Intercontinental Hotel Addis Ababa

Enter through a grand modern portico, lined with a space-age glass awning. The marble-clad lobby looks upward through the core of the multi-level hotel. You'll find a bevy of drinking and dining areas (a bar, bistro, restaurant, nightclub – even a revolving restaurant that overlooks the city). The rooftop pool offers dips with a spectacular view. The gym is decently outfitted with more than 100 pieces of equipment for your fitness needs.

Rooms here range from Twin Deluxe Suites to King Deluxe Suites, spacious VIP and Presidential Suites and Hotel Apartments. With large picture windows, they're flooded with plenty of natural light. Corner Junior Suites occupy prime real estate with some of the best views., and en-suite bathrooms with showers and large tubs. VIP and Presidential Suites offer much the same amenities but with more space to go around. Apartments are in a separate building, offering greater degrees of privacy and tranquillity.

While the focus of your journey is no doubt to explore the historical and natural wonders of Lalibela, Gonder, Axum and Simien National Park, Addis Ababa itself is rated as a top urban travellers' destination. There's a compelling diversity of cultures and religions expressed in the cuisine, architecture, and many churches. Ethiopia holds keys to civilisations of antiquity and prehistory – visit the Ethiopian National Museum, home to fossilised skeleton of Dinkinesh, or Lucy, one of the oldest hominins uncovered.