FIFTY-TWO NIGHTS AND FIFTY-THREE DAYS TOUR PROGRAM COVERING MOST PARTS OF ETHIOPIA
TOUR CODE – EMP/202
DURATION – 52 DAYS, 53 NIGHTS
DEPARTURE – MORNING
This program is designed for more adventurous people and for those who have the will and capacity to spend more time in Ethiopia . This tour will surely give them an all over view and grasp of Ethiopia .
DAY ONE
Drive to Harar –one of the ancient cites that resemble the middle east . A city of very colorful market, walls, narrow alleys and the hyena man’s performance. Over night in Harar
DAY TWO
Half day visit of the city . and in the late afternoon drive back to Diredawa and city tour . Over night in Diredawa
DAY THREE
Drive to Awash for a visit of Awash National park . Check in Buffet de la gare Hotel .
DAY FOUR
Game drive through the park to see some Oryx, gazelle, Wild pig and other. Visit also the Awash River falls near by the park head quarter. Have your lunch here at Awash Kereyu Lodge. In the afternoon drive 25 km. to the Fentale crater. Visit the hot spring before you get back to your hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY FIVE
Drive from Awash National park via Gewane to Kombolcha On the way visit the Bati, Afar and Kereyu people. Reach Kombolcha in the late afternoon and check in to hotel.
DAY SIX
Early in the morning ,start the journey to Lalibel- a gentle but scenic route takes us to this old town situated among craggy hills.On the way we visit the famous Monday market which hosts the largest cattle and Camel market, and it is also a place where the largest ethnic groups the Amhara, the Oromo and the semi-nomads people called the Afar meet. Spend some time in the market and drive . We break our driving first at Dessie for lunch.then continue driving from Dessie to Lalibela .Over night in a hotel .
DAY SEVEVEN
After breakfast, visit the first group of the rock churches. Access to the churches is labyrinth of passages and stairways, and so, torches are handy; wear walking shoes, which can easily be taken off and on every church. After lunch visit the 2nd and 3rd group of churches. O/N Lal hotel.
DAY EIGHT
After breakfast, mule trip through scenic upland countries to one of the churches outlying the town. The churches harbor, numerous old icons and other treasures. After lunch, drive some 30km. north of Lalibela to the village called Bilbala. Continue driving further 12km. by turning off to right to built-up cave church called Yemrehanna Kristos. Visit the church and drive back to Lalibela. O/N Lal hotel
DAY NINE
Early in the morning drive to Mekele- home of 12th century rock hewn churches. Surrounded by gorges and rugged but scenic terrain Over night check into Axum hotel
DAY TEN
Drive to Adigrat on the way visiting the Tigray rock churches. check in to Weldu Sebagadis hotel for an over night stay.
DAY ELEVEN
Leave Adigrat For Axum On the way visit Debre Damo founded in the 6th century on top of a cliff and accessible only by a 20 m. rope made of cow hide. the Yeha built in .500BC and the church of Aba Haftse , with its illuminated old parchment books. Continue to Axum . Over night in a hotel
DAY TWELVE
Explore the ancient city; visit the monolithic stele, tombs and place ruins of king Kaleb and his son king Gebre Meskel, king Remhai, King Bazen, the palace ruins of the Queen of Sheba, her bath, the old and new churches of St Mary with the invaluable treasures, the palace ruins and granite inscriptions of king Ezana and others. O/N Yeha hotel
DAY THIRTEEN
In the morning drive through the beautiful scenery of the Semien Mountains and the Tekeze Gorge to Debark Lunch en route, reach Debark late in the afternoon check in to Semien park hotel .
DAY FOURTEEN
Early in the morning, drive in to the Semien Mountains up to Chenek .Chenek is a good spot to have a different view of the lowland . If you are lucky enough you would visit Walia Ibex-One of the Ethiopian endemic rare animals. Optionally you can drive to the 4,430m.high peak of Buahit (the 2nd highest peak in Ethiopia ) stands towering above the campsite. Drive back to Debark and after lunch continue driving to Gonder some 100 kms -A two hours drive. Over night in a hotel.
N.B -HERE YOU CAN EXTEND YOUR TOUR BY INCLUDING THE TREKKING ON SEMIEN MOUNTAIN.- about eight or nine days .
DAY FIFTEEN
After breakfast, city tour of Gonder- the capital of medieval Ethiopia known for its old castles and churches with beautiful paintings, visit all these attractions. In the afternoon drive to Welleka village, where some Falashas (Ethiopian Jews) live selling their age-old styled clay figurines. O/N Goha hotel
DAY SIXTEEN
Early in the morning drive to Bahirdar . in the afternoon boat trip over Lake Tana , which has more than 32 islands in it with monasteries in most of it. In n your trip you will be seeing the Ura Kidanemehret monastery and Azua Mariam with their beautiful paintings . Over night in a hotel
DAY SEVENTEEN
After breakfast drive southwest some 32 km. to the majestic Blue Nile falls; spend some time there and return to Bahir Dar for lunch. After lunch visit the grain and basket markets then drive to the place of the late Emperor Haile Selassie to have a panoramic view of the town, the river and the lake. O/N Tana hotel.
DAY EIGHTEEN
Take a deviation to enter in to Gumze tribes region. Being SAT admire the very interesting market of Mandura village with Gumze marketing different staff; lunch box, dinner and O/N Chagni village, local hotel 2*( Tana Beles hotel)
DAY NINTEEN
Proceed by ravel road to Nekemte, for a 7-8 hours drive averagely. Visit reaching the region of Nekemte different coffee plantation; being the Wellega region, as the Kaffa (from where reaches the name of coffee) the most famous region for coffee. Lunch box on the way, dinner and O/N local hotel(2*)
DAY TWENTY
Drive to Gambela, about 5-6 hours drive, admiring on the way other coffee plantation and near to Gambela some of the Nuer Anuak people. Gambela, an old important port and center of trade with Karthum, is a very colorful and interesting town. Nuer and Anuak people have very interesting cultures, way of life and paintings and ornaments all over their body. Lunch box on the way, dinner and O/N Ethiopia hotel(2*)
DAY TWNEY ONE
Proceed for the very interesting fishermen and very decorative Anuak people, very nice views and visit their villages. You’ll camp near to one village. Visit their way of life, cultures and traditions. Lunch box, dinner and O/N camp.
DAY TWNETY TWO
Continue for the other extremely interesting cattle herders and lot of decorative cicatrizing, and paintings of the Nuer people. Always visit their villages, way of life and cultures. Lunch box dinner and O/N camp at Jikao, at bank of Baro river. Baro river has been a very important river for important river for communication and merchandise with Khartoum ; and is the only navigable river in Ethiopia .
DAY TWENTY THREE
Back admiring people and villages; lunch box on the way, reach late afternoon Gambela, dinner and O/N Ethiopia hotel Gambella(2-3*).
DAY TWENTY FOUR
Continue for Tepi, crossing savannah, hunting areas, etc with the possibilities of spotting many animals, among which different mammals, birds, Anthelopes, etc. lunch box on the way, dinner and O/N camp Tepi village.
DAY TWENTY FIVE
. Continue for Tum, admiring also some Dizi people village and on the road Dizi men and women. Lunch box, on the way, dinner and O/N camp Tum village
DAY TWENTY SIX
Continue driving to Tulgit. O/N camp. Here visit Dizi tribes, and start admiring some Surma people. Stop to see different villages. Notes being road here quite bad, trip will be done quite slowly. Lunch box, on the way, dinner and O/N camp near Tulgit village.
DAY TWENTY SEVEN
Continue for Kibish, always-different Surma people. Here for beauty women use to put circle or also wooden trapezoidal shaped plates into their lips; men different scarification to show the number of animals or enemies killed in battle. If you are lucky, admire also the Donga game, which is a ritual stick-fighting men do, for the contest of a woman or the reason. During the fight many spectators and ”tifoso” of the villages come, with songs, music and more. Is really something unique. But needs some luck; our guide will try to look for it. The is through a very rough road; so drive is slow, and on the way you can see many Surma people walking, going to the market, etc. cross rivers, very nice Vegetation, and interesting flora and fauna. Lunch box on the way, dinner and O/N camp near Kibish village.
DAY TWENTY EIGHT
One full day here, to adire Surma people , their very interesting villages and way of life, women bringing the water, preparing their local food,children playing or looking for some animals; etc . possibly try to find the game of the Donga. O/N camp, near to a village.
NB . HERE TOO YOU CAN INCLUDE SURMA TREKKING PROGRAM
DAY TWENTY NINE
Walk to Kormu and surrounding, to admire other tribes and their way of life. O/N camp Kibish.
DAY THIRTY
Back, on the same way north to Tulgit. Will take about 7-8 hours and different stops for photographing people, views, nature, etc. spot different mammals and birds; we are near to the Omo park headquarter, and so possibly to spot different animals. O/N camp Kibish.
DAY THIRTY ONE
Back again north to Tum. O/N camp.
DAY THIRTY TWO
Drive north to Tepi. About 7-8 hours drive. O/N camp
DAY THIRTY THREE
Continue to Jimma, to reach late the afternoon, admiring very nice views. Cultivation of coffee and other very interesting villages. Jimma is the capital of the Kaffa region, from where the name of the coffee derives. Visit also in Jimma the Aba Jifar palace, old governor palace, O/N Abegaz hotel (2-3*)
DAY THIRTY FOUR
Continue to Wochi crater lake, for very nice views. Reach in the afternoon and visit the Guder river falls. Visit the Wonchi crater and the lake, with in the island an old imperial prison and the church. Possibly if time permits walk until down to the lake; or with mules. O/N Ambo at Metaferia hotel(new 3* hotel)
DAY THIRTY FIVE
Back, to Addis Ababa to reach for lunch. Visit Merkato(biggest open air market in Africa ), some art galleries and souvenir shops. Dinner traditional restaurant with folkoristic dances of the different Ethiopian regions. O/N imperial hotel(4*)
DAY THIRTY SIX
Drive southwards to the rift valley region. Stops at lake koka (a man made lake formed by damming river Awash) Zeway, Abijata & Shalla al Known for their scenic beauty and rich bird life. Stop for lunch a hotel by yet another lake-lake Langano- a beautiful lake with its sandy shores. Continue driving to Wendo Genet is a beautiful resort area situated amid wooded hills, which are sources for the hot springs in which people enjoy taking an open-air bath. Wendo Genet also known for its rich bird life, colobus and verve monkeys, which can easily seen flitting on tree branches. O/N Wabi Shebela resort hotel.
DAY THIRTY SEVEN
Drive to the high country of the Bale mountains where, the Bale mountains national park which is home to unique wild life and several bird species. After picnic lunch, stop at Dinsho-the park ahead Quarters, to pay the entrance fees but more-to see games like the endemic mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck and others like the Grey Duiker, Bohor Reedbuck, Warthogs and others. Continue on to Goba to stay over night at Goba Wabi Shebele hotel.
DAY THIRTY EIGHT
Setout with a picnic lunch to the high plateaus of Sanette(4000m. high) home to the shy Ethiopian Wolf and many bird species. This drive takes as to the impenetrable Harena forest-reputedly home to lions and the black Leopard. After picnic, drive to the Tulu Dimtu peak-the 3rd highest peak of Ethiopia with an altitude of 4,377 m. Drive to Goba in the late afternoon. O/N Goba wabi Shebele hotel.
DAY THIRTY NINE
Drive to the Sof Omar caves-which were formed by river Weib on its long jorney to the Indian ocean . The cozy interiors of the caves have been used as holy shrines for the past hundreds of years by the Muslim community living in the country and abroad. Torches are handy here, though they may prove useless at some dark points of the caves. After picnic,drive back to Goba. O/N Goba Wabi shebele hotel
DAY FOURTY
Drive to Awassa, situated close to a lake of same name again rich in bird life. O/N Awassa Wabi Shebele hotel
DAY FOURTY ONE
In the morning, after a brief stop at the fish market, drive some 300km to Yabelo. Stop at Wenago to visit the Tutu Fella Stelae Park . The stones are carved to symbolize the sex of the dead.
DAY FOURTY TWO
Drive some 80km down south,turn off from the main road to the left, and drive further 13km to reach at the village called El Sod. Visit the’the house of salt’ by hiking down 2km which is a deep crater lake. Drive back to and stop at Dublok to visit the ‘singing well’. Continue driving back to Yabelo and visit the Saturday Market. O/N local hotel or camping.
DAY FOURTY THREE
Drive via Konso to stay overnight camping at Woito. Stop at Konso for lunch and continue driving to Woito. Reach Woito and spend the time with the Tsemay people at their Sunday Market. O/N camping
DAY FOURTY FOUR
Drive to Turmi. Visit the Hamar people here at Turmi and their famous Monday Market. O/N camping at Turmi.
DAY FOURTY FIVE
Set out with picnic lunch and drive southwest to Omorate. Visit the everyday market and the Geleb, one of the nomadic people of the Omo region. Drive back to Turmi and continue to Dimeka to visit the Tuesday market
DAY FOURTY SIX
Drive to Murule on the way visiting to the Karo village at Kolcho and continue driving to Murule campsite. After lunch drive to Kangate and cross the Omo River to visit the Bume tribes. O/N camping at Murule.
DAY FOURTY SEVEN
Early in the morning drive northward to Jinka. On the way visit the Benna and Ari tribes. On the way stop at key Afer and visit the famous Thursday Market. Lunch en route. Get at Jinka for an over night stay at a local hotel
DAY FOURTY EIGHT
Drive across Mago national park to the banks of the Omo River to visit the Mursi, one of the major interests in the Omo valley. Setout with a picnic lunch to the Mursi village. Drive back to the campsite and in the late afternoon explore the Mago park, and see some games .O/N camping at Mago campsite.
DAY FOURTY NINE
After an early breakfast drive back to Jinka. Visit the Saturday Market at Jinka; continue drive further northeast to the Konso en route seeing the Tsemay and Konso people .O/N Konso local hotel.
DAY FIFTY
After breakfast, drive to ‘ New York ‘ and Machekie, the famous Konso village. Walk the trails that snake through the homestead and somehow experience their way of living. The Konso people are known for their close-knit homesteads terracing of their hilly farmlands and wonderful wooden artifacts. Back to Konso and continue driving further to Arbaminch. Check in to Bekele Mola hotel, after having your lunch and relax, go out for a boat trip over Lake Chamo to the crocodile market and the Hippos
DAY FIFTY ONE
Set out with picnic lunch to the Nech Sar national park to see games like Zebra, Gazelle, Kudu, the endemic Swaine’s Hartebeest, Dik-diks, and Crocodiles by the shores of lake Chamo . After picnic lunch, drive to high countries of the Dorze people who are known for their weaving and unique egg shaped houses. Visit also their colorful market at Chencha. Return to Arbaminch in the late afternoon. O/N Bekele Mola hotel.
DAY FIFTY TWO
Drive back to Addis.
DAY FIFTY THREE
Depardeparture.