ON THE HORN OF AFRICA

Oldest country of Africa

Ethiopia is the only African country never to have been fully colonised, resulting in a culture little-influenced by the West. It has its own alphabet, calendar and time zone, and this strongly religious country (the second-oldest Christian country in the world) also dictates regular fasting days on which you’ll find only vegetarian or vegan food. When thinking of Ethiopian culture, though, most people picture the tribes along the Omo Valley, each with their own distinctive appearance, from lip plates to face paint. The Omo tribes continue to maintain their unique cultures and languages under pressure from displacement and increasing interest from tourists.

TRIBE TOURS

This tour visit the tribes of Ethiopia's rapidly changing Omo Valley. Of the many small tribes in this area we regularly visit the Hamer and Banna, the Mursi, the Ari, the Dasanech, the Konso and Dorze. Some itineraries also include the Karo. Our itineraries are scheduled to include some of the local weekly markets in the region.

This tour visits several of the tribes of the Omo Valley including the Karo, the Desenech, the Mursi, the Hamer, and Konso Villages.

The order of sites visited in the Omo can change depending upon lodge availability and weekly market days

VISIT SEVERAL TRIVES OF THE OMO VALLEY # AFIO-OVO7#

8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS

This tour visits several of the tribes of the Omo Valley including the Karo, the Desenech, the Mursi, the Hamer, and Konso Villages.

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OMO VALLEY TRIBE TOURS-10 DAYS/9 NIGHTS-#AFIO-OVO9b#

10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS

This a two days  longer  tour visits several tribes of the Omo Valley including the Kari, the Desenech, the Mursi , teHamer and Konso Villages. 

The order of sites visited in the Omo can change depending upon lodge availability and weekly market days

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OMO VALLEY AND BALE MOUNTAINS#AFIO-OVO9a#

10 DAYS : 9 NIGHTS

This tour visits several tribes of the Omo Valley including the Kari, the Desenech, the Mursi , teHamer and Konso Villages.

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Simien Mountains National Park
A home to globally threatened species

The park is of global significance for biodiversity conservation because it is home to globally threatened species, including the iconic Walia ibex, a wild mountain goat found nowhere else in the world, the Gelada baboon and the Ethiopian wolf.                                  Jaw-dropping plateaus, ridges, gorges and gullies characterise this UNESCO World Heritage Site. With some of the world's best trekking routes, endemic wildlife and luxurious lodges perched in hills, the Simien Mountains are Ethiopia's most popular travel destination, and for good reason.

ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES-LALIBELA
CARVED OUT OF ROCKS

The Churches of Lalibela hold important religious significance for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. Together they form a pilgrimage site with particular spiritual and symbolic value, with a layout representing the holy city of Jerusalem.

MOUNT ENTOTO
HIGHEST PEAK OF THE ENTOTO MOUNTAINS

The peak is the highest on this mountain and overlooks the capital city. Legend has it that it is from here that Emperor Menelik II and his wife Empress Taitu saw Addis Ababa for the first time and decided to make it the capital of the country. The mountain is considered sacred by many locals and offers a fantastic view of the capital city nestled in its foothills.

BLUE NILE FALLS
THIS ABAY - "GREAT SMOKE"

Known locally as ‘Tis Abay’ meaning ‘Great Smoke’, the Blue Nile Falls are a testimony to Ethiopia’s natural beauty. The Blue Nile Falls are the most dramatic falls anywhere on the Nile river system, and are at their most impressive in the rainy season from June to early September. The Blue Nile river, which emanates from the nearby Lake Tana, cascades down a 42m-high drop to produce a dazzling spray of mist and rainbows. In the rainy season, when the falls are at their strongest, it's easy to see why the locals call it 'Tis Abay' meaning ‘the Great Smoke’ in Amharic

ERTA ALE VOLCANO
SMOKING MOUNTAIN

Ethiopia's "smoking mountain" is in one of the hottest regions on the planet and is home to two lava lakes

. LOCATED IN THE DANAKIL DEPRESSION (or Afar Depression) in the Afar Region of northeastern Ethiopia, Erta Ale is one of the driest, lowest and hottest places on earth. Temperatures during the year range from 77°F to 118°F. The area is beset by drought, bereft of trees, and has little in the way of roads.

Known by the Afar as the “smoking mountain” and “the gateway to hell,” Erta Ale is a 2,011-foot-high constantly active basaltic shield volcano. It is one of only a handful of continuously active volcanos in the world, and a member of an even more exclusive group: volcanos with lava lakes. While there are only five known volcanos with lava lakes globally, Erta Ale often has two active lava lakes – making it a unique site.

LAKE TANA
AN AESTHETIC AND RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE

Lake Tana is the largest national freshwater body, accounting for 50% of the total inland waters of the country, and is the source of the Abbay of Blue Nile River. The Biosphere Reserve is an important fish resource and is home to up to 67 different species of fish of which 70% are endemic.ilometres in length and 66 kilometres wide, Lake Tana is Ethiopia's largest lake and, at an elevation of 1840 meters above sea level, it is also the highest lake in Africa.

FASIL GHEBBI
THE MAGNIFICENT 17TH-CENTURY CAMELOT OF ETHIOPIA

The fortress city functioned as the centre of the Ethiopian government until 1864. It has some twenty palaces, royal buildings, highly decorated churches, monasteries and unique public and private buildings, transformed by the Baroque style brought to Gondar by the Jesuit missionaries.

Ghebbi is an Amharic word that means compound or enclosure. In other words, Fasil Ghebbi translates to Fasil's Enclosure or compound

WONCHI CRATER LAKE
A BEAUTIFULL LEGACY

Sitting in the shadow of Mount Wonchi, Wonchi Crater Lake is the beautiful legacy of a once powerful volcano. A hiking path from the rim of the volcano meanders past small farms and forests to the lake below. An ancient island church, Cherkos, is accessible via a boat ride across the lake. For those not keen on walking, horseback in an option

BEST TIME TO VISIT ETHIOPIA

January, February and March:

These are the dry and hot months in Ethiopia. These months are very popular and therefore busier for travelling. Also, the Timket festival is always in January, a very special festival which is wonderful to experience.


April, May, June, July, August and September:

Powerful rainy season where it can sometimes rain for days in a row. During these months it is not wise to go to Ethiopia.


October, November and December:

These are again good months for touring. On 30 November, the Saint Marian of Zion festival takes place in Axum which leaves an unforgettable impression on people.