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Ethiopia might be the most underrated tourist destination in the world. People commonly associate Ethiopia with drought, yet, the average rainfall in the capital, Addis Ababa, is higher than that of Dublin, Ireland. Harsh climate? The average daytime temperature in the highlands that cover most of its territory is 16Cº. Short history? Ethiopia boasts one of the oldest documented cultures in the history of mankind. The great philosopher Mani (from which Manichean is derived) listed Axum (the capital of the Abyssinian Empire) as one of the major powers of its time, along with Rome, Persia & China. Lack of cultural attractions? No African country, including Egypt, has more listings with the UNESCO World Heritage which describes the Simien National Park as “one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world”.
Add to that 78 million friendly, peace-loving and hospitable locals, dwelling in the most diverse environments, from harsh deserts 100m below sea level crisscrossed by camel caravans through lush farming land to the towering heights of the Simien Mountains.
Whether you are a keen trekker, archaeologist, art lover, wildlife enthusiast, wish to encounter the most fascinating tribes on the continent or just eager to get acquainted with one of the strongest cultural identities around, then Ethiopia has something for you.
The project of establishing Lintos Travel Ethiopia as the Livelihood and Nature Tour Operating Service Company in Ethiopia was prompted by 3 assessments:
1.Ethiopia’s potential for tourism is tremendous: Ethiopia is a big country (over 1 million sq km), the climate is temperate (at least in the highlands), a number of natural sites are genuinely stunning, wildlife is abundant, man-made attractions are plentiful and almost unrivalled on the continent and locals are peaceful, friendly and tolerant.
2.The country has an image problem and is still associated in people’s mind with drought, starvation and misery as covered by the media during the 1985 famine under the Marxist regime military Junta.
3.No other industry is likely to bring immediate benefits to the population in the short run.
LINTOS 2007
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