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 in a rain forest that is home to monkeys and all sorts of birds. O/n in a chosen hotel.

DAY02: Bahar Dar-Gondar

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.

DAY03: Gondar - Lalibella

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.

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) and downtown Sikela. Shecha is the uptown administrative centre. Just four kilometers away is Sikela and the commercial, industrial, and downtown residential areas. On the eastern side of Sikela lies the gate to Nechisar National Park, which covers the isthmus between Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the south. The park has not much to offer except small antelope, a few monkeys and baboon and a variety of birds. The region is known for crocodile (also known as the crocodile market which is an area of abundant, large, wild crocodiles) and hippo, fish farming, and O/n in a chosen hotel.

DAY08: Arbaminch - Turmi

In the morning drives to Turmi.

The road contnues 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.....

.....Then we continue our route through the savannah and on to 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.

Omorate and Turmi

DAY09: Omorate - Turmi

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 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.

DAY10: Turmi - Jinka

Drive from Turmi to Jinka. Today the tour drives through the savannah along tracks that are barely visible, passing through a vast 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

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 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 kudu and zebra. In the not so distant past, lions, elephants, leopards and giraffes have also been spotted here, but unfortunately our days have little chance to see the same. Once here, we visit a Mursi Tribal village, whose women have the custom of expanding their lower lips using disks that gradually get those lips larger and larger. These are people who farm the land and breed livestock; they live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world. Skipping the Mursi would be out of the 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.

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. DAY13: Arbaminch - Wondogenet In the morning drives to Wondogenet. Drive to Wendo Genet –Wondo Genet is known for its hot springs and is surrounded by primary Ethiopian forests. It is home to an arboretum and a College of Forestry which was founded in 1977 with Swedish assistance. Also located in this resort town is the Essential Oils Research Sub Center, where spices, aromatic and medicinal plants are conserved and their qualities researched. 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.

DAY15: Goba

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

DAY16: Sof Omar cave

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

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.