Country 22/196: Ethiopia
Destination: Danakil Depression
Wow, we definitely want to return to Ethiopia!!! ♥ There are lots of amazing places to visit in this magical country, but we chose to visit the famous Danakil Depression. And it was BREATHTAKING!!! 😉 It felt like a trip to Mars; or actually Venus since it’s the hottest place on Earth. We took a two-day tour with World Sun Ethiopia Tours and we loved it! We visited the salt flats at sunset, the unbelievable Dallol at sunrise, the hot springs and we were lucky enough to see the salt miners at work. We had a very friendly and professional tour guide, the food was great, and they even arranged a comfortable sleepover under the stars. You should definitely put a trip to Danakil Depression to your bucket list – it’s life-changing. 😉
Ethiopia, can’t wait to see you again! Thank you for being so awesome! 😉
Things to see and things to do
Ethiopia is a stunning country with lots of amazing sights. It was quite difficult to decide which one of the countless unique destinations we should visit, but in the end, we decided to visit the spectacular Danakil Depression. Other top destinations in Ethiopia include:
- Lalibela
- Gondar
- Aksum
- Harar
- Babile Elephant Sanctuary
- Simien Mountains National Park
- The Rift Valley
- The Omo Valley
- The Blue Nile Falls
- Addis Ababa
Where to stay
We were sleeping on very basic wooden beds under the stars in the middle of a desert and we loved it. Some upscale tour agencies may provide more luxurious accommodation, but where’s the fun in that? In Addis Ababa, on the other hand, there are countless luxurious as well as budget accommodation options.
Are you planning a trip to Addis Ababa? Here you can get a room with a 10% discount!
Budget
The cost of travel in Ethiopia depends mainly on the location and the tour agency you choose. In Addis Ababa food, local transport, and accommodation prices tend to be pretty reasonable, especially if you are willing to eat, travel, and sleep as the locals do. A 2 to 4-day tour to Danakil Depression costs around 250 – 600 USD (212 to 510 EUR) per person. The price depends on the number of days and what is included.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit the Danakil Depression is from November to June. Generally, the best time to visit Ethiopia is also between November and June – during the country’s dry season.
Environmental issues
From 1983 to 1985 Ethiopia was experiencing a widespread famine, ascribed to drought and climatic phenomena, that killed approximately 1.2 million. The country has long recovered from the worst crisis (partly thanks to Live Aid – a large international aid campaign organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure), but they are still facing a number of environmental problems. Deforestation, overgrazing, and inadequate agricultural practices are causing soil erosion and desertification. The nation’s water supply is also at risk – mostly due to periodic droughts, water-intensive farming, and poor management. Only 12% of the rural population has access to potable water. The 17-year civil war has also contributed to Ethiopia’s environmental problems and those cause human health problems and biodiversity loss.
Romance and adventure
Ethiopia offers plenty of romantic sights and adventurous activities. You can go hiking, explore the country’s extraordinary national parks and cities, take a food-tasting tour (Ethiopian cuisine is one of a kind), sleep under the stars, meet some extraordinary people, or admire the shapes and colors of the hottest place on Earth.
196xLOVE
Found lots of LOVE in Ethiopia. 😉 ♥
Honeymoon rating of the visited destinations: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡
An adventurous honeymoon in Ethiopia? That sounds like an awesome idea!!! 😉
* Note: This is NOT a general rating of the country, it is merely our personal opinion of the mentioned site(s) as honeymoon destinations, based on the level of tourism development, the number and quality of romantic and adventurous activities and sites it offers, and safety. We strongly believe that every country is beautiful in its own way, they may simply be more or less honeymoon oriented/friendly.
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