Ethiopia, part of the horn of Africa is a country bounded by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, and South Sudan and Sudan to the west. With archaeological finds dating back over 3 million years, it’s not a surprise that this is a top destination of interest. These are the top 4 cities to visit when you are in Ethiopia.
Bahir Dar
This city is the capital of the Amhara Region in Ethiopia and the former capital city of West Gojjam. Administratively, Bahir Dar is a special zone. Bahir Dar is one of the leading tourist destinations in Ethiopia, with a variety of attractions in the nearby Lake Tana and the Blue Nile river. The city is known for its wide avenues lined with palm trees and a variety of colorful flowers. In 2002, it was awarded the UNESCO Cities for Peace Prize for addressing the challenges of rapid urbanisation.
Gondar
This is a city located in the Siemen Gondar Zone of Amhara Region. Gondar is north of the Tana Lake on the Lesser Angereb River and southwest of the simian mountains. It has a latitude and longitude of 12⁰36N and 37⁰28E with and elevation of 2133 meters above sea level. As of 2016, Gondara has a population of 299,969.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa also known as “Finfinne” (Oromo: Finfinee “natural spring”), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of 4,794,000. As a charted city, Addis Ababa also serves as the capital city of the Oromia Region. It is where the African Union is headquartered and is where its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), as well as various other continental and international organisations. Addis Ababa is therefore often referred to as the “political capital of Africa” for its historical, diplomatic, and political significance for the continent. The city lies a few miles west of the East African Rift which splits Ethiopia into two, between the Nubian Plate ad the Somali Plate. The city is surrounded by the Special Zone of Oromia and populated by people from different regions of Ethiopia. It is home to Addis Ababa University.
Awasa
Also spelled as “Awassa” or “Hawassa”, is the city on the shores of Lake Awassa in the Great Rift Valley. It is 273km (170 miles) South of Addis Ababa via Bishoftu, 130km (81 miles) east of Sodo, and 75km (47 miles) north of Dila. The town serves as the capital of the Sidama Region and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and peoples’ region. It lies on the Trans-African Highway 4 Cairo-Cape town and has a latitude and longitude of 7⁰3N 38⁰28E and an elevation of 1,708 meters (5,604 ft) above sea level. Its name comes from a sidamic word meaning “wide body of water”.
Source: African international
