If you have not been to Ethiopia, you have not experienced Africa" - Mike Copeland (travel author). Join Mike Copeland on this tour to Ethiopia - it will be unlike any other African Experience.
Only in Ethiopia will you:
- Hear the ancient Amharic language spoken,
- Experience the Old-testament orthodox Christian religion,
- Taste weird and wonderful cuisine, which includes Njera bread and spicy raw meat,
- See the eighth wonder of the world - Lalibela
- Marvel a the oldest (3.5 million-year) hominid skeleton ever discovered,
- Bargain hunt in the biggest market in Africa,
- And much, much more!
The people are proud, beautiful, independent and hospitable due to the fact that the country was never colonized, nor needed missionaries.
** Ethiopia: Unlike any other African Experience Mike Copeland has a particular love for Ethiopia, its people and culture and he has visited the country many times and can't get enough of this undiscovered destination. He knows every corner and has guided various groups to show them the wonders of this country.
We fly with Ethiopian Airlines, which has a very extensive network covering Europe, the USA, Africa and the East, and one of the best safety records in the world.Addis Ababa, and indeed most of Ethiopia has a pleasant climate all year round - its altitude keeps it cool at night with warm sunny days. Ethiopia is a hidden gem, not well known to mass tourism, but a unique, life-enriching experience. Join us, we promise you the most fascinating 11 days of touring.
Day 1:
Make arrangements to arrive at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg at 10:00
12:00 Check-in for Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis Ababa
15:00 Depart for Addis Ababa
21:00 Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to hotel.
O/N Addis Ababa city hotel
Day 2:
Breakfast and morning at leisure.
Check out and depart for the Rift Valley lakes. The first of the lakes we drive past is
Lake Ziway. Five islands dot the surface of Lake Ziway. It is the largest in the
northern cluster of five Rift Valley lakes. From there we proceed to Lake Langano a
watersports paradise. Lake Langano is one of two lakes in Ethiopia that is
considered safe for swimming – bilharzia free. Upon arrival check-in at your
accommodation, Wenney Lodge. The lodge is situated on the shore of Lake
Langano and near the Munessa Forest
Optional activities to enjoy are: horse riding, a boat cruise and cycling.
Enjoy the fantastic sunset with a drink in your hand.
O/N Wenny Lodge (full board)
(www.wenneyecolodge.com)
Day 3:
Breakfast and check out.
Our cultural exploration of the different tribal groups in Ethiopia starts today. In the
next couple of days you will interact with some of the 80 different tribal groups in
Ethiopia. The villages of the Wolayta people dot the rolling green hills. Our
destination is Arba Minch … meaning “forty springs” … taking its name from bubbling
streams in the area.
In the afternoon we visit Chencha. This village will give you a glance of ancient
Ethiopia. It is also the home of the Dorze people with their unique culture, homes
and traditions. The Dorze name is also synonymous with the best-woven cotton
cloth. As this visit is on a Saturday you will also be able to experience the very
colorful market in the village.
Check-in at your hotel.
O/N Swaynes Hotel (full board)
(www.swayneshotel.com)
Day 4:
Breakfast and checkout.
The cultural experience continues as we drive to Turmi to learn more about the
Konso, Derase, Tsemay and Hammer people. The Konso is a pagan society and
they erect wooden totems over their graves. The Hammer women wear gleaming
aluminium head-dresses and the Tsemay are very photogenic people. If we strike it
lucky we will see a cultural dance, the Evangadi.
O/N Turmi Evangadi Lodge (full board)
Day 5:
Today we will visit the villages and get to know the Hamer, Karo and Dassanech
people. If in any way possible we will participate in a wedding ceremony and a
“jumping of the bull” ceremony.
Late afternoon return to the hotel.
O/N Turmi Evangadi Lodge (full board)
(www.evangadilodge.com)
Day 6:
After breakfast we check out to visit a village of the Karo people. They are known for
the very interesting decorations and scarification all over their body. These designs
have no special significance but are created purely for fun and visual effect.
The views of the Omo River from the Kortcho village are just spectacular. The Omo
River is about a 1000 kms long, but it never reaches the sea. On the eastern bank of
the river is the Mago National Park, with its endless, distant horizons. You will be
entering a lost world, across which few vehicles have ever traveled. Enjoy the
incredible spectacles of oryx, giraffe, zebra as well as lion, buffalo and elephant in
the park.
O/N Camping Mago National Park (full board)
Day 7:
The Omo area is home to a remarkable mix of small contrasting ethnic groups. Their
lifestyles are as various as the tribes themselves. Today we visit the Mursi villages.
The Mursi women split and stretch their lower lip to make room for lip plates. The
women regards this as a sign of beauty … the larger the plate the more desirable the
wearer.
We proceed to Jinka for overnight. This modern little town is the administrative
center of the South Omo Region.
O/N Jinka Hotel (full board)
Day 8:
Breakfast and check-out. We proceed back to Abra Minch the main center for the
Gofa region. En route drive through the villages of the Tsemay and Erbore people.
Also stop at the market in Key Afer. Proceed to visit a Konso village. They have for
centuries practiced terracing and intensive agriculture in very steep environment.
O/N Swaynes Hotel, Arba Minch (full board)
Day 9:
Breakfast and then depart for the Nechisar National Park for a morning drive. The
contrasting beauty of this park will linger long in your memory … the blue waters of
Lake Chamo with its sandy beaches and the dark red colour of Lake Abaya. Then
there is the evergreen forests and across the bridge the white savannah. The
Swayne’s hartebeest is endemic to the area.
Enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Chamo in the afternoon and be on the look out for
Africa’s biggest crocodiles.
Return to the hotel.
O/N Swaynes Hotel, Arba Minch (full board)
Day 10:
Today we leave the Oma Valley and drive back to Addis Ababa. The afternoon is at
leisure to explore on your own and to visit the souvenir shops.
O/N Hotel Addis Ababa (breakfast)
Day 11:
Morning check out and transfer to the airport. Depart on a flight to Bahar Dar. Upon
arrival transfer to your hotel and check-in. Depart for the Blue Nile Falls. In Ethiopia
they call these falls "Tisissat", which means "water that smokes". The falls drop over
a sheer chasm more than 150 feet to the valley below.
Return to Bahar Dar for lunch.
Enjoy an afternoon boat trip on Lake Tana. Admire the beautiful monasteries on the
islands, such as Ura Kidane Mehret and Mahal Zeghie Gyoris.
O/N Bahar Dar (full board)
Day 12:
Breakfast and proceed to Gondar the Camelot of Africa. Still-standing castles and
palaces in Gondar hint at the grandeur of days gone by. In the afternoon visit some
of the castles and churches in the castle’s compound. The Debre Birhan Sellasie
church (Light of Trinity) has spellbinding ceiling murals. Also visit the King Fasiladas
bath, the old Qusquam Monastery and the Empress Mentewab Palace.
O/N Gondar (full board)
Day 13:
Proceed to the airport and check-in for your flight to Lalibela. Lalibela is known as
the eighth wonder of the world. During the afternoon you will discover why when you
visit the first group of rock-hewn churches.
O/N Yemereha Hotel, Lalibela (full board)
Day 14:
Breakfast and then drive to visit one of the churches that is out of town. We would
also recommend the mule excursion to Asheten Mariam church. During the
afternoon visit the remaining churches in Lalibela.
O/N Yemereha Hotel, Lalibela (full board)
Day 15:
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Check-in at hotel.
During the afternoon visit the Entoto Mountains to admire the view of the capital city
from there. Also visit the National Museum, St George church and the Merkato –
biggest open-air market in Africa.
Enjoy a traditional dinner with folkloristic dances.
O/N Hotel in Addis Ababa (breakfast and dinner)
Day 16:
Breakfast and at leisure until transfer to the airport to check in for return flight.
-Vehicle/s Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD for south, with seating capacity of 4
clients per car, with English speaking driver/guide (at least always one ashead driver), one fridge in one of the cars; and minibuses (seating capacity of
7 passengers) and buses (capacity for 22 passengers) Addis Ababa and north
~ 4* hotel (DeLeopol or Ghion or similar) in Addis Ababa in BB (bed and
breakfast)
~ 2-3* hotels out of Addis Ababa (the best possible in each place) in FB
(full board) in double room occupancy
~ Camping in FB, with camping gear and meals at Mago National park
~ Meals, including non-alcoholic drinks, out of Addis Ababa (during camping
days 2 small bottles of ½ liter/person/day)
~ One traditional dinner in Addis Ababa with folkloristic dances
~ Entrances fees
~ Driver-cook or cook for camping nights
~ English speaking guide throughout the tour
~ Boat on Lake Tana for half day and Lake Chamo for 1-2 hrs, as per the program
~ Mules in Lalibela for excursion to Asheten Mariam church
~ Hiring of bedding for night at Mago National Park
~ Government taxe
Drinks and meals in Addis Ababa
~ Alcoholic drinks and drinks not mentioned under inclusions.
~ Flights, including embarkation fees, airports porters, quoted separately
~ Visa and airport taxes
~ Tips, all personal expenses, expenses to see dances, ceremonies
~ Personal traveling insurance (is requested)
~ Things of a personal nature
