Gondar

Ethiopia

Safety rating
5.5/10
Best time to visit
The dry season from October to March is best, with January's Timkat festival a spectacular highlight.
Population
0.5M

Overview

Often called 'Africa's Camelot,' Gondar was a 17th-century imperial capital and is famed for the castles of the Fasil Ghebbi royal enclosure. It's also the gateway to the dramatic peaks of the Simien Mountains.

Top attractions

Explore the Fasil Ghebbi castle complex, the Debre Berhan Selassie church with its angel-painted ceiling, and Fasilides' Bath.

Getting around

Tuk-tuks (bajaj) and taxis serve the town; the royal enclosure is walkable.

Airports near Gondar

Gondar essentials