Travel Guide Dessié

Altitude: 2,470 m. Population: 280,000. Distance from Addis Ababa: 388 km (8h30 drive). The capital of South Wollo, 25 km from Kombolcha, lies in a majestic natural setting at the foot of rugged mountains dominated by Mount Tossa. Wollo, whose Ethiopians praise the beauty of its women, is a predominantly Amhara province where Orthodox and Muslims live side by side. Dessié is a noisy town that can be an overnight stop on the way to Lalibela, but there are also many exciting sights in the surrounding area. From Dessié, the road to Hayq provides an opportunity to admire a wooded area, with a wide variety of species characteristic of the primary forest that once covered much of the country. Today, with only 5% of the country covered by forest, conservation and reforestation are major challenges for the country's development.