By Dave Emery
Crossing remote areas, far away from civilization and from the comfort of the modern dwelling lies one of the most well-kept traditions we might expect to see on the African continent. In Southern Ethopia, in the depths of Rift Valley or in the Omo Region, there is a cultural fest – over 45 languages are spoken, several tribes combine their traditions in an amazing display of color and culture that reminds one of ancient times.
Forget the comfort of your car if you want to reach the sacred place. The roads can be terrible but the rewards one receives when reaching the other side is worth the trouble. People in this corner of Africa have remained virtually untouched by a world that moves ever faster, their lifestyles suffering no major changes for the last two hundred years. Even though it can get overwhelming considering the arid desert, most of the people that visited the place were impressed by the country’s beauty – the tall mountains, the vast fields with grains waiting to be harvested, the cooling waterfalls or the lush forest filled with vegetation.
The Ethiopian people somehow seem unaffected by the region’s economical issues – they laugh, sign in greet each day with optimisms, wishing every stranger curious about their lands a warm welcome. Women wear colorful jewels, handcrafted from various plants. A woman would put on daily, besides the clothes, beaded necklaces and metal bracelets, leather skirts or loincloths but also some complex hairstyles you wouldn’t normally expect.
Many fascinating objectives can be found around the Simien Mountains, including Gondar, Ethiopia’s medieval capital or the Royal Enclosure, a series of castles with a unique design in Africa built by the ruling family. Ethiopia’s ancient capital that could rival Egypt’s pyramids, Axum is not the center point for the country’s Christians, with several sacred buildings and one of the largest churches in the world.
On the other hand, the is less frequented but more inviting, due to the variety of flora and fauna. The parks are home to hundreds of species of birds, the country being referred to as one of the best countries for ornithology in the world. Lake Nakuru National Park also offers the chance to explore rhinos, buffalos and flamingos. All in all, Ethiopia can be a fascinating place, to find a lost culture, enjoy remote locations and escape the modernism of it all.
photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8