15 Photos Of Ethiopia That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

Ethiopia has some of the most varied terrain in Africa, cultures that are thousands of years old, unusual wildlife, and monuments to rival any in Europe or Asia. From the outskirts of Addis Ababa to the Simien Mountains, the sights, colors and textures of the country are truly astounding and awe-inspiring. Here are 15 photos of Ethiopia that will make your jaw drop.

Photo by Stuart Butler

Erta Ale

We might as well start off with a bang — literally. Ethiopia’s Erta Ale volcano has one of the world’s oldest lava lakes — its existence in the Afar region of the country has been documented since the beginning of the 20th century.

Courtesy of Gustavo Jeronimo / flickr

Gondar

No, it’s not a mythical castle from a fairy tale — it’s real. Known as the Camelot of Ethiopia, Gondar is one of the best preserved castles on the continent.

Courtesy of joepyrek / Flickr

Gondar, Part 2

Generations of emperors ruled here for close to 1,000 years, and there are several buildings and fortifications within the complex.

Photo courtesy of Achilli Family / flickr

Dallol

Dallol, in the Danakil Depression, is notorious for being the hottest inhabited place in Africa, with average temperatures hovering at a sweltering 96 degrees Fahrenheit (35 C). The few who live in this area are mostly sustained by salt mining and transport via camel caravans.

Courtesy of David Stanley / flickr

Lake Shala

The giant Lake Shala in the Great Rift Valley is in a collapsed volcanic caldera that goes 265 meters below the ground. The people at the bottom of the shot add a nice touch to show how large the area really is.

Courtesy of ctsnow / flickr

Tis Issat Falls/Blue Nile Falls

These falls on the Blue Nile are located in northwestern Ethiopia and some of the most impressive on the continent. They are almost 45 meters high and 400 meters wide in the rainy season.

Courtesy of Rod Waddington / flickr

Tigray

Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region is home to some of the most interesting geography in the country. It’s also famous for its ancient rock churches.

Photo courtesy of David Stanley / flickr

Arba Minch

A farmer keeps watch in a treetop over the gorgeous valley in Arba Minch, Ethiopia. The city received its name for the abundant local springs in the area, which make for extremely fertile land.

Photo courtesy of Rod Waddington / flickr

Gelada Baboons

Gelada baboons are found only in the Ethiopian highlands, with most of the population living in the Simien Mountains. They’re also the only primates who primarily eat grass for most of their diet.

Photo courtesy of David Stanley / flickr

Crocodiles

Here is a great aerial of a crocodile ranch in Arba Minch. The location rears thousands of Nile crocodiles for their skins. We think they are best viewed from a computer screen, and not in person. Scary!

Photo courtesy of Marc Veraart / flickr

Hamar People

And let’s not forget about the rich culture of the country. In this photo, some members of the Hamar tribe show off their skills.

Underground River, Sof Omer Cave, Ethiopia

Courtesy of Rod Waddington / flickr

Underground River In Sof Omar Cave

The Sof Omar Cave is the longest in Ethiopia and one of the longest in Africa as well. The cave features a zig-zag of passages including this river above.

Photo courtesy of Ondřej Odcházel / flickr

Lalibela

We definitely couldn’t leave you hanging without a picture of Lalibela. It’s one of the holiest cities in Ethiopia, and was designed by King Lalibela to be a new Jerusalem in the 12th century.

Courtesy of David Stanley / Ethiopia

El Sod

Salt anyone? The crater lake of El Sod has served locals for hundreds of years as a source of salt to nourish their livestock.

Courtesy of Marc Veraart / flickr

Simien Mountains

And last but certainly not least, the incredible Simien Mountains. Located in the north of Ethiopia, these natural wonders have some of the craziest topography on the planet.

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