Access + Resources
ETHIOPIA

GETTING THERE: Ethiopian Airlines flies direct from Washington, D.C., to Addis Ababa for about $1,600 round-trip (ethiopianairlines.com). WHEN TO GO: September through February, following the rainy season, when the countryside is full of wildflowers.

WHAT TO DO & WHERE TO STAY:
Great Rift Valley
RAFT THE OMO - Remote River Expeditions has plans to raft the upper canyon this October, from Gibe Farm to Bele Bridge, an 80-mile journey that will take you down one of the Omo’s last raftable stretches ($2,100; remoterivers.com). DISCOVER ETHIOPIAN CULTURE - After you set up base camp at Murulle Omo Explorer’s Lodge, on the Lower Omo, Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris will take you to local villages of the Dorze and Hamar people (from $1,300 for ten days; ethiopianriftvalleysafaris.com).

Simien National Park
HIKE THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS - Join Mountain Travel Sobek on its 16-day Ethiopian trekking tour and hike inside Simien National Park, topping out on 15,158-foot Ras Dashen, Ethiopia’s highest peak ($4,700; mtsobek.com). SIMIEN LODGE - Dubbed Africa’s highest hotel (10,696 feet), this new lodge’s thatch-roof tukuls are equipped with heated floors (doubles, $110; simiens.com).

Lake Tana
DESCEND THE NILE - Raft the wild stretch between Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls on a seven-to-ten-day trip with Nile River Safaris this October ($1,700; nileriversafaris.com).

Lakes District
BISHANGARI LODGE - On the eastern shore of Lake Langano, this eco-resort’s nine godjos (bungalows) are made with papyrus, wood, and grass, and are adorned with local craftwork. The lodge can organize everything from bird-watching to mountain biking, but seeing the sunset from the resort’s Tree Bar, built around a 400-year-old fig tree, is equally appealing (doubles, $90; bishangari.com).

Bale Mountains National Park
TRACK A WOLF - The Ethiopian wolf, one of the planet’s most endangered species, persists in a small section of the Bale Mountains above 10,500 feet. Track the elusive canid with Naturetrek, which offers a 13-day safari from London for about $3,900 (naturetrek.co.uk).

GETTING AROUND: Ethiopian Airlines offers regular flights to more than a dozen cities throughout the country. Red Jackal Tour Operator, in Addis Ababa, rents Land Cruisers from $90 per day, with a driver (red-jackal.net).