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Our Vehicles

Address:Our office located on our building ,Bole on the road 500m from Olympia to Meskel flower , in front

of BGM hospital.Office: +251-115-510508 Fax: +251-115-572289 P.o.box: 56 Code: 1110

E-mail: info@mazethiopiatour.com / book@mazethiopiatour.comAddis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contact in Germany : schewa@ethio-travel.comwww.mazethiopiatour.com

Www.mazethiopiatrading.comDesign : Dawit Solomon : Tel: +251-913-066990

Maz Ethiopia Tour

Payment and Custumer Satisfaction Guaranted !!

” Visit Ethiopia and be seven years younger ”

Maz Ethiopia Tour Operation“ Travel with an Adventure Spirit !”

Well Come !Well Come !

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Background Information :Maz Ethiopia Tour: is one of a privately owned national tour op-

erator established in the year 2009 G.C. The name “MAZ” refers tothe first three letters of the name of the owner Mr. Mazengia andhas a complementary meaning in Hamer tribes, when a young boytries to jump lined bulls to show that they are old enough to get

married. In this jumping process his relatives will help him in holding the bulls, andthey call it “MAZ”.

We are expressing the motto of Ethiopia “a land of 13 months of sunshine”. Where ourhead office located on our building in Addis Ababa Bole Olympia, 500m from Olympiatowards Meskel flower and work with the local community at the destinations to ad-dress globally demanded that tourism should be “pro-poor” to ensure the existence ofsustainable environment, social, cultural values and mutual share of economical bene-fits.

We have sister companies engaged in hotel service (Yabello motel), Yordanos TeshaleCar Importer , Fuel station (Yabello and Shashemene), and Maz Gemstones Exporter .

The staffs are qualified holders of , BA in Tourism Management and Ecotourism withlong years of experience, well acquainted to the country’s, indigenous natural, socialand culture values, and share an extensive knowledge, maintaining the utmost respectof customers for mutual benefit and carry responsible tour operations.

Our unlimited service includes:Maz Ethiopia Tour offers a variety choice of well designed tailored or package toursbased on individual and/or group requests.

Nature Based Tours ,

Ethiopia’s land formation is in between from the earth’s lowest point -125 meters to thehighest mountain peak 4,600 meter: the highest in the country and the fourth highest inAfrica in which fauna and flora can be discovered along the high altitude plateau, vol-canic lakes, forests, alpine moor land and trout filled streams.

Adventure Tours,Gemstone Tours:Ethiopia is home of various precious and semi precious gemstones. As a result of thisour gemstone departments have a very unique tour packages for study tour, photo-graphing and documentary video crews with all adjustments and facilitation. Our gem-stone sights are very admirable so please do contact us for tour package requests.

Ethiopia “a land of 13 months of Sunshine”.

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Amazing !

Map of Ethiopia

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ClimateEthiopia in the equator has high altitude i.e. a temperate, moderate, even chilly climate. Thereare rainy season’s .the irregular short rain and the long rain seasons.In Ethiopia there are two main seasons, the dry season locally called ‘Bega’ prevails from Octo-ber to May and the rain season locally called ‘Kiremt’ runs from June to September .In the Southit usually rains in March and April, in other periods it may seldom rain.

TopographyEthiopia is central plateau varying a height between 1800 and 3000 meters, with several moun-tains whose peaks rise over 4000 meters. Ethiopia has different rivers; the Blue Nile is the mostfamous Ethiopian river, which runs a distance of 1400 kilometers from the source in the TanaLake to the White Nile in Khartoum.

CalendarEthiopia has its own calendar of 13 months .It follows the Julian calendar which is divided in to12 months of 30 days each and 13th month with five or six days (leap years)at the end of the year.The time difference is +3 hrs from Greenwich Mean Time.

LanguageEthiopia is a multi-ethnic state with 83 languages and more than 200 dialects. The main lan-guages are: Amharic, Tigrigna and Oromigna and have more than 200 dialects. English is alsowidely spoken.

TimeEthiopia is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3) Time remains constantthroughout the year. In Ethiopia, the day is calculated in a manner similar to many equatorialcountries, where days and nights always have the same length.

Medical serviceMedical facilities are improving and public and private medical centers are rapidly grow-ing in number. Through there are quite a number of public hospitals and private medicalinstitutions are recommended.

Health requirementAll visitors (including infants) are required to possess a valid yellow fever vaccinationcertificate. Vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited orbeen in transit through cholera –infected area within six days prior to arrival in Ethiopia.

Electric SupplyEthiopia uses more than 220volts. The opening of one of the biggest hydro electric dam(Gilgel Gibe 1&2)

CurrencyThe local currency is the Ethiopia birr, made up of 100 cents. Notes are issued in denomi-nation of 1, 5, 10, 50 & 100 birr. There are five different coins 0.1, 0.5, 0.10, 0.25 & 0.50cents. Visitors may import an unlimited amount of foreign currency. Credit cards workonly in the hotels 3*/4*/5*, big super markets and in the Ethiopian Airlines offices.

Travel tips

Amazing !

3Trekking,From a day to three months trekking tours can be organized up on client’s interest,budget and time. The three month trekking was practiced with the British in 1998through the North West and Central highland and lowlands of the country (the mostdramatic mountain scenery and Nile valley in Africa),

Rafting,Blue Nile and Omo river invite you to a white water rafting tour in Ethiopia.

Rock climbing,Rock climbing is not an indigenous sport, but there are excellent sites, which are of-fering for rock climbers with marvelous scenic views around and on top.

Honey harvesting,Ethiopia has suitable temperature for any living things as a result there are a lot offorests where forest bees are existing in real wilderness; where a honey harvestingcould be practiced in the wild jungle forest as a great travel experience.

Forest coffee picking,Coffee tours become more and more popular . This tour is organized in collaborationwith the Coffee Farmers and cooperatives in the coffee growing areas. picking withthe farmers in the forest is an adventure you should not miss.Both natural honeys harvested and natural coffee picked can be taken home.

In order to well facilitate these, Maz Ethiopia Tour also provides complementaryservice of;

-Hotel, lodges and any accommodations bookings and follow up.-Shuttle service, using variety of own up-to-date and fully insurefleet of vehicles with experienced Chauffeurs and-Ticketing, for domestic and international flights.-Total Fuel stations in Yabello and Shashemene regions.

Our Sister Companies:

Yordanos Teshale car importer

Maz Ethiopia Tour

Maz Gemstone Exporter

Yabello Motel (Yabello)

Shashemene and Yabello fuel station

...you will be amazed at our service provision !

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Our company “Maz” refers to the first three letters of the name ofthe Mr. Mazengia Demma. The owner was one of dedicatedEthiopian investors who run 5 sister companies under the nameof Maz Trading.

Maz trading managed and run by professional and well experienced management pro-fessionals and all the staffs are dedicated to professionalism and even give priority forcustomers interest to assure that our “ Customers are our kings”.

Maz Trading “…..all services at your gate”

Yabello Motel is one of the hospitality industry established inthe remote part of the country Yabello, 5 km away from thetown. Established with a mission to address tourist accommo-

dation demand in the region. Moreover this we are well known in quality service deliveryand loyal partnership with Ethiopian travel companies.

Yabello Motel is the perfect accommodation for business travellers and couples with ourtranquil , safe and secure environment.

With tasteful meals, quality furnishings, and modern, clean surroundings, your stay willleave you refreshed and revived.

Our motel have 45 well furnished & clean rooms with single, double, twin and triple oc-cupancy and even well furnished tents. Morning to the late evening our motel are readyto deliver you a customer oriented bar and restaurant service with a traditional and Euro-pean dishes.Recreational activities (pool & billiard) are found inside of our motel, so please come andenjoy.

A refined level of comfort awaits you at Yabello Motel, Distinct styling, personalized ser-vice. The plush amenities and features will always leave a lasting impression.

We are glad to serve you as our guest in Ethiopia. And we hope you will be happy withyour choice and you will decide to come back again.

Yabello Motel “on your stay...you will feel like at your home ”

About our sister Companies :-

Peaceful garden with admirable birds song

17Omo valley –(Coffee , birding & tribal )MET 013: Duration: 18 nights/19 daysDAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABADAY 2: ADDIS ABABA – LANGANODAY 3: LANGANO – ARBAMINCHDAY 4: FULL DAY IN ARBAMINCHDAY 5: ARBAMINCH – TURMIDAY 6-7: TURMI – OMORATE – TURMIDAY 8: TURMI – KEY AFER- JINKADAY 9: EXCURSION TOUR TO MAGO NA-TIONAL PARKDAY 10: JINKA – KONSO – YABELLODAY 11: EXCURSION TOUR TO DUBLOCKDAY 12: YABELLO - WENDO GENETDAY 13: WENDO GENET – JIMMADAY 14: JIMMA – BEBEKADAY 15: BEBEKA – KIBISHDAY 16: FULL DAY TREKKING TO THE NEARBY SURMA VILLAGESDAY 17: KIBISH – TULGIT – BEBEKADAY 18: BEBEKA – JIMMADAY 19: JIMMA – ADDIS ABABA

Omo valley and Rift valley lake-MET 014 Duration : 09 nights/ 10 daysDay 1: Arrive in Addis & Drive to-Arba Minch(505km) .Overnight – HotelDay 2: Visit the two lakes Abaya & ChamoDay 3: Ride Konso - Key Afer (ethnic market)– Jinka. Overnight – HotelDay 4: Discover Mursi tribes and Mago Na-tional Park. Overnight – HotelDay 5: Discover Dimeka market and ride toTurmi. Overnight – HotelDay 6: Explore the Karo tribes in Dus & Kor-cho villages.Day 7: Journey to Omorate – Dassenech /Galeb–Turmi marketDay 8: Discover Arbores & Konso. Overnight– HotelDay 9: Konso – Langano. Overnight – HotelDay 10: Langano – Addis Ababa .Departure

Combination Tour (Historic and Cultural )Ethiopian combination Tour (Tribal Expedition to the lower Omo valley, Bale Mountainand HararMode of transportation– Surface

MET 015: Duration-and 18 Nights/ 19 DaysDay 1- Arrivals at Addis Ababa airport meet by our staff member, transfer to hotel, over-night in hotel.Day 2- Morning drive to Arba Minch ,on the way visit Crater Lake of Debre Zeit. O/n in htl.Day 3- Full day Arba Minch morning excursion to Dorze tribe .Overnight – HotelDay 4– Journey to Jinka. Overnight – HotelDay 5- Day excursion to Mago national park .Jinka. Overnight – HotelDay 6- Morning journey to Turmi on the way visit one market .Overnight – HotelDay 7- Excursion to Karo, to explore the Karo tribe .Day 8- Morning head to Omorate border .Overnight – Hotel/campingDay 9– Yabello (Yabello sanctuary, Elso & singing well). Overnight – in our Motel.Day 10– In the morning journey : salt lake chaw bet (El Sod). Overnight – in our MotelDay 11- Morning fish market at Lake Awassa. Overnight – in hotelDay 12- Climb the Sanneti Plateau up to Demtu summit.O/n in Camping.Day 13- Drives to Sof Omar caves, picnic lunch. CampingDay 14- Morning hiking, then head to Wondo Genet. Overnight – in HotelDay 15- Morning journey to Awash lunch break at Nazareth.. Overnight – in HotelDay 16- Morning head to Harar .Overnight – in HotelDay 17- Full day visit the walled city of Harar, Harar .Overnight – in HotelDay 18- Morning drive back to Addis, lunch break at the town of Debre Zeit.. O/n in HtlDay 19- Full day Addis Ababa city tour Including Museum. Departure

16Birding Tours

MET 009: Duration: 06 nights/ 07 daysDAY 1: ARRIVAL/ ADDIS ABABA . O/N IN HTLDAY 2: AWASH NATIONAL PARK.O/N IN HTLDAY 3: FULL DAY BIRDING IN HOT SPRINGS & FENTALÉ CRATER LAKEDAY 4: DINSHO AND BALE GOBA.O/N IN HTLDAY 5: THE BALE MOUNTAINS.O/N IN HTLDAY 6: SOF OMAR – A SPECTACULAR NATURAL CAVE.O/N IN HTLDAY 7: GOBA – ADDIS- DEPARTURE

MET 010: Duration: 13 nights/ 14 daysDAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA . O/N IN HTLDAY 2: FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDIS. O/N IN HTLDAY 3: ADDIS ABABA - SODORE . O/N IN HTLDAY 4: SODORE – DINSHO.O/N CAMPINGDAY 5: FULL DAY TREKKING AROUND DINSHO .DAY 6: TREK TO WEBE RIVER VALLEY.O/N CAMPINGDAY 7: TREK DINSHO – MARARO. O/N CAMPINGDAY 8: MARARO – WASEMA .O/N CAMPINGDAY 9: WASEMSA – GEBRE GURACHA. O/N CAMPINGDAY 10: GEBRE GURACHA – LITTLE BATU .O/N CAMPINGDAY 11: LITTLE BATU - DINSHO LOGE.. O/N IN HTLDAY 12: JOURNEY TO AWASSA .. O/N IN HTLDAY 13: AWASSA - WENDO GENET. O/N IN HTLDAY 14: WENDO GENET – ADDIS ABABA .DEPARTURE.

MET 011: Duration: 07 nights/ 08 daysDAY 1: ARRIVAL/ ADDIS ABABA. O/N IN HTLDAY 2: AWASH NATIONAL PARK.O/N IN HTLDAY 3: FULL DAY BIRDING IN HOT SPRINGS & FENTALÉ CRATER LAKEDAY 4: DINSHO AND BALE GOBA. O/N CAMPINGDAY 5: THE BALE MOUNTAINS.O/N CAMPINGDAY 6: SOF OMAR – A SPECTACULAR NATURAL CAVE.DAY 7: SHALLA – ABIJATA LAKES.O/N IN HTLDAY 8: LANGANO – ADDIS- DEPARTURE

Bale Trekking and BirdingMET 012: (Duration: 12 nights/ 13 days )DAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABADAY 2: FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDISDAY 3: ADDIS ABABA - SODOREDAY 4: SODORE – DINSHO

DAY 5: FULL DAY TREKKING AROUND DINSHODAY 6: TREK TO WEBE RIVER VALLEYDAY 7: TREK DINSHO – MARARODAY 8: MARARO – WASEMADAY 9: WASEMSA – GEBRE GURACHADAY 10: GEBRE GURACHA – LITTLE BATUDAY 11: LITTLE BATU - DINSHO LODGEDAY 12: JOURNEY TO AWASSADAY 13: AWASSA – ADDIS ABABA .DEPARTURE.

Our tour packages will helps you to have a lifetime travel experience .

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Comfortable bed rooms with king size bed , hot shower and flat Screen Tv

Bar service & cuisines

Pool and Billiards

6 Maz Gemstone Exporter ….Leading in varieties”Established with a mission of exporting Ethiopian unique preciousand semi precious gem stones to various parts of the world and gen-erate foreign currency.We are one of the companies legally recognized and licensed by the

Ethiopian Ministry of Trade as well as Ministry of Mines to export all types of preciousand semi precious stones to different parts of the world.

Maz Gemstone Exporter and Suppliers of the exquisite precious and semi precious Gem-stones. Our collection of beautiful Gemstones includes Ethiopian fire opal, aquamarine,Iolite, blue rainbow and many more color gemstones. The company is based in the capi-tal city Addis Ababa with its head office located at Bole 500 meters on the road fromOlympia to Meskel flower in front of BGM hospital.Finally we hope that you understand that our aim is to be a trustworthy shop-ping agent for individuals and companies worldwide. Please be assured thatyour satisfaction and your repeating business are paramount within our priori-ties, both for us and for the development of Gemstone industry .

Total Service Stations Yabello and ShashemeneTotal: “You Know Where to Turn!”

Total is a major fuel retailer, with more than 16,400 stations worldwide and leadershippositions in Western Europe.

In Africa, more than 3,500 stations dot the landscape in over 40 countries. In our countryEthiopia also Total is the major station marks; We Maz Trading owns two of the totalstations mark in Yabello and Shashemene.

Our Marketing crews of the two stations work hard to keep our network up to datethrough targeted development with our head office based Addis (Maz Trading ), in or-der to standardize consistent delivery of fuel and lubricants without any shortage.

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Fair PackagesPrice

TrekkingMET 006: Simien Mountain (12 nights/13 days )

Day 1. Arrive Addis Ababa .Over night hotelDay 2. Flight to Gondar, the African Camelot Over night hotel (B, L, D)Day 3. Journey to Sankaber via Debark Overnight camping (B, L, D)Day 4. Trek Sankaber to Geech Overnight camping (B, L, D)Day 5. Hike at Emietgogo .O/n camping.Day 6. Along the escarpment of Emietgogo-Amba Ras to ChenekDay 7. Chenek to Ambiquo (foot of Ras Dashen)Day 8. Ambiquo to Ras Dashen, climb the roof top of AfricaO/n at campsite in Ambiquo. (B, L, D)Day 9. Return back to ChenekWe overnight at the campsite at Chenek. (B, L, D)Day 10. To Gondar, Drive via DebarkOver night in Goha .(B, L, D)Day 11. Flight to Gondar to Lalibela .O/n in htl.Overnight in Mountain View hotel. (B, L, D)Day 12. Sightseeing in Lalibela .O/n in htl.Over night in Mountain View hotel (B, L, D)Day 13. Flight to Addis Ababa . Departure

MET 007: Bale Trekking (06 nights/07 days )DAY 1: ARRIVE ADDIS ABABA. O/N IN HTLDAY 2: ADDIS-ETHIOPIAN RIFT VALLEY – DINSHO.O/N CAMPING.DAY 3: DINSHO - GEYSAY VALLEY – DINSHO .O/N CAMPINGDAY 4: DINSHO – WEIB VALLEYS-FINCHA ÁBERA WATER FALLDAY 5: FINCHA ÁBERA-MERERO-WASSAMADAY 6: WASSAMA VALLEY - BATU - GARBA GURACHALAKE. O/N CAMPINGDAY 7: GARBA GURACHA-KONTHE – GOBA-ADDIS ABABA .DEPARTURE

“Ethiopia is country of matchless athletes!”

MET 002 : Duration : 09 nights/ 10 days(Surface )Day 1. Addis-Bahir dar .Overnight – HotelDay 2. Journey to Bahir dar. Overnight – HotelDay 3. Ride Bahir dar – Gondar . Overnight – HotelDay 4. Ride Gondar- Axum. Overnight – HotelDay 5. Ride via Simien mountain-AxumDay 6. Ride Axum – Mekelle. Overnight – HotelDay 7. Ride to Lalibela . Overnight – HotelDay 8. Lalibela . Overnight – HotelDay 9. Ride Lalibela- KombolchaDay 10. Kombolcha- Debre Birhan- Addis Ababa.

Danakil Depression TourMET 008: Duration: 09 nights/10 daysDay 1: Arrival/ Addis Ababa. Overnight – AddisDay 2: Ride to Kombolcha. Overnight – HotelDay 3: Ride to Mekelle. O/n CampingDay 4: Ride to Hamed Ela. O/n CampingDay 5: Full day Excursion to Danakil Depression O/n CampingDay 6: Journey from Hamed Ela to Way Dodom .O/n CampingDay 7: climb to the Volcanic Mountain of Arte Ale. O/n CampingDay 8: Descend to where your cars campedDay 9: Ride from Afdera to the town of Awash Sebat.O/n in htl.Day10: Ride from Awash Sebat to Addis Ababa . Departure.

14 Our Tour PackagesHistoric Tour

MET 001:Duration: 06 nights/ 07days (Flight and surface )DAY 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABADAY 02: FLIGHT TO BAHIR DARDAY 03: RIDE BAHIR DAR-GONDARDAY 04: FLIGHT TO AXUMDAY 05: FLIGHT TO LALIBELADAY 06: FULL DAY AT LALIBALAVISITING CHURCHES OUTSIDE THETOWN .O/N IN HTLDAY 07: FLIGHT TO ADDIS ABABADAY 08: DEPARTURE

Omo Valley TourMET 004 Duration 04 nights/ 05 day(Surface )Day 1: Arrival/ Addis Ababa. Overnight HotelDay 2: Addis Ababa - Arba Minch.Day 3: Arba Minch – Jinka .Overnight – HotelDay 4: Jinka - Mago National Park & MursiTribes –Jinka .Overnight – Hotel

MET 005 : Duration: 08 nights/ 09 days(Flight and Surface)

Day1: Arrival/ Addis Ababa.O/n In htl.Day2: Flight from Addis to Arba MinchDay3: Ride from Arba Minch to JinkaDay4: Mursi tribes and Mago NationalPark. O/n In htlDay5: Ride from Jinka to TurmiDay6: Full day Excursion to Karo tribesDay7: Excursion to Dassenech/ Galeb &Turmi market. O/n In htlDay8: Ride from Turmi to Arba MinchDay9: Flight from Arba Minch to Addis

Ababa. Departure

MET 002 : Duration : 09 nights/ 10 days(Surface )Day 1. Addis-Bahir dar .Overnight – HotelDay 2. Journey to Bahir dar. Overnight – HotelDay 3. Ride Bahir dar – Gondar . Overnight – HotelDay 4. Ride Gondar- Axum. Overnight – HotelDay 5. Ride via Simien mountain-AxumDay 6. Ride Axum – Mekelle. Overnight – HotelDay 7. Ride to Lalibela . Overnight – HotelDay 8. Lalibela . Overnight – HotelDay 9. Ride Lalibela- KombolchaDay 10. Kombolcha- Debre Birhan- Addis Ababa.

Travel with us and be in the mystery land….with unusual routes.

MET 003: Duration: 14 nights/ 15 days (Surface )

DAY 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA.O/N IN HTLDAY 02: FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDIS.O/N IN HTLDAY 03: ADDIS – BAHIR DAR .O/N IN HTLDAY 04: FULL DAY IN BAHIR DAR.O/N IN HTLDAY 05: RIDE BAHIR DAR - GONDER .O/N IN HTLDAY 06: GONDER - SEMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK.O/N IN HTLDAY 07: SEMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK - AXUM.O/N IN HTLDAY 08: FULL DAY TOUR OF AXUM.O/N IN HTLDAY 09: AXUM - ADIGIRAT.O/N IN HTLDAY 10: ADIGIRAT – MEKELLE.O/N IN HTLDAY 11: MEKELLE - LALIBELA.O/N IN HTLDAY 12: FULL DAY TOUR OF LALIBALA.O/N IN HTLDAY 13: FULL DAY AT LALIBALA VISITING CHURCHES LOCATED OUTSIDE THETOWN .O/N IN HTLDAY 14: LALIBELA - KOMBOLCHA.O/N IN HTLDAY 15: KOMBOLCHA – BATI/SENBETE MARKET – ADDIS ABABA.DEPARTURE.

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YTCI is a Maz Trading owned licensed, bonded and insuredindependent auto importer.Yordanos Teshale car importer is a dynamic and well organ-ized car importer & seller company, we bring various modelvehicles new/used for different parts of the world.

Yordanos Teshale Car Importer is the place for exotic new/ used and luxury brands showoff their latest and greatest vehicles. But there are also some cool new cars most of us canactually afford. Check out our showroom / warehouse to see what's headed for deal & wehope you will pick the one that catch your interest.

Yordanos Teshale Car Importer“your spot for exotic auto brands ”

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The history of the country begins with a legend.The legend tells of the mythical Queen of Sheba,of King Solomon of Jerusalem and their son Me-nelik I. Ethiopia was known from the dawn ofcivilization.The ancient Egyptians already knew that theirsacred river originated from a lake on a plateauin the country of Punt, “Land of Gods” in theirlanguage, and they knew of a garden existingbeyond the desert.

Geography of EthiopiaEthiopia lies in between the Equator and the Tropicof Capricorn with a rainy season lasting from Mayto September; Ethiopia is a green country for mostof the year. It is a large country (1.251.000 squarekm ), with diverse and extreme natural surround-ings. The main part of the country is an immensetable land, where you can find mountain massifsreaching 4533m, and where rains and big riverssuch as the Blue Nile, Tekeze, Omo and Awashhave carved out small and deep canyons.

History Of EthiopiaEthiopia has a 3000 year-old history. Historicaldocuments proved that the Axumite Empiredates back to 300 A.D. From its capital city inthe north-eastern part of the country, not farfrom the Red Sea, it controlled a vast territorythat included part of the present Yemen. Theempire had a high level of civilization, a writtenlanguage, Ge’ez, and its own coins which wereemployed in trade.

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has 10 registered UNESCO world heritage sights !

13HamerThe Hamers are pastoralists and their population isabout 30,000.They are known for their practice of bodyadornment and wearing a multitude of colorful beads.Women adorn their necks with heavy polished ironjewelry. Hamer society consists of a complex system ofage group. To pass from one age group to another in-volves complicated rituals .The most significant cere-mony for young men is the “jumping of the bull”-thefinal test before passing in to adulthood.The ceremony lasts three days .Late in the afternoon onthe final day; ten to thirty bulls are lined up side byside. The naked initiate rushes towards the animal,vaults on to the first bull’s back and runs across the lineof animals .At the end of the line ,he turns back to re-peat the performance .

The Karowhich counts about more than 3000 peoples, mainly liveon the practice of flood retreat cultivation on the banks ofOmo River in South- Western Ethiopia.The karo excel in face and body painting, practiced inpreparation of their dances and ceremonies. They deco-rate their bodies, often imitating the spotted plumage ofa Guinea Fowl. Feather plumes are inserted in their clayhair buns to complete the look. The clay hair bun cantake up to three days to construct and is usually re-madeevery three to six months. Their painted face masks arespectacular.

National Parks (spot of endemic fauna and floras )THE SIMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK (SMNP)

‘Simien’ means ‘North’ in Amharic. Six hundred million years ago, the moun-tains were an enormous volcanic mass; rain and ice have carved deep fissuresinto them and rivers have continued the work of erosion, creating an incredi-ble landscape: peaks and deep gorges. In the steep slopes may be seen theWalia Ibex of the Simien Mountains, Red fox, Lammergeyer and Baboons.

BALE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK(BMNP)This park is home to the endemic mammal species of the mountain Nyala,Ethiopian Wolf (Simien Fox), Menilik’s Bushbuck, Lion, Bohor Reedbuck,Greater and Lesser kudu, Leopard, Warthog...In the South-East of the countryis Bale Park, which extends over the massif of the same name. The mountainreaches a peak of 4,377 m above sea level and the second highest mountain inEthiopia.

...........And many more with their own unique fauna and flora .

12Danakil Depression

Danakil is the lowest part of Ethiopia at 116 m belowsea level; it stretches between the Red Sea and thefoothills of the eastern slopes of the Ethiopian plateau.The area contains marvelous examples of volcanoes,

although cur-rently only mini-mally active. Therock surfaces are colored in spectacular hues due tothe emissions of various chlorides from geysers.There are 30 salt lakes in the north of the region,which are home to an enormous variety of birds.The whole region is inhabited by the Afar people,proud nomadic shepherds. They carry salt in theircamel caravans up to the Ethiopian highlands.

Sof Omar CaveIt is the largest cave in Africa. The areaof the cave is typically characterized byflat topography and deep gorges cut bythe river Web which forms the cave.The beauty of the cave consists in theuntouched and wild aspects of thehuge main passages, the shape of thegalleries and the white color of the limestone basalt forming the walls.

Peoples of EthiopiaEthiopia had 87 different ethnic groups live together; socially organized on a federalbasis. The three most numerous ethnic groups that have had a preponderant role inthe national history are the Amhara, the Tigray and the Oromo.

Some of the most colorful tribes of the Southern Omo valley :-

MursiThe Mursi live between their dry and wet seasonrange on tame plains, north of Mago NationalPark in the Omo river region of south-westernEthiopia. They care for livestock and plant somecrops.

The men practice light scarification on theirshoulder after killing an enemy, and shave geo-metric patterns on their head. During dances andceremonies they adorn literally every part of theirbody with white chalk paint. Young unmarriedmen practice group stick fights.

9People of Ethiopia

Ethiopia had 87 different ethnic groups live to-gether; socially organized on a federal basis. Thethree most numerous ethnic groups that havehad a preponderant role in the national historyare the Amhara, the Tigray and the Oromo.Among these, the Amhara were in power untila few years ago and their language, Amharic,is the official national language of Ethiopia. Inthe present government many of ethnicgroups are represented.

The other ethnic groups are the Guraghe and Sidamo,dwelling in the western and southwestern territoriesrespectively.

Toward the borders with Eritrea and Djibouti, in a halfindependent position, amongst the deserts of Danakillives the Afar, a half nomadic people which has almostentirely converted to Islam.Along the banks of Omo River there are several tribesamong them the Nyangatom, the Karo, the Dassanech,the Bodi, the Mursi, the Surma, the Erbore & the

Ethiopia:“Country of Wonders”

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Addis AbabaAmong the 10 world capital cities need to bevisted in your entire life due her stages oftransformation ; recommended by lonelyplanet travel guide (on 2012).The name of the city, in Amharic, means“new flower”. Founded in 1886 by MenelikII, it is located at 2,500 metres above sea levelin one of the highest parts of the Entotomountain chain (3,000m above sea level). Itenjoys an excellent climate all year round,with an average temperature of 250C.

Gondar (African Camelot)Gondar offers fairy-tale castles dating back to the17th-century that seem to belong in an ArthurianRomance. Gondar was founded by the EmperorFasiladas in 1636 and was the capital of the coun-try for the next two centuries. The city contains adozen of castles built by various emperors overthe course of 236 years.

AxumAxum was founded by the brothers Abreha and Atsbeha; it is notuntil midway through the fourth century that we have records of thefirst historical king, Ezana. The African’s nation historic route beginsin the ancient city of Axum, dates back to 100 B.C.Axum is also the site of the church of Hidar Tsion Mariam (16th cen-tury), in front of which kings were crowned even as late as the lastcentury. Inside, there are displays of golden crowns and crosses, thelatter of which are still used during the major festivals of the CopticChurch.

Bahir darBahir Dar is a well master planned city, its ave-nues lined with palm trees and plants. It is lo-cated on the south bank of Lake Tana. LakeTana is the largest lake in Ethiopia. Just 30kmfrom the city are the water falls of the Blue Nileor “Tis Isat” (smoking water).

YehaThe six century BC, Ethiopia’s historic route begin with a glance at the tantanizing re-mains of yeha the country’s earliest high civilization. In the remote part of Tigray re-gion, Yeha rests several hours drive from the more accessible city of Axum. The journeytakes you on rough tracks through dramatics high land scenery and eventually ends ina beautiful and serene agricultural. It is there, close to a much more recent Christianchurch, that you may see the towering ruins of Yeha’s temple of the moon-built morethan 2,500 years ago, in Sabean times.The temple is an imposing rectangular edifice, though it has been long since it’s lost itsroof and upper storey. The ruins stand some twelve meters in height.

Ethiopian Historic Sites 11 Lalibela (African Petra)Located in the north-east of Ethiopia, Lali-bela is another renowned historical desti-nation. Placed third in historic sequence,its site hosts the “Eighth wonder of theworld”, the Lalibela rock-hewn churches.UNESCO has recorded this site as one ofthe world wonders. It is also holy land forEthiopia's Orthodox Christians.

The city was constructed by king Lalibelaof the Zagwe dynasty around the time ofthe fall of the Axum Empire in the 13th

century. It was built in order to become the “new Ethiopian Jerusalem / sec-ond Jerusalem” and is characterized by its eleven churches carved out of thepink granite rock of the mountain.

Tigray Debre Damo and the RockHewn Churches

The monastery of Debre Damo is located 86 km tothe north-east of Axum on the peak of Debre Damoat a height of 2,800 m above sea level and is one ofthe most important holy places of Ethiopia.Local legend has it that the monastery wasfounded by Abuna Aregawi, one of the nine saints,with the aid of a serpent. There are still some 80monks living there and access to the monasteryitself is gained by climbing up with the help of arope (only mens are permitted to enter).

Dire Dawa and HararDire Dawa which is part of the railway linestretching from Addis Ababa to Djibouti, it wasbuilt at the beginning of the 20th century with theco-operation of the French government. The mar-ket in Kefira is very interesting, providing an op-portunity to min-gle with peoplesof the region: theAfar, Somali and

Oromo.Located 50km from Dire Dawa and at a heightof 1,870m above sea level is the city of Harar.Founded in 1500, the city was once a Muslimfortress and one of the most dynamic marketsin east Africa.