Ethiopia

Capital:  Addis Ababa

Try not to miss: The beautiful Omo valley in the south of the country north of Lake Turkana, which is home to fascinating nomadic and semi-nomadic people with diverse ethnic groups and culture, including the Hamer, Mursi, Karo, Benna, Geleb, Surma and Arri tribes. Also in the south, but lying on the western edge of the Rift Valley, Arba Minch is well known for the variety of its endemic species of bird life. Bale National Park is situated 500 kilometers south of Addis Ababa on the high mountain plateau where rare endemic species include the Nyala antelope, Semien fox, and Menelik's bushbuck - and the rivers in Bale Mountains National Park are also home to large free rising trout.

Bahir Dar, which sits at the mouth of Lake Tana, is the capital city of the Amhara region in northern central Ethiopia and home to the Woyto people who make canoes and other boats from papyrus reeds. Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile, which plunges over  dramatic waterfalls at Tisissat some 35 miles downstream, then flows for 400 miles through the steep and dramatic gorge country of highland Ethiopia. Lalibela lies immediately to the east of Lake Tana, a small town hemmed in by mountains but famous all over the world for its eleven extraordinary churches, which were hewn from solid rock in the 13^th century.

The northern city of Gondor lies at the edge of the Semian mountains and is home to some fascinating architecture, including the Quesquam enclosure, the beautiful church of Debre Birhan Sellassie, complete with wonderful murals and paintings, and the Qusqam Monastery. Queen Sheba used the ancient city of Axum in the far north of Ethiopia as her capital in the 10^th century BC. Axum is famous for its obelisks or monolithic stelae, and the imposing St. Mary of Zion Church, which is the oldest of all Ethiopian churches and contains rare ecclesiastical relics. Wild and Exotic can organise tailor made and professionally guided itineraries to all of these and many more destinations within the extraordinary country that is Ethiopia.

Getting there: There are several weekly flights from the UK to Addis Ababa. Unless you wish to spend a night in Addis Ababa (Wild and Exotic can recommend hotels and book on your behalf) you are advised to take flights that arrive into Addis Ababa the morning after departing London. As ATOL license holders (# 6445) Wild and Exotic can book discounted return fares with all major airlines.

Time:  GMT plus 2 hours

Visas: All UK visitors require a visa, which can be purchased for $25 on arrival in Addis Ababa or organized in advance through the Ethiopian Embassy.

Weather:  There is no winter or summer, as Ethiopia is so close to the Equator.  There are two rainy seasons, a short one in April and a long one from mid- June to mid- September.