Ethiopia
Duration: 10 Days*
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Departs: Sun/Tues
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Day 1 – Arrive in Addis Ababa
On arrival in Addis Ababa our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport. You will be transferred to the hotel where a briefing of the program and itineraries will be given.
(Overnight Union Hotel)
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Day2 – Addis Abeba/ Bahirdar
This morning we take to Zeghe peninsula, to explore the surrounds and an amazing network of 37 islands scattered over the 3000 square kms of Lake Tana. We take a boat out to a few of the island monasteries. Some 20 of these islands shelter historical churches and monasteries decorated ornately with beautiful mural paintings and holding many treasures, and there are some that even exclude women from entering the monasteries. In the afternoon, we drive to Tissisat falls/Blue Nile Falls/Smoking Fire. Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake is the source of the Blue Nile river and feeder of the volume of water cascading over the falls. The Blue Nile falls are 400 metres wide when in flood and fall into a chasm more than 45 metres in height.
(Overnight at Summerland/ Blue Nile Hotel)
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Day3 – Bahirdar/Gondar
Drive 185kms to Gondar, about a 3 hour drive, enjoying the rolling country side – a typical Ethiopian African landscape. Gondar was the old capital of Ethiopia during the early 17th century, and has now become one of Ethiopia’s largest and most impressive cities, with its walled Royal enclosure. This enclosure lies at the centre of Gondar and contains several well-preserved castles and other buildings. We take time this afternoon to visit these castles, the path of Emperor Fasil, Debrberhun sellasse Churches, which are beautifully decorated with Angels faces, and Falasha village.
(Overnight Quara hotel/ Lammergeyer hotel)
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Day 4 – Gondar/Sankaber
Drive from Gondar to Bauit-Ras/3000m/, 125 kms, about 3.5 hours, to start 4 days trekking in the Simien Mountains. The word Simien means North in Amharic, which is our official language. The Simien Mountains have been registered since the late 1960s by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The Simien Mountains is an area of high land in the Northern part of Ethiopia consisting of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world, often called the Roof of Africa. We walk about 2.5 hours to get to the first camp of the Simien Mountains National park known as Sankaber at 3250m. From here we can observe the beautiful landscape and animals like the Gelada Baboon or Bleeding heart Baboon or lion monkey. After we arrive at Sankaber we will have a tea break and take time to see some views and walk around Sankaber to acclimatize to the altitude.
(Camping Sankaber)
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Day 5 – Sankaber/Geech
Trek to Geech at 3580m about 5-6 hours. We start our walking by following the escarpment to Gean-Bar Falls, about 1.5 hours. Here we can observe birdlife such as vultures, European griffin, and lammergeyers. After that, it is another 1.5 hour walk to Gean-Bar river, where we have a picnic lunch. We reach the village of Geech after climbing steadily for about 2 hours and we camp at a beautiful site situated 30 minutes further from the village of Geech.
(Camping Geech)
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Day 6 – Geech/Immetgogo/Intye/Chenke
Today we trek to Chenke via the summit of Immetgogo at 3926m, where it is possible to see the lowlands and gain an awesome perspective of this incredible mountain range. The animals to be seen around here are Gelada Baboon and Walia Ibex (wild goat) which are endemic to the Simien, living on narrow vertical areas. We trek along the whole escarpment to Chenke at 3620m, which is bounded by a semi circular ring of cliffs. It takes about 7- 9 hours of undulating walking, with some steep ascents and descents, passing the Intye Mountains at 4070m, where we have a picnic lunch. This peak is the highest in the area. The Simien fox or Abyssinian wolf is rarely seen here only for lucky tourists!
(Camping Chenke)
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Day 7 – Chenke/Bahwit/Gondar
We walk to the Bahwit peak at 4430m, the second highest mountain in the chain, for an incredible outlook over Ambiko at 3200m with the campsite below, and we will also get our first sighting of Ras-Dshen at 4620m. This is the highest point in a wall of cliffs and peaks on the skyline at the far side of the valley. After our picnic lunch on the summit, we walk down and drive back to Gondar. It takes about 5 – 6 hours walk for the round trip and 4.5 hours drive to Gondar.
(Over night Qura hotel/ Lammergeyer hotel)
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Day 8 – Gondar/Lalbella
Fly to Lalbella and spend the day exploring in Lalbella town. See the 13th century rock caves that have been carved into the rugged mountain sides, now rightly acknowledged as one of the wonders of the world!
(Overnight Lall hotel)
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Day 9 – Lalbella-Addis
There is an optional trip to Naktolab, before flying back to Addis. In the afternoon, visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will see the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains were discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 metres and offers a panoramic view of the metropolis.
(Overnight Union hotel)
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Day 10 – Departure |