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GONDAR

The legendary city of Gondar is located in northern Ethiopia, in a valley surrounded by mountains. Gondar is especially known for its history. It was the capital of Ethiopia long ago and magical castles can be found there. The Italian-built city centre is a lively hustle and bustle. Here you can whizz through the city in a tuktuk between herds of cows, sheep and donkeys!

Charlie's Travels > Ethiopia > GONDAR

A HISTORICAL CITY WITH A MAJESTIC VIBE

Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia, but it was not always so. Until about a century and a half ago, the country had a different capital: Gondar. About a 12-hour drive from Addis Ababa, nestled between hills and towering trees, you will find this historic city with a majestic vibe. The shining jewel of Gondar is the castle complex of King Fasiladas. These castles are still so intact that it seems like stepping straight back in time. After all his predecessors who roamed the country as nomads, King Fasiladas was the first emperor who decided to settle down in one place. And Gondar was the chosen place for that. You can visit not only his castles, but also his bath houses. If you’re in Gondar in January, you’re in luck! Because Gondar is the place to be during the Timkat festival. Masses of people from all over the country travel to the Fasiladas baths in Gondar to celebrate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Dancing and singing, the crowd jumps through the streets surrounding the baths. An experience never to forget!

HIDDEN GEMS

Whether you want to escape the crowds during the Timkat festival, or just want to have a drink and catch a beautiful sunset year-round: it’s all possible at Goa Hotel. In a Bajaj, the Ethiopian tuk-tuk (a kind of three-wheeler with a roaring engine), you ride up a hill where you can sip a cold locally-brewed Dashen beer with an amazing view.

But Gondar has many more hidden gems! Hidden in small streets in the city centre that are hard to find, you can find the Debre Birhan Selassie Church, one of the most beautiful churches in Ethiopia. From the outside, this church looks quite inconspicuous, but when you step inside… We leave that a mystery for the traveller to discover for himself!

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The rolling hills of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi in KwaZulu-Natal with lots of green are a paradise for the self-driver. Located in the heart of Zululand, this park was established in 1895, making it one of the oldest game reserves in Africa! It is home to Big 5, but you also have a chance of spotting cheetahs and Wild Dogs. Throughout the park you can find several hides, where you can watch the wild animals drinking and playing by the rivers.

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WHY TRAVEL WITH CHARLIE’S TRAVELS?

WE ARE “ON THE GROUND” IN AFRICA

The team lives and works all over Africa and therefore has a lot of first-hand knowledge and experience.

WE DEVELOP OUR OWN ROUTES

Wherever Charlie and his team travel, they develop new routes and experiences together with local entrepreneurs.

EVERY TRIP IS CO-CREATION

We tailor each trip based on your wishes and our African knowledge. Everything is possible and nothing is too crazy! Give us a try?

WE WORK IN A RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE WAY

Charlie’s Travels works together with local partners and contributes to CO2 projects to offset environmental pollution.