Why Ethiopia?

Perhaps unparalleled in its variations, experts recognize Ethiopia to have as many as 16 different agroclimatic zones and rank it as one of the top 12 biologically diverse countries in the world. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added seven Ethiopian entries to its "World Heritage Sites" declaration.

Wildlife
An impressive array of fauna inhabit Ethiopia, including many which are endemic (only found in Ethiopia). These include:

• 31 of 277 mammals
• 16 of 861 birds
• 24 of 63 amphibians
• 9 of 210 reptiles
• 4 of 150 fish
• 7 of 324 butterflies

Flora
Ethiopia's flora is very diverse with at least 1,000 of the 7,000 plant species occurring only in Ethiopia. There are 10 national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries, each known as much for their unique animal and bird life as for their rich forest types and rugged topography.

Culture
Ethiopia also has a rich cultural heritage that dates back 6,000 years. Believed by many to be the cradle of humanity, it is home to a number of extraordinary palaeo-anthropological discoveries, including the remains of 'Lucy.' Today, Ethiopia has a population of 70 million people with 83 different languages and more than 200 dialects. Christian, Islamic and tribal traditions remain strongly ingrained within the people.