5 Intriguing Facts About Ethiopia You Never Knew
/During our pre-pandemic treks to Ethiopia, we have learned a lot about this spectacular African country. It is surrounded by some of the oldest countries like Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti and Somaliland and boasts rich history itself. The country is well-known for its amazing coffee production, mesmerizing natural landscape and one of a kind orthodox Christian custom.
The Most Surprising Facts About Ethiopia
1. Ethiopia follows a different calendar: Now what does that mean? It’s natural for every cultural group to follow their own unique calendars, especially for religious celebrations. But mostly, the calendars have 12 months. Ethiopia is a little different; the people there follow a 13 month calendar every year. Consequently, Ethiopians are lagging 7 years behind the rest of the world!
2. 1 country, over 80 spoken languages: Everyone knows that Africa is one of the most linguistically diverse continents on earth but Ethiopia takes it up a notch. People in this country can speak over 80 languages BUTEnglish is the main language taught in educational institutions, along with local languages like Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali and more.
3. It has the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa is composed of numerous countries but when it comes to determining the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ethiopia takes the lead. There are a total of 9 UNESCO World Heritage attractions, which include 8 cultural sites and 1 conservation area called the Simien National Park. This park shelters a wide variety of endangered animals like the Ethiopian Wolf and Gelada baboon. Besides that, Axum, Gondar, the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela and Tiya Megaliths are some of the must-visit World Heritage spots in Ethiopia.
4. Home to more than half of Africa’s mountains: Well, if you’re yearning to plan a Northern Ethiopia trek but afraid there aren’t many mountains, think again. Apart from embodying a rich cultural and historical significance, Ethiopia abounds in splendid natural beauty. The country boasts of gorgeous volcanic plateaus, wonderful low desserts and beautiful mountains. The most popular mountain in Ethiopia is the Simien Mountains that has the highest point, Ras Dashen, at 14,872 feet and is located to the northeast of Gonder. The other mountains include Mount Entoto, Bale Mountains, Yerer Mountain, Abune Yosef and more.
5. Ethiopia was never colonized: The most amazing fact about Ethiopia is that it is the only African country that hasn’t been colonized. In fact, out of 54 African countries, Ethiopia is the one and only nation that remains free from colonization. Although the Italians in the 1930s managed to capture the country and occupy it for six years, the Italians could never impose complete dictatorship and eventually left the country.
Ethiopia is proud of being the oldest, independent country in Africa. Be it the incredible scenic beauty or spectacular cultural sites, Ethiopia leaves no stones unturned in enchanting its visitors. Stay tuned for updates on our next Ethiopia trek on Driftwood Adventure Treks. (https://www.driftwoodadventuretreks.com/trek-ethiopia)
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