For many it is unusual experience to make travel to the continent of Africa as the countries are very diverse and colorful but traveling to Ethiopia is unique and gives travelers a taste of Africa. It is a country where one can have natural, cultural and historical beauties all together.

In terms of nature, Ethiopia is a home to more than 107 species of mammals and 826 species of birds. Also the contrasting geographical attraction of the Ras Dashen Mountain located in the Semien Mountain National park is a driving lust for trekkers with the lowest point on earth below seas lever, the Denakil depression which is also attracts huge number of adventure travelers that admire desert expeditions and active volcanic eruptions.

Ethiopia is termed to be mosaic of cultures as it harbors more than 85 tribes living harmoniously in its territory speaking 85 of their language and more than 100 dialects. Of these, the Omo Valley tribes in the southern part of the country are the highlights for travelers as they compromise the lip-plating Mursi people, body decorating Karo, bull jumping Hamer and much more to exhaust the list.

The specialty of Ethiopia in the continent is its rich historical treasures which are well attested by the archaeological findings in the rift valley system that dates more than 6 million years old. These archeological excavations gave Ethiopia the name “The Cradle of man kind” in the world. The country was one of the great civilizations know during its famous Axumite kingdom and its great kings who had been trading with the then kingdoms of Persia, Roman Empire and other ancient civilizations more than three thousand years back. The rock-hewn churches of Tigray and Lalibela which were built before one thousand to eight hundred years back are still active religious shrines and points of attractions. The medieval castle complex of Gondar, the monasteries of Lake Tana and walled city of Harer are just few of the historical relics that the country could excel to register as world heritages by UNESCO.

Uniqueness of Ethiopia
coffee.jpg The Kaffa region of Ethiopia is generally regarded to be where the Arabica strain of the coffee plant originates from, and where it was first cultivated. Now coffee apart from being the back bone of Ethiopia’s economy it is also the days to day cultural attribute of the people. For that reason Ethiopians are know by having a coffee ceremony tradition practiced by every house hold
   
  In 1582, the Christian world as a whole dropped the established Julian calendar in favor of the revised Gregorian calendar. Ethiopia did not and never has! As a consequence, Ethiopia is seven years and eight months ‘behind’ the rest of the Christian world. The calendar consists of 12 months of 30 days each and an extra month of five days in duration (six days in leap years). The first month of the Ethiopian year, Meskerem, more or less coincides with September. Ethiopian New Year falls on September 11 or 12.
   
amharic_letters Ethiopia is the only African state which has its own written language called “Amharic” with its alphabets numbering more or less 210.
   
  Ethiopia is also the only country in Africa which has been independent from the agenda of colonization by defeating the Italian troop in the battle of Adwa in 1886.
   
haileselassie Ethiopia is the first African country to be represented by its King, Emperor Haileselasse in the League of Nations and even in the United nations.
   
ethiopian_cross Good news for religious people, the ancient city of Axum which was a site of great civilizations is also the religious center for Ethiopian Orthodox church as the first ever existed Christine church was built here in the 4th century. The site now is believed to host the original ark of the covenant with rich historical links and evidences in the city.