he natural beauty of Ethiopia amazes the first-time visitor. Ethiopia is a land of rugged mountains, (some 25 are over 4,000 metres high) broad savannah, lakes and rivers. The unique Rift Valley is a remarkable region of volcanic lakes, with a collection of birdlife, great escarpments and stunning vistas. Tisisat, the Blue Nile falls, ranks as one of the greatest natural spectacles in Africa today. There are 14 major wildlife reserves. Birdlife abounds, and indigenous animals from the rare Walia Ibex to the shy wild ass, roam free just as nature intended. Ethiopia, after the rains, is a land decked with flowers and with many more native plants than most countries in Africa. Here are a few of the many natural tourist attractions.

The Blue Nile falls can easily be reached from Bahar Dar. Some 225 km from Addis Ababa, the Blue Nile Gorge can be enjoyed as part of an excursion from the capital.

The Simien Mountain National Park

The Simien mountain massif is one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to the highest point in Ethiopia, Ras Dejen. At 4,620 metres, it is the fourth highest peak in the continent Although not too far from the equator, snow and ice appear on the highest points and night temperatures often fall below zero.

The national park has three general botanical regions. The lower slopes have been cultivated and grazed, while the alpine regions (up to 3600m) were forested, although much has now disappeared. The higher lands are mountain grasslands with fescue grasses as well as heathers, splendid Red Hot Pokers and Giant Lobelia.

The park was created primarily to protect the Walia Ibex, a type of wild goat, and over 1000 are said to live in the park. Also in the park are families of the Gelada Baboon and the rare Simien fox. The Simien fox, although named after the mountains, is rarely seen by the visitor. Over 50 species of birds have also been reported in the Simien mountains.

Access to the park is from Debark, 101 km from Gonder, where riding & pack animals may be hired. This should be arranged in advance through your local tour operator or the Office of the Wildlife Conservation Department.

Lake Tana

Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia, is the source of the famed Blue Nile. From here, the river starts its long journey to Khartoum, and on to the Mediterranean. The 37 islands that are scattered about the surface of the lake shelter fascinating churches and monasteries, some of which have histories dating back to the 13th Century. It should be noted that most of the religious houses are not open to women.

The most interesting islands are: Birgida Mariam, Dega Estefanous, Dek, Narga, Tana Cherkos, Mitsele Fasiledes, Kebran and Debre Maryam.

Kebran Gabriel is the principal monastery visited by male tourists from Bahar Dar, with its impressive Cathedral-like building, first built at the end of the 17th Century. Dega Estephanos, which is also closed to women, is on an island in the lake, and the monastery is reached by a very steep and winding path.

A sail or cruise on Lake Tana is one of the most pleasant excursions for visitors to this region, particularly in the heart of the summer. Boats can be hired from the Marine Transport Authority in Bahar Dar.

Along the lakeshore, birdlife, both local and migratory visitors, make this an ideal place for bird watchers.

Birdlovers will not want to miss Fasilidas island, which is especially famous as an important wetland. The whole of the Lake Tana region and the Blue Nile Gorge have a wide variety of birds, both endemic and visitors. The variety of habitats, from rocky crags to riverain forests and wetlands, ensure that many other different species should by spotted.

The Rift Valley

The Ethiopian Rift Valley, which is part of the famous East African Rift Valley, comprises numerous hot springs, beautiful lakes and a variety of wildlife. The valley is the result of two parallel faults in the earth?s surface between which, in distant geological time, the crust was weakened, causing the land to subside. Ethiopia is often referred to as the ?water tower? of Eastern Africa becauseof the many rivers that pour off the high tableland. The Great Rift Valley?s passage through Ethiopia is marked by a chain of seven lakes.

Each of the seven lakes has its own special domain providing ideal habitats for the exuberant variety of flora and fauna that make the region a beautiful and exotic destination.

Most of the lakes are safe for swimming and other water sports. Lakes Abiata and Shalla are ideal places for bird watchers. The Rift Valley lakes are not fully developed for tourism, though. Lake Langano has some tourist class hotels are built. The Rift Valley is also a site of numerous natural hot springs. The chemical contents of the hot springs are highly valued for their therapeutic purposes.

The Sof Omar Cave

Sof Omar is one of the most spectacular and extensive underground cave systems in the world. Formed as the Wabi River changed its course in the distant past and carved out a new channel through limestone foothills, the Sof Omar system is an extraordinary natural phenomenon of breathtaking beauty.

The Cave, which is now an important Islamic Shrine, was named after the saintly Shekh Sof Omar, who took refuge here many centuries ago, have a religious history that predates the arrival of the muslims in Bale - a history calibrated in thousands of years.