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Ethiopia's North and South19 days/18 nights2011 Tour Dates: March 19 October 3 Ethiopia - The Birthplace of Man Ethiopia, the cradle of civilization, is a country with a long and storied history and the home of unparalleled natural beauty. Ethiopia offers a wide range of tourism opportunities, and all visitors experience first-hand the warm hospitality for which the Ethiopian people are famous. Ethiopia has a proud history, which can be traced to the beginnings of mankind. Among the most remarkable evidence of Ethiopia's status as the cradle of civilization was the discovery of "Lucy," a female hominid whose 3.2 million-year-old skeleton was found in 1974 near the Awash River at Hadar. Lucy is currently traveling to museums in the United States, introducing millions of Americans to Ethiopia and its remarkable past and future. |
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Ethiopia's Historical Treasures Travelers to Ethiopia have a unique opportunity to experience a rich and diverse array of historical sites. From the towering obelisks of ancient Axum to the staggering rock-hewn churches of Lalibela to the medieval castles at Gondar, Ethiopia does not disappoint. Ethiopia's Natural Beauty All across Ethiopia are pristine national parks of unmatched splendor. Travelers who appreciate the rugged beauty of Africa and are looking to add an element of adventure to their trip can tap into Ethiopia's unique opportunities for adventure or ecotourism experiences. 
DAY 1: Addis Ababa Arrive in Addis Ababa. A representative will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport. He or she will answer questions, brief you on the immediate arrangements, and escort you to your hotel. Overnight at Ghion Hotel. DAY 2: Bahar Dar This morning we'll transfer to the airport and fly to Bahar Dar on the shores of Lake Tana. Upon arrival we'll drive to a trail where we hike across an old 16th century Portuguese bridge to a great viewing point of the fabulous Tissisat Falls, also known as the Blue Nile Falls. This is where the great river begins its thousand-mile journey to the Sudan. In the afternoon we'll take a boat excursion on Lake Tana, at 6,000 feet the highest and largest lake in Ethiopia. We will stop at one island and visit the beautifully painted Ura Kidane Mehret Monastery, an important place in Ethiopia's Orthodox Christian tradition. For birding enthusiasts, we'll try to include a morning or evening lakeshore cruise near the outlet of the Blue Nile, where we may spot pygmy and Egyptian geese, coots, moorhens, herons, kingfishers, and hornbills. Return to Bahar Dar and overnight at the Tana Hotel on the lake. (B, L, D) DAY 3: Gonder Drive 3½ hours to Gonder and explore the town, founded by the Christian emperor, Fasiladas, in the 17th century. Gonder was the royal capital of Ethiopia until 1868. During its heyday, Gonder was regarded as a center of power and pageantry on one of the world's most important crossroads. Gander today has medieval castles and Italian colonial buildings as well as the beautifully painted church of Debre Birhan Selassie. The area also was the cultural center of the "black Jews" of Ethiopia, or the Falasha, who made a mass exodus to Israel in 1991 under the oppressive Menghistu government. Only a handful of Falasha remain today, still making the pottery for which they are noted. Overnight at Goha Hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 4: Axum This morning we fly to Axum on the shores of Lake Tana. Upon arrival we have a full day excursion in Axum, the center of the earliest known city-state in Ethiopia and said to be the home of the Queen of Sheba. The town came into prominence at the time of Christ and was well known to ancient Greeks who traded here. Axum once dominated the trading crossroads to Africa. It is said that the biblical Ark of the Covenant was brought to Ethiopia over 3,000 years ago by Menelik, son of Solomon and Sheba, and is hidden in Axum. It was here that Menelik founded the Solomonic Empire of which Haile Selassie was the last ruler. Overnight at Yeha Hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 5: Lalibela Fly to Lalibela, located in the craggy mountainous highlands of northern Ethiopia. Lalibela features one of the world's most astounding architectural monuments. Driven by King Lalibela's vision of creating a New Jerusalem in Ethiopia, a varied and beautiful group of churches were dug out from the volcanic rock, some of them connected by underground tunnels. Each church is unique in style. The largest is believed to have been built with the divine intervention and direct supervision of Saint George, patron saint of Ethiopia. The small town of Lalibela itself seems unchanged by time on the arid plateau that is over 8,000 feet high. We'll enjoy guided visits to the churches. Overnight at Roha Hotel. (B, L, D) DAY 6: Addis Ababa Fly to Addis Ababa and explore the 115-year-old town, which celebrated its millennium in 2007. Our sightseeing includes the National Museum, where our earliest hominid Lucy resides; the Ethnological Museum in the former palace of the last Solomonic dynasty, King Haile Selassie; the former palace of King Menelik, and more. Last stop is at the Grand Market, or Merkato, bursting with artisan crafts, including hand-wrought silver crosses, woodcarvings, and colorful textiles. Dinner with traditional folkloric music and dances. Overnight Intercontinental Hotel. DAY 7: Addis - Awassa Leave Addis driving south to the Rift Valley Lakes region. Lake Ziway provides a fertile shore utilized for cultivation of many varieties of fruit and vegetables. The plant life in the Ziway district is amazing. In and around this lake a great number of Ethiopian's endemic birds may be observed. Continue south to Lakes Abiata and Shala where you will see greater and lesser flamingos, great white pelicans, and sacred ibis. Continue the drive southward to Lake Awassa, another habitat for a number of bird, fish, and plant species. Dinner and overnight at Zewde Village Hotel. DAY 8: Awassa - Yabello After breakfast, drive to Agere Mariam and enjoy the natural vegetation, and the native clothing of the people. Picnic lunch at Agere Mariam. Then continue driving to the rolling plains of Yabello, home of the Gujji tribe and the Borena. Dinner and overnight at Yabello Motel. DAY 9: Yabello Morning drive to visit Elsod and the singing well. In the afternoon visit the Borena tribes. The Borena tribes have been cattle herders since the 15th century when they first established themselves in Southern Ethiopia bordering Kenya. They live in seasonal settlements, moving several times per year depending upon the pasture for their cattle. They are an aggressive group, very quick to defend themselves or attack intruders. Like many of the other groups in the area, an important male rite of passage is the killing of another man. The traditional bride price consists of cloth, coffee, sugar, and cattle, and the traditional role of women is to take care of the house. Dinner and overnight at Yabello Motel. DAY 10: Yabello - Konso Drive to Konso where you will visit a Konso village. Their territory, on the eastern rim of the lower Omo Valley, lies in mountainous terrain at an altitude of approximately 5,000 ft. Despite plentiful rain, it is difficult terrain for agriculture due to the steep inclines and erosion. The Konso therefore have created elaborate terracing buttressed with stone. The Konso worship the sky god "Wag," venerate serpents, and display elements of an ancestor cult, commemorating dead heroes with carved wooden figures known as "Waga" or "something of grandfathers." The Konso are skilled in weaving, pottery, and other crafts. They make colorful cotton material, blankets, and various utensils. Dinner and overnight at a local Konso hotel. DAY 11: Konso - Turmi After breakfast along the route we visit the Tsemay village and people who live in the area around Woito River. We will stop here to have a picnic lunch. Continue driving to Erborie, where the people share a similar tradition with the Borena community. Late afternoon, drive to Hamer Land. Dinner and overnight Buska Lodge. DAY 12: Turmi After breakfast, we visit the Hamer people, a semi-nomadic tribe with a total population of about fifteen thousand, and like the Borena, they are farmers. Although they are known for their skills in pottery, beekeeping, and blacksmithing, their herds, especially their cattle, are the focus of their culture and of their socioeconomic life. Even their vocabulary reflects this concern. These are a superstitious people who believe that evil and bad luck (mingi) exists in certain unholy or impure things. Hamer parents would rather lose a child than risk crop failure, drought, or ill health in the family. Both men and women set great store by their appearance, and decorate themselves beautifully. Dinner and overnight at Buska Lodge. DAY 13: Turmi - Karo - Turmi After breakfast drive to Duss to visit the Karo Tribes who live close to the Omo River. The Karo live primarily in the village of Duss along the banks of the Omo and today number less than six hundred individuals. As such, they are an endangered people. The Karo are especially noted for their exuberant body painting, dances, and celebrations. They differ from all the other ethnic groups of the Omo in that they live in one main village. Before a celebration or dance, the Karo decorate their bodies with chalk paint, often imitating the spotted plumage of a guinea fowl. Return to Turmi for your dinner and overnight at Buska Lodge. DAY 14: Turmi - Dimeka - Jinka After breakfast, enjoy the culture of Hamer People in Turmi village and drive to Demaka to see the typical market of the Hamer people (which is on Saturday). Demaka is the central village of Hamer people. Hamer perform a spectacular cattle jumping ceremony that constitutes the rite of passage for young men. Overnight at Jinka Resort Hotel. DAY 15: Jinka - Mursi - Jinka Drive to the highlands to visit the Mursi tribes, who are famous for their lip plates. They are pastoral and raise cattle on the high plateaus bordering the Omo River in the Gamo Gofa region. Their tradition is to leave the Omo Valley during the rainy season beginning in May or June and move onto the higher plateaus. There are several theories as to why the uses of lip plates were adopted: one to discourage slave traders; another to prevent evil from entering the body, and; the third to indicate the number of cattle required by the wearer's family for her hand in marriage (the bigger the plate, the more cattle). Drive back to Jinka for dinner and overnight at Jinka Resort Hotel. DAY 16: Jinka - Arba Minch After breakfast drive through the village of Tsemi and continue to the Woito River to the Konso Land. After a picnic lunch continue driving to Arba Minch to see the faulted depression of Lake Chamo and the Gardulla tribes. Overnight at Bekele Molla Hotel. DAY 17: Arba Minch After breakfast drive to Lake Chamo to take a boat ride to visit the Crocodile Market. After lunch drive to Chencha to visit the Dorze village. The Dorze are famous for weaving traditional cloth. Arba Minch is the largest town in Southern Ethiopia. It lies on an elevation of around 1,300m in the foothills of the Rift Valley overlooking the mountains. To the west of Arba Minch, mountains rise to almost 4000m so that there are stunning views in all directions. Overnight at Paradise Lodge. DAY 18: Arba Minch - Addis Drive back to Addis Ababa via Hosanna and Butagira to visit the Gurage tribes. Gurage houses are famous for their neatness and symmetry of circular structures held together without the use of nails. The people take pride in their hospitality and often serve coffee boiled in a large clay pot and traditionally flavored with salt and butter and roasted grain. Continue driving to Addis via the Tiya agrological site. Overnight at Ghion Hotel. Day 19: Departure Free day for your last shopping and experience of Addis Ababa. Farewell dinner and departure. TOUR PRICE: Land Cost Per Person: (double occupancy)
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