20 DAYS TOUR TO HISTORICAL ROUTE
ATTRACTIONS: MONEMENTS, CULTURE, NATURE,
HISTORY
DESTINATIONS: ADDIS ABABA, BAHAR DAR, GONDER,
LALIBELA,
DESSIE,
ARBAMINCH, THE OMO
VALLEY, AWASSA
Day 1: Welcome home Ethiopia
Arrival
to Addis Ababa,
Bole international Airport. You meet our travel agent with warm
welcome then transfer you to Adot tina hotel.
Overnight
will be at Adot tina hotel
Day 2: Excursion in Addis Ababa
On the first day you will start
visiting the most interesting parts
of the city including the National Museum, which contains Lucy, the
fossilized homonoid discovered in 1974, artifacts of the Axumite, Solomonic, and
Gondarian period of the country, and also a wide display of Ethiopian art
ranging from parchment to 20th century canvas oil paintings by
leading modern artists like Afework Tekele. There is also the beautiful Ethnological
Museum which contains superb artifacts and handicrafts from the peoples of
Ethiopia, displayed in a very original way.
The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the biggest Orthodox Church in
the country. With its large dome and spindly pinnacles, it stands as one of the
country’s most famous landmarks and is a unique mishmash of international
styles.
Visiting Merkato is
worth the trip – the biggest open air market of Africa.
In the late afternoon, you will
visit the Entoto Mountains for a short walk in the fresh air
of the eucalyptus tree covered slopes, enjoying the panoramic view of Addis
Ababa. This is the site of Menelik’s former capital. Near the summit is
the Octagonal Entoto Maryam Church, which contains mural paintings. The museum
in the compound contains a large collection of religious garbs, crowns and
crosses dating from the era of the Ethiopian Emperor.
As a special “happy end” of the
day, dinner will be in one of the
cultural restaurants in Agelgil or Yod Abyssinia. You will taste the
exquisite Ethiopian National dishes and
enjoy the exciting dances of the different ethnical groups, accompanied
by music played on traditional instruments.
(This can also be done on the
last day).
Overnight: Adot tina hotel
Day 3: Drive to the North, Bahar Dar
Depart from Addis Ababa by road to
north to Bahar Dar. The road to
Bahar Dar is asphalt and the most dramatic stretches in Ethiopia.
We will have a
short stop at the Nile gorge for an
informative talk as well as photographic opportunity.
After we drive
90 km form Addis the road drops more than 1,000m, gradually winds down to the
bottom of the Blue Nile Gorge which
is comparable in scale to American’s Grand Canyon cited to be the largest
canyon in Africa.
With its wide
avenues lined with palms and flamboyant trees, and its scenic location on
southern shore of Lake Tana and along sides of the Blue
Nile, Bahar Dar is founded during the 1st decades of
the 20th century.
Overnight:
Ghion hotel, with a view to Lake Tana and best
accommodation!
Day 4: Excursion in and around Bahar Dar.
After
breakfast in Ghion hotel, we take a boat to visit Lake Tana to see its
beautiful and interesting islands with their medieval period monasteries. Lake
Tana is the Ethiopia’s
largest lake (over 3400 sq km) and is famous as the home of the monasteries and
churches. On Lake Tana, more than 37 islands are situated and monks
who live a retired and ascetic life in ages old monasteries inhabit on 20 of
them, here we will visit four of the 20 monasteries such as Kibran Gebreal,
Zege peninsula, Ura kidane mihiret and Entos Eyesus. As we visit the monasteries, the priests will
show us different kind of precious treasures such as ages-old, richly decorated
hand written manuscript and bibles, paints, crowns, beautifully carved crosses
and richly embroider clothes of the priests. At the southern tip of the lake
and the northern outskirts of the town, we will see when Nile leaves lake Tana
and launches its long journey to the Mediterranean sea.
After a lunch
break, we will continue to discover the River
Nile and its fall Blue Nile Fall (Tis Isat). The Blue Nile Fall,
which is one of the most spectacular falls in Africa 400m wide when in flood
and dropping over a sheer chasm more than 45m deep, the thunderous noise can be
heard long before arrival, and the spray that is thrown up can be felt up to a
kilometer away. Here in Tis Isat, you can watch birds, less abundant, keep an
eye out for Parrots, Bee-eaters, Lovebirds and Turacos. You can also watch
Vervet Monkeys as well.
Overnight:
Ghion hotel
Day 5: Drive to the Camelot of Africa, Gondar
After breakfast in Ghion hotel, we will drive to
Gondar where you can visit the Royal Enclosure which is surrounded by high
stone walls containing the ruins of 17th
century Palaces of King Fasiladas, King
Iyasu and Queen Mentewab and different other buildings. The castles are a
mixture of Ethiopian, European and probably Indian styles. According to
descriptions of 17th century travellers, the interior of the castle of King Fasiladas
was extremely luxurious, decorated with Gold, Ivory and precious stones.
You can also visit Fasiladas’ Bath. It is peaceful, shady and beautiful spot, and well
worth a visit. The ancient bath is filled with water for the important Timket
(Ephany) ceremony once a year. The ceremony replicates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River; it is seen as an important renewal of
faith.
Overnight: Fasil lodge
Day 6: Excursion to Semien Mountain
National Park
After
breakfast in Roha hotel, we will drive to Semien
Mountain National Park. On the way there, we will visit the Felashas village of Wolleka, which was formerly inhabited by
Felashas, or Judaic Ethiopians. The
Felashas call themselves Bete Isra’el and practice Judaism, which was the
dominant religion of North-western Ethiopia for millennia. After the
coming of Christianity and its adoption as the state religion, leaders from the
north-east gradually penetrated and converted most of the Bete Isra’el. The
penalty for not accepting conversion was loss of land. The remaining Bete
Isra’el communities had to subsist on marginal land, and pottery,
blacksmithing, and weaving become important part of their economy. Recent
research has shown that it was probably Bete Isra’el artisans who physically
built the Gonder castles and provided many of the other artifacts that supported
the Gondarine Culture.
After visiting
the Felasha village we will continue drive to Semian Mountains
National Park. The Semien Mountains
are the most marvelous of all Abyssinian landscape. It is the home of three of Ethiopia’s
endemic large mammals Wali Ibex, Ethiopian Wolf, and Gelada Baboon. In Debark,
at the head quarter of the National
park, we will stop and wonder around eventually the guide will organize mules
for luggage and arrange other formalities of the park. At last, we will drive
the last 20 km up to Sankaber (3200 m) and start short trekking along the
beautiful escarpment of the Semien
Mountains national Park.
Overnight: Fasil lodge
Day 7: Drive to the New
Jerusalem, Lallibela
Early in the
morning, we will have a short walk to visit Debre Berhane Selassie Church (Trinity at the Mount of Light) and
attend the early morning service. The church has rectangular structure and the
ceiling is decorated with beautifully winged angels and its walls with
impressive scenes depicting biblical events, including the life of Christ,
Mary, and the saints and martyrs. There is also a painting of the church’s
founder, Emperor Iyasu I.
After
breakfast in Goha hotel, we will drive to the New Jerusalem, Lalibela through
the most beautiful landscapes.
Overnight: Lal hotel
Day 8: Visit Africa’s Petra, Lalibela
The churches
are divided into two main groups –one to the north and the other to the south
of a stream known as the Jordan River. So our
tour starts early in the morning to the first group of churches. It consists of
six churches including Bete Medhane
Alem, the largest of all the Lallibela churches. Taking the form of a Greek
temple, it is unusual in being surrounded by the square- shaped columns, with a
further forest of twenty-eight massive rectangular columns supporting the roof
inside. A few minutes’ walk from Bete Medhane Alem is Bete Maryam dedicated to Mary, the mother of the Christ. It has a
deep square pool in the courtyard is said to have miraculous properties, and
infertile women dip themselves in the algae-covered waters at certain times of
the year, particularly at Christmas. Other churches in this group are Bete Meskal, Bete Danagel, and the
inter-connected churches of Bet Golgotha and Bete Mika’el with the Selassie
Chapel and the Tomb of Adam, form the most mysterious complex in
Lalibela.
In the
afternoon, we visit the southern group of churches. There are four churches
including-Bete Amanuel the finest of
the group, its elaborate exterior is much praised by art historians. Bete Merkorios, is thought to have
originally served a secular purpose- perhaps that of a house of justice, as
amongst the secular objects found in recently excavated trenches were shackles
for the ankles of prisoners. Bete Abba
Libanos, which is separated from the surrounding land on only three sides,
is a structure of great charm, and a good example of a cave church. And the
last but not least is Bete
Gabriel-Rufa’el.
Finally, we will visit the isolated but the
remarkable church
of Bete
Giorgis,
possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela structures.
Overnight: Lal hotel
Day 9: One more day to visit churches outside
Lalibela
After
breakfast, we will depart with our packed lunch to Yemrehanna Kristos the church built within a cave. According to the
local tradition, the church was built by King Yemrehanna Kristos between 1087
and 1127. There are surprises everywhere. The exterior of the church is
decorated with whitewashed marble panels, and the whole church site on a
foundation of carefully laid olive-wood panels, which ‘float’ perfectly above
the marshy ground below. The carving and decoration are exceptional. At the
back of the church, under an overhanging rock, are the bones of countless
pilgrims who have chosen to be buried here, as well as a tomb said to contain
the remains of Yemrhanna Kirstos.
On the way
back to Lalibela we will visit some more monasteries such as Arbatu Ensessa,
Bilbila Chirkos and Bilbila Giyorgis.
Arbatu Ensessa is
thought to have been built by King Kaleb in AD 518. Arbatu Ensessa means ‘the
four beasts’ after the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, whom the
beasts represent.
Bilbila Chirkos is an
interesting three-quarter monolith, it is known particularly for its ancient
frescoes. Also attributed to King Kaleb and thought to date from AD 523.
Bilbila Giyorgis as the
the last two monasteries it is also attributed to King Kaleb. According to
tradition, five swarms of bees took up residence shortly after the church was
completed and still reside here! Their sacred honey is said to have curative
properties, particularly for psychological disorders and skin problems.
Overnight: Lal hotel
Day 10: Drive to Kombolcha
Early in the morning drive to a long journey on massif Amhara land to
Wollo’s regional capital of Dessie, this is spread over a small valley at the
foot of Mount Tossa. On the way make a stop and visit the little town of Hayk,
known for its monastery and lake. The monastery dates from the mid-13th century
and was founded by Abba Iyasus Moa. It contains the oldest known manuscript and
the book of the four gospels produced for the monastery between 1280 and 1281.
Open to men only. From Dessie to Kombolcha, the next town along on the way is
only 23 km, but the road has some sharp curves as it winds its way down the
face of the escarpment. The route is quite a scenic one, lined with clumps of
Eucalyptus tree, Cuctus and the rehabilitated hillside of Olive forest. When we
get close to the little village Senbete, mist often collects in the small
valley along the route in the early morning, caused by the steam rising from hot springs in the area.
The scenery along this route is quite pleasant and the small village of Senbete
makes a nice stopover, particularly on a Sunday for the large market held
there. Hundreds of people from many different ethnic groups converge to buy and
sell cattle and camels, as well as a variety of other items that include
high-quality cloth, jewellery, spices, chickens and chewing tobacco.
Overnight: Sun
side hotel
Day 11: Drive back to Addis Ababa
On this road to Addis Ababa
the last important settlement on the southward journey is Debre Birhan. It has
a remarkable early history. The settlement was founded by one of Ethiopia’s
most important early rulers, Emperor Zera Yakob (1434-1468).
Zera Yakob, according to his chronicle, thereupon decided to make the
place his permanent residence and named it Debre Birhan, meaning ‘place of
light’.
When we get
close to Addis Ababa we will visit the Entoto Mountains,
the sites of Menelik’s former capital after Ankober. Near the summit is the Octagonal Entoto Maryam
Church, which contains
mural paintings. The museum in the compound contains a large collection of
religious garb, crowns and crosses dating from the Emperor.
Overnight: Adot tina hotel
Day 12: Drive to Wondo Genet via Tiya
On this
morning our tour starts in the south through the Rift Valley land, the largest
and most famous geographical features are here. It runs from the Middle East
all the way down to Mozambique,
and is home to a string of lakes known for their birdlife. When you get close
to a little town of Melka Awash, we visit the only open-air
Archeological site of Melka Kunture, which is situated, on the banks of the Awash River.
Thousands of stone-age tools are found here together with many fossils of
extinct animals and Homo erectus, which are exposed in a small but interesting
museum.
We continue
drive to the prehistoric site of Tiya
stelae fields; it is houses for another collection of some 40 intricately
carved stelae and is probably an ancient burial ground. The stelae are not
soaring monoliths as in Axum, but they contain
depictions of swards and various enigmatic symbols not found in other regions
According to UNESCO, these are the remains of an ancient Ethiopian culture,
whose age has not yet been precisely determined. The erection of megalithic
monuments such as these is a very ancient tradition in Ethiopia.
In this
experience, we take you to meet the Gurage
people. The Gurage are an ethnic group descending from the Semitic
language-speaking family inhabiting a scattered are outside Addis Ababa. Known for their industriousness,
the Gurage are a mix of Muslims and Christians, as well as some who remain true
to traditional beliefs.
After Tiya, we
will drive to Ziway. In Ziway, you will visit Lake Ziway which is worthy to visit different water birds like:
pelicans, Storks, king fishes, Darters, Hammer kop and many other different
species as well as four kind of Fishes.
Then you will
continue to the hot-springs resort of
Wondo Genet. Surrounded by dense forest, filled with birdsong and –in
season-over flowing with fruit and honey, it is like arriving in the Promised
Land. In the surrounding forest birdlife is abundant including: Banded Barbet,
Yellow fronted Parrot, Narina’s Trogon, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Half-collared
king fisher, Red –billed Starling, Africa little Sparrow Hawk, Crowned Eagle,
Sharp’s Starling, Lemon Dove, Ethiopian Oriol, Double toothed Barbate and Broad
billed Roller. Bush bucks, hyena, Anubis baboons are also seen.
Wondo Genet is like a
green paradise, the mountains covered by dense forest where hot springs bubble up and intensively
cultivated with chat, coffee, sugar cane and all kind of fruit trees such as
Banana, Mango, Avocado and Papaya. In the late afternoon, we will take a small
hike up the hill to see the source of the springs, which fill the swimming
pool.
Overnight will be in Wondo Genet at Wabe
Shebelle Resort hotel. The former palace
of H.I.M.
Haile Selassie I
Day 13: Drive to Arba Minch
Wondo Genet is
a beautiful place for 2 – 3 hours morning walk in the forest to see natural hot springs that come to
the swimming pool and different kind of trees. Then drive to Arba Minch some
270km rough asphalt and gravel road with the beautiful scenery. You also enjoy
the style of houses in different tribes.
Arba Minch (forty
springs) derives its name from the 40 springs, which bubble up in the evergreen
forest covering the flats below the town. Set on an escarpment overlooking the biggest
Lake in rift valley(1160 km2), Lake
Abaya to the north, Lake Chamo
(551 km2)to the south, and the Rift Valley to the west, the town boasts a
lovely position.
On the way
near to Arba Minch, you will ascend the mountains to visit the Dorze people who are living high up in
the scenic Guge Mountains. The Dorze are famous for constructing distinguished, sometimes 12 m.
high, an elephant shaped huts, terrace cultivation and the best
weaving work of Ethiopia. We visit a compound where a Dorze guide explains how
the huts are constructed, and tells about Dorze cultural life while the
housewife shows us how a kind of fermented flour is made from the stem of the Enset (false banana) tree from which
porridge and sour tasting bread is made.
Overnight will
be in Arba Minch at Abyssinian pension.
Day
14: Nech Sar NP and Lake
Chamo
This day you
visit one of the most scenic National Parks of East-Africa: Nech Sar National Park. Here you can see the Burchell's zebra's,
Swayne’s hartebeests, antelopes, Grant's gazelles, colobus monkeys and many
other mammals and birds in a landscape of dense forest and savannah with
fantastic vista’s to the two lakes. This park has a surface of 514 km2 and
has been founded in 1974 for the protection of the endemic Swayne’s hartebeest.
Spending a full day gives you the opportunity to make a trekking of 4-5 hours
in the park, accompanied by a park scout.
Late
afternoon make a boat trip on Lake Chamo
where the longest and fattest Nile crocodiles of Africa take a sunbath on the
shores. Hippo’s hide themselves under the water and you will see also colonies
of pelicans.
Overnight
will be at Abyssinian Pension.
Day 15: Drive to Konso
The society of the Konso boasts a rich culture
and a highly specialized and successful agricultural economy by their
indigenous way of terracing the
steep slopes for cultivation of sorghum and different grains. All compounds in
the Konso villages are surrounded by a wooden fence and separated by narrow
paths. In the centre of every Konso village is a community house where boys of 12 years and above always spent the
night until they marry. Travellers will find a save place there to sleep. In
front of the community house some stones are erected. On this place people will
swear an oath to speak the truth during lawsuits.
Also
famous are the “Waga’s”, wooden
grave monuments of the Konso which are erected on the compounds of Konso chiefs
to honour their ancestors. If time allows, you can visit a Konso village.
Overnight will be camping at the Konso king
Compound
Day 16: Drive to Turmi Via Tsemay, Arbore.
With scenic
landscapes, interesting wildlife and some of the most diverse and fascinating
peoples of the country, the south represents the other side of Ethiopia.
Early in the
morning drive to Turmi on the way we pass the territories of the Tesemai and Arebore. The Tesemai
resemble the Ari but they speak a language which is similar to Arebore with
whom they also have social connections. They also intermarry frequently with
the Hamer. The Arebore people
resemble the Borena people, with their beads and alumimum jewellery. They sleep
on 5m-high platforms to escape from notorious mosquitoes. After the Arebore,
the road enters Hamer territory. The Hamer are agro-pastoralists and well-known
for their remarkable hairstyles and body decoration. In Turmi, the town of Hamer, we will visit the
largest and colourful Monday market. It’s a great place for picking up the
beautiful incised gourds, which are used by the local women as shopping baskets
and as a handbag for stashing cash.
Overnight will
be camping at Keske camping site
Day 17:
Excursion to Omorate and visit Hamer village.
Today we’ll drive to South west of Turmi to Omorate. This is the territory of Dassanech, which means “people of the Delta”.
They are semi-nomads who try to survive in a very dry area where the delta of
the Omo River
enters Lake Turkana. The main possession of
the Dassanech is their cattle. Crossing the Omo River with a local hollow boat we will visit
a Dassanech village, at the bank of the River,
In the
late afternoon we can make a trekking to different Hamer villages where you surely will be invited into one of the
huts to drink coffee from the half of a calabash. The coffee tastes watery
since it is cooked from the outside skin of the coffee bean. Surrounded by the
chatting and laughing women and children you will feel soon at home. They are also well known for their remarkable body
decoration and special hair style of the women. Who use red clay to shape their
hair? After having killed an enemy or wild animal the men are decorated with a
clay-cap painted in different colours and ornamented the feather of an ostrich.
A special ceremony is the Bull Jump Ceremony when young boys have to jump three
times over the backs of a long row of bulls without falling. If this succeeds
they have passed to manhood and are allowed to marry. During this ceremony the
sisters of the boys who jump the bulls challenge the young boys to beat them
severely with twigs till the blood comes as a proof of their female strength
and endurance and love for their brother.
Overnight will be camping at Keski campsite
Day 18: Drive to Yabelo
Leaving the
deep wilderness areas of Ethiopia,
we will drive through the semi-arid area of Borena to Yabelo town. On the way to Yabelo, we will make a stop at
Waito the little village of Tsemay people to
visit the colorful Monday market.
The Tesemai
resemble the Ari but they speak a language which is similar to Arebore with
whom they also have social connections.
They also intermarry frequently with the Hamer peoples.
Inhabiting the dry, hot plains to the
east of Konso, the Borena people are semi-nomadic pastoralists whose lives
revolve entirely around their cattle. During the long dry season, they struggle
to keep their vast herds alive. To combat the problem, the Borena have
developed their own peculiar solution: a series of wells dug deep into the
earth, carefully assigned to the different Borena families and clans.
Overnight:
Yabelo motel
Day 19: Drive to Aregash Lodge
Today we drive through the region of the Gedeo and Sidama
people. The hills and mountains are intensively cultivated in this densely
populated area. Everywhere you see the beautiful round huts, surrounded by
coffee shrubs, sugar cane and enset (false banana) trees. The Yirgachefe coffee
of the Sidama region is of the highest export quality. You can visit one of the
coffee processing plants in the area. The Sidama are with 3 million one of the
greatest of the 45 ethnic groups who live in the Southern Nation. They are
grouped in clans and it is very important to know to which clan you belong and
who is the ancestor of the clan. The grave of the ancestor is considered as a
holy place and although many Sidama’s are Christian nowadays, the habit of
sacrificing animals on the grave of the ancestor is still widely spread.
The environmental friendly, Aregash lodge
provides you a peaceful view to green valley and to intense tranquillity, with
the sound of many birds. The bungalows are built in traditional Sidama style
and also the interior breathes a cosy local atmosphere. With a local guide you
can make a walking trip down into the valley and eventually visit a Sidama
village to learn more about their culture and lifestyle. Ask for a local guide
by the reception of the hotel. Another optional excursion (if time allows) is
to visit “Abo”, the spiritual centre of the Sidama people. Late afternoon you
can spot the hyena’s near to the lodge and in the evening a meal which suites
best with the environment is a buffet with different local Sidama dishes. (But
western food is also available).
Overnight will be in Aregash Lodge.
Day
20: Drive back to Addia Ababa.
On this last day,
we will drive to Addis Ababa.
INCLUDED:
Excellent air-conditioned 2H
land cruisers with fuel and driver
Professional English speaking
guide for the entire trip.
Camping materials
All excursion cost
Hotel bookings
Water, for the whole trip.
Government tax
Service tax
EXCLUDED:
Meals and drinks in hotels and
restaurants
Alcoholic beverages
Any personal expenses (like photo,
video, and tips)
Any things not mentioned on the
program.
