My Favourite Photos of Ethiopia to Inspire Your Next Adventure

ByAlex Tiffany Posted on Updated on

Ethiopia is a place that stays with you long after you leave. I first arrived in the country with a vague sense of what to expect – images of rock-hewn churches, delicious coffee, and stories of ancient history.

But nothing could have prepared me for the intensity of this country’s landscapes and cultures.

Ethiopia is a land of extreme contrasts. Jagged cliffs drop into lush valleys, bustling markets sit beside tranquil monasteries, and history is etched into the stones of ancient cities.

I’ve spent over two months in Ethiopia and explored the country from top to bottom, east to west. I’ve visited most of the major tourist sites as well as more off-the-beaten-path places.

A close-up of a stone wall with a weathered sign in Amharic script, and a person in traditional clothing walking past an open doorway toward a building with a corrugated metal roof.

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One of my most powerful memories from this extraordinary country is of the famous rock-hewn churches at Lalibela. Despite being one of Ethiopia’s most popular tourist sites, this place retains a truly unique, electric atmosphere.

At sunrise and sunset, priests in white robes process through the complex, whispering prayers in the dim light and mysterious passageways of the underground churches.

The walls echo with centuries of devotion, and some of the scenes look and feel truly biblical. It’s one of the most extraordinary and awe-inspiring places I’ve ever been.

If you get the chance to visit the Simien Mountains too, I’d highly recommend it. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, with jagged cliffs, lush valleys, and tons of rare wildlife including geladas (a type of baboon) and Ethiopian wolves.

Visiting Ethiopia is all about embracing the unexpected moments and taking time to immerse yourself in a rich and distinctive culture. Like the time I found myself sipping fresh coffee in a tiny village, listening to the rhythmic chants of a church service echoing through the highlands.

Ethiopia has so many layers – natural, spiritual, and cultural. It’s a place that challenges your expectations and rewards your curiosity.

I hope these photos give you a glimpse of the Ethiopia I fell in love with and inspire you to experience it for yourself.

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Two young children standing in a field, one wearing a green and blue plaid scarf over their head and the other in a green shirt, shading their eyes from the sun with their hand.
The top view of a large, cross-shaped rock-hewn church, partially submerged in the ground, surrounded by greenery and hills in the background.
A lone person paddling a small wooden boat on a vast lake, with a distant view of green hills and trees along the shoreline under a hazy sky.
The interior view of a rock-hewn church with a rough, arch-shaped entrance leading to stone steps and an open doorway, with natural light filtering through.
A traditional Ethiopian coffee pot, called a "jebena," and a small ceramic coffee cup placed on a colorful, woven cloth inside a rustic room.
A rock-hewn church, showing its rectangular, windowed structure with weathered stone walls and a mossy appearance, surrounded by a carved-out trench.
Two Ethiopian priests standing in a rock-hewn church, dressed in white traditional robes, one sitting on the ground and the other standing, viewed through a narrow stone archway.
An elderly woman wearing a white headscarf and patterned dress, roasting coffee beans in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony inside a modest room with a few simple furnishings.
Three smiling children sitting on the ground next to a small black goat, with greenery in the background. The boy in the middle wears a red and black shirt, and the other two children are holding the goat affectionately.
The exterior of a circular building with a thatched roof, showing a wooden window with a mesh covering and a person standing under the arches, silhouetted against the bright outdoors.
A colorful assortment of clothes hanging on a clothesline in a small, open courtyard with rough stone walls, a blue door, and various household items scattered around.
A busy street in an urban area, filled with cars, pedestrians, and small shops lining the sides. People are walking in various directions, and a few vehicles are parked or moving along the road.
A wide view of a large, muddy waterfall cascading over a rocky cliff, surrounded by lush green vegetation and hills in the distance under a cloudy sky.
A long, wet road stretching into the distance, with several people walking along both sides under a cloudy sky. Some are carrying umbrellas, and the road is flanked by green trees and small roadside structures.
A shaded, dirt path in a rural village, with a large tree overhead and a stray tire in the middle of the path. A child stands near a doorway in the background, and a few colorful houses are partially visible.
A road sign showing directions to Addis, Sudan, and Metema, viewed from inside a vehicle. The sign is written in both Amharic and English, and the surrounding area includes trees and a person standing nearby.
A cluster of small, rustic houses made of wood and corrugated metal, with laundry hanging outside and people going about their daily activities on a cobblestone road.
A red truck precariously tilted on a road with its front end lifted in the air due to an overhanging load of long wooden logs, set against a rocky hillside.
A white Isuzu truck with a group of camels standing in the back, parked under a tree with a man in a red shirt walking towards it. The truck is on a dirt road, and a motorcycle is parked beside it.
A green truck loaded with several camels in the back, parked on a dusty plain with mountains in the background. Two men are standing near the truck, adjusting or securing items.
A narrow dirt path between simple stone houses, leading toward green bushes in the background under a clear blue sky.
A large tree with sprawling branches in a courtyard, surrounded by stone walls and a few buildings with corrugated metal roofs. A child can be seen walking on a cobblestone path.
A nighttime scene featuring a man in a red jacket feeding a hyena while another man crouches beside him, smiling. Several hyenas are visible in the background, with one close to the two men.
A nighttime scene featuring a man in a red jacket feeding a hyena that rests its paws on the shoulder of the crouching man while more hyenas wander in the background.
A wide view of a densely packed neighborhood with numerous corrugated metal roofs, surrounded by trees and greenery. The sky is cloudy, with hills visible in the distance.

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Alex is a former lawyer and an expert in off-the-beaten-path travel. Originally from the UK, Alex has explored over 70 countries independently, from hitchhiking in East Africa and Central Asia to road-tripping across Europe and the USA. He loves hiking, camping, and discovering lesser-known destinations.

Alex's writing and photography have been featured in many leading travel publications. He's passionate about sharing his travel expertise with others and encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones and travel more adventurously.