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Get to Know Us

We are a private eco- minded Tour and Travel company, promoting tourism and Travel in Ethiopia, managed by experienced Ethiopians. We offer programmed and tailor-made package tours, At the historical route Lalibela, Axum, Bahir Dar, and Gondar - southern ethnic and Nature tours, Omo valley tours, bird watching, the Danakil desert tour including Dallo, Erta Ale - Trekking to semien mountain National park - Airport Transfer, hotel and lodge booking. 

We are proud to partner with SafariBookings, a premier platform connecting travelers with unforgettable safari experiences across Africa

 

My name is Daniel Shewalem, I was born & raised in Lalibela. I am a certified tour guide for    Ethiopia  tourist  attractions  places and possess a university degree in economics with more than 15 years of experience in the tourism business .l also have a Diploma in tourism from the Catering and tourism Training Institute of Addis Abeba.

We are also partnering with safari bookings

Services we provide

  • Guiding the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and other surrounding churches. 

  • Trekking in the Lasta mountains.  

  • Bird watching. 

  • Transportation and hotel reservation.

  • Visit farms, beekeeping, and traditional healer. 

  • Visit traditional houses and the local's way of life. 

  • Highland adventures through the holy land and the Abune Yosef mountain.

  • and More ...

Meet My Family

History of lalibela and it s vicinity

The people of the area

 

The population of the area belongs to the Amhara ethnic group which is one of the largest ethnic groups in Ethiopia. The religion is predominately Orthodox Christian and Amharic is the local language. The area is the home of the Zagwe rulers who ruled Ethiopia following the decline of the Axumite Empire and provided the ruling elite of the Zagwe dynasty.

Land Scape 

 

The area is characterized by steep cliffs and jagged peaks.  Its diverse topography includes several high plateaus surrounded by gigantic eroded abysses dotted with the three highest peaks. The big zigit (4,080m), the small zigit (4,035m), and the rim Gedel or Abune Yosef peak (4284m) which is the third highest peak in the country. The area's diverse topography also includes mountain chains cut by gorges and valleys that offer breathtaking views.

 

History of Lalibela

 

The Zagwe kings ruled until the 13th century when a famous priest, Tekla Haymanot, persuaded them to abdicate in favor of a descendant of the old Axumite Solomonic dynasty. However, according to Legend before the throne of Ethiopia was restored to its rightful rulers upon command of God and with the help of angels, Lalibela’s pious zeal converted the royal residence of the zagwe in the town of Roha into a prayer of stone. The Ethiopian church later canonized him and the name of Roha to Lalibela, Roha the center of worldly might, became Lalibela the holy city, and pilgrims to Lalibela shared the same blessing as pilgrims to Jerusalem. According to legend that Lalibela grew up in Roha where his brother was king. It is said that bees prophesied his future greatness and Ethiopian folklore still has it that bees dream for greatness, social advance, and coming riches.  

 

The king made jealous by these prophecies about his brother, tried to poison him but the poison merely cast Lalibela into death-like sleep for three days. During these days an angel carried his soul to heaven to show him the churches, which he was to build. Returned once more to earth he withdrew into the wilderness even if the fame of the seven wonders of the world has been outworn and the word ‘’wonder’’ itself has been misused too often the visitor will rediscover its true meaning when faced with the rock churches of Lalibela. Ever since the first European to describe Lalibela, Francisco Alvarez,  came to this holy city between 1521 and 1525, travelers have tried to put into words their experience praising it as a “new Jerusalem”, a “Golgotha”,  the “Christian citadel in the mountains of wondrous Ethiopia”. Lalibela is home to 11 medieval monolithic churches that were curved out of rock. Still a place of pilgrimage and devotion, the building of this church is attributed to King Lalibela who set out to construct a " new Jerusalem “ in the 12th century after Muslim conquests halted Christian pilgrimages to the holy land. 

Churches around Lalibela

Nakutolab

 

This is the easiest of all the outlying churches to reach in the monastery of Nakutolab which is named after its constructor, the nephew and successor of King Lalibela. The monastery accredited to Nakuotolab consists of a relatively simple church built around a shallow cave in which several holy pools are fed by natural springs.

Asheten Maryam - The high mountain overlooking Lalibela.

 

This monastery is also associated with King Nakutolab. In this church, there are some interesting crosses and other church treasures but the excursion is just as remarkable for the church setting and the views on the way up.

Yemrehane Christos

 

Situated at an altitude of around 2,700 m, it is an old built-up church within a large cave. It is a particularly time example of late Axumite architecture built with alternating layers of wood and granite faced with white gypsum that give it the appearance of a gigantic layered chocolate cream cake.

 

Among many interesting architectural features are the cruciform carved windows, an etched wood panel roof, a coffered ceiling with inlaid hexagons, and a large dome over the sanctuary. Yemerehane Christos, the third Zagwe ruler and a predecessor of King Lalibela, recorded ascending to the throne in 1087 AD and ruling for about   40 years.

Genete Maryam

 

One of the most interesting outlying churches is Genete Maryam, a large monolith carved into a pink-tinged outcrop near the source of the Tekaza River. Supported by pillars, the church is very different from any excavations in Lalibela in that it is not hidden within a trench, but carved open on a rocky hilltop, though the cover of scaffolding rather detracts from the impact of seeing in from far. According to tradition, Genete Maryam was excavated during the reign of Yakuno Amlake, the king who restored the Solomonic line in the early 13th century. A notable feature of the interior in the elaborate painting is said to date to the 13th century.

Mekina Medhanehalem

 

Inaccessible by road, is a built–up cave church similar in style to Yemerhanna Kirstos in its characteristically Axumite use of layered wood and stone tradition holds that the church dates to the 6th century AD. The decorated interior boasts intricate geometric patterns as well as many old paintings- notably one of rosters fighting next to the sun and the moon above the door.  The monastic church lies on a spur of Mount Abune Joseph about three hours from Genete Maryam by foot or mule.

Churches near Bilbilla

 

This relatively compact and very varied circuit of churches comprises Yemerhanna Keistos, Arbatu Insesa, Bilbilla Christos, and Liliballa Giyorges. These churches all stand within 10km of the village of Bilbilla some 30km from Lalibela off the road northwards to Sekota and Adewa. To explore all these churches along this circulates by vehicle takes about 8 hours.

Abune Yosef

 

Located only 40km from the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela the afro-montane forest is amongst the region’s most pristine and secluded natural wonders, offering breathtaking views, endemic birds, and wildlife species as well as  the third highest peak in the country (4284m)     

  • The Area is made of a diversity of vegetation types including bushlands, woodland,  montane dry forest, and afro-alpine grassland.   

  • The montane dry forest exists between 2950m and 3300m the dominant species are Erica arborean, hypericum revolutum (St. John’s wort), African juniper (Juniperus procera), and Rosa abyssinica (the only wild rose in Africa ). Between 3300m and 3600m, tall grasses, giant lobelias, and different thristles become more frequent.     

  • Moving upwards from 3600m to 4284m the vegetation changes rather abruptly into moorlands covered with the shrubby vegetation of Euryops pinafolius (charenfe).

FAUNA

Mammals

 

There are 43 known species of mammals on the Abune Yoseph. Of the 32 species of Abyssinian endemic mammals seven can be found in Abune Yoseph. The most spectacular of these are the Ethiopian wolf and gelada and other species to look out for include the golden jackal, hyena, caracal, leopard, rock hyrax, duiker, klipspringer, and starck’share.

Birds

 

Of the 860 species of birds found in Ethiopia over 220 have been identified on the Abune Yoseph. The Abune Yoseph Mountains also attract a few pairs of golden eagles.

 

Birds endemic to Ethiopia that are found in Abune Yosef 

 

Common Name
Scientific Name
Blue-winged goose
Cyanochen cyanopterus
Ankober serin
Serinus ankoberensis
Black-headed siskin
Serinuserinusnigriceps
Abyssinian cat bird
Paroplasma gainieri
Abyssinia long claw
Macronyx flavicollis
Erlanger’s lark
Calanndrella erlangeri
Yellow-fronted parrot
Poicephalus flavifrons
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