Ethiopia’s status of the oldest independent country in Africa helps the presence of undisturbed historical sites and cultural practices. Ancient hill tribes, wild forest areas, gushing rivers, and depressions filled with active volcanos as well as civilization in ancient monasteries and churches are also worthy of tourists’ attention.
The government of Ethiopia prioritizes investments in the tourism sector and has strong desire for investors to engage in the construction of star-designated hotels, lodges and resorts across tourist attraction sites.
Here follows attempt has been made to present some of Ethiopia’s major natural, historical and cultural tourist attraction sites.
Lalibela
The showpiece of Ethiopia is the city of Lalibela in Amhara State, Northern part of the country. Famous for 11 monolithic rock-hewn churches, Lalibela is the jewel of the oldest Christian Empire in the world. According to a magazine issued by Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Lalibela churches were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, as its constituents being amongst the finest of Ethiopia’s nearly 200 rock-hewn churches.
The complex consists of two groups of churches and a single church divided by the river known locally as Yordanos. Gatherings of pilgrims are especially large on major feast days and on Orthodox Christmas (Genna), held on January 7 every year.
Ethiopian Epiphany at Lalibela
Both ‘Keterea’ and ‘Timket’ (Epiphany) ceremonies particularly are so colorful that they have recently attracted the attention of numerous tourists from around the world. The arcs start their journey on January 19, in the afternoon.
This day is called Ketera. Special chanting and traditional dances are practiced. The next day, prayers on one side, dance and music on the other will continue. Celebration of mass takes place in the morning and the fathers pray on the water to make it holy and sprinkle it on the believers. Finally, when the actual moment arises, those engaged in prayers and the ones busy using the event as a party will follow the arcs to its respective churches. What makes Epiphany in Lalibela very unique is the remarkable sound of hundreds of priests chanting during religious services in the middle of processions through meadows.
Ketera and Epiphany are among the calmest religious festivals to experience. Both followers and religious leaders engaged are assigned to play special roles. The church fathers pray beautifully arranged prayer melodies. The respect and gratitude these ceremonies get in the entire journey of celebration always allures the passerby’s attention and create a longing to participate. Ketera and Epiphany also create a traditional space where single women and men engage in in courtship. Generally, the festival plays a significant role in social bonding of the society throughout their engagement with music and dancing without any restriction whatsoever.
Axum
The ruins of an ancient Axumite Kingdom are registered as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. The Kingdom was one of the four great powers on earth along with: Persia, Rome and China. Axum is more than just ancient ruins and churches. From a religious point of view, it is home of the Church of St. Mary of Zion, the Ark of the Covenant as well as the site of the First Christian Church in Africa. The uniqueness of Axum makes a place that everyone is enthusiastic to experience.
Mystical rock churches of Tigray
There are some 200 rock hewn churches, and even more that may still be unknown. The most well-known churches are found in different parts of Tigray State and these rock churches and monasteries are unique frescoes and paintings depicting ancient Christian scenes.
The history of Debere Damo is centered on the “Nine Saints” who came to Ethiopia from Syria. A monastery is situated on an isolated mountain in north western part of Tigray. It is unique and built, in the 6th century with curved wood panels, painted ceilings and nine saints. Debere Damo is only accessible by climbing by a rope.
Gondar
The Fasil Gibi is one of Ethiopia’s twelve UNESCO registered World Historical Heritage Site in 1979. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortress- city of Fasil Gibi was the residence of the Ethiopian Emperor Fasilides and his successors. Surrounded by a 900-meter-long wall, the city contains palaces, a royal bath, churches, monasteries, paintings, unique public and private buildings and diversified ethnic and religious settlements.
Bahir Dar
Ethiopia’s picturesque city Bahir Dar set on the southeastern shore of Lake Tana, where local fishermen still use papyrus boats, and just 30 km from the spectacular Blue Nile Falls. Here the Blue Nile creates “Smoking Water” an awesome inspiring sight as it plunges into the gorge below. Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source of the famed Blue Nile, where it starts its long journey to Khartoum and on to Cairo before heading to the Mediterranean Sea. The colorful local market at Bahir Dar is renowned for its weavers and wood workers.
From Bahir Dar tourists explore the ancient monasteries that have been built around Lake Tana and on many of the 37 islands which shelter fascinating churches and monasteries, some of which have histories dating back to the 13th Century. The most interesting islands found there are Birgida Mariam, Dega Estefanos, Dek, Tana Cherkos and among others.
The Simien Mountain National Park
The Simien Mountain National Park was registered by UNESCO as Natural World Heritage Site in 1978. The park lies approximately 748 km north of Addis Ababa and found in Gondar, Amhara State. The park massively eroded over several years on the Ethiopian plateau resulting to one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices. The park is a home to some rare animals such as the Gelada baboon, Simien Fox and Walia Ibex, found nowhere else in the world.
All in all, Ethiopia has abundant potential for commercial and conference tourism and a lot is expected from the government to enhance the provision of incentives including tax holidays, access to land at competitive lease price and custom free imports of capital goods to make the country’s tourism industry competitive at global level.
Herald December 11/2018
BY BILAL DERSO
