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Tour
Itinerary: From Axum to Arba Minch North to South Ethiopia in 17 Days.
Day 1: Arrival Time; this is for relaxation, rest and recreation. In
the afternoon, we have a tour of the city. In the evening, we brief you
about your itinerary. We have an Ethiopian dinner at the ancient Fin Finé
Ethiopian Restaurant. We finish the evening with a bird’s eye view of the
city at the Wabe Shebele Roof restaurant with a nightcap or hot chocolate,
or as you like!
Day 2: In the morning we drive 570 km from Addis Ababa to the
lakeside city of Bahir Dar overlooking Lake Tana, passing via the Blue Nile
Gorge. We stop off to visit the ancient Portuguese Bridge. We stay overnight
in Debre Markos for transit.
Day 3: After breakfast, we depart for Bahir Dar and the Blue Nile Falls.
Day 4: Full day in Bahir Dar for visiting Blue Nile Falls and island
monasteries of Lake Tana.
Day 5: In the morning we drive from Bahir Dar to Gonder. We view the
castles in their compound. We take a look at the Royal Baths where the
Ethiopian kings once bathed. We stay overnight at the old Fogera Hotel in
the city centre.
Day 6: We have a fairly early morning departure to Axum, passing via
Lima-Limu to view the Simien Chain of Mountains and the Queen of Sheba
Temple. In the evening we arrive in Axum to see the obelisks. We stay
overnight in Axum at the cheap Africa Hotel.
Day 7: Early morning visit of Saint Mary Zion Church site where the
ancient Ark of the Covenant is reputed to be stored. Then we drive direct to
Lalibela. We sleep at the Jerusalem Guest House.
Day 8: In the morning we visit the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela. We
return for an early lunch. Then we continue the day visiting the churches of
Lalibela with a local tourist guide.
Day 9: In the early morning we start our return journey to Addis
Ababa reaching the half way point city of Desai. We sleep overnight in
Desai. This is a quiet market city. There is not much here, but it is a
small city spread over a large valley. It has been of strategic importance
during recent the recent civil war.
Day 10: We drive from Desai to Addis Abeba through the Tarmaber
Tunnel, constructed during the Italian Occupation. We spend the evening in
Addis Ababa with a garden barbecue at the Sunrise Restaurant.
Day 11: After a leisurely breakfast we make our way to the Menegesha
Forest with the first example of early tree conservation in Africa. We take
a walk and picnic in the forest with tall trees some of which are four
hundred years old. We return to Addis Ababa for an Ethiopian cuisine evening
in one of the Ethiopian restaurants.
Day 12: Departure from Addis Ababa to Bale Mountains National Park;
425 kilometres from Addis Ababa. See dramatic Alpine style flora. Experience
sharp contrasts of scenery from juniper forests to moors and alpine meadows.
Expect high altitudes, cold nights. Bring warm clothes and a waterproof
overcoat. Sun protection is highly advised. We stay overnight at the Dinsho
Lodge. Sauna is available and perhaps it is better than the bathrooms.
Day 13: Full day Bale. We can walk through the park or take the land
cruiser according to your wishes. The cook will prepare on site meals. We
will try to observe wildlife in the park. It is possible to see Menelik’s
bushbuck, duiker, mountain nyala, warthog, monkeys and baboons and
Abyssinian red jackal. Parts of the park are thickly forested making
wildlife views erratic. We spend overnight at Wabe Shebele Goba Hotel. This
is more decent accommodation and a nice contrast to the previous night.
Day 14: Drive from Goba to Lake Awasa. It abounds in bird life. Good
sunsets across the Rift Valley. Lakeside walks. Awasa town has a provincial,
but interesting nightlife for the first time visitor and the atmosphere is
quite relaxed for walking around. Tabor Hill gives a good panorama of the
town. Bring mosquito spray and repellents. Restaurants are good for outside
Addis Ababa. We watch the world pass by at Pina Restaurant. We camp
overnight on the shores of Lake Awasa.
Day 15: In the early morning be prepared for a long drive to the city
of Arba Minch sitting in the foothills of the Rift Valley towards Lakes
Chamo and Abaya. The town has rather a provincial atmosphere about it. On
the way to Arba Minch, we will visit the Dorzé village people and their fine
thatched houses. These people are weavers and spin fine cloth. We camp
overnight from Arba Minch in the Netchsar National Park.
Day 16: We visit the Savannah lands of the Netchsar National Park.
You may see Swayne’s hartebeest, zebra, duikers, antelope, warthogs,
crocodiles and bushbuck and various birds including marabou stalks,
pelicans, buzzards and vultures. John Graham, travel writer, reports hearing
lions. Wildlife in the park is erratic for observations.
Day 17: Return to Addis Ababa. We do a site seeing trip of the
reputed largest market in Africa – the Mercarto. Or visit to Menegesha Suba
Forest.
Day 18: International Departure
Member discount:
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