Lalibela

town

Danakil Depression

geological depression, northern part of the Afar Triangle or Afar Depression

Addis Ababa

capital city of Ethiopia

Konso

and other Omo Valley tribes

Simien National Park

national park

Awash National Park

national park

Mekele

the capital city in the northern Tigray Region of Ethiopia

Axum

Ethiopian city

Harar

city in the east of Ethiopia

Gondar

city, former capital of Ethiopia

Dire Dawa

chartered city of Ethiopia

Bahir Dar

town in Ethiopia

Mekelle

the capital city in the northern Tigray Region of Ethiopia

Ras Dashen

mountain

Erta Ale

The crater of this volcano contains a lake of liquid lava. Hike up at night when it is not so hot with your guides and armed guards, view the lava lake in the dark, then catch a few hours sleep at the summit before walking back down before the day's heat rises too far.

National Archives and Library of Ethiopia

Church of Saint George, Lalibela

one of eleven monolithic churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia

Lake Karum

The salt flats are mined by hand, with the slabs of salt loaded onto to camel trains and taken to Hamed Ela, from where they are trucked to Mekele.

Fasil Ghebbi

fortress

Lake Afrera

Mount Fentale

mountain in Ethiopia

St. George's Cathedral, Addis Ababa

Built in 1896 to commemorate Ethiopia's victory over the Italians. The cathedral is a octagonal building. As you walk around it, you will notice people praying beside the walls, but it is unlikely that you will find an entrance. The Cathedral houses a small museum and close to it you will likely meet one of the archdeacons of the Cathedral. If he offers to be a guide, take his offer and visit the Cathedral with him. The interior is beautifully decorated with huge paintings and mosaics, and will make the trip worthwhile. It is worth visiting the museum with a guide as well to see ceremonial clothes and ancient manuscripts.

Monument to the Lion of Judah

Commemorates Emperor Menelik. It was erected in 1930 and looted by the Italians a few years later. It remained in Rome for 30 years before being returned in the 1960s.

Tiglachin Monument

Sometimes erroneously called Derg Monument, which Ethiopians find offensive because it is not a monument to honour the Derg regime. This massive statue monument was built in the 1980s. The sides have a tribute to Ethiopian and Cuban soldiers who died in the 1977-1978 war against Somalia. If you want to take pictures, there is a guy asking for a small fee.

Holy Trinity Cathedral (Addis Ababa)

It was built to commemorate the country's liberation from the Italians, and many victims killed by the Italians during occupation are buried here. The locals call the church Haile Selassie Church because Emperor Haile Selassie's body was moved here in 2000. It was once the largest Ethiopian Orthodox cathedral. Includes a small museum. Shoes must be left outside.

National Museum of Ethiopia

A world-class museum. The most famous exhibit is the replica of Lucy, an early hominid. With Ethiopian civilization being one of the oldest in the world, the artefacts within the museum span thousands of years, including some from its earliest days. A wide variety of artefacts are featured, from sculptures to clothing to artwork. Both traditional and modern art are featured.

Africa Hall

This is where the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is headquartered as well as most UN offices in Ethiopia. It is also the site of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) which eventually became the African Union. Security is tight and you won't be admitted unless you have an appointment.

Blue Nile Falls

waterfall

Ezana Stone

A well-preserved, 2-m-tall, thin tablet in Greek, Ge'ez and Latin discovered in the 1980s by a farmer, and praising God for his assistance in the conquest of land in what is now the Yemen. It issues a death curse to anyone who dares move it. It is in a small round building at the left hand side of the rough road from the northern stelae field to the tombs of kings Kaleb and Gebre Mes'kel. This small building is kept padlocked but the key holder will magically appear (unless at lunchtime between 12:00 and 14:30) if you're patient. As of May 2019, the building is being reconstructed and the tablet is not visible beneath a protective covering.

Hager Fikir Theatre

The oldest theatre in Ethiopia.

Dungur

The grand entrance steps and the foundations (topped with well dressed ruined walls up to 3 m high in places) of this palace near the Judith stelae field clearly indicate that this was the largest and most impressive palace in Axum. Although everyone calls it the Palace of the Queen of Sheba, it actually dates from the 7th century AD, about 1,500 years after the time of the Queen of Sheba.

Dire Dawa African War Cemetery

cemetery in Ethiopia

Medhane Alem Cathedral, Addis Ababa

This cathedral, whose name means "Saviour of the World", is the second largest church in Africa.

National Palace (Ethiopia)

Built as the Jubilee Palace to mark Emperor Haile Selassie's Silver Jubilee in 1955, it is the residence of the President of Ethiopia. Taking pictures is prohibited and even pausing to peer over the wall will attract security.

Enkutatash