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Day 1: Join Nairobi
Arrive into Nairobi and check-in to our hotel.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Day 2: Drive to Lake Elementaita
A short drive from Nairobi takes us straight into the Rift Valley towards our first night's camp at Lake Elementaita. The name is derived from the Maasai word muteita, meaning "dust place", a reference to the dry and dusty quality of the area, especially between January and March. Elementaita is one of the famous soda lakes of the region created by the high evaporation and high alkalinity of the water, resulting in a haven for hundreds of species of birdlife. The lake's shores are grazed by zebra, gazelle, eland and families of warthog. This afternoon you will have the opportunity of taking a walk along the shore or in the adjacent forest to experience the beauty of the natural environment.
Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Drive to Samburu National Reserve
Heading north we cross the equator at Nanyuki, a small frontier town whose claim to fame is the Mount Kenya Safari Club, which once boasted a membership list that included Winston Churchill, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope! Samburu National Reserve, set in the hot semi-desert of the Northern Frontier District, must be one of the wildest places in Africa. The Ewaso Ngiro River a brown, muddy, crocodile-infested river, allows for a green ribbon of oasis in this parched thornscrub landscape. We spend two nights in a beautiful campsite beneath an umbrella of majestic acacia trees.
Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Game viewing at Samburu
The desert bush is the habitat of reticulated giraffe, blue-legged Somali ostrich, oryx, gerenuk and gazelle as well as elephant and lion. Birdlife is also plentiful – brightly coloured weavers and gregarious starlings in the acacia trees, kingfishers along the river, spurfowl and francolin in the undergrowth and kites, eagles, hawks and vultures wheeling up above in the thermals which rise from the baked landscape. In the distance the snows of Mt Kenya are visible. The peak at 5199m is Kenya's highest mountain. In another direction the great rock mountains 'ol donyo Sabaachi' and 'Wharguess' shimmer in blue haze. Our activities here includes early morning and late afternoon game drives.
Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Drive to Marsabit
A long days drive takes us north towards Ethiopia. It is in this region of Africa that the Samburu people herd their cattle. The Morani (warriors) use red ochre to decorate themselves while the women wear heavy coiled necklaces. We finally reach Marsabit which lies on an isolated volcanic range punctuated with crater lakes and covered in Montane grassland and lush forest. The town affords stunning views across the surrounding park, dominated by Mt. Marsabit (1702m), a long dormant volcano rising high above the surrounding desert and forest.
Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Drive to Moyale and cross border into Ethiopia.
Travelling to the east of the Chalbi desert, we descend the Marsabit plateau and drive through a landscape of scrub and black basalt known as the Dida Galgalu, or Plains of Darkness. We reach the twin towns of Moyale, the one-street town that straddles the Kenyan/Ethiopian border. Because of the strange idiosyncrasies of the Ethiopian Julian calendar time goes backwards as we cross the border, by seven years!
Overnight Basic Hotel (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Visit El Sod crater and drive to Yabello
This morning we will visit the crater lake of El Sod. Known locally as the House of Salt, El Sod's deep crater is famous for the black salt that has been extracted from its inky depths for centuries. From the village of El Sod it's a 30-minute walk into the crater and a one-hour walk up (suitable for those who lead a normal active life). Today the ubiquitous donkeys can still be seen winding their way up the side of the crater loaded with the valuable mineral. Our destination today is Yabello, famed for its unique position as home to two of Ethiopia's endemic birds; the white-tailed swallow and Stresemann's bush crow. These birds can only be found in the acacia scrubland around Yabello. In addition you can find Abyssinian ground hornbills, white-headed buffalo weavers and the bizarrely named barefaced go-away bird!
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Drive to Konso
Continuing north we enter the land of the Konso. Differing from their neighbours, the Konso are pure agriculturists, famed for their use of the stone terraces that they utilise to such good effect in this dry and barren region of basalt hills. They have won awards and are recognised by UNESCO for their innovative techniques. With their tradition of Konso Waga, a warrior worship revolving around the carving of wooden effigies, they have been likened to the Dogon of Mali. Originally from the east and speaking an east Cushitic language, the Konso live in settlements that are surrounded by stone walls. The age of each town is classified by a generation pole and each family lives in compounds that are accessible only through gateways that require the visitor to enter on all fours thereby rendering any potential attackers vulnerable.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: To Arba Minch via Dorze village
This morning we plan a visit to a Dorze village. The Dorze are famous as weavers and some of Ethiopia's best cotton comes from this region. The Dorze are probably more renowned for their distinctive beehive dwellings. These remarkable structures, made entirely from organic materials, can measure some 12 metres in height and in spite of their seemingly fragile construction can last up to 60 years before the inevitable rot and termites take their toll! Later today we continue to Arba Minch, set amidst green hills close to the Rift Valley lakes of Chamo and Abaya and the Nechisar National Park.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: To Lake Awasa via Guge mountains
Heading through the Guge mountains and the villages of the Wolayta we reach the tranquillity of the lake region. Our overnight stop will be close to the shores of Lake Awasa a beautiful setting, Awasa being the capital of the old Sidamo province. The lake is a haven for birds that flock to the lake's shore. You may well spot kingfisher, herons, storks along with an array of attractive weavers and hornbill.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Drive to Addis Ababa
Passing via ancient crater lakes, we may come across local Oromo herders watering their cattle. And finally leave the dramatic scenery of the south as we climb into Ethiopia's highlands to the country's eclectic and vibrant capital, Addis Ababa.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12: In Addis Ababa; city tour
Addis is situated at an elevation of around 2438m and is only about a century old. It has some elegant modern buildings and is quite spacious with wide streets and green areas. It remains the capital of a predominantly rural area and the mercato is one of the largest open markets in Africa. This morning we will make an orientation tour of the city visiting the two major highlights of the city, the Ethnographic Museum and the church of the Holy Trinity, whose large dome and slender pinnacles make it a landmark in the city.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Drive Debre Markos via Debre Libanos
Today we start our journey and drive to Debre Markos paying a visit to Debre Libanos on the way. It is not hard to see why Debre Libanos was selected as a holy site. For hundreds of years it was probably the most holy site of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It was founded by Saint Tekle Haymanot, who Christianised much of present day Ethiopia and today one of its most revered saints. The current church was built in the 1950s, and the site is impressively set beneath a cliff on the edge of a gorge and is a peaceful place to wander. It is here in a nearby cave that Tekle Haymanot reputedly stood on one leg for 7 years. It is believed that he survived on one seed a year, fed to him by a bird and as a result of this habit his leg fell off.
Overnight Basic Hotel (H) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 14: Drive to Bahar Dar via Blue Nile, afternoon visit to Tississat Falls
The Blue Nile begins its journey in the Ethiopian highlands, many believe from the waters of Lake Tana itself and from there continues its epic odyssey, joining forces with the White Nile at Khartoum, before finally reaching its end at the Mediterranean, some 2,750 miles away. We visit a viewpoint close to the Nile's source, to pause and wonder at the tremendous distance this body of water must now travel to reach its mouth in the Delta region of Lower Egypt before driving on to Bahar Dar. Situated on the shores of Lake Tana. Bahar Dar is the capital of the Amhara region and an important centre for trade and commerce. Over the centuries it's been the sight of a number of temporary capitals for Ethiopian kings and its setting on the shores of the lake makes it an attractive town to base ourselves as we explore more of the surrounding area. This afternoon we visit Tississat Falls, Amharic for 'water that smokes' located about 32km south of Bahar Dar. After crossing a 16th century Portuguese built bridge, we plan to walk up the hillside on an easy path to a viewpoint (approximately 45 minutes). From here we hope to see the falls, measuring some 400m across and dropping 45m into a deep chasm. Please note: viewing of the falls is subject to local authorities allowing water to flow from the Blue Nile dam.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 15: In Bahar Dar; Boat trip on Lake Tana and free afternoon
This morning we spend time on the 3500 sq km Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile, where we visit some of the monasteries dotted around the lake. On the Zeghie peninsula we see the Ura Kidane Meret Church, - dating back to medieval times the church contains a number of valuable manuscripts and religious treasures and an incredible set of religious frescoes.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 16: Drive to Gondar; visit castle complex
Heading further north our journey today takes us to Gondar, located on the high plateau just north of Lake Tana. The town was the imperial capital of Ethiopia for 200 years. Gondar's most famous monuments are its exceptionally well preserved 17th century castles and we intend to visit that of King Fasilidas, the largest, a stone-built construction with round turrets and wooden balconies. The king also built a remarkable bath a mile or so outside of town known as the 'Pavilion of Delight'. This whole complex of buildings is unique in Ethiopia and unlike anything found elsewhere in Africa. As well as visiting the castle ruins, we'll make a visit to the Debre Berhan Selassie Church famed for its ceiling frescoes of many faces.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 17: Drive to Lalibela
Today we spend the day driving to Lalibela. We intend to stopping off at Debre Tabor along the way, once the site of an Ethiopian capital during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was from here that the emperor Tewodros formulated his plans for glory and expansionism. Unfortunately his plans brought him into conflict with both his own people and the British and his attempt to extort concessions resulted in the destruction of his army by a superior British force, ending his reign, his life and badly undermining Ethiopia's ability to defend itself. From here we continue to one of the world's most remarkable historic sites. Although churches carved in rock are found in other parts of the world, those found in Ethiopia are particularly interesting. Generally, they were excavated on all sides of a rectangle, leaving a large block of granite isolated in the centre. This rock was then shaped and formed both inside and out and the carvings show extremely skilful workmanship. Lalibela, the 'New Jerusalem', is thought to have been constructed some 800 years ago by King Lalibela. Lalibela was his capital city, but today it is a small village.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 18: In Lalibela; mule trek; pm visit churches
Mountains encircle Lalibela and located among these peaks are several more isolated churches. Reached by steep paths flanked by precipitous drops, this trip is not for vertigo sufferers or the unfit. Your tour leader can advise you. Using mules, we journey for some two hours to Ashatan Maryam church and are rewarded with stunning views over Lalibela and the peaks and mountains of these remote highlands. As we descend, it will be necessary to dismount in places due to the shaley path. Good footwear is a must! This afternoon we plan to visit some of the Lalibela's churches, The churches stand in two main groups on either side of a stream, known locally as 'The River Jordan'. There are 11 rock-cut churches of which the most impressive is Bet Giorgis. It is carved in the form of a Greek cross and approached through a passage in the rock. Between them, these rock-cut churches are one of the great wonders of the world. Please note: most churches have a permanent roof built over them to preserve them for prosperity and are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast
Day 19: Fly Addis, tour ends
Today we fly back to Addis, depending on flight times there may be an opportunity to further explore some of the churches, which involves a certain amount of scrambling through a labyrinth of tunnels.
Included meals: Breakfast
