18 Days Northern & South Ethiopia Tour Itinerary
Day 1. Flight to Bahir Dar (Blue Nile Falls)
Today morning we start our safari with a flight to Bahir Dar which is located on the shores of Lake Tana the largest lake in Ethiopia. The lake is known for its 37 Islands and several of them were religious concentrations like Monasteries between the 14th and 19th Century. The area has Mediterranean kind of weather. The streets are decorated with palm tree lines which make the town a little more attractive. This town is also an administrative capital for the regional government of the Amhara people. We shall drive about an hour from the center to the small town of Tissisat where we shall spend our cool morning taking a walk around as we admire the falls and meet the local people. We shall cross the Portuguese bridge that was constructed in the 17th century over the Nile. We shall cross to the other side of the Nile while using a small boat and then we shall get back into our car.
Later that afternoon we shall use a boat to cross lake Tana to the Peninsula of Zeghie where we shall atake a walk to two old monasteries from the 14th century: the UraKidaneMehret and Azwa Mariam monasteries. The monasteries will give you a sneak picture into the old orthodox architecture.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 2. Drive to Gondar (Camelot of Africa)
Today we head to Gondar which is a UNESCO world heritage site, our drive will be about 185km and we shall go through the landscapes of the Amhara region. This area is also the gates to the Simien Mountains. The Gondar ton was a capital for many Ethiopian emperors between the 17th and 18th Century. There are many castles here because of these reasons and we shall take time and visit some of them. After our lunch, we shall go to the area where the Timkat festival is held every year. This is one of the most sought after and famous events in the Ethiopian calendar. The event is about celebrating the baptism of Jesus Christ.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 3. Explore Simien Mountains National Park
We shall have breakfast and dive to the mountains of the Simien, they are also a UNESCO world heritage site. The drive from Gondar to this area is very rewarding with good scenery. These mountain ranges are a spot that houses the rare Gelada baboons and it’s also home to the Ethiopian endemic birds like the Thick-billed Raven and Wattled Ibis. The Afro montane forest is one of the famous attractions you out not miss while here, the woodland and grasslands. Return back to Gondar for overnight.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 4. Simien Mountains National Park
We shall have our breakfast and then hike to the Simien Mountains and the National park area. The hike will take us through the valleys with beautiful views and ridges. We shall then drive to the Chenek camp which is the place you will see the Walia Ibex and the Ethiopian wolf. In the late afternoon w shall drive back to Gondar for dinner and overnight.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 5.Drive to Lalibela (Eight Wonders of the World)
After our breakfast, we shall drive to another UNESCO world heritage site, Lalibera. We shall drive through the northern region and explore all its scenic views. Some people refer to Lalibera as the “New Jerusalem” as it is very famous for the many churches including the Eight wonders of the world. The Hewn churches here are commended for the on which they stand making different human features.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 6.Visit of Lalibela Churches Fly to Addis
Wes hall explore the rock hewn churches in Lalibera. The cluster of churches here in the northwest include Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet MedhaneAlem, Bet Maryam, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha are among those you will have to look out for. We shall transfer to the airport for your flight to Addis Ababa.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 7. Flight to Semera – Dallol
You will be met by our representative upon arrival at Semera airport. You will briefed about the area and its geology before driving to Erta’ale. We shall make a stopover for lunch at the town of Afdera on our way to Dallol. The longest drive will be off the road into the desert. Later in the afternoon we shall make our way to a small settlement of Ahmedela. This town has alot of camel caravans that you will see while you watch the beautiful scenes of the sun setting at the salt lake of Assale.
Overnight Open air Camping.
Day 8. Drive to Erta’ale Volcano
We shall enjoy our breakfast and then head out to Dallol to explore the geothermal pools and salt domes. This place is incomparable as it boosts of very colourful mineral deposits, the landscapes, geysers and sulphur pools. We shall use our morning to explore these attractions. We shall see how the locals extract salt using hands. They use the camel caravans to transport this salt. This area has a distance of about 1,200 Kilometers that area covered with salt. We shall go through the bumpy road that gets us to the Erta Ale Volcano. We shall have our dinner and then take a 30 minute hike to the top of the crater of Erta Ale. You need not worry; the hike is not very steep. You will need to carry a torch and a hiking rod. Overnight Open Air Camping.
Day 9.Drive Erta Ale – Semera Fly to Addis
We shall have a late breakfast and w watch the beautiful sunrise over the Lava lake. We shall then head down to where we parked our cars and drive to lake Afdera. You will use this stopover to re energize and you enjoy the natural hot springs and also enjoy more of the locals mining using the local means. You are allowed to take a swim or a shower at the hot springs as the locals believe that the water is good to the skin due to the many minerals in the water. We shall then drive to the airport for our flight back to Addis Ababa.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 10. Fly To Arbaminch And Visit The Dorze Tribe
We shall take another flight to the southern area of the country. This region is commended for the culture, people and their values. Our driver will meet you at the airport and drive you to your accommodation to check in. Later in the afternoon after your lunch, we shall head out to visit the Dorze people who live on the slopes of Mountain Guge. The Dorze people are famous for their nice techniques of weaving with cotton, the houses shaped like the beehives and made completely from organic materials.
Overnight: Arbaminch.
Day 11. Drive to Turmi Visit Konso and Hammer Tribe
After our breakfast, we shall drive to a small town of Turmi and it’s also the centre of the Omo tribes. We shall make a brief stop at the Konso people area and do a village visit. They are known for the way they terrace their farm fields and the totems made of wood in honour of the dead. The villages here are known worldwide as heritage sites due to their cultural significance. We shall continue south after lunch in the forest of Turmi. One of the tribes here are the Hammer people. They are famous for their art work mostly the pottery and how they style their hair with clay.
Overnight: Hotel.
Day 12. Drive To Omorate Visit Dassenech And Karo In the Afternoon
This morning, we wake up with a target move 75 kilometres to the land of the Dassenech people. They live on the banks of river omo on the Kenyan border. These people are nomads. They have many clans that are found in Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia. The Dassenech people are famous for their hair buns. We shall later drive back to Turmi where we shall have our lunch. When we are done with our lunch, we shall then drive to the Kara people who are also on the other shores of river Omo. These people are famous for their face and body paintings. They uses, soil, minerals and plants to colour their bodies.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 13. Drive to Jinka
We drive to Jinka today after breakfast and we make a stopover at the market. The market here is unique as it collects all the omo tribes in one place. We shall make another stop at the villages of the Ari people. They live in the lush bushes. They mostly grow coffee and fruits which they mostly consume in the community. They have alot of Bananas, avocado and mangoes.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 14. Discover The Mursi Tribe Drive to Arbaminch
Our drive today will take us through the Mago national park as we visit one of the villages of the Mursi people. They are the most popular tribe in the area. One of the reasons the people here are popular is because of how the females elongate their lower lips with clay disks and how the men are involved in the fighting rituals where they use sticks. They are the only tribe in Africa that still has women practicing the act of elongating their lips with clay disks. We shall later drive back to Jinks and then to Arbaminch for dinner and overnight.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 15. Drive to Awassa
We shall take our breakfast and then head out for a boat cruise on the Lake Chamo, our biggest interest will be the hippos, water birds and Giant crocodiles. We shall the head to Awassa and drive through fertile lands of the wolayta and Sidama. We shall then check into our lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight Hotel.
Day 16.Drive to the Bale Mountains
This morning we shall be driving to the south eastern area of the country and home to the Bale Mountain ranges and National park. We shall spot a lot of mammals on arrival as they are restricted to this side of the park as the other side of the park is colonised by the cats. We shall also search for the serval cat. The other animal species to look out for are the Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck that are endemics to this area.
O/night Hotel.
Day 17. Bale Mountains Sanneti Plateau and Harenna Forest
In the morning after breakfast we shall head out to hike the Sanetti Plateau that rises about 4000 meters above sea level. You will be fascinated by the beautiful afro alpine vegetation cover here. They are home to the rare Ethiopian Wolf. This areas has the largest Afro alpine forest in Africa. There are many rats and rodents you will see here including: Hare, Rock Hyrax and Giant Mole Rat.
In the afternoon we shall head to the Harenna forest that is located on the southern area of the National park. This forest is among the only two tropical rain forests in the country. Here you will get a second chance to see the Ethiopian Wolf in case you had missed it. Other species of wildlife you will look out for are the bale monkey that is endemic to this area, the giant frogs, olive baboons and colobus monkeys.
O/night Hotel.
Day18. Return Back to Addis
We shall drive back to Addis Ababa via the Asela Road after our breakfast. We shall stop for abit at the Arsi Mountains for an Ethiopian cuisine lunch as we are entertained by the local troupes. After, we shall drive to the airport for your flight back home.
