Destination country: Ethiopia. Start and finish in Addis Ababa.

Next schedule: Upon request.

Photos: To enjoy some tribe photos please click here!

Note: We are updating our itinerary soon, which will integrate Awash NP (east), El Sod crater (south) and Bale Mts. with Sanetti Plateau (central) into the tour.

Duration: 12 + 11 days with extension. If you are interested in the Danakil Desert, Erta Ale or Bale Mts. with Sanetti Plateau or Djibouti, please let us know! We are very familiar with all these places.

Price: Ask! We are sorry, but exchange rates are so hectic, that we can't give fix prices here. Price includes: accommodations and meals (lunch is typically picnic!), drinking water, vehicle hire with fuel and driver guide, park entrance fees and ranger guides. The price exclude: bank transfer loss, international flight, visa, tips, drinks, personal travel insurance and any other activities of personal request e.g. laundry, toalet fees, phone calls, etc.

Accommodation: Three-star hotels with all rooms en suite.

Numbers: Min. 6 person, max. 8 person with 1 guide.

Transport: 4WDs.

Description: "...Few places offer such a myriad of experiences for the traveler as Ethiopia. Much of the fascination of this country lies in its many historical sites. According to legend, the first Ethiopian king, Menelik, was the son of the biblical King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba! Ethiopia also has nine national parks, protecting many of its endemic species. The ancient tribal culture compliments the unique history and nature of Ethiopia. Experience tribal cultures such as the Hamer, the Mursi and the Dorze whose traditional lifestyle is a stark contrast to our modern life. We explore the Horn Of Africa, using the capital of Addis Ababa as our base. We travel to the historic north to see the Blue Nile Falls before taking a boat journey across the Blue Nile. We spend a day visiting the monastery churches on Lake Tana before traveling to Gondar, our base for exploring the incredibly scenic Simien Mountains. We explore Lalibela and the monolithic churches carved out of pink granite that date back to the 12th century. We visit Axum, the home of the Queen of Sheba in the 10th century, where we see the stelae and some of the crowns of former kings. Axum is also reputed to be the resting place of The Ark of the Covenant. Returning to our base in Addis Ababa, we then head to the tribal south, into the Omo Valley. We take a boat trip on Lake Chamo for crocodile and hippo spotting and then visit a Konso village. Our journey takes us into Mago National Park, the home of the Mursi people, whose women have the practice of using disks to expand their lower lip. We go “off-roading” to the River Omo, then on to Turmi for the spectacular Hamer market day. We travel up through the Rift Valley and visit Nechisar National Park. At Lake Langano, we explore Lake Abiat-Shala National Park before concluding our journey back in Addis Ababa..."

Tour highlights:

• Boat trip on the Blue Nile
• Explore the monastery churches of Lake Tana
• Hiking in the Simien Mt.
• Visit the monolithic churches of Lalibela
• Visit the sites in Axum
• Omo Valley
• See people of the Konso, Mursi, Caro, Hamer and Dorze tribes
• Hike in Lake Abiyata-Shala National Park

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Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa. You are met on arrival in Addis Ababa and transferred to our hotel. The name of the city, in Amharic, means “new flower”. Founded in 1886 by Menelik II, it is located at 2,500 m (8202 ft) above sea level in one of the highest parts of the Entoto Mountain chain (3,000 m/9842 ft above sea level). Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacaranda trees, interesting museums and one of the largest open air markets in Africa, known as the “Mercato”. We meet this evening for dinner and orientation. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

Day 2: Addis Ababa Sightseeing. We spend the day exploring Addis Ababa beginning with a visit to the National Museum, one of the most important sub-Saharan museums in all of Africa. The museum is home to the fossilized humanoid Lucy, as well as an amazing collection of artifacts, royal items and art. We then visit the Ethnological Museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie. After lunch, we take time in St. George Cathedral, built in 1896 by Emperor Menelik and then continue on to Holy Trinity Cathedral. Holy Trinity Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Ethiopia and has survived through many historical periods, as its interesting architecture can attest to. The Cathedral contains the thrones and the tombs of the emperor and some of the royal family. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

Day 3: To Bahir Dar — The Blue Nile. We take a short flight this morning north to Bahir Dar. Bahir Dar is a pleasant city located on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. After checking into our hotel, we drive to the Blue Nile Falls, which is known locally as Tissisat (smoking water) Falls: 100 m (328 ft) wide, the water plunges for 45 m (148 ft), giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows. We climb down to the base of the falls for an up-close look and then ascend the other side. We cross the Blue Nile by boat to return to the point of departure. After lunch we explore the city of Bahir Dar, including the market and the Bezawit Palace (formerly the Palace of Haile Selassie). A short drive from our hotel, we visit a Woyito Village, where we will see the production of the papyrus boats known as tankwas. Tonight we will take in a live performance of traditional Amhara dancing. Overnight in Bahir Dar.

Day 4: Lake Tana. Today we spend the day exploring Lake Tana and its islands by boat. There are 37 islands on Lake Tana and 30 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret, Azoa Mariam, Narga Silasie and Daga Stifanos. Ura Kidan Mihiret is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries A.D. Azoa Mariam is known for its paintings and we also have time to visit the small museum. Daga Stifanos is the most sacred of the monasteries and unfortunately, only open to men. It holds the tombs of some of the former emperors of Ethiopia, as well as a 16th century A.D. painting of The Virgin Mary. Upon arrival into Gorgora village, we visit Debere Sina Church before continuing by road to Gondar. Overnight in Gondar.

Day 5: Gondar City Sightseeing. Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. In Gondar, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences. In the afternoon, we visit Fasilidas’ Palace, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! We continue on to Quskuam Church and the Church Of Debre Berham Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of Debre Berham Selassie is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berham Selassie is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant. Overnight in Gondar.

Day 6: Simien Mountains. We head off today for a full day in the Simien Mountains (Simien National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The road passes over mountainous areas of wild beauty, drawing close to the Simien Massif (in Amharic, Simien means north). In the park, many of the mountain peaks exceed 4,000 m (13123 ft); the highest is Ras Dejen, at 4,543 m (1905 ft) above sea level. These mountains consist of volcanic masses that have been eroded away by centuries of rain. Today they have amethyst-colored peaks and deep gullies, which have been further deepened by rivers. The crevices play host to the Walya, the ibex of the Simien Mountains. We have a two-hour hike and a picnic lunch before returning to Gondar. On the return trip, we visit the village of the Felasha (African Jews), famous for their ceramics. We arrive back in Gondar early evening and overnight.

Day 7: Lalibela — The Northern Churches. A short flight takes us from Gondar to Lalibela. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each church (Bet) has a unique architectural style; all are superbly carved and most of them are decorated with well-preserved paintings. The entire city may be described as a sculpture dedicated to the glory of God. The day is dedicated to visiting the first group of churches, known as the Northern Group of Churches. Bet Medihanialem is the largest, supported by 72 pillars and houses the 7kg (15 lbs) gold Lalibela Cross. We go through a tunnel from Bet Medihanialem to Bet Mariam, in which there is a pillar that it is said that Jesus Christ leaned against when he appeared in a vision to King Lalibela. Bet Mariam also contains fabulous carvings of various birds and animals. We also visit Bet Danaghel; a chapel built in honor of martyred nuns. Bet Golgotha and Bet Mikael are twin churches and many believe that a visit to Bet Golgotha alone can guarantee your place in heaven! The twin churches also contain many important religious items and some of the best examples of early religious art in the country. The last church we visit today is Bet Giyorgis, one of the more recent churches and best preserved. We return to our hotel and should time allow, we will have a walk around the city center. After dinner tonight, we enjoy a performance featuring traditional dancing. Overnight in Lalibela.

Day 8: Lalibela — The Eastern Churches. In the morning we go on foot for an approximately 3-hour hike (those who prefer can ride mules) to visit The Eastern Rock Churches. Bet Amanuel is one of the most beautifully carved churches in Ethiopia in the Aksumite style. Bet Merkorios has a wonderful painting of The Three Wise Men which dates back to the 15th century A.D. We also stop to see Bet Abba Libonose and Bet Gebrieal-Reafael, which might have once been the home of the royal family before becoming a church. This afternoon, we visit the Nakutelab Rock Hewn Church, built under a natural cave. Overnight in Lalibela.

Day 9: Axum Sights. We fly today to Axum — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The legends narrated in the Kebre Nagast (Book of Kings) recount how the city of Axum as early as the 10th century B.C was already the city in which the Queen of Sheba resided. It is recounted that the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Axum and it remains there to this day, preserved in a sanctuary. Famous long before the time of Christ, Axum was the capital of the long Axumite reign, one of the oldest African empires and represented a crucial connecting-point between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years. We visit the stelae: granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. In ancient times, there were seven stelae, now one of them is in Rome — Mussolini took it there during Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia. There is also a visit to the church of Saint Mary of Zion. A chapel in the church is believed by many to contain The Ark of the Covenant. It is guarded by “The Guardian” who is the only person who is allowed into the chapel and the only person who may set eyes on it. There is also a small museum here which contains the crowns of Ethiopian kings and other treasures. Overnight in Axum.

Day 10: Queen of Sheba’s Bath and Palace. This morning we visit the Archaeological Museum, before heading to The Queen of Sheba’s Bath. This large reservoir is an excellent place to observe the local women collecting water for washing. We then continue on to The Queen of Sheba’s Palace. Both the reservoir and the palace post-date the Queen, but the names persist. The palace area has been fully excavated and worth a short look. We then visit the Axumait Handicraft Center to observe local artists at work, before having some free time to explore Axum on your own. Overnight in Axum.

Day 11: Addis Ababa. We fly back to Addis Ababa this morning. After lunch, we enjoy a free afternoon; you may want to visit one of the many museums or the interesting Mercato. Throughout the city there are shops that sell typical artisan wares and materials. Dinner and overnight in Addis Ababa.

Day 12: Depart Addis Ababa. We say farewell to this remarkably varied country with a transfer to the airport for your departure flight, or continou to our southern extension to visit several different tribes and national parks.

Southern extension – The tribal route

NOTE: In order to fully experience and explore this incredibly diverse, yet sometimes isolated area, we really get “off-the-beaten-track”. Sometimes the road is in rough condition (if there is a road at all), and you should be prepared for some bumpy drives. Accommodation in small towns is modest. We have 3 nights of camping in a row, 1 in Mago National Park, 1 in Murile and 1 in Turmi. The tents are from Europe, designed to sleep three people (used for two) and sleeping mats are provided. It will not always be easy to wash, even though there are always sources of water near the campsites. We will have a mobile shower and toilets and in Murile, there will be a bungalow with a toilet and shower available to use. A certain spirit of adventure is required for this journey and any travel hardship will certainly be made up for in experience!

Day 12: Begin Omo Valley Adventure. An early start for our travel today, as we head off in 4 x 4 vehicles. We pass by the Rift Valley lakes before arriving into Arba Minch. This town is the largest in southern Ethiopia; it is situated between the Rift Valley, Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo. Tonight we have dinner in the Soma Restaurant, famous for its fresh fish dishes. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Day 13: Lake Chamo, Konso Village, Jinka. In the morning we take a boat trip on Lake Chamo, which is populated by crocodiles and hippos, before heading off to Jinka. The scenery is beautiful; soft rolling hills with dark red soil and plentiful crops and forests. We visit a Konso village to meet the locals who are excellent farmers. The Konso are a pagan society, who erect totem poles on the tombs of their dead. To the southeast of the Konso village are the Borena, who are semi-nomadic shepherds; we may see some of the Borena as we drive. Overnight stay and dinner in Jinka, a large town on the edge of the southern Savannah.

Day 14: Mago National Park. Mago National Park is located on the east bank of the Omo River and ranges in altitude from 450 m (1467 flt) to 2,528 m (8294 ft) above sea level. After about 2 hours of rough road, we arrive at our camp. In the park, we may see buffalo, waterbuck, greater and lesser kudu and zebra. In the past, lions, elephants, leopards and giraffes have also been spotted. We visit a Mursi village, whose women have the custom of expanding their lower lips using disks that gradually get larger and larger. These are people who farm the land and breed livestock; they live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world. Our campsite tonight is in a beautiful clearing among towering trees, which provide shade and is near the Neri River. Overnight camping.

Day 15: Off The Beaten Track to Murile. We head off on our day of “off-roading”, as there is no real track! We travel through the savannah in a typically African landscape, frequently meeting herds of Oryx and gazelle. We arrive at Murile located right on the River Omo and surrounded by huge trees. This is the land of the Caro tribe and it is possible to meet them along the river. We camp overnight.

Day 16: Murile — Omorate, Turmi. We continue through the savannah, along tracks that are barely visible, passing through a vast meadowland with shrubs and umbellifers (“umbrella”acacia trees). We pass through the Omo River. We encounter the Galeb people in the countryside, in the river people bath and wash their clothes. When we arrive to Omorate, we take a walk along the Omo River to observe local life. Overnight and dinner will be in a camp, in a square under mango trees in Turmi. The Hamer people gather water from a well nearby our campsite and carry it off to their villages; our campsite is an excellent location to observe these colorful people. We camp overnight.

Day 17: Hamer Market, Konso. Every monday morning there is a spectacular Hamer market in Turmi. The Hamers are one of the most beautiful and dignified people of the Omo Basin. The women color their hair with red earth and butter and wear elegant leather skirts festooned with tiny pearls. After the market, we continue on to Konso. The road continues into the savannah, running alongside the mountains of Men, then raises up the Karkerte Mountains — providing splendid panoramic views — until it reaches the soft, terraced hills of Konso. Should the Chief of Konso be in residence, we may be granted an audience with him. Overnight in Konso.

Day 18: Nechisar Park — Arba Minch. Today we start returning northwards, towards the lakes of the Rift Valley. The Rift Valley is a deep fission that extends for over 6,000 km from the Middle East to Mozambique — testimony to the (most recent) violent and massive shifting of the earth’s tectonic plates. The rift contains a marvelous series of lakes, which are teeming with fish and provide a habitat for hundreds of species of birds. We travel along the side of Lake Chamo and arrive to Arba Minch towards lunchtime. In the afternoon, we visit the park of Nechisar, located between lakes Chamo and Abaya, where we may see gazelles and zebras. Tonight, we have a special treat, participating in The Coffee Ceremony, a ceremony of hospitality in Ethiopia. Overnight in Arba Minch.

Day 19: Dorze Village — Awasa. This morning we return to Nechisar National Park before returning to the road that leads back up the Rift Valley. We cross fertile land planted with bananas, cereals and tobacco — inhabited first by the Oromo people and then by the Sidamo. All kinds of fruit are sold along the roadside. On the way, we will visit a Dorze village. The Dorze people are famous for their textiles. We arrive into Awasa, located on the edge of Lake Awasa. The lake surrounded by mountains and populated by countless species of birds. There is a beautiful track running along the lakeside, perfect for a walk. We overnight in Awasa.

Day 20: Wondo Genet Hot Springs to Langano. A short drive across very fertile areas cultivated with all kinds of tropical fruits, takes us to the hot springs of Wondo Genet, where there is also a charming swimming pool. The site is an ancient and inactive crater, surrounded by a forest populated by baboons and lots of birdlife. You may choose to have a dip or follow the springs upstream to their source, where the water is so hot, local people often cook their lunch! After a long stay in Wondo Genet we continue our drive to Lake Langano. We arrive at Lake Langano early evening. We spend the next two nights in bungalows on Lake Langano.

Day 21: Abiata-Shala National Park. This morning we take a boat ride on the scenic Lake Lanago. This afternoon, we visit Abiyata-Shalla National Park. The park provides beautiful vistas over the two lakes (Lake Abiyata and Lake Shalla) and the valley covered in acacia trees. Numerous birds live on the shores, including the pink flamingo. Lake Abiyata also provides food for a nearby colony of Great White Pelicans. There is also time to enjoy the resort, the waters of Lake Lanago are almost pinkish in color and the beach is a good place to relax. At the afternoon we walk in the beautiful forests of Bushangeri, searching for rare birds, and monkeys.

Day 22: Addis Ababa. We return to the capital of Addis Ababa this morning, to arrive around lunchtime. The afternoon is free for last minute shopping or resting before meeting with the group again for our farewell dinner. Overnight in Addis Ababa.

Day 23: Depart Addis Ababa. We say farewell to this remarkably varied country with a transfer to the airport for your departure flight.