The Castle compound(Fasildes castle) (#2/25) Gondar is the 17th-century capital of Ethiopia. Bordering Sudan and located on the northern shore of Lake Tana, it is one of the prominent historical areas in Ethiopia.
Officially founded by King Fasiladas in 1632, the Gondarine period is considered to be the third major dynasty after the Axumite and Zagwe dynasties. The dynasty is historically important for the renaissance king's mobile camp and the introduction of a permanent capital. The attempt by King Fasiladas to end the Zagwe dynasty was successful and set Gondar as Ethiopia's capital from 1632 to 1868.
Gondar's 17th century castles reflect the strong dynasty and the power of progressive rulers. The biggest and most magnificent castle of all, King Fasiladas' castle, which is still intact, was the first to be built. Seven of the dynasty's kings had their own castles built to show their power and independent, efficient ruling styles. What is special about the castles is that they demonstrate the progress in Ethiopian building styles and follow on from the rock-building traditions of the Axumite and Zagwe kings.
Additionally, Gondar was and is still noted as an active religious center. Among the churches in town, Debre Berhan Selassie is famous for its typically Gondarine style and its ceiling.
The beautiful Sceneray at Bale Mountains national Park (#3/25) BALE MOUNTAINS TREKKING- Bale mountains is an area of high altitude plateau that is broken by numerous Ethiopian Wolf spectacular volcanic plugs and peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and rushing mountain streams that descend into deep rocky gorges on their way to the lowlands below. The Bale Mountains rise from the extensive surrounding farm lands at 2,500 meters above sea level to the west, north and east. The National Park is divided into two major parts by the spectacular Harenna escarpment that runs from east to west. The climate of the Bale Mountains is characterized by a high rainfall and periods of damp cloudy weather interspersed with brilliant blue skies. The dry season is usually from November to February. The temperature may rise to as high as 30centigrade. Nights are star-filled, clear and cold, usually with heavy ground frosts. Temperatures may fall between -6 and -15 degrees centigrade in the main peak area of the park. The dry season is the best time to visit the national park, especially for walking and horse trekking in the high mountain area. The meadows, stream banks, forest floor and grasslands of the Bale Mountains contain much different vegetation, and are a further fascinating facet of this area.
Crossing The Danakil Dessert (#4/25)
Lalibella (#5/25) lalibella is legendary town of which is famous for its rock hewn churches dating back 800 years, and transferred to the Hotel. The brilliant feats of engineering and architecture of rock-hewn churches of Lalibella referred to as the Eighth wonder of the world. There are 11 rocks -hewn churches in the Town of Lalibella, which 3 of them are Monolithic (free standing completely detached from the ground), 7 of them are semi-monolithic and 1 church is cave church. And there are more cave, monolithic, semi-monolithic churches in the district of Lasta region
Women from Karo Tribes (#6/25) With fewer than two thousand members, the Karo are one of the smallest tribes living along the Omo. They support themselves with fishing and sorghum farming, and by trading with the Hamar and the Dassanech.
Mountain Nyala (#7/25) BALE MOUNTAINS TREKKING- Bale mountains is an area of high altitude plateau that is broken by numerous Ethiopian Wolf spectacular volcanic plugs and peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and rushing mountain streams that descend into deep rocky gorges on their way to the lowlands below. The Bale Mountains rise from the extensive surrounding farm lands at 2,500 meters above sea level to the west, north and east. The National Park is divided into two major parts by the spectacular Harenna escarpment that runs from east to west. The climate of the Bale Mountains is characterized by a high rainfall and periods of damp cloudy weather interspersed with brilliant blue skies. The dry season is usually from November to February. The temperature may rise to as high as 30centigrade. Nights are star-filled, clear and cold, usually with heavy ground frosts. Temperatures may fall between -6 and -15 degrees centigrade in the main peak area of the park. The dry season is the best time to visit the national park, especially for walking and horse trekking in the high mountain area. The meadows, stream banks, forest floor and grasslands of the Bale Mountains contain much different vegetation, and are a further fascinating facet of this area.
Hammer Women (#8/25) Hammer are very rich in culture, social practices, rituals and cermonies such as naming(gale), Rituals for fertility(Gore), cattle jumping(Ekule Bulla) and Ritual for Hunters(Fada) and etc
Axum stlea (#9/25) Axum is the ancient capital of Ethiopia and the cradle of Ethiopian civilisation. Axum is famous for its more than 2000 year old Axumite long standing steles measuring some of them up to 33m high, the bath and palace of Queen of Sheba, King Caleb’s and other kings tombs, archaeological museum which is widely rated as Ethiopia's best, the church of St. Mary of Tsion, where the original Ark of covenant is housed. Legend has it that the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon of Israel, King Menelik I brought the original Ark from Israel to Axum.
Stick Fighting(Donga) (#10/25) BLOOD RITES
Donga, a form of stick fighting practiced by young Surma men, though violent, is rarely fatal. Other traditions in the region are more deeply disturbing to visitors, like the killing of infants considered cursed.
Photos of the Omo River Valley tribes from Sebastião Salgado's forthcoming book Genesis
Mursi Women (#11/25) The Mursi
Numbering about 6,500, the Mursi people are nomadic cow herders and are culturally and linguistically similar to the Surma. They’re also among the most widely photographed of the Omo River tribes.
Like other tribes, Mursi incorporate animal materials, including feathers and bones, into their dress.
Upon reaching puberty, young women traditionally adopt a wooden or clay lip-plate. A small incision is made in the lower lip, and disks of increasing size are inserted, gradually expanding the area. The same modification is made to the woman’s ear lobes.
Mursi women scar themselves as a form of adornment. As with other tribes, it may also signify strength since it teaches them to bear pain without complaint.
Armbands are extremely valuable and signify a woman’s social status.
Bull Jumping at Hammer (#12/25) when a boy reaches the age of marriage his relatives will gather in his father’s house and an elder will give him a stick called Boku for the ritual. Then the boy has to travel to all places where his relatives live to tell them that he will jump cattle. A week before the cattle jumping there is a ceremony called Bar in which all males and elders prepare the feast place while women and girls prepare the food, and the boys and girls dance. On the day of the cattle jumping his relatives and invited guests gather from different directions and dance. On this occasion his female relatives will be beaten by the mazes (those who already conducted the cattle jumping) to express their happiness. Finally the boy will run on the back of 20-30 cattle which have been lined up by the males and elders. From this day onward his family will engage on selecting his wife.
Beauty in Diversity. (#13/25)
A Karo Boy (#14/25) Karo tribes are one of the omo valley tribes who are well known by body painting and ornamentation
Beauty And Bounty (#15/25) Surma girls are highly valued for their dowries. One bride could be worth up to thirty cattle and an AK-47 rifle.
UNESCO world Heritage site-Semien Mts National Park (#16/25) SEMIEN MOUNTAINS TREKKING- Forming part of one of the major mountain ranges in Africa, the Simien Mountains rises to the highest point in Ethiopia at Mount Ras Dashen (15,157ft/4,620m), and boasts several other peaks above 13,123ft (4,000m). The Simien Mountains National Park is known for its dramatic landscapes and spectacular scenery comprising deep canyons, escarpments, dizzying precipices, and jagged spires and pinnacles caused by millions of years of erosion.
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There are a variety of trekking options, ranging from one-day hikes to treks lasting 10 days; most routes will pass through the small villages and cultivated fields dotted about the lower valleys before reaching the plateaus and high altitude areas, from where the views are breathtaking. The park is home to a variety of rare endemic wildlife, including the walia ibex (a type of mountain goat), the Simien fox and troops of bleeding heart gelada baboons that live in the cliffs. Large birds of prey, such as the lammergeyer, can also be seen.
Lunch Break at Turmi Camping Site (#17/25)
Active Volcano Danakil Depresstion (#18/25) The Danakil depression is an area along the Great Rift Valley where the earth's crust has stretched and thinned. Among the sites to be visited in Denakil depression’ Ertale’ is the most notable where you will have a chance to see active volcano, Dallol the colorful sulfur and salt hot springs and bubbling of different minerals. And the caravans of Afar people extracting salt traditionally and the salt cutting, shaping, loading and transport their salt by camel to towns is among the attractions in the area.
Danakil depresstion (#19/25) The Danakil depression is an area along the Great Rift Valley where the earth's crust has stretched and thinned. Among the sites to be visited in Denakil depression’ Ertale’ is the most notable where you will have a chance to see active volcano, Dallol the colorful sulfur and salt hot springs and bubbling of different minerals. And the caravans of Afar people extracting salt traditionally and the salt cutting, shaping, loading and transport their salt by camel to towns is among the attractions in the area.
Hidden treasures group from Germany (#20/25)
Trip to Surma (#21/25)
Chris and His family from USA (#22/25) Just Phenomenal experience in Ethiopia with Hidden Treasures Tour.
Hidden treasures group from Swizerland (#23/25) Background picture:- reblica of Tomb of Adam at lalibella
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