East Africa, Ethiopia, Travel, Tour, Adventure, Festival, Culture, Lalibela, Harar, Gondar, Axum, Omo, Bahir Dar, Addis Ababa,

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Ethiopia Travel & Tour Information

Cultural Attractions

With over 80 distinct and fascinating ethnic groups, Ethiopia provides a mix of cultures and traditions that ranges between the modern and sophisticated lives of the cities to the most untouched and authentic African tribes of the remote parts of south western Ethiopia .

A strong religious setting, a tradition going 3000 years back to the days of the Axum Kingdom, celebrations and festivals that are part of Ethiopians’ daily lives, all provide a unique opportunity for travelers who wants to get a feel of what it is like to live in such a diverse cultural setting, yet keeping a balance between tradition and modernization.

Church ceremonies are major parts of Ethiopian life that attracts a large number of tourists. Among the many highly celebrated church festivals Ethiopian New Year, Finding of the True Cross, Ethiopian Christmas and Epiphany are included in the “not to be missed” list of many festival attendees. Ethiopia 's Islamic tradition also provides a colorful contrast of tradition, particularly in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the country.

Traditional dining, one aspect of the Ethiopian customs, follows certain rules and rituals that signifies sharing, bonds of loyalty and friendship. The traditional way of eating Ethiopian foods is with fingers. Injera, a fermented pancake, is placed on the plate with variety of sauces and dishes around it. A small portion of "Injera" is then torn off and wrapped around a mouthful of the selected dish. For a first time dinner, its quite an experience to use fingers. It creates a sense of belongingness to a culture and tradition that stood out 3000 years.

Travelers also get fascinated with Ethiopian traditional dances that vary as the ethnic groups themselves. Many of these tribes use distinct musical instruments that are unique to the respective cultures and tradition. Participating in these traditional dances and plays has always been a fun for foreign tourist and quite a physical exercise as well!.

Hennie & Maretha Maartens

Before leaving for Ethiopia , we had the feeling that something out of the ordinary was awaiting us. We are somewhat addicted to unusual and adventurous undertakings, but this time we intuitively knew that we would also encounter some sobering and thought-provoking things.

Most people think of Ethiopia as a place of famine, poverty and hardship. We were no exception to the rule. We knew that we would not be able transfer our personal comfort zones to Ethiopia . Nevertheless we left South Africa for Ethiopia in a state of excitement and eagerness. learn more

	Bahir Dar Market Bahar Dar for centuries has been a place of commercial importance. It was and still is visited by papyrus canoes made by a lakeside people called the Woyto, who ply these craft across the waters of the lake. Open at the back end, the boats appear...
	Weyto village Weyto village is among one of the cultural tourist attractions Ethiopia offers to a traveler. Currently we are in the process of updating the content for Weyto village page so as to give updated and correct information on the attraction.
	Addis Ababa - Merkato Addis Ababa is located at 2,500 meters above sea level at the footstep of the highest parts of series of Mountain chain. Addis is also the seat of African Union (AU) and many International offices and over 100 Embassies. It enjoys an excellent climate.
	Jinka - Yearly Celebration Jinka is a market town in southern Ethiopia. Located on the Tama Plains in the Debub Omo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 5°39'N 36°39'E.
	Ethiopian New Year Ethiopia still retains the Julian calendar, in which the year is divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 days and 6 days in leap year. The Ethiopian calendar is 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar from January to September.
	Epiphany Timket, feast of Epiphany is the greatest festival of the year falling on the 19 January just two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is actually a three-day affair beginning on the eve of Timket with dramatic and colourful processions.
	Ethiopian Christmas Christmas, called Lidet, is not the primary religious and secular festival that it has become in Western countries. Falling on 7 January, it is celebrated seriously by a church service that goes on throughout the night, with people moving from
	Finding of the True Cross Meskal has been celebrated in the country for over 1600 years. The word actually means "cross" and the feast commemorates the discovery of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified, by the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great.
	Amhara People The Amhara women wear dresses that are tight bodice and full skirted. The dresses are bright white with colored embroidery and woven borders. The men are resplendent in white jodhpurs and tunics. Although originally most of the border designs
	Harari People The Muslims of Harar wear colorful dress. The men often dress in red, purple or black. The women of Harar part their hair in the middle and make large buns behind their ears. Harari women have been known for their basketwork for centuries
	Bume Tribe The Bume are Nilotee (Nilo-Saharan) people who occupy the land which is found immediately south of the Omo National Park. Their present day territory is boarderd by the kwegu and the Mursi in the North, the Karo & the Hamar in the east, the
	Konso Tribe The Konso are an eastern Cushitic speaking people, who live in the highlands of southern Ethiopia. Lands of Galla peoples, to whom the Konso are culturally and linguistically related, surround their traditional territory. A Cushitic people, the
	Gelebe Tribe Gelebe Tribe is among one of the cultural tourist attractions Ethiopia offers to a traveler. Currently we are in the process of updating the content for Gelebe Tribe page so as to give updated and correct information on the attraction. Visit us back ...
	Bodi Tribe Bodi, a small tribe who come to the Omo every September and October to grow sorghum, clearing and planting suitable mud banks as the annual floods retreat. The Bodi are of Nilo- Saharan stock and pastoral background. Although no longer pure ...
	Mursi Tribe The Mursi (or Murzu) are a Sub-Saharan African nomadic cattle herder tribe located in the Omo valley in southwestern Ethiopia close to the Sudanese border. The estimated population of the Mursi is around 3900. Surrounded by mountains
	Surma Tribe In the mountains of South West Ethiopia, at over 800 m on 45 square km, lives a tribe of 2500 semi nomads called Surma. Surma are related to the Nubians and to the well known Massai tribe from Kenya and Tanzania. Like Massai, they are
	Arbore Tribe Arbore Tribe is among one of the cultural tourist attractions Ethiopia offers to a traveler. Currently we are in the process of updating the content for Arbore Tribe page so as to give updated and correct information on the attraction. Visit us back ...
	Hamer Tribe The Hamers live in camps that consist of several related families. The families live in tents arranged in a circle, and the cattleare brought into the center of the camp at night. When the campsite is being set up, beds for the women and young
	Borena Tribe Part of the Oromo tribe Ethiopias largest ethnic group the Borana are estimated to total 500,000, but because many live in remote areas it is hard to know exactly how many exist. Borana speak Oromifa. They are traditionally semi-nomadic pastoralists,...
	Afar Tribe The Afar, most of whom occupy one of the most inhospitable desert or semi-desert areas in the world, have long been regarded as a fierce and warlike people. They are certainly proud and individualistic, and somehow manage to
	Anuak Tribe The Anuak people are found in the Gambella region. The indigenous Anuak people are mainly fishermen in this region, and the crops they do grow such as: sorghum does not reach their full potential because of the extremely basic ethods employed.
	Oromo Tribe This destination is among one of the natural tourist attractions Ethiopia offers to a traveler. Currently we are in the process of updating the content for this page so as to give updated and correct information on the attraction.
	Somali Tribe The lowland Somali wear long, often brightly coloured cotton wraps, while some of the cattle-herders in the Lake District have clothing made of skins.
	Tigray Tribe The women of Tigray wear dozens of plaits (shuruba) tightly braided to the head and fuzzing out at the shoulders. Young children often have their heads shaved, except for a tuft or a small tail of plaits, which are left so that if God calls them 'He ...
	Religion The spectacular road from Goba south to Dolo-Mena crosses the eastern part of the Bale Mountains National Park and the Sanetti Plateau. This, the highest all-weather road in Africa, crosses the 4,000 m contour, and some of the loveliest