Ethiopia

        Good to Grow Inc.'s work takes place in Ethiopia, the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. It is located in the east-central region of Africa, bordered on the east by Somalia and Djibouti, the northeast by Eritrea, the west by the Sudan and the south by Kenya.
        The climate in Ethiopia varies by region; the highlands generally having a temperate climate, with hotter temperatures in the eastern lowlands, far south and western lowlands. The southern Rift Valley is temperate to hot and seasonally moist. The western lowlands are also very humid, while the climate in the far south and eastern lowlands is more dry.
        Roughly 70 different languages are spoken in Ethiopia, and although English is spoken in the more touristy areas, Amharic is the most commonly spoken language and the working language of the Ethiopian government. The second most commonly spoken language is Tigrigna, which is spoken in the northern region of Tigray.
        Ethiopia is home to many exciting cities that are absolutely worth visiting. Axum, for example, is the oldest city in Ethiopia and is the country's ancient capital. The city offers guided tours, and you can also visit the Axum Museum and the Pantaleon Monastery, among other historical sites.
        Another interesting city to visit is Gondar, one of Ethiopia's largest cities. If you do find yourself in Gondar, be sure to visit the Royal Enclosure, which contains five castles and multiple smaller buildings. Guided tours are available, or you can just explore on your own! 

Image property of Google Maps

        If you enjoy visiting churches, you'd be sure to enjoy the city of Lalibela, a city with several churches that reach more than 10 m high! What may be most interesting about Lalibela's churches is the fact that they are carved below ground level, and are connected to one another by a twisted maze of passageways and tunnels. In the church Bet Medhane Alem is the 800-year-old, solid gold Lalibela Cross, which is reported to weigh around 7 kg. It's said to have been the personal property of King Lalibela, himself, and may be the church's most treasured artifact.

        One of Ethiopia's prettiest cities is Bahar Dar, located on the southern shore of Ethiopia's largest lake: Lake Tana. If you visit, you can take a bus to the source of the Blue Nile, where you may even spot a hippo or a crocodile! Also be sure to visit the city's palace and fish market.
        A few more tourist-friendly areas you may be interested in visiting are the Simien Mountains, located north of Gondar and east of the main road to Axum, and Mekele, which is the capital of Tigre and one of the largest towns in Ethiopia.