The natural beauty of Ethiopia amazes the first-time visitor. Ethiopia is a land of rugged mountains (some 25 are over 4000 meters high) broad Savannah, lakes and rivers. The unique Rift Valley is a remarkable region of volcanic lakes, with their famous collections of bird life, great escarpments and stunning vistas. Tis-isat, the Blue Nile falls, must rank as one of the greatest natural spectacles in Africa today. With 14 major wildlife reserves, Ethiopia provides a microcosm of the entire sub-saharan ecosystem. Bird life abounds, and indigenous animals, from the rare Walia ibex to the shy wild ass, roam free. Ethiopia, after the rains, is a land decked with flowers and with many more native plants than most countries in Africa.