Unmistakeable monolithic Stelae, sub-Saharan Africa's first coins and the fabled resting place of the Ark of the Covenant

A small frontier town in Northern Ethiopia, Axum is one of the key stops on the Historical Circuit with a huge number of key sites for such a small settlement. Many historians believe Axum is the oldest continually inhabited town in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is some distinction and the reason for its fascinating heritage.

Visits to Axum usually start with a stop at the famous Stelae Park, which is found at the far end of town. These 120 impressive stone blocks, some of which still stand tall at 33 metres high, are monuments to ancient kings and emperors, each with their own meaning and historical context. Yet, much like Lalibela, part of the fascination comes in how the stones arrived here and were carved before being erected as the quarry is found 4 kms away at Gobo Dura.

A visit to the Axum museum offers some context to what you will have seen at the Stelae Park and highlights just how important Axum was to Ethiopia’s ancient rulers. Next up on your private Axum tour is a stop at the Cathedral of Maryam Tsion, the first church built in Ethiopia, and the compound of which houses a small chapel which is reputed to be the home of the Ark of the Covanent.

Slightly outside of town is the site of the Palace of the Queen of Sheba, including her bathing pool, which tends to be the last stop on a tour through Axum. Before returning to your Axum hotel, stop for sundowner drinks at the Yeha Hotel rooftop terrace, which looks out towards the Stelae Park, for a great way to end the day.