Destinations

Places to base a trip around, from cities to whole regions.

Addis Ababa (capital)

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia's high-altitude capital — most visitors' entry point, and worth 2–3 days on its own for its museums, markets, and coffee culture before heading elsewhere.

Oromia Region, Southern Highlands

Bale Mountains National Park

A high-altitude national park in Ethiopia's southern highlands, and the best place on Earth to see the Ethiopian wolf — the world's rarest canid.

Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Harar

A 1,000-year-old walled city in eastern Ethiopia, Islam's fourth-holiest city, and home to the unique nightly tradition of hand-feeding wild hyenas.

Amhara Region, Northern Ethiopia

Lalibela

A small highland town built around eleven medieval rock-hewn churches, still an active pilgrimage site — Ethiopia's best-known single destination for tourists.

Oromia Region, near Addis Ababa

Wenchi Crater Lake

A volcanic crater lake in the highlands about 3 hours west of Addis Ababa, its rim over 3,000m up — the classic full-day trip out of the capital, with an island monastery reachable by boat and hot springs at the base.