Unveiling the mysterious land of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is truly a different world, athe place that once appeared in my mindyouth andlieon my list of places to go for a long time.Therefore,the night we landed in Addis Ababa, the capital of this East African country,It was an unforgettable experience. My dream finally came true.

Everything I had imagined about this faraway land was exactly what I felt right at the place we first set foot in - Addis Ababa, the capital and largest city of Ethiopia.

With a lot of mysteries, Ethiopia is home to many tribes in the southern region and these tribes still retain the primitive features from the early period of mankind. Going up to the North, you can find many churches built from monolithic rocks still standing tall, many ancient monuments and castles, religious processions. It is also a place of noisy markets, all kinds of sounds with smiles and admirable joy of life of the local people.

Baohc Mursi in phSouthern Vietnam

First we moved south to the Omo Valley to meet the Hamers, Mursi, Karo, Surma and Bodi tribes.

The Mursi tribe lives in a remote area of ​​Ethiopia. The people of this tribe live in harmony with nature, forming a homogeneous group and guided by ancient dogmas and rituals. The Mursi people have almost no interaction, even friendly, with other tribes in the area. They are quite fierce in using spears and AKs to fight against threats of stealing cattle or kidnapping women from other tribes in the same territory.

The Mursi tribe's behavior is said to be a result of a long-standing feud with the Hamers. They place great importance on tribal harmony, often residing in remote villages on the banks of the Omo River, where the tsetse flies are rare, and living in small thatched huts.

Khuareac Christianity in the North

We continued our journey north into Ethiopia, where many medieval ruins and rock-cut churches still remain. We found ourselves lost in an area where there was little boundary between the past and the present, with many Christian religious ceremonies that had not changed for hundreds of years.

One such place is Lalibela – a quaint town that feels as if time has stood still. Pilgrims from all over Ethiopia flock here in uniform white attire, adding to the town’s enchanting beauty.

We stayed in Lalibela for a few days to visit some churches and explore the town’s amazing natural surroundings. The locals were very welcoming and friendly. For me, Lalibela is one of those places that you really miss and regret leaving.

Located at an altitude of 2,630cm above sea level on the southwestern slopes of the former Lasta province, in the present Amhara region of Ethiopia, Lalibela is considered a monastery town. A holy place for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, Lalibela is famous for its 11 medieval monolithic churches. The most famous of these is the eight-century-old Bete Giyorgis (St. George Church).

AndHarar -tUNESCO World Heritage City

At the end of our 5 week trip, we drove to the legendary city of Harar. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, Harar is an ancient city that dates back hundreds of years.

Located at an altitude of about 1,885 m and 525 km east of the capital Addis Ababa, Harar is the commercial center of the Harari region of about 150,000 inhabitants. With 102 sanctuaries and nearly 100 mosques, some dating back to the 10th century, Harar is considered the fourth holiest city in Islam. Over the centuries, influenced by both African and Islamic traditions, the city has become extremely unique with its own cultural characteristics and architectural style.

The city has a network of more than 362 narrow streets in its center within an area of ​​one square kilometer. Harar's old town has around 82 mosques, making it one of the places with the highest density of mosques in the world.

With its distinctive culture and architecture, bustling markets, crumbling walls and friendly people, Harar takes you back in time. The houses in Harar’s old quarter reflect the city’s unique cultural heritage. Traditional houses often have courtyards with intricately designed interiors, most of which have been kept intact.

Ethiopia is truly a wonderful country to travel and explore and have truly memorable experiences during your trip!

More information

+ Journey

There are several airlines that offer flights to Ethiopia. Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines are the two best options for flying to the capital Addis Ababa from most cities in the world. You may have to transit in Istanbul, Turkey, or Cairo, Egypt.

+ Move

- Book a jeep tour with driver from a local travel agency in Addis Ababa to explore the southern region. Traveling in this area is a real adventure. You should not go alone because transportation here is very limited.

- Explore the southern region on weekly market days in the villages of Dimeka, Key Afar, Jinka and Turmi to meet the tribes in their daily lives.

- In the Northern region, you can travel alone because accommodation and transportation are quite convenient. Ethiopian Airlines offers domestic flights so you can easily fly to other locations in the Northern region of Ethiopia.

- To get to Harar, you can fly or take a bus from Addis Ababa. There are many places to stay in this city.

+ Cuisine

- Try "injera", a flat, thin, and spongy sourdough bread that is a traditional Ethiopian dish.

- Ethiopia is also famous for its coffee and beer. Coffee production in Ethiopia is a long-standing tradition that dates back decades.

+ In Addis Ababa

- Enjoy jazz music at one of the many jazz cafes in the capital Addis Ababa.

- Relax and go shopping at Mercato market, considered one of the largest markets in Africa. This will be an unforgettable experience for visitors.

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Pascal Mannaerts
Belgian photographer

"I traveled all over Ethiopia by jeep for 5 weeks with a friend and our driver. I waseachI have traveled to many places around the world but I must say that my experience in Ethiopia was one of the most amazing and memorable experiences of my life!"

More photos by Pascal Mannaerts can be seen at the website:www.parcheminsdailleurs.com

Pascal Mannaerts