Gondar

Godar has been called the Camelot of Africa for the 17th Century castles built at Fasil Ghebbi built by King Fasilides. The castle complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a rich history and even hosted Louis XVI of France and members of the Ottoman Empire. Parts of the castle were restored after bombing during World War II, and visitors can see the bath of King Fasilides which is filled every 19th of January and the baptism of Christ is re-enacted.

The church of Debre Berhan Selassie was saved during a Mahdist invasion in the 1880s reputedly by a swarm of bees. Today, visitors can see the beautiful murals which cover the walls and ceilings of the church. Also, worth a visit are the ruined palace of Queen Mentowab and the church of Qusquam.

Gondar lies in the northern Amhara region and is normally combined with visiting the Simien Mountains National Park. It is normally included on a multi-day tour in Ethiopia itinerary. There are four flights a day from the capital Addis Ababa to Gondar. The flight takes a little over an hour.