Morning city tour of Addis Ababa, visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, and church of St. Marry with adjacent museum of imperial objects. Then back to the city for the national museum overnight hotel
Day 02: Morning Drive to Awassa, O/N hotel
Day 03: Drive to Dodola, O/N Dodola hotel
Day 04: Trekking starts from Dodola to any of the five areas
of trek in Adaba-Dodola region. Trek to Duro overnight is
usually in a hut or camping in tent.
Day 05: Trek by Mule or on foot to Mololicho, O/N Camping.
Day 06: Trekking continues to another campsite called
Adele or Angafu, O/N camping.
Day 07: Trek to Waho, O/N Camping.
Day 08: Trek back to Dodola where the trekking end, O/N Camping.
Day 09: Early in the morning drive to Arbaminch, O/N hotel.
Day 10: At Morning drive to the Dorze Village and in the afternoon Boat
trip on Lake Chamo to see Crocodile market, and O/N hotel.
Day 11: Drive back to Langano, in the afternoon visit two of the rift valley
lakes, Shalla – Abijata, O/N Langano in a hotel.
Day 12: Drive back to Addis.
Dodola
The 4 forest camps are at an altitude between 3,080 and 3,460 metres above sea level. Each camp can be reached from Dodola in half a day. Thus, your trip can start in the afternoon but no later than 2 p.m. Setting off early in the morning is preferable, especially during the rains. The distance between camps is 5 to 18km. It takes between a few hours and half a day of walking or riding to travel from one camp to the other. This allows you to spend every night in a different camp. If you do not have time for all 4 camps, the guide will help select the ones most suited to your personal preferences. Also, tours of just one night with two half days for ascending and descending are possible.
There is also one tented camp (Cangity) situated at the edge of the forest with very beautiful scenery. The camp is only half and hour’s drive from Dodola and then only 20 minutes by foot or horse. A group of more than 16 people and up to 5 families can be accommodated at the camp. Your trip to this site can start any time before 5 p.m. from Dodola town.
Last but not least, short, half-day, trips from Dodola town to nearby attractions like the Lensho River or the Shebelle Water Falls are highly recommended.
Adaba
The Adaba destination is situated 55km from the Bale Mountain National Park (BMNP) head office, Dinsho. There are 3 tented campsites and one hut at an altitude between 3,000 and 3,600 metres above sea level. Each camp can be reached from Adaba in half a day, but it is better to start in the morning. The distance to the nearest camp from Adaba town is 7km and from each camp to the next is from 11 to 20km. There are different routes depending on the preference of the visitors.
As you travel through the forest you will come to two exciting waterfalls (Kille hada berite and Meribo falls) where there is a high likelihood of spotting wild animals, particularly Ethiopian Wolves (Canis simensis).
One can start trekking from one side (Adaba or Dodola) and can continue to the next destination. To make an entire trip to the mountains (Adaba and Dodola), prior arrangements from the starting point are required, as the guides must change for each destination. Efforts are underway to link this destination to the BMNP
TOUR CODE – EMP/305
DURATION – 10 DAYS, 9 NIGHTS (4 days camping)
DEPARTURE – EARLY MORNING
OUTLINE ITINERARY
Day 01: Arrival in Addis. O/N hotel.
Day 02: Morning drive to Dinsho in 4WD, O/N Hotel.
Day 03: Start trekking here at Dinsho heading towards to areas such as
Fencha Abera, Weib River, and O/N Camping.
Day 04: Trek to Wassama which lies at high altitude of 3900 meters, and O/N
Camping. Day 05: Trek to Wassama- Gebreguracha, and O/N Camping.
Day 06: Trek to Gebreguracha- Konte, and O/N Camping.
Day 07: Meet your vehicle and drive to Wendogenet resort are, and O/N in
a hotel. Day 08: Morning drive to Arbaminch, and O/N hotel.
Day 09: In the morning visit Dorze village, and in the afternoon boat trip on Lake Chamo and O/N hotel.
Day 10: Drive back to Addis.
OPTIONS:
Tour to the Lower Omo Valley can be included.
Majestic Tour Operators is the only place where you are guaranteed for economical and convenient tour package as well as the most reliable and comfortable services.
Menagesha – Suba State Dorest could be called the “oldest Park in Africa”. The Emperor Zera Yakob (1434 – 1468) designated the forest as one of the crown forest of the country. So that the oldest trees in Menagesha – Suba are over 500 years old.
The fist Ethiopian National Forest Policy was developed by Emperor Menelik II in the late 1890’s. He set aside State Forest Reserves, including the menagesha – Suba forest. Guards were assigned to protect the forest and boundaries were demarcated.
The fist Ethiopian sawmills was installed in the forest around 1900. The machinery was installed by Otto, a German – Australian entrepreneur, and that part of the forest is still called “Otto”. During the Italian occupation (1936 – 1942) a small railway was built in the forest to extract logs to the sawmill and it was in use till 1955.
The first modern tree nursery for the country was set up by 1949 in Suba, and eight Hectares of land were planted with both exotic and indigenous species between Suba village and the forest head quarters.
ENDEMIC BIRDS AND MAMMALS
A survey in 2001 found that 32 species of mammals and 186 species of birds in Menagesha – Suba State Forest.
Two of the mammals, Menilik’s Bush-Buck and White-footed Rat are endemic. The four endemic birds recorded in the forest are Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-Headed Siskin, and Yellow Fronted Parrot.
THE FOREST WALKING TRAILS
The following walking trails have been marked out to help the visitors explore the forest. Each trail takes walkers through different aspects of the forest. The trails are also different lengths and difficulty so that visitors can choose according to their time and strength. The trails are numbered on the map and marked with colored sign boards in the forest.
MAIN TRAIL (5KM) 1:30 to 2:00 hours walking.
This trail takes the visitor from the state forest office and training center up to the Exhibition Center above the forest. It can be driven by 4WD vehicles, and walkers are advised to keep well away from the passing vehicles as it can slide into the side of the road when the road is wet. In fact visitors are strongly advised not to drive on this trail when it is raining.
The trail is a challenging walk, starting at 2210m at the office and going to 2900m at the exhibition center. The trail ascends gently at first through old and more recently planted junipers. Then a bridge crosses a steep valley, just above it is the campsite and picnic area where permanent spring pours into an old open thank. A short distance from the campsite the road forks – take the right hand track to the top of the forest.
The road above this is much steeper, near the top of the forest where the trees are smaller, walkers can rest and admire the view from the viewpoint.
The road then gets gentler and the trail goes through ASTA all the way to the Exhibition Center, where a magnificent over the Becho plains can be enjoyed.
2 – TONA ROAD (5KM) 1:00 to 1:30 hours walking
This trail circles the valley to the south of the SFO. The map only shows the general direction of the trail, which in fact twists and turns providing opportunities for surprising wildlife, particularly Menilik’s Bush-Buck. The trail starts from the SFO and ends in Suba village where the visitor can see where the old sawmill and the large tree nursery area.
The old railway line below the office the office to sawmill can also be walked to reach Suba village quickly, the railway line is only 1.7 Km long.
3 – THE BIG TREE TRAIL (1.5KM) 0:20 to 0:30 hours walking
The trail takes visitors along the side of the valley to the north of the SFO and joins the main track near the entrance to the forest. The name of this trail comes from the biggest trees found in the forest. It is juniper tree with a trunk 8.6 m in circumference. Visitors also walk between the natural forest and some of the plantation species.
The Big Tree Trail can be combined with the Tree Species Trail that takes visitors through the area near the SFO. This area has 14 tree species in it, all of which are marked with information boards.
4 – WATERFALL TRAIL (8KM) 2:30 to 3:00 hours walking
This trail is most impressive after the rainy season in October, but there is water in the river all year round. The Otto sawmill was originally placed in this part of the forest and then moved by the Italians to Suba Village in the 1930’s.
The waterfall trail starts from the left hand fork where the track divides above the campsite on the Main Trail. The trail takes walkers through the part of the forest that was heavily exploited in the early 1900’s Fekade Tuta’s stone marks the place where a forest guard was killed in a thunderstorm in 1991.
The Dhamocha Trial takes visitors from the exhibition center through the farmland in the crater to the Peak of Wechecha Mountain at 3385 m. The walk is steep and hard, but the reward is fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding area, including Addis Ababa.
Majestic Tour Operators is the only place where you are guaranteed for economical and convenient tour package as well as the most reliable and comfortable services.
Morning city tour of Addis Ababa, visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, and church of St. Marry with adjacent museum of imperial objects. Then back to the city for the national museum overnight hotel.
DAY 2: ADDIS ABABA – BAHER DAR
Early morning drive to Debre Libanos and visit the monastery and the Blue Nile Gorge. It is spectacular Scenery, and keeps on driving through the farm land of Gojam, late in the afternoon arrive in Baher Dar, overnight in a hotel.
DAY 3: BAHIR DAR – GONDAR – DEBARK
Break fast in the hotel and then Drive to Gonder which was the 17th century Capital of Ethiopia founded by the King Fassiledes. After lunch Visit of the palace compound, the beautiful church of Debre Birahn Sellassie with its wonderful Murals and paintings. At last you will have the look of the village of Ethiopian Jews “The Falasha”. And continue driving and overnight Debark in a local hotel.
DAY 4: DEBARK – SANKABER (3,230m A.S.L.)
Start trekking to Sankaber. The trek from Debark to Sankaber takes 4 to 5 hours; it is primarily through cultivated areas. This is also a motorable road. Sankaber is on the boundary of the park. You can walk from the camp site to the edge of the Abyss, where you may get your first glimpse of the spectacular scenery. You may see Walia Ibex, the Snakaber area is one of the best places for getting a really close look at Geladas and Klipspringer may also be seen if you are lucky, and Overnight Camping.
DAY 5, 6: SANKABER – GEECH (3,600m A.S.L.)
From Sankaber to Geech the trip takes 3 to 4 hours, through meadows and forests and some cultivated areas. Geech is worth a stay of at least for two days. There are several good lookout spots where one may see Walia, Gelada, and Klipspringer. There are views from Gidgergot. Quadadit (3,760m A.S.L.), Seha and Emietgogo (3,930m A.S.L.). just east of Quadadit you have a chance to see Colobus Monkey in the lowland forests if you have very good binoculars, Overnight Camping.
DAY 7: GEECH – CHENEK (3,600m ASL)
From Geech to Chenek the trek takes 4 to 5 hours. You may have to dismount and walk part of the way were the climb is steep. At Chenek the view is superb and there are many places for seeing Walia. There are also caves which can be explored, and Chenek is the only place where if you are extremely luck you can see Rock Hyrax (Procavia Sp.) in local language “Shikoko” the small mammal which looks like an overgrown rodent but which is, in fact, related to the elephant family, overnight camping.
DAY 8: CHENEK – HAMBICO DAY 9: CLIMB RAS DASHEN & BACK TO AMBICO(4620 ASL)
DAY 10: AMBICO – ARKO-AZEYE
DAY 11: ARKO-AZEYE – LAMO (MEKAREBIA)
DAY 12: LAMO – HAWAZA
DAY 13: HAWAZA – ARKAY
DAY 14: MEET THE VICHLE AND DRIVE TO AXUM
DAY 15: FROM AXUM FLY BACK TO ADDIS AND CONCLUDE THE TRIP.
Majestic Tour Operators is the only place where you are guaranteed for economical and convenient tour package as well as the most reliable and comfortable services.
Morning city tour of Addis Ababa, visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, and church of St. Marry with adjacent museum of imperial objects. Then back to the city for the national museum overnight hotel.
DAY 2: ADDIS ABABA – BAHER DAR
Early morning drive to Debre Libanos and visit the monastery and the Blue Nile Gorge. It is spectacular Scenery, and keeps on driving through the farm land of Gojam, late in the afternoon arrive in Baher Dar, overnight in a hotel.
DAY 3: BAHIR DAR – GONDAR – DEBARK
Break fast in the hotel and then Drive to Gonder which was the 17th century Capital of Ethiopia founded by the King Fassiledes. After lunch Visit of the palace compound, the beautiful church of Debre Birahn Sellassie with its wonderful Murals and paintings. At last you will have the look of the village of Ethiopian Jews “The Falasha”. And continue driving and overnight Debark in a local hotel.
DAY 4: DEBARK – SANKABER (3,230m A.S.L.)
Start trekking to Sankaber. The trek from Debark to Sankaber takes 4 to 5 hours; it is primarily through cultivated areas. This is also a motorable road. Sankaber is on the boundary of the park. You can walk from the camp site to the edge of the Abyss, where you may get your first glimpse of the spectacular scenery. You may see Walia Ibex, the Snakaber area is one of the best places for getting a really close look at Geladas and Klipspringer may also be seen if you are lucky, and Overnight Camping.
DAY 5, 6: SANKABER – GEECH (3,600m A.S.L.)
From Sankaber to Geech the trip takes 3 to 4 hours, through meadows and forests and some cultivated areas. Geech is worth a stay of at least for two days. There are several good lookout spots where one may see Walia, Gelada, and Klipspringer. There are views from Gidgergot. Quadadit (3,760m A.S.L.), Seha and Emietgogo (3,930m A.S.L.). just east of Quadadit you have a chance to see Colobus Monkey in the lowland forests if you have very good binoculars, Overnight Camping.
DAY 7: GEECH – CHENEK (3,600m ASL)
From Geech to Chenek the trek takes 4 to 5 hours. You may have to dismount and walk part of the way were the climb is steep. At Chenek the view is superb and there are many places for seeing Walia. There are also caves which can be explored, and Chenek is the only place where if you are extremely luck you can see Rock Hyrax (Procavia Sp.) in local language “Shikoko” the small mammal which looks like an overgrown rodent but which is, in fact, related to the elephant family, overnight camping.
DAY 8: CHENEK – BWAHIT – CHENEK (4,430m)
From Chenek to Bwahit the trek takes about five to six hours round trip, Bwahit is out side of the park boundary, overnight camping at Chenek.
DAY 9: RETURN
From Chenek the return will be directly to Sankaber it will take 4 to 5 hours, overnight camping at Sankaber.
DAY 10: SANKABER – GONDAR
From Sankaber to Debark, the trek will take from 5 to 6 hours, and you will be picked by your car and drive to Gondar, overnight in a hotel.
DAY 11: GONDAR – ADDIS ABABA
Tour continues to visit Axum or Lalibela or Bahirdar or
a combination of all.
Extensive Trips
To Ras Dashen Mountain
Ras Dashen the highest point in Ethiopia is not a difficult mountain to climb. It is in fact just a higher “hog-back” than its neighbors.
Nevertheless it requires planning and preparations, as it is off the usual tourist routs. A guide must be taken and the round trip from Chenek takes about three days.
To the Low Land
Three game scout camps available in the low lands. Dirni, Muchila, and Adermas. A trip to the low land is a real expedition and only recommended for tough people able to walk under hard conditions and cope with rock climbing. A trip from Chenek all along the foot of the escarpment to the Wolquafit pass and Debareq lasts about five to seven days.
Majestic Tour Operators is the only place where you are guaranteed for economical and convenient tour package as well as the most reliable and comfortable services.
