Much of the fascination of this country lies in its myriad historical sites, the obelisks and stele of Axum, the churches and coptic monasteries in the Tigre, in the Lake Tana isles and in the Lalibela: the African Jerusalem with its monolithic churches. In Ethiopia there are also nine national parks, two of which include the mountain groups of the Simien and the Bale, while the others lie in the Rift Valley towards Kenya. The unforeseeable wild landscapes are surely the main attraction of these parks, where many of the animal species are protected, and some of them are endemic to the area. The proximity of Ethiopia to the Equator and the variety of its habitats make it one of the richest countries in Africa in wild bird life.
History and nature are not the only attractions of this surprising country. It is a unique experience to come into contact with its people, so deeply rooted in their traditional culture, to participate in religious rites in one of the many Coptic churches, to meet native populations like the Hamer, the Mursi, the Caro and the many others whose lifestyle is hard to imagine today, so far is it from our modern life.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel for check-in and evening at leisure. Near the center of the country at an elevation of 7,600 ft/2,500 m, the capital city (pop. 2,750,000) sits in a narrow valley in the shadow of Mt. Entotto. Founded in 1880, Addis is a fairly new city where impressive colonial buildings are dispersed amid stretches of sun-bleached shacks and empty lots. The misty, pine-covered hills surrounding Addis add to the enjoyment of walking the city streets, especially in the evening or early morning. Sheraton HotelDay 02: Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar
Transfer to the Addis Ababa airport to board your flight to Bahir Dar. Arrive Bahir Dar and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Bahir Dar is a pleasant city located at 1,800 meters above sea level on the shores of lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. Later this morning, drive south to the 140-ft-/45-m-high Tississat (Smoke of Fire) Falls. You will have the option to descend to the base of the falls, climb back up the other side and cross the Nile in a papyrus boat (locally known as “Tankwas.)
Return to Bahir Dar for lunch and a city tour - visit the local market and the Bezawit Palace. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Kuriftu Lodge
Day 03: Bahir Dar - Gondar
Full-day boat excursion on Lake Tana. There are 37 islands on Lake Tana, of which 30 have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. Enjoy visits to the monastery churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret, Azoa Mariam, Narga Silasie and Daga Stifanos. Your boat arrives Gorgora (opposite shore of Lake Tana) where you will meet your driver for road transfer to Gondar. Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. Here, you will find 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. Transfer to your hotel for check-in and evening at leisure. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Goha Hotel Day 04: Gondar
Full day tour of Gondar. Gondar has distinctive castles and cathedrals, incorporating medieval European and southern-Arabian influences. Visit the Castle of the King Fasilides, the Monastery of Kusquam, the House of Kusquam (Queen Mintiwab's palace) and other ruins. Gondar has dozens of churches, the most important being Debre Berhan Selassie (Trinity Church of the Mountain of Light), which has an impressive hilltop location. The yellow-robed priest there will explain the story of the many paintings and carvings inside the church. Return to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Goha Hotel Day 05: Simien National Park
Full day excursion to Simien National Park. The road to the National Park of the Simien Mountains, passes over mountainous areas of wild beauty, drawing close to the national park of the Simien massif. In Amharic, ‘Simien’ means north. 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. On the return trip, you will visit the village of the “Felasha” – who are famous for their wonderful ceramics. Return to Gondar this evening for dinner and overnight. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Goha Hotel Day 06: Gondar - Lalibela
Transfer to Lalibela. Lalibela is located at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the twelfth century and are carved out of the pink granite rock (the town was designated a World Heritage Site in 1996.) Each church 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. This afternoon is dedicated to visiting the first group of churches and the city itself. In the evening you may attend a show featuring traditional dance. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Roha Hotel Day 07: Lalibela
Morning walking tour (or riding on mules) of various rock-churches outside the city. This afternoon, visit additional churches in the surrounding area. Lalibela's 11 Orthodox churches are some of the world's greatest architectural marvels. Each church was carved out of a solid piece of red volcanic rock in the 1100s. The largest, Medhane Alem, measures an incredible 100-ft-/30-m-long, 77-ft-/24-m-wide and 37-ft-/11-m-high. Beta Giorgis (the Church of St. George) is shaped like a cross and surrounded by a 40-ft-/12-m-deep trench. Historians say that the churches were commissioned by King Lalibela, who claimed to have been instructed by God in a dream to build the most beautiful places of worship on Earth. Legend says that the churches were completed in 24 years with the help of angels. (Historians believe it was 100 years and some Egyptians.) The churches have beautifully painted facades, tunnels and a cloth (in the Pillar of Light Church) upon which Christ was said to have leaned when appearing to King Lalibela in a dream. The churches are accessible through carved ravines and eerie subterranean passageways lined with grottoes containing the bones of past clergy. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Roha HotelDay 08: Lalibela - Axum
Transfer to Axum, where you spend the day visiting the local points of interest. Axum, 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. Transfer to your hotel for check-in and your evening at leisure. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Remhai HotelDay 09: Axum - Addis Ababa
Transfer to the Axum airport to board your flight to Addis Ababa. Arrive Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel for check-in and balance of day at leisure. Visit one of the many museums or the interesting market “Mercato". Throughout the city there are shops that sell typical artisan wares, materials and antiques. In the evening you will dine in one of the capital’s restaurants. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Sheraton Hotel
Day 10: Addis Ababa - Depart
Transfer to the Addis Ababa airport to board your homebound flight. Breakfast
Departure Dates
Departures on request, please call for details.
Prices
Pricing:
Call for 2008 prices.
January - December 2009
$4295 per person, double occupancy, based on 2-4 persons traveling
$3895 per person, double occupancy, based on 5-7 persons traveling
$700 single supplement
$6795 solo traveler
Inclusions:
· Airport meet and assist upon arrival
· Round trip airport-hotel transfers
· Ground transportation via private vehicles
· Hotel accommodations as indicated in the itinerary (Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa and in the best available 2-star hotels in the localities)
· Meals as indicated in the itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
· Internal domestic air from Axum to Addis Ababa
· Professional English-speaking local guide to accompany you throughout your tour
· Boat trip on Lake Tana by private charter boat
· Bottled mineral water in the vehicle
· Entrance fees according to the tour program
· 10 % service charge & 15 % government tax (VAT)
Exclusions:
· International air tickets
· International airport tax ($20 to be paid in US Dollars when leaving the country)
· Alcoholic beverages or soft drinks not mentions
· Visa expenses
· Video or photographing fees or tips at different sites
· Tips and personal item expenses
· Travel insurance
General information:
Full board is provided throughout the entire trip: breakfast and dinner in a hotel, lunch at midday of salad and fruit or of your choice in local restaurants. Tour is accompanied with an English, German or French speaker guide. Most places on the program are located at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,000 metres above sea level. It is cool in the morning and evening, so a light jacket and a sweater are required. At the daytime, the weather is hot and dry and the temperature is 25-30°C. In the period from October to April (the dry season) it hardly ever rains. It is useful to bring some medication with you, such as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, milk enzymes and eye-drops. It is not recommended that anti-malaria measures be taken, because the only place where malaria is present is Bahir Dar, but only during the rainy season (from May to September). We do, however, advise you to bring mosquito repellent with you.
Pricing is subject to peak season or festival/holiday surcharges.
These trips are priced assuming two travelers. Surcharges for solo travelers and discounts for groups, if any, will be applied. Prices assume itinerary is purchased "as is". Minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary can be made at no extra charge. Any customization requiring us to start with a new base itinerary will require a non-refundable upfront planning fee of $250 that is creditable towards the final trip price.
Group Discounts
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All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.
Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.
Options & Upgrades
The Omo Valley and the Rift Valley Lakes
Adventure to the territories of the south, along difficult tracks, sometimes barely visible trails in the savannah, to encounter populations who have lived in complete isolation for centuries, and whose life-style is still truly and deeply African: the Caros, the Galebs, the Hamer, the Bumes, the Tsemay, the Eri Bore, the Desenech, the Mursis who are known for the lip plates worn by their women. The Nech Sar Park, between Lakes Chiamo and Abaya, where one can often see zebras and antelopes roaming freely, and Mago Park where, if you are lucky, you can hear elephants trumpeting in the night. And then the lakes of the Rift Valley towards Addis Ababa, populated by myriads of birds, the hot springs of Wondo Genet, and Lake Langano, where swimming in the volcanic water, pink at sunset, is a sublime pleasure.
The Awash Valley, Harar, Dire Dawa and The Bale Mountain
This region is located in the Southeast, towards the territory of the proud Afar tribes, whose members you will meet along the road with their camel caravans, and in the lovely colorful marketplaces. The Awash National Park, where the Awash River runs through a spectacular gorge-- this is one of the rivers of Ethiopia, which never flows into the sea. Here, 400 bird species have been detected as well as several varieties of endemic mammals. Harar, ancient Islamic center founded in the 12 century A.D., with its 88 mosques, for a long time was the most important market town of the Horn of Africa. Arthur Rimbaud lived here from 1880 until his death, in the house of a rich Indian trader. Harar, city of spices, famous for the beauty of the Aderé women, today is one of the largest markets of Chiat (leaves of a bush that give a stimulating effect when chewed). The huge pastures and the wheat fields towards the Bale Mountains are incredibly green in September and October. The Bale National Park contains the second highest mountain of Ethiopia: alpine landscapes, the 4000-meter-high Senati highlands, where giant lobelias grow among dark blue lakes.
Birdwatching
Ethiopia, boasts more than 800 bird species, some endemic, most found in the southern part of Ethiopia in the Jima river valley, rift valley lakes, hot springs of Wondogenet, Bale mountain area, Awash National Park. Yabello, the Nech sar park and in the north to the Debre Birhan, the Nile gorge Debre Libanos area and the lake Tana areas. Bird watching itineraries can be mixed with historical route or Omo valley tour programs.
Ethiopian endemic birds: Blue-Wing Goose (Cyanochen cyanoptera), Harwood's Francolin (Francolinus harwoodi), Ankober Serin (Carduelis ankoberensis), Red-billed Pytilia (Pytilia lineata), Spot-breasted Lapwing (Vanellus melanocephalus), Yellow-fronted Parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons), Prince Ruspoli's Turaco (Tauraco ruspolii), Nech sar Nightjar (Caprimulgus solala), Degodi Lark (Mirafra degodiensis), Sidamo Lark (Heteromirafra sidamoensis), White-tailed Swallow (Hirundo megaensis), Abyssinian Longclaw (Macronyx flavicollis), Abyssinian Catbird (Parophasma galinieri) and Stresemann's Bush-crow (Zavattariornis stresemanni)
Trekking
Siemens Mountains, located in north of Gondar along the road to Axum, offer a unique and wonderful sights: high peaks and deep gorges, valleys and rivers, golden barley field's as far as the eye can see. The highest mountain (4439 meters) is Ras Dejen, hut a lot of the peaks are above 4000 meters. Only a few roads on the Simien Mountains are practicable by car, but the entire area is crossed by tracks used by locals to travel from village to village or to lead their animals to pasture. It is the ideal place for trekking: you can walk days on end along easy paths, occasionally passing through villages amid breath-taking views, frequently encountering colonies of 'gelada 'baboons and, at nightfall, among the steep gorges, sighting Waliyas and, not so frequently, the Simien fox.
Bale Mountains, located in the southeast region of the country, over the massif of the same name. The mountain reaches a peak of 4377m above sea level, the highest in Ethiopia. This is one of the greenest areas of Ethiopia with an abundant supply of water, vast pasturelands and forests of incomparable beauty alternate with moors of heather and juniper. The many protected species of mammals in the park include the Nyala, Kudu, Menelik's Bushbuck, and the rare fox of the Simien mountains. Sof Omar cave, one of African's largest, is typically characterized by flat topography and deep gorges cut by the river web which forms the cave. The beauties of the caves consist in the untouched and wild aspects of the huge main passages, the shape of the galleries and the white color of the lime some basalt forming the walls.
We can customize an itinerary to include any of the options above. Please call for further details.
Trip Information
When to come
This can depend on where you are going. In most of the country, the main rainy season runs from June to the end of September, with short rains in March. In the Omo and Mago parks however, in Southern Ethiopia, the seasons are different with the main rains from March to June, and shorter rains in November.
Climate and Clothing
Because of the elevation, temperatures rarely exceed 25 C in most of the country, although in some of the lower lying areas (Awash, Omo and Mago parks) it can get considerably hotter. Pack light clothes for the day time and a jacket or sweater for the evenings, and a good pair of walking shoes even if you are not going trekking - path ways around historic sites are usually uneven and stony. Trekkers in the Simien and Bale Mountains will need warm clothes, waterproofs and 3-4 season sleeping bags. On a cultural note - Ethiopians are generally modest dressers, and visitors should be sensitive about going underdressed (shorts, tank tops and bare backed) into places of worship. Shoes must always be removed before entering churches and mosques - for getting around sites like Lalibela with its many churches airline socks are very useful.
Health and Medical
The possession of a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is no longer mandatory but visitors coming from countries where Yellow Fever has been reported may be asked. Immunization for Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Typhoid and Polio is recommended.
Malaria: in many sites malaria is not a problem because of the elevation - this is true of Axum, Gondar and Lalibela but it may be able to occur in Bahir Dar at the end of the rainy season and after unseasonable rains. Lowland areas along the Awash River, the Omo Valley, Rift Valley and Gambella are subject to malaria outbreaks. Chloroquine resistant strains have been identified in most areas so you should consult your doctor about the prescription. Alternatively, you can keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay with repellent creams and sprays. (Climatic changes and phenomena such as el-Nino has meant the appearance of malaria at unseasonable times, and its spread to areas previously malaria free.)
Visitors should take a simple first aid pack, which would include: different size plasters, antiseptic cream, anti-histamine cream and/or tablets for insect bites, sun barrier cream (while temperatures are moderate the sun is strong) and anti-diarrhea tablets such as Immodium for emergencies (they will not cure the problem but will control the symptoms).
Food
The Ethiopian national dish consists of injera, a flat, circular pancake of fermented dough made from a grain seed called tef, on top of which are served different kinds of cooked meats, vegetables and pulses. The sauces are generally spiced with berbere, a blend of herbs and spices (including hot peppers) that gives Ethiopian food its characteristic taste. Vegetarians should try "fasting food" (for devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christians fast days make up more than half the year), a colorful spread of salads, vegetables and pulses, devoid of all meat and animal products.
One eats national dishes with the right hand (water for washing is usually brought to the table before the food is served), tearing off pieces of injera to pick up the "toppings".
Addis Ababa now boasts of a wide variety of restaurants, and at hotels in tourist sites European style food such as pasta is always available. If you are travelling to remote areas, such as the Omo Valley and parts of southern Ethiopia, it is advisable to stock up with tinned and packet food in Addis Ababa.
Drink
Gassy and still mineral water, along with soft drinks, are now available throughout the country. There are several brands of locally produced beer. Ethiopia produces its own wine and spirits, while imported spirits are also widely available. There are home made alcoholic drinks: tela (home made beer or ale), tej (wine made from honey) and kati kala (distilled liquor from various grains.)
Travel by air, road and rail
Ethiopian Airlines operates a safe, extensive (43 airports and an additional 21 landing strips) and generally efficient and reliable domestic air service, but cancellations and delays can occur. Ethiopian Airlines and currently one private company offer charter services. Travelling by road allows visitors to experience Ethiopia's wonderful scenery, but road conditions are generally poor, and the mountainous topography in the north will cut speed. The hour flight to Lalibela for example takes nearly two days by road. Railway enthusiasts who wish to travel by train from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa or on to Djibouti should be prepared for cancellations and delays and run down carriages.
Ethiopia has embarked on a massive road renovation and construction program, and many areas are now accessible by good asphalt roads. Given the size of the country, however, it will take quite some time to upgrade the road network on a countrywide basis.
Miscellaneous
Visas - Any foreigners except those who hold the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Djibouti passport needs a visa!!! You can get your visa from the Ethiopian embassies or consulates in your country but for the following listed countries, visa can be obtain on arrival at the airport in Addis Ababa: - Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea Republic, Kuwait, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, and US can obtain a visa on arrival with two passport photos. This is only available at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.
Souvenirs - many antiques cannot be exported and may be confiscated if found in airport searches. The National Museum in Addis Ababa can issue a clearance certificate.
Photography - outside Addis Ababa, generally only 100 ASA film is available. As a matter of courtesy, permission should be sought before photographing individuals and in many parts of the country, particularly among the ethnic groups living by the Omo River, people will demand a fee. In some sites (Blue Nile Falls for example) there is a charge for video photography.
Language
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia, and English is widely spoken.
Calendar
Ethiopia has a calendar of 13 months: it follows the Julian calendar which is divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of five or six days at the end of the year. The time difference is +3 hours from Greenwich.
Religious celebrations
The Ethiopian New Year on September 11th, the Finding of the True Cross (Meskel) on September 26 and 27th, The Tisyon Mariam on November 29th, the Ethiopian Christmas (Gena) on January 6 and 7th, the Epiphany (Timket) on January 18 and 19, The Ura- Kidanemhiret church festival on February 24, the Kulbi Gabriel on December 26 and July 26 and Easter are the most important festivities of Ethiopia.
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