A great running nation
Long-distance and middle-distance running remains the main passion of the Ethiopian people, who are accustomed to seeing their athletes glory in the greatest international competitions. Forced from an early age to walk considerable distances at high altitudes, Ethiopians, like their Kenyan rivals, are born long-distance runners. Some children spend several hours a day on their way to school, and it's not uncommon for them to challenge each other before hurtling down the slopes at dizzying speeds. On the way home, collecting firewood and fetching water add to the physical effort. These athletes, who so aptly symbolize the tenacity and resilience of the Ethiopian people, are legends in their own right, and continue to inspire the next generation. Among Ethiopian personalities, athletes are certainly those who enjoy the greatest notoriety in the four corners of the country. Internationally renowned, they are probably the most famous Ethiopians outside the country.
Legendary runners. Let's start with the legend Haile Gebreselassie, national icon and living legend of Ethiopian sport, double Olympic gold medallist in the 10,000 m (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and author of numerous records (twenty-seven!) in all long-distance races. He remains an idol for most young Ethiopians, even since his retirement from the track (in 2015). We must also mention Kenenisa Bekele, one of the most successful men in the history of athletics. An eleven-time world cross-country champion, he stole the 5,000 m and 10,000 m world records from his master Haile Gebreselassie (since beaten again). Gold medallist in both disciplines at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, he also won two gold medals at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. After a podium finish in the 10,000 m at the London 2012 Games, he moved on to the marathon. After winning the Paris marathon in 2014, he went on to win the 2019 Berlin marathon in 2 hours, 1 minute 41 seconds, the second-best time of all time, just two seconds behind Eliud Kipchoge's world record at the time. On the track or on the asphalt, Bekele is a legend and a worthy successor to the mythical Abebe Bikila, the first black African Olympic champion in Rome in 1960. A totally unknown shepherd's boy who made Olympic history by shattering the marathon record of the time (2 hours, 15 minutes, 16 seconds) in a race he ran... barefoot!
On thewomen's side, Derartu Tulu, double winner of the 10,000 m at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and the Sydney Olympics in 2004, is also a frequent performer. She also won the New York marathon in 2009, her last victory. Also worth mentioning are Tirunesh Dibaba (six Olympic medals, three of them gold, in the 5,000 m - for which she held the world record between 2008 and 2020 - and the 10,000 m) and Meseret Defar (double Olympic and world champion). The new generation is led by Gudaf Tsegay, who has held the 5,000 m world record since September 2023, and Tigist Assefa, who shattered the marathon world record in Berlin, also in September 2023, by almost 3 minutes (2 hours, 11 minutes, 53 seconds versus 2 hours, 14 minutes, 4 seconds previously).
Traditional sports and leisure activities
Gebata is the name given locally to Africa's most popular board game. Known, for example, asawalé in West Africa, it's a wooden board with several holes filled with seeds in a pattern vaguely similar to that of backgammon.
Carambola, a game introduced by the Italians, is played on a billiard table but without the cues. Each player throws his balls by hand, the aim being to place as many as possible as close as possible to a neutral ball acting as the "jack". Throws may not be direct, and must therefore use the boards. The game is further complicated by the addition of small obstacles to be avoided on the carpet.
The gugs is an exuberant expression of the Ethiopian equestrian tradition, which is still very much alive. Dressed in traditional costume and riding richly adorned mounts, teams of riders bark at each other before setting off at full gallop. In this mad race, inherited from ancient warrior traditions, the aim is to hit the opponent with a kind of wooden javelin, who tries to dodge it with his shield.
The game of genna or ledet is a kind of field field hockey played in the open square between village teams during the Ethiopian Christmas celebrations on January 7.
Get your walking shoes on!
Ethiopia's grandiose landscapes make it an ideal destination for exceptional hikes. While the Entoto National Park, just a stone's throw from the capital Addis Ababa, offers pleasant walks for hikers, the Simien Massif, in the north of the country, and the Bale Massif, to the southeast of the capital, are home to the majority of Ethiopia's endemic mammal species, and are highly recommended for lovers of wide open spaces. For trekking enthusiasts, the Simien National Park is ideal. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the northern park is a great place for excursions and nature discoveries, with its rugged terrain of peaks, narrow valleys and tabular plateaus. Two-week treks into the heart of the Simien, including the ascent of Ras Dashan, Ethiopia's highest peak at 4,533 m, and the descent to the village of Adiarkay, can be organized from Debark or Sankaber. This route offers the chance to observe a particular flora and fauna, and to come into contact with the local populations living at these high altitudes.
The Bale National Park and its eponymous massif also offer exceptional experiences. The Bale Mountains offer hiking opportunities of a week or more, for those who choose to go deep into the Herenna forest on the massif's southern escarpment. Mount Batu, which rises to 4,307 m, offers hikers encounters with endemic species such as the red fox, the mountain nyala and the Menelik antelope in between fishing trips. In addition to the profusion of birds, other animals include the Anubis baboon, the colobus macaque, the giant forest pig, the Abyssinian wolf, the caracal and the occasional leopard.
Please note: the period from November to March is ideal for trekking in the Bale and Simien massifs. October, which is still a little wet, also corresponds to the flowering season, when the landscapes become even more beautiful. Although such treks require a period of adaptation to the altitude, the use of mules to carry the packs and horses to alternate between walking and peaceful riding makes them accessible to the greatest number. All you need is the right mountain gear, as night-time temperatures can sometimes be sub-zero. Outside these alpine massifs, other itineraries can be envisaged, notably from Lalibela, to discover churches inaccessible other than on foot or horseback.
A fishing destination
In Ethiopia, fishing enthusiasts can indulge in their favorite pastime in lake or river. While tilapia, catfish and Nile perch, sometimes of impressive size, are the most common, trout, fario or rainbow, are also present, in their obviously wild form. For this fish, the rivers of the Bale National Park, where fly-fishing is permitted, are particularly recommended. In fact, it's one of Africa's best fishing grounds for both brown and rainbow trout. The best time to fish in this region is from mid-December to March and from September to October. Please note that it is essential to bring your own equipment.
Rafting thrills
Ever since a few pioneers blazed the trail in 1973, the Omo Valley has been a regular destination for rafting enthusiasts who come here to try their hand at adventure. A medium-difficulty river according to rafting specialists, the Omo winds its way 350 km through the heart of an inaccessible, deep valley, then slows down as it approaches the lowlands, before finally meandering through a flat, semi-desert region. Its course ends on the northern shore of Lake Turkana. A unique experience for thrill-seekers! The months of September and October, corresponding to the high-water period following the rainy season, are the best for rafting. Several local agencies offer this type of expedition, including Aisha Tours Ethiopia.
Get your binoculars!
With its spectacular birdlife, Ethiopia is a birdwatcher's paradise - the Rift Valley lakes are among the best places for birdwatching.
Among the richest and most accessible are the Akaki swamp area, the lakes around Debre Zeit, the Koka reservoir and the Rift Valley lakes, Awash National Park, Bale and Nechisar National Park, the Wondo Genet site, the gorges of the Nile and its tributary the Jema River, the area around Debre Libanos and the Menagesha forest. The Negele region, south of the Bale massif, and the escarpment west of Ankober, which are more difficult to access, are also recommended. As well as being home to the majority of Ethiopia's nearly 800 bird species, most of these sites overlap with the territories of the country's characteristic mammals, making them veritable safaris.
