Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.3 Winter 2018 | Page 42

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C U L T U R A L
THE LAND OF ORIGIN
Ethiopia has remarkable diversity, which
is reflected across its 12 provinces and
nine Unesco World Heritage Sites. Within
its borders you will find the world’s
fourth-holiest Islamic city, the oldest
continuously occupied town south of the
Sahara, the mediaeval rock-hewn churches
of Lalibela and Gheralta, ruined palaces
and temples dating back 3,000 years
and the oldest human fossils unearthed
anywhere on the planet.
For the nature lover, the beautiful
Simien and Bale Mountains and the
painted volcanic landscapes of the Danakil
Depression are home to mammals and
birds not found anywhere else in the
world, including the elusive Ethiopian wolf.
Adding to the authenticity is the fact
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T R A V E L
that Ethiopia has never been colonised,
despite desperate attempts by Italy in the
late 19th Century. With 82 tribes’ distinct
languages and traditions making up a
population of over 90 million people,
each corner of the land offers a different
understanding of its people.
OUT AND ABOUT IN ADDIS
Bordering the Great Rift Valley, Addis
Ababa is the country’s commercial and
cultural hub. Its National Museum exhibits
distinctly Ethiopian art, traditional crafts
and prehistoric fossils, including replicas
of the famous early hominid, “Lucy”. The
impressive Ethnological Museum at the
University’s main campus has been set
up to preserve the country’s heritage
and is home to more than 13 000 items,
such as religious manuscripts, ceremonial
tools, paintings, books and exquisitely
embroidered robes.
There’s always a buzz in the air and the
streets are a vibrant mix of old and new,
with traditional vendors trading next to
trendy designer boutiques. Don’t miss
Addis Mercato, an open-air sprawl of
vendors with incredible goods that goes
on for kilometres. For something more
artisanal visit Garden of Coffee, which
sources the country’s finest beans.
ETHIOPIA’S NEW JERUSALEM
Ethiopia was one of the earliest nations to
adopt Christianity and has historical roots
dating back to the time of the Apostles.