The birthplace of Arabica and home to Lucy, humanity’s best-known ancient ancestor, Ethiopia is traversed by paths only charted to a modest extent, which ensures early-bird visitors an extravagantly private experience. Beyond the bustle of capital Addis Ababa lie the Simien Mountains National Park, the Danakil Depression (which contains a staggering quarter of the entire continent’s active volcanoes), and the rock-carved churches of Lalibela, one or more of which are bound to feature on a postcard home. Count on the Ethiopian injera (sourdough pancake topped with a plethora of stews and sauces) to keep you going when the world-famous coffee no longer suffices.
Capital of one the world's fastest-growing economies, Addis Ababa (also spelled Addis Abeba) is a city in motion, catching up to Ethiopia's zooming commercial development in stride. At times gauche and somewhat rough around the edges, it is nonetheless worth more than a single night in transit, if only for the country's finest dining, shopping and of-the-moment urban developments.
