On the southern shore of Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake and the source of the Blue Nile, Bahir Dar is an attractive palm-lined town.

Lake Tana is dotted with islands, some of which have monasteries containing the remains of ancient Ethiopian emperors and treasures of the Ethiopian church. On the Zege Peninsula, on the opposite side of the lake from the town, is the monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret, famed for its striking painted interiors, and its collection of crosses and crowns. Here also is the monastery of Aswa Mariam, smaller but with similarly detailed and artistic paintings, and several other monasteries. The artwork inside the monasteries is remarkable for having been created from paints made from local plants and natural items, and on the walk to the monasteries – a gentle shaded climb of less that 1km – locals demonstrate the making of these natural paints. Also along the path are bamboo and papyrus stalls selling scarves, paintings, jewellery and religious icons.

Activities include boat trips on Lake Tana – to reach the monasteries, or for bird watching and hippo spotting. From here you can also visit the Blue Nile Falls, known as Tis Issat in Amharic which, when translated, means ‘smoking water’. Several of the local restaurants on the lakeshores serve fresh fish from the lake.

Bahir Dar is the capital of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. In 2002 it was awarded the UNESCO Cities for Peace Prize for addressing the challenges of rapid urbanisation, and this can be seen in its wide roads fringed with palm trees and colourful tropical plants. The Lake Tana region was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015.