Ethiopia – Home of the rare Ethiopian wolf and more

The mountains of Ethiopia are home to an abundance of special creatures – and a new lodge is providing

the perfect base to seek one of the rarest animals on the planet, the Ethiopian wolf...

Getting Around

Ethiopian Airlines runs internal flights on decent Dash 8 planes. Flights are relatively expensive. For

example, Addis to Lalibela costs $250 return, but takes just 40 minutes; the bus to Lalibela is cheap and

practical, but takes all day. Car hire is not advised though because car quality is not that good.

Cost of travel

Although the cost getting around seems expensive,

Ethiopia is pretty cheap. Meals cost around $5-10, coffee

about 30p a cup, beer 75p a bottle. Budget around $25-50

a night for accommodation. Service charges are added to

restaurant bills. A good guide or driver should be tipped

$5-10 a day.

Food and Drink

Local staple injera is made using fermented dough and has

the texture and appearance of a damp brown sponge. It’s

eaten with meat, lentil or bean stew (wat) that’s often

made spicy with berebere (peppers). It’s an acquired

taste. Tourist hotels serve passable kebabs, chips and

pizza. Vegetarians do OK, as many of the country’s Muslim

population don’t eat meat. Local beers, especially dark

lagers, are good. New vineyard Castel produces really

drinkable wine. Coffee is universally excellent.

January to March and October to December are Ethiopia’s

dry season. This is best time for wolves; pups often seen

close to dens in early New Year. Excellent time for bird-

watching. While July to august are its wet season. This is a

fine time to visit northern cultural sites but Bale Mountain

NP is not recommended. Short bursts of rain in mornings occurs in the months of April, May and June.

But it is still good for wolf and wildlife spotting.

Below are some best places Ethiopia has to offer:

Lalibela. Here, ancient churches are carved into the ground out of solid rock. Unmissable and, for now,

not too touristy.

Bale Mountains. Home to the world’s rarest wolf, incredible birdlife and hundreds of unique species in

five different habitats, from high mountain plateau to unexplored rainforest.

Simien Mountains. Ethiopia’s other big wildlife spot, also at high altitude. Endemic gelada baboons are

stars of the show; wolf sightings are possible.

Gonder. This historic city features an atmospheric walled complex of 17th-century castles connected by

underground tunnels.

Addis Ababa. Ethiopia’s dusty capital is worth a day or two, especially the National Museum with its

fossilized remains of our earliest ancestors.

Aksum. (Also spelled Axum) This ancient capital features 20m-high carved stelae (stone slabs),

underground catacombs and the Ark of the Covenant – if you believe the local legend!

Visit vacation-now.com for more travel tips and destinations.