Ethiopia

On the roof of Africa, source of the Blue Nile, lies an ancient country whose Orthodox church plays a guiding role in the second oldest Christian nation in the world. The church exhibits colourful ceremonies and traditions influenced by Judaism as well as historical links with Islam. Exploring this distinctive history, our tour will reveal the country’s wonderful tradition of rock-hewn churches, not least some lesser-known sites in the north east as well the extraordinary ‘New Jerusalem’ carved out of the hillside at Lalibela.

While the wonders of Lalibela perhaps form the pinnacle of our wide-ranging tour, the rich history and culture of Ethiopia will captivate us across several other centres. Within the dramatic highland landscapes of northern Ethiopia lies a fascinating array of monuments, many of them UNESCO World Heritage sites. The giant stelae – spectacular monolithic obelisks – royal tombs and palace remains at Axum speak of a once powerful kingdom, which stretched from Southern Arabia to Meroe in northern Sudan; in the 3rd century it was considered one of the four great empires of the world, alongside Rome, Persia and China. The Axumites adopted Christianity in 333 AD, and the Ark of the Covenant is claimed to be one of the many treasures housed in the compound of the Church of St Mary of Zion.

Equally absorbing is the diverse landscape surrounding these cultural sites. Within the dramatic mountainous region of the Simiens, we will discover unusual Afro-alpine vegetation and glimpses of rare mammals together with many unusual birds. In contrast, where the headwaters of the Blue Nile gather near Bahir Dar, shimmering Lake Tana provides island homes for churches dating back to the 14th century, many adorned with magnificent wall paintings.

In Addis Ababa, the cosmopolitan capital and administrative centre of the African Union, we will visit the National Museum of Ethiopia, home to the skeleton of 3.2 million year old ‘Lucy’, one of our earliest bipedal ancestors. Our journey will also take us through Gondar, where those who wish will have an opportunity to witness the religious festival of Meskel, a celebration of the discovery of the True Cross, whose morning festivities include a bonfire in the town square accompanied by dancing and liturgical singing.

This tour will be led by Rev John Binns, PhD, who will be joined by wildlife expert and conservationist Kevin Hand, MSc, MCIEEM.

John has researched and lectured in a variety of Eastern Orthodox countries, including Russia, Israel/Palestine and Serbia. He is Visiting Professor at the Institute of Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge and a Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He has visited Ethiopia many times, and his publications include The Orthodox Church of Ethiopia: A History (I B Tauris, London 2016) and An Introduction to the Orthodox Christian Churches (Cambridge University Press, 2002). He is also chair of trustees of Partners for Change Ethiopia, a community development agency based in Addis Ababa, with a UK office in Cambridge.

Kevin is a conservationist and environmental consultant with a special interest in birds, mammals and ecotourism. He has led many projects linking nature and communities, including a Darwin Initiative on the taiga forests in Siberia and a programme to identify sustainable use of forest resources in the Ecuadorian Amazon. He was a Director of the Tree Council and ran National Tree Week in the UK for 13 years. Kevin has led several tours to Ethiopia and accompanied John on ACE’s latest tour there in January 2020. He is looking forward to introducing another group to some of the wildlife and landscapes of this fascinating country. 

“Our journey is a full and wide ranging introduction to the landscapes, buildings and culture of this beautiful and extraordinary country. We will visit the historical towns of Axum and Gondar; go by boat to some of the medieval monasteries on Lake Tana; enjoy the most spectacular mountain range of the Simiens; and a special feature will be to visit some of the most interesting and less often visited rock churches of the north east as well as the churches of Lalibela. Ethiopia is a fast developing and vibrant nation whose people are warm and welcoming, and it is they above all who will make our visit a wonderful and unforgettable experience.”

— Tour Director Rev John Binns