Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Afica unexplored….discover a new ‘old’ Ethiopia…..

Africa. There is nowhere like it on the planet for wildlife, wild lands & rich traditions that endure. Prepare to fall in love.

How do you capture the essence of Africa on paper without using up every cliché in the book? No other continent comes close to it for scale, variety and pure, raw impact. In Ethiopia you would be hard-pressed to find a better combination of nature and culture. Full of Abyssinian abysses, origin of the Blue Nile, caravans of salt-laden camel trains. The best part: there will be no crowds to hinder the experience. Come….let us help you discover…………..

Africa’s natural history alone would make a dozen visits worthwhile - where else on earth can you fall asleep to the sound of lions roaring, or watch a million flamingos take off from the waters of a remote soda lake? Parts of Africa boast scenery so spectacular they’ll damn near blow your mind, but the essence of this incredible continent isn’t in any desert, mountain or lake. It’s the spirit of the people – pushing, shoving, sweating, dancing, singing and laughing – that infects so many visitors with a travel bug so powerful they’ll never stop coming back, sometimes against all sense or reason.

Debate with venerable merchants among the cool, narrow streets of an Arabic medina, dance to the thumping reggae beats coming from a West African market stall, or shoot the breeze with fishermen under Indian Ocean palm trees, and you’ll be struck more than anything else by the honesty, warm-heartedness and vitality of the African people.

Africa is not always an easy place to travel in. It can be frustrating & challenging at times. Hardships & logistical disasters can happen. But don’t believe everything you see on TV: Africa’s not a hell hole full of civil war, plague, famine & violent crime. It is a fantastic, enlightening, surprising & intriguing continent. Try it once, and we guarantee you’ll dream about coming back for the rest of your life.

And now let us discover Ethiopia.

Abyssinian abysses | Historical Wonders | Proud Traditions

Ethiopia is like nowhere else on the planet, a beautiful country blessed with a peerless history, fabulous wildlife and some of Africa's most soulful peoples.

In the Horn of Africa, it is a rugged, landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley. With archaeological finds dating back more than 3 million years, it’s a place of ancient culture. You don’t explore Ethiopia for a relaxing getaway, you venture here to be moved. And moved you shall be.

Ethiopia, almost the only African country to have escaped European colonialism, has retained much of its cultural identity. It all begins with Lucy, one of our most celebrated ancient ancestors, moves effortlessly into the realm of ancient Aksum with its oblelisks & echoes of the Queen of Sheba, and then takes on power & passion as Christianity, with mysterious echoes of Ancient Israel, takes centre stage. And unlike so many other places in Africa, the ancients here left behind some extraordinary monuments to faith & power which serve as focal points for so many wonderful journeys.

Ethiopia’s storied and sovereign history has left its wide-ranging and fertile highlands laden with historical treasures, ranging from the ancient tombs & obelisks of Aksum to 17^th century castles & burnt-out Russian tanks. And it is not dubbed the Cradle of Humanity for nothing; archaeologically speaking, Ethiopia is to sub-Saharan Africa what Egypt is to North Africa.

Ethiopia is one of Africa's most beautiful countries & its landscapes are epic in both scale & beauty. Travellers are thrilled by the amazing backdrop of canyons, chasms, lakes, savannah plains & high plateaus - not to mention the mesmerising desolate Danakil Depression, peppered with an astonishing 25% of Africa’s active volcanoes.

Ethiopia begs outdoor escapades with its larger-than-life, hallucinatory landscapes. Hiking & trekking in the Simien & Bale Mountains are obvious choices. Then there are those must-do- before-you-die moments, such as exploring the surreal depths of the Danakil Depression or climbing up cliff faces to remote rock-hewn churches in Tigray. Last but not least, Ethiopia ranks among Africa’s best birdwatching destination, with plenty of endemic species. One thing is sure: you will be rewarded with memorable experiences.

Wade through incense into a medieval world hewn from stone in Lalibela, and watch the line between past & present blur while taking part in striking Christian ceremonies that haven’t changed in 1000 years.

Ethiopia’s storied & sovereign history has left its wide-ranging and fertile highlands laden with historical treasures, ranging from the ancient tombs and obelisks of Aksum to 17^th century castles and burnt-out Russian tanks. Many are more than a peek into the nation’s past; they are a giant two-footed leap. Ethiopia’s landscapes are no less dramatic, and range from the Simien Mountains National Park & Bale Mountain National Park, which proffer tremendous trekking and innumerable interactions with dozens of animals & birds seen nowhere else on earth, to the Danakil Depression in northern Ethiopia, an enchanting & unforgivingly hostile environment offering extreme adventure. The remote lowlands in the sultry southwest are also home to untold adventures & house some of Africa’s most fascinating tribes.

Peopling these landscapes is a wide variety of African peoples, including the Afar, the Mursi, the Karo, the Hamer, the Nuer & the Anuak, whose ancient customs & traditions have remained almost entirely intact. Staying with these communities is a great introduction to a way of life once followed by all of humankind. A highlight of any trip to the Horn is witnessing one of the many ceremonies & festivals that are an integral part of traditional culture in the region. They may be Christian, Islamic or animist festivals, or village events, such as a wedding, a rite-of-passage celebration or a local market day.

Although it is anything but desert wasteland or a perpetual home of famine & war, Ethiopia is monetarily poor and travel here is tough, both physically & mentally. However, those willing to take some doses of displeasure with Ethiopia’s bounty of treasure will be pleasantly rewarded.

History & a unique experience amidst idyllic scenery are just the beginning. Testing, awe-inspiring and heartbreaking - a journey you will never forget. .  Take the plunge now and yep….the Ethiopians are waiting. A warm welcome awaits you & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

Come……be inspired & discover the World with us

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to Ethiopia. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore more options & we will be happy to customise & offer suggestions based on your personal preferences………