Ethiopia is a country I have visited for the first time in early 2023. Jonas and I traveled to three places around the country for one month. It was a dream come true to visit some places and finally eat Ethiopian food in the land it hailed from instead of enjoying it abroad in the UAE and in Istanbul.
Things I’d Like to Do in Ethiopia
- Hitchhike a little bit here and there. I’d love to write hitchhiking signs in the Aramaic alphabet
- Enjoy the capital city Addis Ababa✅ and take the Addis Ababa light rail everywhere. Perhaps visit the Zoma Museum✅, the Mercato or Shola markets, The Africa Unbound Museum, the Tiglachin Monument, the Monument to the Lion of Judah✅, the Red Terror Martyr’s Memorial Museum, the National Palace Museum, and see some above-ground churches and cathedrals (Entoto Maryam Church, Holy Trinity Cathedral) and the Washa Mikael Rock-Hewn Church
- When leaving the capital, I’d like to take the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway. This would also be my preferred way of entering/leaving Djibouti
- You know I’m really looking forward to the food✅ and coffee✅. I’m gonna eat a lot of yetsom beyaynetu. I’ve been using this glossary to find out what’s what
- In Lalibela, see the Age of Empires wonder of the Ethiopians, the Bete Amanuel✅. While in the area, it would also be cool to visit St. George’s Cathedral✅ (also rock-hewn)
- If I’m in Ethiopia at the right time, I’d like to witness local holidays such as Enkutatash and Meskel (both in September in the ’20s), Timkat, and Ashenda in the northern regions
- See or hike up Ras Dashen (4620masl), the highest point in Ethiopia
- Try to do some boat trips✅. Perhaps by kayak, perhaps by something bigger via the only navigable river, the Baro River
- Visit one or more of the many Ethiopian national parks
- See some natural wonders, such as the Danakil Desert, the Dallol Depression, the Erta Ale volcano and lava fields, and the Blue Nile Falls✅
- Visit some lake islands✅ with churches and monasteries, such as Deq Island
Map of Things to do in Ethiopia
Not everything on this map has been researched in depth.
If you know cool places and things to do in Ethiopia, comment below so I can always find your suggestions again once I start making the dream come true! Tips are especially welcome if you are Ethiopian or have lived there for a while
Are you a travel blogger and do you have good posts about Ethiopia? Drop them in a comment below and I’ll read them!
How to Get an Ethiopian SIM Card
We arrived in Ethiopia on the 26th of January, 2023 and immediately bought an Ethiopian SIM card at the airport. Here’s our experience and how you can get mobile data in Addis Ababa and beyond. Contents1 Ethio Telecom Monopoly2 Buying the Ethiopian SIM Card at Addis Ababa Airport (ADD)3 Where to buy a SIM card in Ethiopia?4 How to top-up your Ethiopian SIM card?5 How to buy a data package?6 FAQ6.1 I’m entering Ethiopia via a land border, where can I buy a SIM card?6.2 Where can I find my own number?6.3 How to check my balance?6.4 Should IContinue reading
Ethiopian Food and Drink I Scarfed Down as a Vegetarian in 30 Days
As a traveling vegetarian, Ethiopia is quite an easy country to visit. Many national dishes are vegetarian or vegan. These are the Ethiopian food and drinks I wolfed down during my one-month stay in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, and Lalibela. Contents1 How to Find Out Which Ethiopian Foods are Vegetarian?2 Ethiopian Food and Drink Diary3 Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony3.1 No popcorn, just popcorn3.2 Full coffee ceremony at Alem Restaurant, Lalibela3.3 Introduction to Tana Adam3.4 Popcorn!4 Helpful? Please consider buying me a flaxseed juice!5 Spread your love for Ethiopian food How to Find Out Which Ethiopian Foods are Vegetarian? Ever since theContinue reading
Bete Amanuel, Lalibela: Wonder of the Ethiopians
We visited the wonder on the 7th and the 10th of February, 2023. Bete Amanuel is a spectacular church carved out of a single rock in northern Ethiopia. It makes an appearance in the video game Age of Empires II as the wonder of the Ethiopian civilization. Contents1 One of the Reasons We’re in Ethiopia2 Want to visit Lalibela with Mas?3 First Visit to Bete Amanuel4 Second Visit to Bete Amanuel5 Bete Amanuel as Represented in Age of Empires II5.1 AoE2 Bete Amanuel vs. the Real Deal5.2 Campaign appearance of Bete Amanuel5.3 Why Bete Amanuel and not the arguably moreContinue reading
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