ETHIOPIA

OVERVIEW

 

LEGENDARY ETHIOPIA : Sacred Abyssinian Highlands
The perfect blend of History and Nature

Ethiopia has always been a distant and mysterious land full of myths
and legends from the Queen of Sheba to the source of the Nile or the mythic kingdom of Prester John.
 

The historical and natural sights along this loop north of Addis Ababa are monumental both in scale and detail. We'll visit the Black Jerusalem with its astounding rock-cut churches that have poignantly
frozen 12th and 13th century Ethiopia in stone.

 

The Simien mountains National Park, Africa's rooftop, with its far-reaching views and deep precipices offering you an encounter with the endemic Geladas baboon troops. You will explore local communities and be able to discover more about their unique and well preserved traditions - like the coffee ceremony, traditional cooking classes and much more......

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ITINERARY

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Day 1 Addis Abeba, the "new flower"
Arrival at Addis Abeba airport. Meet with your guide and transfer to hotel. Sightseeing day of the booming capital Addis Abeba between traditions and modernity. Visit of National Museum to see our ancestor Skeleton Lucy, visit to Trinity Church where the emperor Hailé Sélassié rests. In the afternoon, enjoy a panorama over the city from Entoto mountains and visit to ancient palace of Menelik and museum.
Overnight Addis Abeba, Monarch Park view Hotel or similar.

Day 2 Lake Tana and its monastery islands

Transfer to airport for flight to Bahir Dar, capital of the Amhara region. Enjoy a stroll by the lake Tana, biggest lake of the country and along Palm trees lined avenues. Boat tour on Tana Lake watching birds, hippos and local fishermen on their tankwas (traditional papyrus boat) until Zegué peninsula.
Visit to thatched roofed Ura Kidane Meret Monastery and its cross collection dating back to the 14th century.Walk through the coffee and mango trees until we arrive at Azua Mariam Church. Return by boat. In the evening, enjoy an Azmari Bet, a traditional club where minstrels still perform.
Overnight Bahir Dar, Lake Avenue hotel or similar.

Day 3 Blue Nile Falls and Tiss Abay village

Drive through countryside to Tiss Abay village. After crossing the Blue Nile by an old Portuguese bridge of the 16th century, walking along a path to a superb viewpoint overlooking the falls (400 m long and 45 m high) waterfall after crossing a beautiful suspended bridge. Return by boat on Nile river.
Visit to the village and experience a coffee ceremony in a local home.
Overnight Bahir Dar, Lake Avenue hotel or similar.

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Day 4 Gonder, the Imperial City

Depart for Gonder by a scenic road following the eastern shore of Tana Lake.
Founded by Emperor Fasilidas, Gonder still preserves within its walled Royal Enclosure several very medieval-looking castles, dating from as early as 1650.
The castles are unusual in the Horn Of Africa, deriving their architectural style from the Moors and the Portuguese.

Visit to Debre Berhan Selassie Church with its impressive interior covered with paintings
Overnight Gonder, Maleyko lodge or similar.

Day 5 Simien National Park -  Geladas Baboon Trek

Drive to Simien Mountains and registration with park authorities. Transfer to Sankaber.
Walk: Sankaber (3250m) - Jinbar - Sankaber (3250m)
Walking time: about 1h 30
Panoramic walk (about 1h30)along the escarpment on the ridge line trail with magnificent views of the valley below and the surrounding peaks to the great Jinbar waterfall.
Observation of Gelada baboons colony, great apes of the Ethiopian Highlands. These baboons are vegetarian and live in groups of 200-300 with a dominant male. They spend their time grazing the grass and scrubbing themselves. Females have a red breast.
If discussed in advance, there is a possibility to make a longer walk (about 4h).

Overnight in tent at Sankaber Camp in Simien National Park.

Day 6 Simien National Park - Panoramas and Wildlife

Massive erosion over the years has formed one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world on the Ethiopian plateau with peaks, valleys and precipices up to 1500m deep.
TREK: Ambaras (3700m) - Inatye (4020m) - Ambaras (3700m)
Hiking time: about 4 hours.
Gradual climb on the vast plateau across Afro-alpine meadow with giant lobelias to the top of Inatye - a splendid belvedere offering exceptional view of the cliffs, deep valleys and smaller plateaus below..Wildlife observation: walia, ibex, colonies of baboon gelada, Lammergeyers vultures and maybe the rare, endangered Abyssinian wolf. Return to Ambaras. Overnight Gonder, Maleyko lodge/similar.