Mostly western people associate Ethiopia with draught and famine, but the highland that accounts 56 % of the total area of the country has a mean annual; rainfall of more than 1400mm and temperature of 16^oc.

Ethiopia is a unique country with great antiquity described by several observers as the cradle of humanity and mentioned by philosophers, writers, holly books and religious persons repeatedly. Abyssinia resembles no other country in Africa or anywhere else Thesiger, traveler and explorer of Awash River and Danakil Depression. It is the only uncolonized African country and the one among the few world countries who have their own alphabetical scripts. Ethiopia always has a special place in my imagination and the prospect of visiting Ethiopia attracted me more strongly than a trip to France, England, and America combined. I felt I would be visiting my own genesis, unearthing the roots of what made me an African, Nelson Mandela.

Ethiopia is the cradle of mankind, the origin of Lucy or ‘Dinknesh’, 3.2 million years old and the most complete early hominid skeleton. Traditionally, Ethiopians date their history from Adam and Eve. Modern archaeological research has identified a number of ancient settlements. The most important was at Yeha, the site of a remarkably fine temple erected to the sun and moon gods in the 7th or 8th century BC. The well documented history of Ethiopia begins in the 4th century BC, with the founding of Aksumite kingdom centered at the present Aksum. The great writer Mani mentioned Aksum, the capital of Abyssinian Empire as one of the greatest powers of its time along with China, Rome and Persia.

Ethiopia produced the most astonishing and numerous man made monuments such as Yeha temple of the moon, the oldest living monument in the Black Africa, the gigantic stelae of Aksum believed to be the largest monolith erected by man, yet, the marvelous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela considered by many writers as the 8th wonder of the world, the fairytale like castles of Gonder and the walled city of Harar, are all registered in the UNESCO world heritage list. Yet, so much has to be explored. For instance monasteries and churches perched on the mountains of Gojam, Gonder, Wollo and Tigray provide astonishing trekking, art and antique relics.