Travel to Axum

home of the legendary Queen of Sheba

Axum (sometimes spelled Aksum) is a small town in the north of Ethiopia, which is best known for having been the historic capital of the Aksumite Empire and thought to be the home of the Queen of Sheba.

The Aksumite Empire was a great trading power that ruled the region for over a thousand years between 400 BC to 900 AD.

The town contains a range of historic sites that date back to that era, most famously including the supposed final resting place of the biblical Ark of the Covenant.

Despite the fanfare, in reality the sights in Axum are of relatively niche interest.

Combine that with the fact that the accommodation options are rather modest and we reach the point where the town tends to be included for just 1-2 nights in trips through this region.

Despite the fact that we love all the history, we quite often pass through even faster, flying in, spending a few hours exploring and then heading off by road to Gheralta, where the accommodation options are much more attractive.

Seasonality

The best time to visit Axum is generally considered to be during the Oct-Mar dry season period.

The area has a subtropical highland climate, with an Apr-Sep rainy season, which reaches a peak during Jun-Aug.

Peak daytime temperatures are usually very comfortable, at around 27C/80F. But in advance of the rains during Mar-May they can rise to 30C/85F, potentially accompanied by high humidities, which can become uncomfortable (although night time temperatures usually still fall to a pleasant 13C/55F).

Getting around

The north of Ethiopia is usually reached by means of regular daily flights from the capital Addis Ababa.

Some of the interconnecting journeys within the region are best done by air, others have to be done by road.

Axum is usually connected by air to most locations, but by road to the nearby Gheralta area.

Where to stay

The town of Axum contains a very modest range of accommodation options, mainly at the lower end, but with a small selection of slightly better properties which are more suited for an international audience.

Alternatively you can head down to Gheralta, where there are much more attractive accommodation options.

we usually go for a quick in and out