NATIONAL PARKS SAFARIS ETHIOPIA

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TOP 10 LAKE TANA CHURCHES & MONASTERIES

Read about Ethiopia's Top 10 Lake Tana Churches & Monasteries:

1. Azuwa Maryam Monastery;

2. Bet Maryam Monastery;

3. Bet Selassie;

4. Daga Estefanos;

5. Debre Maryam;

6. Kebran Gabriel;

7. Narga Selassie;

8. Tana Cherkos;

9. Tekla Haimanot;

10. Ura Kidane Mehret Monastery;

At a distance of 550k from capital Addis Ababa, the lake and its 12 short tributaries are the source of the Blue Nile and with its size of about 66km long and 84km, 350,000ha, the largest lake of Ethiopia. At an elevation of 1,788 masl, and located in the largely Ethiopian Orthodox Amhara Region, the 14m deep lake with about 45 islands - depending on the level of the lake - 8 of which are the home to historical monasteries and churches.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Most of our hundreds of pictures are favored in Google! Why? Because no other website has so many beautiful high resolution pictures, all taken by ourselves. Our pictures not only show you the beauty of Ethiopia, but they also show that we have been everywhere when we researched all parks for the Ethiopian Wildlife Autharity, photographing wildlife, plants, people and culture. Read our PDF report to the Government on Parks an Culture! So why consider booking our our Ethiopia Culture & National Parks modules? Because only we combine the culture of Ethiopia with its nature. We don't mislead you like many tour operators do. When the Blue Nile falls are dry.... we tell you. When fog clouds the lava lake of Erte Ale Volcano? We let you know. Just drop us a mail info@nationalparks-worldwide.com  and we will check it out for you.

Our tours take you to ALL famous cultural places of Ethiopia, and on top of that, you get to see up to 20 large parks accompanied by a conservation professional, not a mere guide. There is nothing similar on the market. Check out our tours in modules like: Historical Circuit; Danakil Depression; Eastern Route; Simien Mountains; Bale Mountains; Southern Parks Safari; Gambella; Addis Ababa. BUT WAIT: if you buy your international ticket with Ethiopia Airlines, they will sell the internal flights at a price that you can't even ride the bus for. But you MUST plan it all in one package and making changes may be very costly. So let us help you plan your entire trip and book your local flights for an incredibly low price after you booked your international flight with Ethiopian Airlines! Also: Ethiopia can be combined with other East African countries, we organize.

The Lake Tana region is the traditional home of the Amhara, primarily adhering the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The area also used to be the homeland of the falashas who practiced a form of Judaism, but after centuries of persecution, most of them were airlifted to Israel in 1991.

As Tigray, the original center of the Ethiopian Church with its rock hewn churches became in decline, a new church architecture was developed on the rocks and islands of Lake Tana, between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries,  based of the designs of regular round houses with conical thatched roofs. During this period, new religious arts was developed for the decoration of these churches.

The interiors of the churches have of a three-part division:

• an outer ambulatory, qene mehlet, accessible to anyone;

• an inner ambulatory, qiddist, used by communicants at mass; and

• the inner sanctum, maqdas, where the ten commandments, tabot, is kept, where only priests may enter.

The monasteries and churches are believed to have been built over earlier religious sites. They include the fourteenth-century Debre Maryam, and the eighteenth-century Narga Selassie, Tana Qirqos (said to have housed the Ark of the Covenant before it was moved to Axum, and Ura Kidane Mehret, known for its regalia.

Some Lake Tana monasteries are only accessible to men; very disappointing to women. However, not to despair, some beautiful ones are open to all. Daily excursions are organized out of Bahir Dar to two churches (Betre Maryam on the Zege peninsula and one on Dek Island) where both sexes are welcome to the inner and outer ambulatories and the treasure rooms. In those treasuries are many ancient manuscripts and precious pieces of religious art as well as royal jewelry and other representative objects.

The Lake was formed about 5 million years ago when lava blocked the about 60 streams and rivers of which , Megech, Gumara, Rib Rivers and Gilgel Abbay (Little Nile River)are the main tributaries. The latter, is attributed to be the source of the Blue Nile (Abbay River), the longest of the lake’s tributaries, as it drains Mount Amedamit, south of the lake. Over the last few centuries the lake's water level  has fallen about 2m  but is now regulated with a control dam where it discharges into the Blue Nile and falls over the Blue Nile Falls, some 40km down stream.

Since there are no upstream waters that link the lake to other waterways, the lake became ecologically isolated when it was obstructed, causing the evolution of the fish fauna of the lake and its tributaries to go its own independent way. As a result. 19 species of endemic fish, live in the lake, the larger of which (Barbs) are offered in restaurants in Bahir Dar. As fish stocks are still more or less ok, there is no conservation objection eating those fishes. According to the Ethiopian Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, 1,454 tonnes of fish are landed each year at Bahir Dar.

Among the mammals, the Hippopotamus is the most eye-catching species, often seen in the wetlands of the discharge into the Blue Nile River. Obviously, numerous wetland birds, such as the great white pelican and African darter, reside at Lake Tana. It is also an important wintering ground for many Palearctic migrant water birds. There are no crocodiles, but the African soft-shell turtle has been recorded near the Blue Nile outflow from the lake. There are fifteen species of mollusks, including one endemic as well as an endemic freshwater sponge.

The Ethiopian churches are the custodians of both religious and royal treasures such as royal crowns, ancient bibles, historical art, sacred relics, including the remains of royals, etc.

The tourist jetty at Lake Tana from where excursion boats depart for the island churches and monasteries.

Shaded excursion boats take visitors to churches and monasteries accessible to both men and women.

Inside the Lake Tana churches have three spaces:

• the outer corridor, the "qene mehlet", accessible to anyone;

• an inner circular corridor called the "qiddist" which is used by the worshippers at mass; and

• the holiest room, the "maqdas" in which the "tabot" - a stone tablet with the 10 commandments. Only priests may enter.

Left above: entrance gate to Betre Maryam Church court yard.

Above: Betre Maryam Church.

Left: the outside bamboo wall.

Below left: Interior of the outer corridor, the qene mehlet.

Below right: the interior roof of the inner corridor.

Interior roof from the outer corridor, qene mehlet.

Murals at the adobe walls of the inner ambulatory of the Betre Maryam Church.

Inner ambulatory, qiddist, of the Betre Maryam Church at the Zege peninsula, Lake Tana.

Entrance to the holy room, the "maqdas", of Betre Maryam Church at the Zege peninusula, Lake Tana.

Treasure room of Betre Maryam Church at the Zege peninsula, Lake Tana.

Centuries old bibles in the treasure room of the Betre Maryam Church, Lake Tana.

Crowns of various famous emperors of Ethiopia, including Emperors Tewodros, Yohannes I, Fasil, Teklegiorgis, to mention the most famous ones.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians on their way to mass.

Tankwa Lake Tana

A tankwa is a canoe shaped papyrus raft, similar to the ones found on hieroglyphs in ancient Egypt, which is not surprising as both countries are connected by the same river as well as the Red Sea. Tankwas are not water-proof as they float on the papyrus stemps; they are used for fishing, ferrying people and supplying the inhabited islands.

Endemic Megastoma fish served in restaurants in Bahir Dar.

Various uses of tankwas.

Along Zela Peninsula and the Blue Nile River Outlet, enormous Papyrus marshes line Lake Tana.

Hippopotamus are common on the lake, and one can often see them resting in the waters near the Blue Nile outflow.

For birdwatchers, Lake Tana is a Paradise. Tens of thousands of waders and water birds can be seen along the shallow shores, even when one travels north towards Gondar.

Ducks and other water birds in the marshland waters along the shore of Lake Tana.

Goliath Herons are the world's largest heron, which can be seen in the marshes of Lake Tana.

Saddle-billed storks in Lake Tana's marshy meadows.

The Silver Heron, a virtually cosmopolite bird can be seen along the shores of the lake.

The Maribou Stork is found along most fresh water bodies in Ethiopia, including Lake Tana.

The Hammerkop is a very common heron species occurring almost everywhere in Ethiopia.

Another semi-cosmopolite bird which is always a pretty sight is the Snowy Egret.

White-breasted cormoran at Lake Tana.

Great White Pelicans at Lake Tana are quite a common sight.

African spoonbills are not a common sight along the shores of Lake Tana.

With a bit of luck, one can see a flock of Crowned cranes along the shores of the lake.

Common in the gardens of the hotels along the lake, weavers are known to build very artistic nests in colonies.

Beautiful purple flowers found in the gardens of the monasteries beautify the surroundings.

The garden of Ghion hotel is a wonderful and quiet place right on the shore of the lake.

The restaurant of Hotel Ghion has the most beautiful view of all hotels over the lake.

Bungalows of the most scenic hotel on the shore of Lake Tana.

Lovely lake-side garden with swimming pool at hotel.

Devil's Nose Rock

Not mentioned by name in any of the guides, we asked local what they call it and the gave a name which translates into "Devil's Nose Rock". So, that is what we call it here. It is a single hoodoo-type basaltic rock halfway the Road Bahir Dar - Gondar. It is quite a landmark 75km north of Bahir Dar and 10km west of Lake Tana. What is significant about is that it is at least an important roost for Rüppel's Vultures and probably a nesting place.

The Devil's Nose Rock, a basaltic hoodo, near Addis Zemen, 75km north Bahir Dar halfway to Gondar. Great stop for birders as it is an important roost and possibly nesting place for Rueple's and other vultures.

Below: a satellite image of Lake Tana.

Lake Tana is part of this fabulous travel itinerary:

LAKE TANA MONASTERIES IN ETHIOPIA