Unique Places in Ethiopia

This town feeds Hynas by 7pm just outside the town bear the hills. The idea may be to make Hynas stay outside town and stop taking goats, cows or chicken. Problem is that I Hynas mingling with dogs and foxes all over the town at night. So be careful at night I warn you; if you see a Hynas DON'T RUN FOR YOUR LIFE. Just ignore and move on keep going till you leave the area; make sure you are not followed by a hungry and maneater Hyena.

If you believe Ethiopians, Indiana Jones should have looked elsewhere in his quest of the Lost Ark. The Ark of the Covenants is said to be kept in a square building in the St. Mary of Zion church complex in Aksum (north of Ethiopia). None can visit it, no pictures are allowed, only a lifetime guard is in contact with the treasure. Yet there are many believers and the Ark is a trusted symbol in Ethiopian religion.
It is said that after the visit to Solomon, the Queen of Sheba bore a son, Menelik, to the King. When Menelik was grown, he visited his father Solomon and sent the sons of his own counselors to help Menelik rule. These young men then removed the Ark from the Temple (later destroyed by the Romans) and took it with them to Ethiopia. For centuries, Ethiopians maintained that it is still preserved in their country...
Believe it or not is up to you.

The legendary queen of South Arabia (some say Ethiopia instead), is said to have (following Ethiopian tradition) married King Solomon of Israel and founding Ethiopia's ruling dynasty. Upon the Book of Kings in the Bible, the Queen of Sheba learned of the wisdom of King Solomon and came to Jerusalem to test him 'with hard questions.' She arrived in a vast caravan, 'with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones.'
When she returned home, she was pregnant (of the King is said), so his son startes a milenary dinasty that has been ruling until the fall of Haile Selassie in the 20th century.

In Harar you can find a rather interesting and unusual house (now a museum), where the French poet is said to have lived, in spite of the fact that the building was constructed after his departure. But there are also other 2 Rimbaud houses (these authentic), one of them in the main square.
Nevertheless, the museum of Rimbaud Center is an example of Indian inspired architecture (restored by the authorities of Harar between 1996 and 1999) and inside you can see ancient photos (end of the 19th century, beginning 20th) of Harar, a room (small) dedicated to the poet, and a documentation and research centre, where you can find most (all?) of Rimbaud books.

According to the legend and to some historical facts, in the
Church St Mary of Sion, Axum, is kept the Ark of the Covenant. It was brought from Jerusalem by Menelik, the son of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

I have heard that it is meticulously protected by an old bearded monk who spends his life in solitary contemplation, a man with love of God, purity of heart, cleanliness of mind and body. Even the President of Ethiopia is not allowed to have a look at it.

Nevertheless I risked entering the Sancta Santorum where supposedly is this Holy of Holiest sheltered. I surrounded the Church and where I noticed that the walls were less high, I gathered stones and climbed. Once inside I took my shoes off and ran to a room covered by a curtain. Then swallowed saliva and tried to culminate my purpose when, suddenly, a strong hand held my shoulders. He reprimanded me:
Where you go, bold man?
It was the guardian!
He gently invited me to leave the Church premises, what I did after begging his pardon.

The Cave Church of Yimrehane Kristos
Yimrehane Kristos is a built-up church under a huge basaltic cave located
About 42 kms northeast of Lallibela on a mountain ridge with an altitude of
2681 meters. It was built by one of the first Zagwe Kings, Yimrehane Kristos,
between 1087-1127 A.D. It’s the oldest example of Axumite architecture which
began the rock-hewn era in Lallibela. Building materials (special woods and marble) were brought to this site from Jerusalem and Egypt.

you can spend 4 or 5 thou. for a two week guided tour excluding airfare. I stayed a month and spent 2500.00 including airfare. Went to all the real good places and enjoyed more of the true country. Hot water baths. Real jungle. Awesome fishing and hunting if you wish.

Off the beaten track – this is nearly everywhere in Ethiopia! Unless you travel by plane moving from one place to another takes time! In the northern part of the country most of the overland roads are gravel roads, often winding up and down the mountainous landscape.

The average distance a bus is driving per hour is about 30 km. To make it clear: If you want to do the whole northern circuit by bus (starting and ending in Addis Ababa) it will take 10 long days and that means: 10 days of only sitting in busses.