Ethiopian Combination Expedition

Travel In Style
Tour code: TTT- CT706
Duration: 20 Days /19
Nights/by
Surface +Air
Destination: North+ West
Addis/ADD- Bahar Dar-
Gondar- Lalibella-Axum-
Langano-Arbaminch-
Turmi- Jinka-Wondogenet-
Dinsho-Goba-Sodere -
Addis/ADD

DAY01: Addis/ADD- Bahar Dar
Fly to Bahar Dar. Visit the rest of the day. In the morning, we
enjoy a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the island monasteries of Azwa
Mariam and URA Kidane Mihret. Make a boat trip on Ethiopia’s largest
water body (Lake Tana - 3,600Km Sq) to visit the island monasteries
of Ura Kidane Mihret (16th Century AD) and Azwa Mariam (16th
Century AD). These monasteries are famous for their colorful murals
and collection of manuscripts. Visit to one of Ethiopia’s most famous
tourist attractions, the Blue Nile Waterfalls, almost 50 Meters high
and known as Tis Issat in Amharic, “smoking water”; the falls are set
DAY02: Bahar Dar-Gondar in a rain forest that is home to monkeys and all sorts of birds. O/n in
a chosen hotel.

Early flight to Gondar, and visit the castles and the church. 185 Km North of
Bahir Dar to the 17th Century capital of Ethiopia - Gondar.
We experience typically in an Ethiopian African landscape as we drive
from Bahir Dar to Gondar- 180 kms over wide grazing land, hilly mountains
with numerous farmlands. The rest of the Historic route day visit attractions
in Gondar. The attractions that you visit in Gondar includes: Castles of
Gondar- are included in the World Heritage List, the royal Fasiledes Bath
and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its unique murals and Awra
Amba village. In the afternoon visits the castles and church Debre Birhane
Sellasie which is found in Gondar. O/n in a chosen hotel.

Early transfer to the airport to fly to Lalibella, and visit the rock-
hewn churchs. Home of the incredible hand carved 12th century rock
churches of King Lalibela) through the scenic Wollo Mountains visiting
the Amhara people. Lalibela: Lalibela, famous for its rock has hewn
Churches dating back 800 years. There are no less than 1000 churches
in the Lasta Region of Lalibela, some hidden in enormous caves, but
it's exceptional to Find 11 churches of such master craftsmanship in
one locale. These brilliant feats of engineering and architecture are
often referred to as the "Eighth wonder of the world". Whole day visit
of the 11th rock-hewn of churches. Whole day visit of the 11th rock-
hewn of churches. Starts visiting the rock hewn Churches of Lalibella.
Today you will tour the first group of churches (the grouping is
According to their geographical location): Bete Medhane Alem, Bete
Mariam and Bete Meskel. And continue touring the rest of the first
group f Churches. O/n in a chosen hotel.

DAY03: Gondar - Lalibella
DAY04: Lalibella-Axum

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Axum. In the
afternoon, Sightseeing of the stele field. Visit of Axum which is
known for its huge stele cut from granite stones. The visit
includes, the Archaeological museum of Axum, the famous stele
park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the church of St. Mary of
Zion which is believed to be the last resting place of the original
Ark of the Covenant, the palace and tomb of King Kaleb and
Gebre Meskel (6th Century AD) and the ruin palace of the Queen
of Sheba (9th Century BC). O/n in a chosen

DAY05: Axum - Addis Ababa- Langano
Fly back to Addis Ababa, and drive to Langano. Drive to Langano, en route visit Lake Zway, shelters a
variety of water birds. Lake Zeway is surrounded by the blue volcanic hills, 165km south of Addis
Ababa, and covering a massive 4252km is Lake Ziway, the largest of the northern group of rift valley
lakes. It’s an attractive enough place, but its best known for its bird life. While Pelicans, Black Egrets,
Saddle bill and Yellow bill Storks are all seen here, as well as a variety of Kingfishers and Waterfowl.
The Lake is also home to five little volcanic islands, of which once boasted medieval churches. Tullu
Gudo, 14km from Ziway and the largest island, is still home to three monasteries. The other Lakes,
Abijjata Shalla West of Langano lay the twin lakes of Abijjata Shalla, which form part of the 8872km
lake Abijjata Shalla national Park. Identical twins these lakes are not. Shalla’s 4102km surface sits
within a collapsed volcanic caldera and depths exceed 260m in some areas, while Abijjata’s highly
alkaline waters rest in a shallow pan no more than 14m in depth. Despite their natural beauty, these
lakes are best known for their bird life.
At Abijjata, never more than 10meters deep greater and lesser Flamingos abound, along with white-
necked Cormorants, several species of Herons, Storks, Spoonbills, Ibises, African Ducks, Gulls, and
Terns. During the northern winter thousands of Asiatic and European Ducks and Waders migrate to
Abijjata’s shores. Lake Shalla is well known for its large colony of great White Pelicans (most
important colony for this species in Africa). In front of Abijjata Shalla Lake, there is another Lake
Langano. Brown and copper colored lake Langano beckons. Set against the 4000m blue Arsi Mountains
is a dream comes true for many brits. The clean and is one Ethiopia’s lake free from bilharzias; so it is
good for swimming, aquatic sports.
The birding is excellent on some of the more remote sections of this 3002km lake, and over 300
species have been recorded, including the Ethiopian cliff Swallow. Best for Sunbathing, camping, and
bird watching. Along the shores cliff dwellers and acacia
Inhabiting birds set up a noisy chatter, including fan-tailed Ravens and Hornbills, most
Notably Hemp rich’s Hornbill. O/n in a chosen hotel.
DAY06: Langano - Arbaminch

ArbaMinch, Ethiopia is famous for the
local springs and the groundwater
forest. The place is situated towards
the base of the Great Rift Valley. The
city comprises the administrative unit
of Shecha, the residential and
commercial regions of Sikela.
These two areas are connected by a
road. The city is famous for the fruits
that it produces including bananas,
oranges, apples, pineapples and
guavas.....

..... There are also many fish farms
in the area. In the morning drive to
Arbaminch, in the afternoon drive to
Chencha (the Dorze village). Drive 300
km south to Arba Minch visiting the
tribal people of Alaba who are noted
for their beautifully painted houses,
Wolita, known for their cultivation of
Enset or False Banana, and Dorze –
who are renowned for their huge huts
and colorful cotton clothes, en route
to Dorze village, and then a visit to
the traditional village of Chencha,
where you will sure be fascinated by
the waving style of the Dorze people.
O/n in a chosen hotel

DAY07: Arbaminch Whole day in Arbaminch, including
Nech Sar NP’s and Chamo Lake.Arba
Minch, the largest town in southern
Ethiopia, is set amongst lush green
hills near Lakes Abaya and Chamo.
Arba Minch is named for the
abundant local springs that produce
a groundwater forest; in Amharic,
ArbaMinch means "forty springs." The
town proper is divided into two
distinct settlements; buses and taxis
connect Shecha (on higher ground)
In the morning drives to Turmi. and downtown Sikela. Shecha is the
uptown administrative centre. Just
The road contnues into the
four kilometers away is Sikela and
savannah, then rises up the the commercial, industrial, and
Karat Mountains (providing downtown residential areas. On the
splendid panoramic views) until eastern side of Sikela lies the gate
to Nechisar National Park, which
DAY08: Arbaminch - Turmi

it reaches the soft, terraced
hills of Konso, here we visit a covers the isthmus between Lake
Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo
Konso village on the southern
to the south. The park has not much
extensions of the highlands to to offer except small antelope, a
meet the locals who are few monkeys and baboon and a
excellent farmers. The Konso variety of birds. The region is known
are also noted for there unusual for crocodile (also known as the
practice of sculpting eerie crocodile market which is an area of
wooden statues to mark the abundant, large, wild crocodiles)
and hippo, fish farming, and O/n in
graves of their dead. Should the
a chosen hotel.
Chief of Konso be in Residence,
we may be granted an audience
with him.....

.....Then we continue our route through the savannah and on to Omorate and Turmi
Turmi where the tour will spend the night. Although small in size
Turmi is an important transport hub and best known for its Monday
market, possibly the most important in Hamer country. There are a
few small and unspoilt Hamer villages within a 2km radius of Turmi
town. Camping, Turmi. O/n camping.

In the morning, drive to Omorate and back. Drive to Karo
village to see the Karo people and continue to Dimeka.
Passing through the culture of Benna people at Key Afer. The
DAY09: Omorate - Turmi

Karo, with a population of about 1000, are a small group of
people who live on the east banks of the Omo River.
They are surrounded by relatively wealthy and strong
groups, in terms of cattle and population size. Karo, whose
neighbors especially the Hamar (to the South East) ,Bana (to
the east ),Bashada (to the East ), the Mursi (to the North)and
Nyangatom (to the west across the Omo river ) know them by
the name Kara, speak a south Omotic language.
The most striking thing about Karo people's symbolic and
ornamental expressions is the painted body and face
decorations. This is an elaborate process, which ranges from
fine and elaborate details to rough, but striking paintings
traced with the palms or fingers. The most beautiful
expression is in the facial and chest paintings that combine
white (chalk), black (charcoal), yellow, ochre, and red earth.
They often imitate the spotted plumage of a guinea fowl.
Karo woman scarify their chests to beautify themselves .The
complete scarification of a man's chest indicates that he has
killed an enemy or a dangerous animal. The scars are cut
with a knife or razor blade and ash is rubbed in to produce a
raised effect. The wearing of a grey and ochre clay hair bun
also indicates the killing of an enemy or a dangerous animal.
Both forms of decoration carry the same symbolic meaning
for the Karo as they do for the Hamar. In the afternoon,
drive to Karo and return back to Turmi. O/n Turmi camping.

Drive from Turmi to Jinka. Today the tour drives through the
savannah along tracks that are barely visible, passing through a vast DAY10: Turmi - Jinka
meadowland with shrubs and umbel lifers ("umbrella" acacia trees).
As we pass over the Omo River nothing in Ethiopia or modern Africa
prepares you for South Omo. This area is filled with extraordinary
cultural integrity, where the people weren’t even aware that such a
thing as Ethiopia existed until 50yrs ago. Omorate lies on the
eastern bank of the Omo River and is almost totally isolated from
the rest of Ethiopia. The main attraction is the Dasanech Villages on
the out skirts of the town. The Dasanech they were forced out of
there homeland in a region called Nyupe, to the west of Turkana, by
the expansionist wars of Turkana In the 18th century. They now
cover a large territory of the western banks of the Omo all the way
south to Lake Turkana. Here we’ll encounter the Dasanech people in
the countryside, and go into the villages, after which we head back
to Omorate to look at the local wild life on the banks of the river.
The tour then returns to Jinka for the evening to rest before
tomorrow’s adventure. O/n in a chosen hotel.

DAY11: Jinka - Mago NP’s

DAY12: Jinka - Arbaminch

After breakfast, drive back to Arbaminch. The
road continues into the savannah, then rises
up the Karat Mountains (providing splendid
panoramic views) until it reaches the soft,
terraced hills of Konso, here we visit a Konso
village on the southern extensions of the
highlands to meet the locals who are excellent
farmers. The Konso are also noted for there
unusual practice of sculpting eerie wooden
statues to mark the graves of their dead.
Should the Chief of Konso be in Residence, we
may be granted an audience with him. O/n in
a chosen hotel.
Excursion to Mago NP’s Jinka / Mago National Park (drive)
Mago National Park is located on the east bank of the
Omo River and ranges in altitude from 450 m (1467 ft) to DAY13: Arbaminch - Wondogenet
2,528 m (8294 ft) above sea level. After about 2 hours of
‘4x4 road’, we arrive to our camp. In the park and en
route, we’ll see buffalo, waterbuck, greater and lesser In the morning drives to Wondogenet. Drive to
kudu and zebra. In the not so distant past, lions, Wendo Genet –Wondo Genet is known for its
elephants, leopards and giraffes have also been spotted hot springs and is surrounded by primary
here, but unfortunately our days have little chance to see Ethiopian forests. It is home to an arboretum
the same. Once here, we visit a Mursi Tribal village, and a College of Forestry which was founded
whose women have the custom of expanding their lower in 1977 with Swedish assistance. Also located
lips using disks that gradually get those lips larger and in this resort town is the Essential Oils
larger. These are people who farm the land and breed Research Sub Center, where spices, aromatic
livestock; they live in almost complete isolation from the and medicinal plants are conserved and their
rest of the world. Skipping the Mursi would be out of the qualities researched. O/n in a chosen hotel.
question. They're the most famous of all the indigenous
Ethiopian tribes though they are not too friendly to
visitors and every photo taken has its price… Our
campsite tonight is in a beautiful clearing among
towering trees, which provide shade and it is near the
Neri River. O/n in a chosen hotel.

DAY14: Wondogenet - Dinsho

Morning drive to Dinsho. The tour now heads out east
towards Dinsho, the route taken passes through immense
fields of wheat, barley and high-altitude meadows. This is
a particularly lush green landscape, especially in October
and November. The local Ormo people, move from one
village to the next on small horses, carrying various goods
of grain and weaved cotton. We arrive in the evening,
have Dinner and camp the night. Camping: Bale National
Park HQ. O/n in a chosen hotel.

Proceed driving to Goba. is our gate way
to the Bale Mountains National Park. The
park encompasses the higher reaches of the
Bale range, including Mt Tullo Deemtu, at
4,377m is the second highest peak in
Ethiopia. The main attractions are the wild
alpine scenery, especially the 4,000m-high
Senetti Plateau as well as the Simien
wolves. The road across the Senetti Plateau
is reportedly the highest all weather road
in Africa. There are many protected
mammals in the park, including the Nyala,
the kudu, gazelles and the rare wolves of
the Simien mountains. The day is dedicated
to visiting the park, with the option to go
on short treks or horse riding. O/n in a
chosen hotel
DAY15: Goba

Excursion to Sof Omar cave. The cave which is now an important
Islamic Shrine was named after the saintly Sheikh Sof Omar who took
refuge here many centuries ago… a history calculated in thousands of DAY16: Sof Omar cave
years.The fantastic limestone caves of Sof Omar make a day's outing
from Dinsho, Robe or Goba. The road leaves Robe town, crossing the
farming areas to the east, before descending into the lowlands. Here
the vegetation is very different being dry lowland with wooded
grasslands. The caves lie at 1,300 m above sea level. This is in
marked contrast to what you will experience in the Bale Mountains at
up to 4,000 m. Very different animals occur along the way as well,
most noticeably the Greater and Lesser Kudu - both relatives of the
Mountain Nyala, and the tiny dik dik antelope. The caves themselves
carry the whole flow of the Web River that rises in the Bale
Mountains, underground through wonderfully carved caverns for a
distance of one and a half kilometers. O/n in a chosen hotel

DAY17: Goba - Sodere

After breakfast early in the morning, drive to Sodere. O/n in a chosen hotel

DAY18: Sodere

Whole day in Sodere, to relax by the hot natural hot spring water with
Olympic size swimming pool. the hot natural spring water found “Sodere”.
Sodere is situated 126 kms southeast of Addis Ababa. It is a very popular
resort area with a new hotel complex. Numerous birds, and monkeys, can
be seen.....

.....The hot spring Olympic size swimming pool and physiotherapy centers are frequented visited by visitors
of all ages. Sodere lies alongside the Awash River and features lush, shady vegetation.
Vervet monkeys live on the resort grounds. Crocodiles and, less frequently, hippos may be seen in the
nearby Awash River. The hot springs resort, popular for its therapeutic effects, is located outside the town.
An Olympic size swimming pool, reportedly empty during the week, is a popular draw for weekenders. From
Addis Ababa. Other features include a full-service restaurant, and a hotel and conference center.
What to see?
— The forests which fringe the river are also good for birds.
— There is a large naturally heated swimming pool, and a number of smaller pools throughout the grounds of
the resort.
— Vervet monkeys and baboons are common in the resort, and
— Visitors can see crocodiles basking along the banks of the Awash River. O/n in a chosen hotel.

DAY19: Drive back to Addis Ababa. O/n Addis Ababa in a chosen hotel.

DAY20: Addis/ADD
City tour in the capital. In
Addis have time to make walks
on the main streets to visit
historical Monuments, and for
shopping. In the evening, we
will host you at one of the best
traditional restaurants of Addis
where you can.....

.....see the folkloric dances of The Ethiopian people and taste our
variety of meal. Also, visit The National Museum This famous museum,
close to the University of Addis Ababa Graduate School, houses
numerous antiquarian relics and archaeological artifacts showing the
history of Ethiopia from prehistoric times to the modern day. Its most
famous exhibit is the 3.5 million year old skeleton of Lucy. Mount
Entoto Addis Ababa is built in the foothills of Mount Entoto, and the
panorama from the peak (3,200m3, either by day or night, is a
breathtaking spectacle. The Church of St Mary (1885) overlooks the
entire city and the surrounding area. The Entoto Museum, with its
historical exhibits is well worth a visit. Trinity Cathedral Trinity
Cathedral was constructed by Emperor Haileselassie in 1947 and
dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The architecture of the cathedral is very
unique to both Ethiopia and Africa. It is ornamented with carvings and
mosaic and other artistic works such as paintings of saints and the
apostles on the stained glass. Within the compound and gardens of the
church are found the crypts of the Imperial family. Departure.

Ethiopian Combination Expedition

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Similar to Ethiopian Combination Expedition

Recently uploaded

Ethiopian Combination Expedition