North and South Ethiopia (Historical and Tribal Tour to Ethiopia) – 15 Days
Overview:
Oral tradition traces the birth of Ethiopia to Ethiopic, the great grandson of Noah. That’s some biblical lineage! History and the bible are the common threads you will hear repeated again and again throughout your journey in northern Ethiopia. Religion plays such a strong role in modern Ethiopia, but it also molded its past and the antiquities of Lalibela and Axum are settings for this tour. The Ark of the Covenant is not made up by the ingenious mind of Steven Spielberg, the filmmaker of Raiders of the Lost Ark – it resides in Axum! Learn how it got there. This unique expedition of northern Ethiopia offers 4 unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites, highlighting its 17 centuries of Christianity, experiencing Ethiopia’s own Jerusalem, Lalibela and its rock-hewn churches. Lalibela was the center of the Zagwe dynasty, as Axum was the center of the earlier and more powerful Axumite Kingdom. The third UNESCO site on this trip, Gondar, was Ethiopia’s capital beginning in the 16th century, marking the beginning of the country’s modern era. This tour also enables you to discover Bahir Dar, where it is believed Syrian monks built the island monasteries on Lake Tana, the source of the Nile. This program offers to visit the sites and villages, while experiencing the culture and hospitality of the Ethiopian people. Omo valley Ethiopia, National Geographic magazine has called the Omo Valley “Africa’s last frontier.” Home to approximately 225,000 people, the valley is bustling with diversity; there are nine main tribes and many smaller ones all speaking their own language, practicing unique customs and rituals that identify them only. Life has evolved slowly here as tribes have clung to their life practices while the world around them has changed. Now their beauty and fanciful dress are attracting attention as they welcome you to their villages, interact at local markets and dance with you at nightly rituals.
Trip Details
Day 1: Arrive Addis Abeba
Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfer you to the Harmony Hotel. Enjoy the morning of leisure and enjoy lunch at the hotel. This afternoon visit historical sites including the National Archaeological Museum, to view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeleton was discovered in 1974. Continue to the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University; a great insight into the many different peoples of Ethiopia and their respective cultures. After visiting Holy Trinity Cathedral, we will end the day with a drive to the top of Mount Entoto, which rises to an altitude of 10,500 feet and offers a panoramic view of the metropolis.
Overnight Hotel
Day 2: Fly to The palm city of Bahirdar at the shore of Lake Tana
Arrive to The lake side city of Bahir Dar at the shore of lake Tana , pickup from the airport and Transfer to your hotel , after cheek in to your hotel have a boat trip on Lake Tana. There are 37 islands on Lake Tana and 32 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret, which is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries.
Overnight hotel
Day 3: Drive to The Historical City of Gondar
In the morning Drive to Gondar Enjoy a scenic drive to the ancient Imperial city, traveling through a fertile landscape of wide open fields; a perfect African tableau punctuated by undulating hillsides and valleys. Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. In Gonder, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African. In afternoon after lunch visit Fasilidas’ Palace, probably the mostimpressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! We continue on to the Church of Debre Berham Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of Debre Berham Selassie is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berham Selassie is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant.
Overnight hotel.
Day 4: Day Trip to the Simien mountain national park ( The roof of Africa ) – Gondar
Today you have an excursion trip to the majesty of Semien Mountain National park. Early morning with the lunch box drive to the roof of Africa , This is a small market town at an altitude of 2700 meters near the boundary of the Semien Mountains National Park corrugated cardboard – iron – surrounded roofed building its colorful and bustling market area. Before entering the park, you need to register at the park headquarters just outside the city. Here armed Scout – joins one of the parking regulations, please. Then go for the best view buying top. Heading through pretty Country Pass is at the foot of the mountains Semen, with attention paid to field, open pasture with grazing horses, trees and distant rocky peaks. At the height of the road there is a magnificent view of the strangely eroded foothills of the series, and you can also lucky enough to spot at first bearded vulture and gelada baboons of the trip. kin the afternoon drive back to Gondar for your over night.
Overnight same hotel
Day 5: Gonder – lalibela
Enjoy a scenic drive to the ancient Imperial city, traveling through a fertile landscape of wide open fields; a perfect African tableau punctuated by undulating hillsides and valleys. overnight hotel. panoramic view hotel , The best view of the beautiful landscape at the name indicates.
Day 6: Explore lalibela ( African Petra )
Lalibela’s churches are collectively referred to as ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’. Legend has it that Emperor Lalibela had been instructed, in a vision from God, to build the New Jerusalem after returning from Jerusalem which was sacked by the Muslims. Visit the 11 majestic, rock churches that are still used as places of worship by Lalibela. Since its relatively remote location, Lalibela has yet gained the worldwide exposure and has been compared as the “Petra of Africa”. Today you have a full day city tour in Lalibela. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the first and the third group of churches, which have seven rock churches. After lunch visit the second group of churches, which have four rock churches. hotel. panoramic view hotel , The best view of the beautiful landscape at the name indicates.
Day 7: Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Langano
Fly to Addis Ababa and, up on arrival in The air port , pic up and further drive to towards Ethiopian rife valley , Drive to the beautiful brawn lake Langano at the heart of rift valley, arrive to the lake side city of Ziway for lunch, After lunch we will visit lake Ziway which is one of the most well-known attractions for aquatic birds, walk at the Port and Drive to Langano for your overnight. This the only lake in rift Valley which we can swim. At sunset, take a romantic walk around the resort’s vast area, from the cliff top up to the beach, amongst acacia trees and savannah grassland, crossing our river and admiring the waterfall created to complete this African atmosphere. These are just a few ways you can rejuvenate at Sabana.
Overnight Savana beach resort. Savana beach resort , the best beach resort in the rift valley where you will enjoy the sun set and sun rise , and extraordinary vacation place in Ethiopia.
Day 8: Rift valley – Arba – Minch
After breakfast drive to Abayata – Shalla National park Ethiopian Rift Valley, which is part of the famous East African Rift Valley, comprises numerous beautiful lakes, hot springs and a variety of wildlife. Rift Valley lakes are famous for the different bird species. Each of the seven lakes has its own unique characters, it provides ideal habitats for exuberant variety of flora and fauna, that make the region an exotic tourists destination.The Great Rift Valley, formed about 20 million years ago, is the single largest geographical feature on the African continent. Ethiopian Rift Valley runs through Ethiopia from the Red Sea to the Kenyan border. Ethiopian Rift Valley is endowed with a pleasant climate and a variety of wildlife, the Rift is a site of numerous natural hot springs, the natural contents of the hot springs are highly valued for their therapeutic effects. Rift Valley is considered as one of the most ideal tourism area in Ethiopia.
On the way explore Senkelle Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary , Senkelle Wldlife Sanctuary is located 48km west of Hawassa, it is 340 kms south of Addis Ababa and covers an area of 54km2. The sanctuary was originally established to protect the endemic and endangered antelope species called Swayne’s hartebeests. The sanctuary is located in between Oromia and SNNPRS and managed by the Ethiopian Wildlife Cconservation Authority. The open acacia woodland of the reserve is quite scenic and some of the animals are easily spotted, specially the Swayne’s hartebeests, the population of which is currently estimated at between 600 and 800. The sanctuary harbor other wild animals including Bohor, reedbucks, greater kudus, orbis antelopes, spotted hyenas, serval and civet cats, caracals, warthogs, common jackals as well as 91 species of bird. There are more than 500 Swayne’s hartebeest in the small sanctuary, and you’ll be able to see several herds during your visit. Also common is the oribi, which is usually seen in pairs. Warthog, defassa waterbuck, and bushbuck are all present as well, and you might see a golden jackal trotting across the savannah.The sanctuary consists mainly of open savannah with patches of acacia woodland. Take a short drive up Borena Hill for views over the surrounding plains and you might see Lake Awassa shimmering in the distance on a very clear day. Arrive to Arba minch .
Overnight Paradise lodge
Day 9: Arba minch and the surroundings ( Lake chamo and the droze tribe )
Early in the morning Make a boat trip on Lake Chamo where the longest and fattest crocodiles of Africa take a sunbath on the shores. Hippos hide themselves under the water and you will also see a good range of birds including; weavers, sunbirds, waxbills and colonies of pelicans. in the after noon after lunch a short drive willatek you dorse tribe , visit the Dorze Tribe village who live on the Gofa Mountain and are famous for their beehive bamboo house and weaving skill; In their society, it is a taboo for men to spin the cotton and also taboo for the women to make a traditional cloth.
Overnight hotel
Day 10: Drive Arbaminch – Jinka / The capital of Omo Valley at the foot of Mago National Park
Drive back to jinka on the way, Visit the colorful village of the Konso tribe. A pagan society, the Konso erect eerie wooden totems, replete with phallic symbols over the graves of the dead. They also have numerous cults based around the breeding and veneration of serpents. The cornerstone of Konso culture, however, is a highly specialized and successful agricultural economy that, through terracing buttressed with stone, enable these people to extract a productive living from the none-too-fertile hills and valleys that surround them. This will be an excellent day to mingle among the people, take photographs with them and learn firsthand about a culture virtually untouched by the outside world. Later in the afternoon arrive in Jinka at the foot of mago national park.
Overnight Nasa hotel
Day 11: Jinka to Murci Tribe – Turmi
This morning We will drive to Mago National park to visit Mursi tribal village. The tribe is renowned for the now-uncommon custom of their women, upon reaching maturity, having their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted. After lunch drive to Turmi via Dimeka. If the day is Saturday or Tuesday, will have a chance to see the colorful weekly market at Dimeka.
Overnight lodge.
Day 12: All The Day Around Turmi ( the town of desert Rose )
Turmi is our new base as we explore the region and meet the different tribes who share this valley but live a life uniquely their own. Drive to the Murulle area. Murile (also spelled Muelle and Murli) lies on the banks of the Omo River, and is a popular base for exploring this area. The two main tribes who live here are the Karo and the Hamer, both of whom practice scarification and have elaborate hairstyles. The Karo are experts in body painting, using clays and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic patterns on their faces, chests, arms and legs. These designs have no special symbolic significance but instead are created for fun and aesthetic effect, as each artist tries to outdo another. Karo men also sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes, with special ochre “caps” of hair usually containing several ostrich feathers.
Overnight same lodge.
Day 13: Omo Delta Tribe – yangatom – Turmi
Early in the morning heading to kenya border and cross the omo river to meet the dasanech tribe who live on the bank of omo river , visit and photograph the tribe. after we visit Dasanech tribe we drive heading to to Yangatom tribe village, who are one the omo valley tribe , visit and photograph them and back to Turmi, In the afternoon after lunch , you will visit the hamer village and tribe .
Overnight lodge
Day 14: Turmi – Arbaminch
Early in the morning, wake up for the beautiful sunrise in Turmi and walk around the lodge , On the return drive to Arba Minch visit the Arbore tribe who are known for herding cattle and depend on plant cultivation for their basic food. They provide cereal grains for neighboring tribes through trading partnerships. They are considered pastorals and have their own unique physical appearance with the women covering their heads with black cloth and known to wear very colorful necklaces and earrings. Body painting using natural colors is made from soil and stone. Traditional dancing is practiced by the tribe and wealth is measured by the number of cattle a tribesman owns.
Overnight hotel.
Day 15: Fly back Addis Ababa / Farewell dinner / Departure
Fly back to Addis Ababa, pick up from The airport and visit mercato indigo, the biggest open air market in east Africa, as time permits shopping around pissa at the old part of the city ,Evening after the farewell dinner program in one of the best known Traditional restaurant in the city, Experience Ethiopian Traditional nation live dance shows, transfer to the airport for departure. Fly back home.