CultureJuly 25, 20266 min read
Ethiopia: a journey through the cradle of humanity
Lucy, a thirteen-month calendar, the Ark of the Covenant and the birthplace of coffee: why Ethiopia is unlike anywhere else.
Ancient Capital · Historic Northern Ethiopia
Axum
Capital of the Kingdom of Aksum, one of the four great powers of the ancient world, and the spiritual heart of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
- Best Time
- September to July
- Suggested Stay
- 1 to 2 days
- Altitude
- 2,131 m
- Region
- Historic Northern Ethiopia
Why We Go
Granite obelisks, royal tombs and the claimed resting place of the Ark.
The Aksumite Kingdom grew from around the 4th century BC to dominate trade between Africa, Arabia, the Roman world and India by the 1st century AD. It minted its own coins, developed its own script, and under King Ezana in the 4th century became one of the first kingdoms in the world to adopt Christianity. UNESCO inscribed its archaeological sites in 1980.
Ethiopian tradition holds that the Ark of the Covenant rests in the Chapel of the Tablet beside the Church of St Mary of Zion, and the city is closely tied to the Queen of Sheba. Highlights include the monumental stelae (single blocks of granite carved to imitate multi-storey towers), royal tombs, palace ruins and the Archaeological Museum.
Highlights
- The Northern Stelae Park and the fallen Great Stele
- Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion and the Chapel of the Tablet
- Tombs of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskel
- The Ezana Inscription and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace
- The Hidar Tsion festival in late November
More in Historic Northern Ethiopia
From The Travel Journal
Read more about Axum
Plan This Destination
Build Axum into your journey
Nothing here is fixed. Tell us how long you have and what else you want to see, and our team will plan the route, including the flights, the guides and the hours that matter.
Let’s Plan Your Ethiopian Adventure
Tell us a little about your travel plans. We’ll help you create a journey that suits your interests.
Discover Ethiopia. Experience the Extraordinary!
Speak to someone who has been there this season
Our guides travel these routes all year. Ask about road conditions, festival dates or the best time to visit. You will get a straight answer.
Or call us directly on +251 912 039405