Ghion Goha Hotel

Set on a hilltop outside the bustling town of Gondar, the Ghion Goha Hotel offers stunning panoramic views of the city and its incredible historical monuments. Part of the government-owned Ghion hotel group, the stone-built Goha is best option in Gondar, and has 64 en-suite rooms and suites that are comfortable and decorated with traditional African textiles.

While service can be patchy, and the food rather uninteresting, the Goha does have an atmospheric bar and a lovely garden terrace, and the sunsets are magnificent.

There are many activities to be enjoyed from Gondar, including rock climbing and hiking on the Simien mountain range, visiting the historical sites, or boat trips on beautiful Lake Tana. There is also a huge range of birdlife in the area.

When to go

Ethiopia's dry season is October through until March so for warmer, dryer weather think about visiting during the UK's winter. However some of Ethiopia’s main draws are the wonderful festivals of Meskel and Timkat, which take place in September and January respectively. For trekking in the Simien Mountains, September to November is best as it’s dry but still green, with wildflowers blooming in October and endemic wildlife such as gelada baboon, Ethiopian wolf and ibex to be spotted. October to March is the best time to visit historical attractions such as Lalibela and Axum in the northern highlands, although even during the rainy season it generally doesn’t rain all day so you can manage with an umbrella. The Omo Valley with its fascinating tribal cultures is only accessible by 4WD, and is best visited in the dry season, coinciding with the harvest festivals.