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Spiekermann
Tour Itinerarys...
Ethiopia…Land of Mystery
Historic Route and Hidar Tsion Festival
Itinerary
November 20 Depart US
Depart from Washington Dulles airport on your flight to Addis.
November 21 Arrive Addis Ababa
Evening arrival at Bole international airport. Transfer from the airport to
the Intercontinental Hotel or similar for dinner and overnight. (D)
November 22 Addis Ababa
After breakfast meet your guide who will brief you on your tour before setting
out to explore the city. Begin with a stop at the National Archaeological
Museum that houses the 3.5 million year old skeleton of Lucy and have lunch in
the garden restaurant before continuing to the Ethnographic Museum. Visit
Merkato the largest open-air market in Africa then return to your hotel for
dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
November 23 Addis to Bahirdar
Early morning transfer to the airport for flight to Bahirdar. Upon arrival,
head to one of the local juice shops for a light breakfast, then drive to the
spectacular Nile River water falls (though the falls are not as spectacular as
they once were due to the hydroelectric dam). The walk to the viewpoint of the
falls is about 30 minutes. Return to Bahirdar and check in to the Tana Hotel
or similar and have lunch. In the afternoon take a boat trip on Lake Tana to
visit one of the most interesting churches of the area, URA Kidanemihret.
Please note that you have to walk (easy) about 25 minutes each way through the
coffee forest to the church. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.(B,L,D)
November 24 Drive to Gondar
Drive north of Bahirdar through the beautiful landscape of the Taragedam
Mountain to Gondar. Have lunch at the Goha Hotel or similar. Afterwards,
depart for the castle compound to explore the medieval palaces of Emperors
Fasiledas, Yohannes, Eyasu, David, Bakaffa and Queen Mentuab. Continue to
visit the church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its famous wall art and
paintings of more than 80 winged-angels covering the ceiling. Return to hotel
for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
November 25 Gondar to the Simien Mountains
Travel through the breathtakingly beautiful region of the Simeon Mountains
with many peaks above 13,000 feet. The vast and unique highland plateau is
capped by a dramatic skyline of jagged volcanic plugs and is split by deep
gorges and gullies. The striking tower formations have been described as
the “chess pieces of the gods.” Rich in flora and fauna, it is home to the
Gelada Baboons, Walya Ibex, Klipspringers, grey duikers and Wattled Ibis.
Enjoy the views in Sakaber and Chenek and end the day at the Simien Lodge in
the National Park. (B,L,D)
November 26 Lemalimo and return to Gondar
Travel through the mountains to Lemalimo and the small town of Debark where
you will enjoy an excellent buffet lunch. Continue to Gondar stopping at
Felasha, the former village of the Black Jews of Ethiopia. Check into the Goha
Hotel or similar for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
November 27 Gondar to Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela. Have lunch at the Roha Hotel or similar. Visit the first
group of rock-hewn churches: Bete Medhanealem, Bete Maryam, Bete Meskel, Bete
Denagil and the double church of Debre Sina and Bete Michael. Return to the
hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
November 28 Lalibela
Visit the second group of churches including “the double-church” of Bete
Gebrel and Rafael, Bete Merquorios, Bete Abba Libanos and Bete Emanuel noted
for its Axumite architecture on its exterior and interior walls. This
afternoon tour the famous cross-shaped church of Bete Giorgis. Later attend a
show with traditional dance and music. (B,L,D)
November 29 Lalibela to Axum
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Axum. Upon arrival check into the
Yeha Hotel or similar and have lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the
sites in Axum: the Stele field, the tombs of ancient kings, the palace and
baths of the Queen of Sheba, and the Archeological museum. You will also see
the church of St. Mary Tsion, believed to house the original Ark of the
Covenant. Tonight you will experience the local cuisine as you have dinner at
a local restaurant. Attend the prayer service and candle vigil at the church
of St. Mary before returning to the hotel for your overnight. (B,L,D)
November 30 Axum - Celebration of Hidar Tsion
Rise early to attend the annual celebration of Saint Mary. Enjoy the spectacle
of the priests chanting church music and beating drums as the cheering crowds
arrive from as far away as Addis Ababa to attend the festival. On this day the
residents of Axum prepare the local beer, coffee and fasting foods (partaken
during the fasting period before Christmas) and invite their relatives who
come from great distances to join them in the feasting. In the afternoon take
an excursion to the tombs of Caleb and Gebre Meskel. Enjoy the spectacular
view of the setting sun over the Adwa Mountains as your return to your hotel
in Axum for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
December 01 Axum to Tigray
Leave Axum and drive to Tigray, a full day drive with stops at the 500 BC
temple of Yeha and Debre Damo, the oldest monastery in Ethiopia. It is only
accessible with the aid of ropes and women are not allowed. Visit one of the
rock-hewn churches of Tigray before checking into the lodge for dinner and
overnight. (B,L,D)
December 02 Tigray to Mekele
This morning visit two rock-hewn churches: Abraha Atsbaha and Wukro. After
lunch drive to the Danakil depression where you may see camel caravans
transporting salt bars from Dallol to the highlands. Continue to Mekele and
the hotel Axum or similar for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
December 03 Mekele to Addis Ababa
Fly to Addis Ababa and head to the Robera coffee factory upon arrival to see
how Ethiopians clean, roast, grind and pack coffedd before export. Drive south
through the Great Rift Valley stopping at Debre Zeit overlooking one of the
crater lakes for lunch. Continue to Sabana Lodge (or similar) on Lake Langano
for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
December 04 Lake Langano
Spend the day at the lodge observing birds or take a boat ride on the lake to
see the hippos. Take an optional tour to Abijata and Shalla National Parks
where you may see ostrich, gazelle and flamingo. Dinner and overnight at the
lodge. (B,L,D)
December 05 Addis Ababa
Return to Addis via Lake Ziway and the Awash River, home to interesting birds
such as Great White Pelicans, Sacred Ibis, Kingfishers, Jacanas, Marabou Stork
and the unusual Hamerkop. Upon arrival in Addis check into the Crown Hotel or
similar where you will have use of the facilities (dayroom). This evening you
bid farewell to Ethiopia at a dinner hosted by your guide Asrat in the hotel
restaurant. Enjoy a folkloric show with traditional single and dancing while
feasting on the local cuisine. Afterwards, transfer to Bole International
airport for your flight home arriving in the US on December 6th in the morning
(B,D)
AL EXCURSION TO OMO VALLEY
Day 01 Drive to Arbaminch
Depart for a scenic drive to Arbaminch. Along the way you will see different
tribes including the Oromo, Alaba, Hadiya, Welayta with their unique houses
and the Gamo people. Arrive in the afternoon at the basic but comfortable
hotel perched on the edge of an escarpment offering great views of Lakes Chamo
and Abaya, two Rift Valley lakes with the National Park between them. Dinner
and overnight at the Bekele Molla Hotel or similar. (B,L,D)
Day 02 Arbaminch
Surrounded by mountains, Arbaminch overlooks a strip of land that separates
the two rift valley lakes: Lake Chamo and Lake Abaya. Early in the morning you
will have a game drive in the Nechsar National park which is part of the
African National Park system. Some of the wildlife you may see: the Burchell’s
Zebra, the endemic Swaynes Hartebeest, Warthog, Kudus, Grant’s and Thomson’s
gazelle. The park is also home to the more elusive and seldom seen lion,
leopard, cheetah, and African wild dog. Have lunch in the famous Soma
restaurant before returning to the hotel for a short break to freshen up.
Afterwards, you will have a boat trip on Lake Chamo to see the resident
Hippos, Nile crocodiles and water birds such as the Great White Pelicans,
Marabou Storks, African Fish Eagle, Goliath Herons, Grey Herons and others.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
Please NOTE that the drive in the national park is a bit rough and an
excursion to the Dorze village (30kms each way) can be arranged for those who
don’t like to do the national park.(B,L,D)
Day 03 Drive to Jinka
Drive to Konso, the gateway to the Omo Valley. The local people are hard
working and famous for their colorful clothes and the wooden statues that they
erect on their graves. Continue to Weito, home of the Tsemay people and head
to the Erbore people, a Cushitic speaking group that is very colorful. Drive
back to Weito for lunch at the basic restaurant before you head to Jinka
through the Tsemay, Bena and Ari villages. Dinner and overnight at the Jinka
Resort or similar. (B,L,D)
Day 04 Day excursion to the Mursi
Day excursion to the Mago National Park, a park which is the home of different
wild life such as elephants, lions, leopards, cheetah, Tiang, Gerenuk,
Warthog, Waterbuck, Buffalo, Kudu, Dik dik, Duiker and birds like the Buffalo
weavers, Secretary bird, Francolin, Guinea fowl and others. Today we are going
to see the Mursi people whose women are known for wearing lip-plates and men
for the stick fighting. PM Drive back to Jinka to spend the night in the
Jinka Resort Hotel or similar. (B,L,D)
Day 05 Weekly market at Dimeka, drive to Konso
Drive through the open woodland to attend at the fascinating weekly market at
Dimeka that attracts people from the Karo, Tsemay, Bena, Hamer and Ari tribes.
The Karo are famous for body decorations with white chalks and scarification,
and the Hamer people for the “Jumping of the Bull” which must be done by a
young boy when he transfers from childhood to an early adulthood. After
attending the market, drive back to Key Afer and have lunch from your lunch
box. Drive east back to Konso and transfer to the very basic St. Mary Hotel or
similar. (B,L,D)
Day 06 Drive to Awassa
Drive back to Arbaminch with some photo stops along the route and have a short
coffee stop before you drive back to Welayta Sodo for lunch. Continue driving
to Shashemene, land of the Ras Teferians and head south to Awassa, capital of
the Southern region located on the eastern shore of Lake Awassa. Dinner and
overnight Pina Hotel or similar. (B,L,D)
Day 07 Drive back to Addis
Attend the daily fish market day in the morning where you see the fisher men
selling their fish to the locals and lots of water birds such as the Marabou,
Great White Pelicans, Hamerkps, Gulls and lots of others eating the leftovers
of the fish. Have your breakfast at the lake side Wabishebele hotel, from
where you see lots of water birds such as the Cormorants, Darters, African
fish eagle, Hamerkop and mammals such as the Colobus and Vervet monkeys.
Afterwards, drive back to Addis with a lunch stop along the route. Transfer to
the Sheraton Hotel or similar and check-in.
Gather for your farewell dinner at Yod Abyssinia, a famous local restaurant,
where you will have the opportunity to taste the national dishes and local
beverages. You will also attend a coffee ceremony and enjoy dancing performed
by the various ethnic groups. (B,L,D)
Day 08 Departure back home
Full day in Addis to explore the city with stops at the Ethnographic museum
also known as “institute of Ethiopian studies” and Merkato-largest open air
market in Africa. We will also have some time for shopping or relax in the
hotel. Check-out time at the hotel will be at 06:00p.m. and you will have
dinner in one of the restaurants in the hotel before you transfer to the
airport for your flight back home with ET 500 at 2215
Day 09 Arrival USA
Land in Washington Dulles airport around 0720 hrs AM
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