Not only is Sof Omar cave the longest in Ethiopia, it’s also thought to be the second longest cave system in the world. Sof Omar is also sacred to Islam, as well as a number of local religions. And its stunning natural pillars, especially in the ‘chamber of columns’, are a truly breathtaking sight.

Deep valleys and high mountain peaks punctuate the landscape of the Simien National Park. And within the safe haven of the park, you can see some of the rarest animals on the planet living in their natural environments – such as the Gelada baboon, the Simien fox and the Walia ibex.

Fasil Ghebbi, a 16th-17th century fortress city of the Gondar region, was once the home of the Ethiopian emperor Fasilides. The city itself is surrounded by a 900 metre long wall, which contains palaces, churches, monasteries and more, all with a range of architectural influences.

The Danakil Depression is a desert basin which lies in the Danakil Desert in north-eastern Ethiopia and southern Eritrea. It belongs to the homeland of the Afar people. It lies up to 100 m below sea level as a result of tectonic activity caused by plate movements. The presence of many volcanoes in the region, including Erta Ale and the Dabbahu Volcano in the middle of the depression, also finds its cause in these plate movements.

The lower valley of the Omo is currently believed by some to have been a crossroads for thousands of years as various cultures and ethnic groups migrated around the region. To this day, the people of the Lower Valley of the Omo, including the Mursi, Suri, Nyangatom, Dizi and Me’en, are studied for their diversity.

Lalibela is the site of a spectacular complex of 11 rock-hewn Christian churches in mountainous north-central Ethiopia. The churches are of two types: shrinelike grottoes, of which there are four, carved into natural cavities in the mountain slope, and seven monolithic freestanding structures, the foundations of which descend deep into the rock plateau. The freestanding churches, which are still used for worship, are built on a cruciform plan. Three equilateral crosses, carved one inside the other, decorate the roofs, which are level with the plateau. The church interiors were originally covered with mural paintings of scenes from the life of Christ, few of which survive.