12 Days Ethiopia Hidden Treasures Tour

12 Days Ethiopia hidden treasures tour itinerary

Day 1: Addis Ababa city tour

Morning drive to discover the city of Addis Ababa, founded in 1886 by Menelik II and situated at an elevation of around 2438m making it the 3^rd highest capital city in the world. It enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25°C. Our city tour takes us to visit the National museum housing some of the country’s historic treasures like the 3.5 million year old remains of ‘Lucy’, the oldest hominid ever found. We proceed to the Ethnographic Museum and the church of the Holy Trinity, Ethiopia’s main cathedral and home to the remains of the last emperor, Haile Selassie. Dinner and overnight at Monarch Hotel or similar in Addis Ababa (www.monarchaddis.com)

Day 2: Arba Minch

After breakfast, we drive for some 465 kms (7 hrs) to Arba Minch, with a stop on the way at Tiya (80km from Addis Ababa) to explore the Stelae field of Tiya. This is listed as UNESCO world heritage site. Mysterious engraved stelae stretch across Southern Ethiopia. The field comprises some 45 stones of up to 2-3m in height. Proceed to Arba Minch with some fantastic scenery, including the best spot to view the two rift valley lakes, Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the South. We will arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon.and you may relax at the lodge with stunning views from the terrace. Dinner and overnight at Paradise Lodge (www.paradiselodgeethiopia.com) or Haile Resort or similar

Day 3: Lake Chamo

After breakfast, we shall visit Dorze people with some fantastic scenery, including the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys. The Dorze village is found high in the Guge Mountains overlooking Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo. After lunch, we shall enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Chamo and search for Africa’s biggest crocodiles (up to 6m long), hippos and a large variety of bird life. Dinner and overnight at Paradise Lodge (www.paradiselodgeethiopia.com) or Haile Resort or similar

Day 4:  Konso / Jinka

After breakfast, we drive for some 3.5 hrs to Konso. Konso is another UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. We will visit the village compound and the the local museum. We shall also be welcomed in the Konso chief’s compound, which includes the family graveyard and house mummies. The Konso people have a rich agrarian culture and construct ingenious terraces and walls that encircle their fields and villages for protection against livestock damage and flooding. Proceed to to the colourful market of Key Afer (This is on Thursdays only) frequented by several tribes of the Omo valley, such as Derase, Tsemay, Benna and Ari, before reaching Jinka in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Jinka Resort or Eco-Omo Lodge (www.eco-omo.com) or similar in Jinka

Day 5: Mago National Park (Mursi) / Turmi

After breakfast, we drive for some 2 hrs to enter the Mago National park to view different animals and birds. Later, proceed to visit the Mursi tribe and their villages. Their women use huge round lips plates for beauty reasons. After lunch, we drivefor some 3 hrs to Turmi, where we meet the fascinating Hamer tribe. Turmi is our base to explore the Southern tribes of the Omo Valley. The whole region of the Southern Omo is UNESCO world heritage site since 1980. Dinner and overnight at Turmi Lodge or Buska Lodge (www.buskalodge.com) or Paradise Lodge or similar

Day 6: Dimeka Market

After breakfast, we visit the colourful market in Dimeka near Turmi (Saturdays only) which is frequented by several tribes of the Omo valley. Turmi is well known for its traditional events and with some luck we will even participate in a Hamer marriage ceremony, with its bull jumping ceremony. In the late afternoon, we will also visit a nearby Hamer village and encounter the tribe in its daily life surroundings. By chance, we may witness a moonshine dance (Evangadi) which is a traditional dance of young Hamer men and women. Dinner and overnight at Turmi Lodge or Buska lodge (www.buskalodge.com) or similar in Turmi

Day 7: Omorate / Konso

After breakfast, we drive for some 70 kms to Omorate to visit the Dassanech Ethnic group famous for their nomad lifestyle and very interesting decoration and scarification on their bodies. There are also great views of the Omo River when crossing in a dugout canoe. After lunch, we drive for some 180 kms back to Konso (approx. 3.5 hrs). Dinner and overnight at Kanta Lodge in Konso

Day 8: Hawassa

After breakfast, we drive for some 350 kms (8 hrs) to Hawassa, the capital town of the southern people’s nations and nicknamed as “The town of endless Love”. We arrive at the luxurious Haile Resort in Hawassa owned by the famous Ethiopian runner Haile Gebre Selassie for sunset over the lake. Dinner and overnight at South Star Hotel, Hawassa (www.southstarinternationalhotel.com) or Haile Resort, Hawassa (www.hailehotelsandresorts.com) or similar

Day 9: Dinsho / Goba

After breakfast, we drive for some 200 kms from Hawassa to the Bale Mountains National Park headquarters in Dinsho, where we will take a very interesting walk to see a variety of animals and birds like the endemic mountain Nyala. Dinner and overnight at Wabeshebele Hotel, Goba or Bale Mountains Lodge (www.balemountainlodge.com) or similar

Day 10: Senette Plateau (Bale Mountains) / Goba

After breakfast, we drive for some 34 kms to the Bale Mountain National Park, the 2^nd national park in Ethiopia underway to becoming an UNESCO world nature site due to its stunning landscapes, rich flora and fauna. We explore the highest all-weather road of Africa to the largest moorland tract in Africa, the Senetti plateau. On the way, we may see the endemic Ethiopian Wolf and its favorite prey, the Giant Mole Rat. We also explore the Harena escarpments and its rainforests. Some of the resident birds include the Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker, White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Yellow-crowned Canary, Somali Chestnut-winged Starling, Olive Pigeon and Mountain Buzzard. Dinner and overnight at Wabeshebele Hotel, Goba or Bale Mountains Lodge (www.balemountainlodge.com)

Day 11: Lake Langano

After breakfast, we drive for 250 kms (4 hrs) to Lake Langano in the heart of the Great Rift Valley. In the afternoon, we may visit Lake Abyata Shalla National Park with great views over the Rift Valley or relax at the beach of the Lake Resort for swimming. Dinner and Overnight at Hara Langano Lodge (www.haralangano.com) or Lake langano resort or Sabana Lodge (www.sabanalangano.com) or similar

Day 12: Addis Ababa

After breakfast, we drive for some 200 kms (4 hrs.) back to Addis through Debre Zeyt to arrive in the afternoon.

Group Size per vehicle (adults) –2 Pax ,3 Pax ,4 Pax ,5 Pax ,6 Pax

What is Included on the safari price:-

• 11-night accommodation & meals as per the program
• All tours as per the itinerary
• Transport as per program
• English speaking guide
• Entrance fees to all sites as per the itinerary
• Bottled water during the tours
• All service charges and taxes

What is Excluded on the safari price:-

•  Flights and taxes
• Entry visa to Ethiopia
• Airport transfers
• Any expense of personal nature
• Any optional activity not mentioned as included above
• Gratuities
• Tips
• Personal insurance cover
• Deviation from above program