise You

Ethiopian monk

Curious about Ethiopia and what you might experience there? From its ancient history and rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to its mountains, bustling markets, delicious cuisine, coffee ceremonies and more, here are a few reasons why you should travel to Ethiopia. We're almost certain you will be surprised by what you find.

Gherlta, Ethiopia
This is Ethiopia? Yes. A land of many surprises.

When I was growing up, I remember Ethiopia having a long run on the nightly news. Unfortunately newscasts all pointed to the grim. Newsreel images featured fly-ridden babies with distended bellies, drought-ruined landscapes and a ravaging famine made only worse by civil war.

Sounding familiar?

Fasiladas' Palace in Gondar, Ethiopia
There be castles in Ethiopia. This 17th century one: Fasiladas' Palace in Gondar.

Prior to our visit, we figured some distance between the Ethiopia of the 1980s and the Ethiopia of today — yet not quite to the extent we’d found.

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The Ancient Rock-Carved Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia

St. George, the most famous of Lalibela's Rock Hewn Churches

The story of the rock-carved churches of Lalibela goes: almost 900 years ago in Ethiopia there lived a visionary king named Lalibela.

Lalibela traveled far and wide, including an extended pilgrimage he took to Jerusalem, after which he brought back home to Ethiopia all he'd seen and learned.

When Muslims conquered Jerusalem in the late 12th century and it became too dangerous for devout Ethiopian Christians to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem itself, Lalibela fashioned a work-around: to build a New Jerusalem in his home country.

But this New Jerusalem was no ordinary holy place.

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Up Next: A Journey to East Africa

Simien mountains

Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
Simien Mountains under a misty cover, Ethiopia.

Our journey to East Africa, just about underway. What follows includes not only our itinerary and a call for your recommendations, but a personal note and a couple of back-stories including $100 given to us with a purpose on a ship in Antarctica.

As you read this, we're on our way to Ethiopia to begin a six week journey through Eastern Africa. We expect the journey to take us from Ethiopia to Uganda, Rwanda and finally Tanzania.

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