Cultural & Historic Ethiopia – 14 Days

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ADDIS ABABA – AXUM –LALIBELA- GONDA – BAHIR – ADDIS ABABA

Day 1: Arrive Addis Ababa //..

On arrival in Addis Ababa, Jacko Africa Safaris transfer you to the Hilton Hotel, or similar. In the afternoon, do a city tour. Addis Ababa in Amharic language means ‘New Flower’. Founded by Emperor Menelik in 1887, Addis is the capital city with a population of 4.5 million people. Drive through the MerKato, the largest open market in the continent, and proceed to the National Museum where ‘Lucy’, the 3.5 million year old hominid, resides.  Dinner and overnight: Hilton Hotel, or similar. Meal Plan {D, B&B}

Day 2: Addis Abba / Axum //..

Fly to Axum. Rising to prominence around the time of the birth of Christ, the Axumite Kingdom was considered one of the greatest powers of the world, ruling the two southern sides of the Red Sea. The kingdom dominated the vital crossroads between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years. The Axumites introduced a written language, Ge’ez and created a new imperial power and political cohesion. They gave Ethiopia its first organized religion – Christianity – in the 4th century AD. More stories as will be narrated by your guide. After check-in to hotel you enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Axum, which includes visiting the Stele Park, the Archeological Museum of Axum, the St. Mary of Zion Church, the palace and tomb of King Kaleb and Gebre Meskel (6th Century AD) and the palace of the Queen of Sheba (9th Century BC). Dinner and overnight at the comfortable Yeha Hotel. Meal Plan {L,D,B}.

Day 3: Axum /Lalibela //..

There are no less than 1000 churches in the Lasta region of Lalibela, some hidden in enormous caves, but it is exceptional to find eleven churches of such master craftsmanship in one locale. Seeing all of Lalibela’s churches takes a long time, but they are well worth the effort, particularly during the Ethiopian Christmas (January 7) and Timkat celebrations (January 19). Lalibela was the second capital of the ancient Ethiopia next to Axum. At the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century King Lalibela built the remarkable 11-rock hewn churches. These churches are believed to build to form a New Jerusalem in Ethiopia. Among the 11-rock hewn churches of Lalibela, Bete Giorgis is the finest and amazing architecture of the era, which was designed in a form of cross with the absence of standing pillars. On this day you will visit the all the11-rock hewn churches. Dinner and overnight: Roha Hotel. Meal Plan {B,L,D,}.

Day 4: Lalibela / Gondar //..

Fly to Gondar, known as the ‘Camelot’ of Africa. Gondar was the 17th and 18th century capital city of Ethiopia and was home to a number of emperors, courtiers and kings who built several castles and palaces around the area. Nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Simien Mountains in northwest Ethiopia, Gondar became the capital during the reign of Emperor Fasilidas (1632-1667) and emerged over the years as an important administrative, commercial, religious and cultural center. On this day you will visit the royal enclosure castles, the King Fasiladas bath and churches particularly Debre Berhan Selassie (light of Trinity) ,known for its magnificent mural painting of its wall and ceilings. Dinner and overnight: Goha Hotel. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 5: Gondar / Bahir Dar //..

Drive to Bahir Dar on the edge of Lake Tana. It is the capital city of its region and an important commercial centre. In the afternoon, take a boat trip on Lake Tana and visit the old island monasteries of Ura Kidane-Mihret, Azwa Mariam and Kebran Gabriel (closed for women). Most of the monasteries decorated with frescoes and staffed with religious as well as historical treasures. There are 37 islands scattered about on the 3000 square kilometer lake which is the source of the Blue Nile. About 20 of these islands house the churches and monasteries that are of immense historical and cultural interest. On the lake, be sure to notice the Tankwa boat, little papyrus boats that appear so flimsy yet are capable of carrying passengers and their goods around the lake as they have done for many centuries. Dinner and overnight: Tana Hotel. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 6: Bahir / Addis Ababa //..

In the morning, pay a visit to the impressive Blue Nile Falls, locally known as Tis Isat or ‘Smoke of Fire’. Four hundred meters wide when in flood (at the time of rainy season) and 45 meters deep, the falls throws up a continuous spray of water droplets which drench onlookers up to a kilometer away. The area around the river is extremely fertile and the Amhara people who live here farm wheat, sorghum and teff (from which injera, the national bread, is made). After the Falls, have lunch and fly to Addis for your evening flight to next destination. Extra night may be in Addis, if your international flight is in the afternoon for the city tour. Dinner and overnight: Hilton Hotel, or similar. Meal Plan {D,B&B}

Day 7: Addis Ababa – Arba Minch  Paradis Lodge Hotel //..

Today fly to Arba Minch and after check in to hotel you will have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, the third biggest lake in the country with an average area of about 551 sq km to visit hippos, crocodiles and different aquatic birds. Dinner and overnight: Paradise Lodge/ Swynes Hotle. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 8: Arbaminch- Jinka //..

Take an early breakfast and drive to Jinka (290km), one of the relatively big towns in the Omo Valley. On the way you will enjoy the Konso, Derashe, Aria and Benna tribes. If the day falls on a Thursday, you will visit the colorful market at key Afer. Dinner and overnight: Murulle Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 9: Jinka-Mursi- Jinka //..

This morning we do have an excursion drive to the Mursi village through Mago National park. The Mursi inhabit northwestern part of the National Park and classified as the Omotic language family. These people known for their lip plating, body decorating and stick fighting culture. Women are still wearing lip plates by splitting their lower lip in order to beautify themselves. The lip-plates are purely symbolic and made of clay. Dinner and overnight: Jinka Resort Hotel. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 10: Jinka-Turmi //..

Drive to Turmi via Dimeka. If the days fall on a Saturday there is a color full market at Dimeka the second place for Hamer. In the afternoon you will visit the Hamer tribal village. Hamer people occupy the eastern parts of the Omo Valley, and best known for their hair style of the women and ritual of bull jumping practice by a yang man that shows passage of time from youth to adulthood and in the evening you will visit the traditional dance of Evangadi at Turmi. Dinner and overnight: Turmi /Evangadi Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 11 Turmi- Kangatan – Korcho – Murulle Lodge //..

Another day of cultural emersion – the Bume and Karo tribes embody the incredible colorful culture of Ethiopia’s tribes. In the absence of any modern materials, these tribes find unique age-old ways in which to express their artistic impulses. The Karo, for example, are experts at body painting, using clay and locally available vegetable pigments to trace amazing patterns on their faces, chests, arms and legs. These designs are simply for fun and aesthetic effect, as each artist vies to outdo his fellow tribesman – it is really a contest of remarkable talents and imagination. The Karo men also sculpt their hair into extravagant shapes, with their special ochre ‘caps’ of hair containing several ostrich feathers. To watch this tribe perform is to watch Picasso at his best! Dinner and overnight: Murulle Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 12:  Murulle- Omorate- Turmi //..

Drive to Oromorate via dimeka, a small village on the border with Kenya to visit the Dascenetch people and their fascinating local hut and culture of the Dasenech. The Dasenech have a decorative sense similar to the Karo tribe. The Dasenech people occupy the land on both side of the Omo River and the northern age of Lake Turkana. Dinner and overnight: Turmi /Evangadi Lodge. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 13: Turmi-Arbaminch //..

Drive from Turmi to Yabello via Arbore. Visit the Arbore people at their town named Arbore and proceed to Konso. Visit town of Konso (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – The people of Konso are well known for their intricately terraced hillsides, fine woven materials, carved totems made of wood, decorated graves (mainly the king & his wife), impressive village, etc. Dinner and overnight: Paradise Lodge/ Swynes Hotle. Meal Plan {B,L,D}.

Day 14: Arba Minch – Addis Ababa //..

After breakfast, embark on a full day’s drive to Addis, visiting several Rift Valley Lakes, rich in aquatic birdlife, along the way. Evening a fare well dinner party in one of the traditional Ethiopian restaurant with dances from different ethnic groups.  Afterward, transfer to the airport for your flight back home.