Events |
Celebrate Ethiopian millennium and feel 7 years younger!! |
Ethiopian millennium
Ethiopia will welcome the millennium with a year-long celebration that marks this momentous turn of the calendar with nationwide celebrations,breathtaking entertainments,various cultural shows and tastes from all around the country.more |
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Timket is Ethiopian language
for Epiphany. Although the holiday commemorating Christ's baptism
in the River Jordan is observed by Christians all over the
world, Timket is of special significance in Ethiopia. It is
the most important and colourful event of the year. more |
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Meskel is celebrated
by dancing,feasting and lighting a massive bonfire known
in Ethiopian tradition as Damera. Meskel commemorates
the finding of the True Cross in the 4th century when Empress
Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, discovered the
True Cross on which Christ was crucified. more
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National Parks
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ABIJATTA - SHALLA LAKES
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Situated
in the Great Rift Valley, only 200 kilometers (124
miles) south of Addis Ababa, and in the Lake Langano
recreational areas, the Abijatta Shalla lakes National
Park attracts numerous visitors. Using Lake Langano
as your base, it is an easy trip to visit the National
Park, which is 887 square kilometers in size, 482
of these being water.
Lake Abijatta
Two different lakes in one park, the two lakes are both
terminal lakes and their beaches are unstable and saline,
but they are very different in character. Abijatta is
shallow at about 14 meters with a mysterious fluctuating
water level. Fresh water flows into it trough the small
Horakello stream. The steam mouth is a source of relatively
fresh water, much frequented by water birds for drinking
and bathing. The Lake is surrounded by gentle, grass
covered slopes and acacia woodlands.
Lake Shalla
by contrast , surrounded as it is by steep, black cliffs
and peaks that reflect in its waters, is the deepest
lake of the Rift Valley (260 meters (853 feet). , It
is exceptionally beautiful, with shores that give a
scent of mystery with their hot sulphurous springs
that bubble up and flow into the lake.
There are over 400 bird species recorded here, almost
half the number recorded for the whole country. Although
the islands in Lake Shalla are a real birds paradise,
the birds fly to Lake Abijatta to feed. Abijatta itself
is very alkaline but shallow, so flamingoes can be
seen scattered over most of its surface, and especially
along the windward edge where their algal food source
concentrates. You can approach quite closely, but beware
of treacherous deep and mud if the lake is low. Large
numbers of flamingos gather here, together with great
white pelicans and a wide variety of other water birds.
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SEMIEN
MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
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The
Semien mountains are a must for all those interested
in wildlife, scenery and spectacular landscapes, the
Park has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Semien Mountains constitute one of the major mountain
massifs in Africa. The region includes many summits above
4000 meters and culminates in the highest point in Ethiopia,
Ras Dejen, at 4620 meters, the fourth highest mountain
in Africa.
It is home to the endemic mammals of Walia Ibex, Semien
Fox, Gelada Baboons and many species of birds and plants
apart from its spectacular scenic beauty.
Maximum temperatures during the day are about 15o Centigrade
( 60o Fahrenheit). At night the temperature usually drops
to 3 - 5 o C (35o -40o F). |
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AWASH NATIONAL
PARK
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Located in the lowlands
225 km east of Addis Ababa, the south boundary of the
park is formed by the Awash river which swings North
soon after leaving the park and eventually disappears
into the Afar (Danakil) region. The Park covers an area
of 827 square kilometers, most of it lies at an altitude
of 900 meters. In the middle of the park is the dormant
volcano of Fantale, reaching a height of 2007 meters
at its top.
Temperatures in the park are hot and can reach as high
as 42 degrees Celsius. Nights are cooler with temperatures
between 10 and 22 degrees Celsius. Rain falls between February
and August with an average of 619 mm. The terrain is mainly
acacia woodland and grassland.
The wildlife of Awash reflects its dry nature, at all places
and all times it is possible to see its population of mammals
such as the Beisa Oryx, Soemmerrings Gazelle and Wild Pigs
are common. Slightly less frequent are the furry waterbuck
which tend to appear near the river in the late afternoon.
The tiny Salts Dik-Dik, not easy to spot in the speckled
shade of the acacia thorn, Zebra grazing the plains to
the west of Fantale, Cheetah, Serval and Leopard are also
there but it is not easy to spot them; Baboons, both Anubis
and Hamadryas, Kudus, lesser and greater, the Giant Tortoise,
Reedbuck, Aardvark and Caracal are also represented. Klipspringer
inhabit the higher slopes of the mountain and curious Hyrax
peer at you curiously from behind their rocks. In the bottom
of the gorge you can spot the black and white Colobus Monkey.
Crocodile and Hippopotamus are seen both in the Awash river
and in the cooler parts of the hot springs and rivers in
the north.
The birds of Awash are numerous, over 350 species are recorded
for the park: (The check list is available at the museum
at park Head quarters). They range from the great ostrich,
frequently and easily observed, and the less common Secretary
Bird and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, to the flashes of
brilliant pink which are the Carmine Bee-eaters, and the
Abyssinian Roller with turquoise and purple, wings. And
between these two extremes, birds of the riverine forest,
Coucal, Turaco, Go-away Birds; birds of prey; and birds
of the savannah.
The Awash river gorge
in the south of the park has some spectacular waterfalls
near the park headquarters. Rafting is also a possibility,
one or two days rafting trips can be organized on the Awash
river, with its spirited rapids, wildlife, and impressive
rugged cliffs and side canyons
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MAGO NATIONAL
PARK
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2,162 sq km, 770km southwest
of Addis Ababa, on east bank of Omo river. 450-2,528m.
Highest point is Mount Mago
Mainly grass savannah, some forested areas around rivers.
Conservation area for plains animals, 56 species of mammals:
buffalo, giraffe, elephant, lelwel hartebeest, lion, cheetah,
leopard, zebra, gerenuk, oryx |
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OMO NATIONAL PARK
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Located in the south-west
on the west bank of Omo River, 870km south-west of Addis
Ababa, covering an area of approx 4,068 sq km
Wildlife found in this park include, buffalo, elephant,
giraffe, cheetah, lion, leopard, zebra, kudu, hartebeest,
oryx, Anubis baboon and many other animals. Over 306 species
of birds can be seen.
This is also a wonderful area for visiting local peoples
and experiencing their cultures.
The park is not easily accessible. The park HQ is 75km
from Kibish settlement. However, a new airstrip is available
close to the HQ and to a pleasant campsite on the Mui River. |
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NECHI SAR NATIONAL
PARK
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Situated 510km south of Addis near the town of Arba Minch,
in between Lakes Abaya and Chamo.
A wide variety of plains game roam freely amongst 514m2
of savannah, dry bush and groundwater forest, which are
also the habitat of 188 recorded species of birds. Animals
to be seen are Bushbuck, Swayne's Hartebeest, Burchell's
Zebra, Grant's Gazelle, Guenther's Dik-dik, Greater Kudu,
Crocodile, Anubis Baboon, Grey Duiker. Birds seen include
Red-billed Hornbill, Grey Hornbil,l Fish Eagle, Kori Bustard,
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill..
A backdrop of hills and mountains combine to make this
one of the most attractive national parks in Ethiopia,
and its location makes it very accessible. In the far eastern
part of the park hot springs bubble to the surface
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