Ethiopia's Hidden Wonders: Lalibela, the Simien Mountains, and Harar

Ethiopia is one of the few countries in the world where you can feel the weight of ancient civilisation in the air. The country has been continuously inhabited and governed for over 3,000 years. It was never colonised (aside from a brief Italian occupation in the 1930s that lasted just five years before being expelled). This matters in ways you feel viscerally when you arrive.

Lalibela: The Jerusalem of Africa

Carved directly into volcanic rock in the 12th century, Lalibela's 11 monolithic churches are one of the architectural wonders of the world. Pilgrims have come here for 800 years. Visiting during Ethiopian Christmas (January 7th) or Timkat (Epiphany, January 19th) is an overwhelming sensory and spiritual experience.

The Simien Mountains

A UNESCO World Heritage site of jagged peaks, dramatic escarpments, and endemic wildlife (gelada baboons, Ethiopian wolf). A 3-day trek through the Simiens is one of Africa's great hiking experiences. The base for visits is Gondar, itself a city of extraordinary castles.

Harar: Africa's Walled City

Harar, in eastern Ethiopia, is one of Islam's holiest cities — a UNESCO-listed walled city of 82 mosques in a space smaller than Manhattan's Central Park. It's also famous for the Harar hyena men who hand-feed wild hyenas nightly. Nothing prepares you for it.

Practical Notes

Ethiopian Airlines flies from Lagos to Addis Ababa (3.5 hours, from ₦220,000 return). The Ethiopian e-visa is simple and cheap. Internal flights to Lalibela and Gondar are the way to go — the country is vast.