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Aksum – Raiders Of The Lost Ark?

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The Great Stele, Main Stelae Field, Aksum, Ethiopia, Africa

Aksum changed A LOT in 5 years… This sleepy town, quite Off The Beaten Track 5 years ago, is now on the itinerary of all travel agencies, and you will meet large tour groups in all better hotels & restaurants in town. The good news is: there are so many things to do and see in and around Aksum that you will more often than not only see very few tourists during the day… Continue Reading →

11 Things To Do In Harar

At the Market in Harar, East Ethiopia

At the Market in Harar, East Ethiopia

Harar, in the lowlands and the desert East of the country, is a place apart in Ethiopia. This is probably the only city that you can fully discover on foot and that will invite you for long strolls. Plan a few days if you want to truly enjoy it and stay in the Old City! Continue Reading →

Addis Abeba – Check The Museums!

Reconstitution of Lucy, National Museum, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

Reconstitution of Lucy, National Museum, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia

As many large African cities, Addis Abeba is very difficult to apprehend for newcomers: a widespread, nondescript grid of busy streets lined with low concrete blocks and congested with traffic, with no clearly identifiable center. To make matters worse, you need a car to move around, as distances are huge, far too big for pedestrians… Continue Reading →

The 15 Best Markets For Taking Stunning Pictures

A Personal Selection of Markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle-East and South America

Woman smoking at the 5-Day Market on Inle Lake, Myanmar - The five villages on the shore of Lake Inle take turns, so there is actually a market each day of the week.

Woman smoking at the 5-Day Market on Inle Lake, Myanmar – The five villages on the shore of Lake Inle take turns, so there is actually a market each day of the week.

No matter where I travel, I immensely enjoy visiting markets. Many of them, especially in Africa & in Asia, but also in the Middle East & in South America, are an assault on your senses: colorful and at times disorientating, aromatic or even intoxicating, vibrant and eventually hectic places… But this is where “the real life” can be found, so different from touristic highlights (though some markets have turned extremely popular in the last years, also amongst tour groups…) Continue Reading →

Travel Guide To Ethiopia

The Northern Historical Circuit

Bet Giyorgis Rock-Hewn Church, Lalibela

Bet Giyorgis Rock-Hewn Church, Lalibela

Our itinerary

We have visited Ethiopia twice. The detailed account of our trip to the Lower Omo Valley and the Danakil Depression over the Christmas holidays 2010 – 2011 has been published on our website, on the website of the Lonely Planet & of the Bradt Guide and received a lot of attention. Continue Reading →

Ethiopia: Historical Route – A Selection Of 26 Pictures

Bet Giyorgis Rock-Hewn Church, Lalibela

Discovering Ethiopia’s great history – Over Easter 2011, we followed what has become known as the “Northern Historical Circuit”. This term subsumes unparalleled highlights: Bahir Dar and the Monasteries of Lake Tana, the Royal Palaces of Gonder, the Stelae in Axum & the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela – Here you find a selection of 26 pictures from Ethiopia Continue Reading →

Ethiopia – Budget Guide

Fasilida's Casstle, Fasil Ghebbi, the Royal Enclosure, Gonder, Ethiopia

Fasilida’s Casstle, Fasil Ghebbi, the Royal Enclosure, Gonder, Ethiopia

We visited Ethiopia twice in 2010-2011. Both times we travelled during the busy season (Christmas and Easter) and spent about two weeks in the country each time. This is not our preferred time and tempo. Nevertheless we felt a lot less rushed than most other tourists. Especially large groups on buses go at a merciless pace! Continue Reading →

Addis Ababa From Different Angles

In Addis Abeba

In Addis Abeba

Our 15 hours in Addis was packed with an incredible amount of activities and experiences. At least one hour was killed by fighting with a cab driver, who we thought was overcharging us. We had agreed on a price, then a girl joined us and she was also expected to pay the same price. Only when the police did not seem interested in the story of the driver did the matter slowly settle. Continue Reading →

Crossing The River Jordan For Genata Maryam

Surroundings of Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

Surroundings of Lalibela, Ethiopia, Africa

Travelling to Genata Maryam took us through stunning landscape. Crossing the oasis-like River Jordan was only one of the highlights! Together with a German family, we rented a taxi to this rock-hewn church an hour’s drive outside Lalibela. Continue Reading →