Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Founded in 980 B.C., Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations in the world.
  • Ethiopians have one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. Current figures estimate that women can expect to live for about 50 years, and men for about 48 years.
  • Some of the traditional societies in Ethiopia view having twins as mingi, or a sign of bad luck. They believe that twins may be cursed, or invite evil spirits.
  • The name “Ethiopia” comes from the Greek words aitho and ops, which together mean “burnt face.” This was how the ancient Greeks referred to the dark-skinned people of eastern Africa.

Sightseeing

Simien Mountains National Park
Rare wildlife & Ras Dashen mountain
Simien Mountains National Park is in northern Ethiopia. Its rugged terrain includes escarpments, deep valleys and a high plateau, home to rare Walia ibex and Gelada baboons. Tall peaks include

Lake Tana
Lakes, monasteries, and churches
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and is the largest lake in Ethiopia. Located in Amhara Region in the north-western Ethiopian Highlands, the lake is approximately 84 kilometers long and

Lake Turkana
Lakes, safaris, crocodiles, and fishing
Lake Turkana, formerly known as Lake Rudolf, is a lake in the Kenyan Rift Valley, in northern Kenya, with its far northern end crossing into Ethiopia. It is the world’s largest permanent desert.