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Historical Tour and Bale
National Park - 14 NIGHTS
This is a great itinerary offering visitors the opportunity to
discover Ethiopia. You will be starting off with the enchanting
Historical Route, rich in cultural heritage, followed by the
spectacular Bale Mountains, home to some of Africa's rarest
wildlife.
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Itinerary: 14 nights
DAY 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. At Bole
International Airport, you will be met by our Ethiopian agents, who
will assist you with formalities and transfer you to the hotel. If
time allows our agents will take you to the National Museum, local
cathedrals with exquisite artwork, traditional coffee shops where
you can purchase fresh coffee and if there is time visit the merkato
(Africa's largest open air market). Overnight stay at the Ghion
Hotel (dinner, bed and breakfast).
Ghion Hotel **
The Ghion Hotel is situated in the centre of town and is a typical
government hotel. There is an attractive garden with a thermal
swimming pool in the complex. There are several restaurants, a night
club, a casino and tennis court. The rooms are basic with ensuite
bathrooms and TV.
DAY 2: Transfer from the hotel to the airport for your flight
to Bahir Dar, the source of the Blue Nile. Lake Tana is the largest
lake in Ethiopia and the various islands and peninsulas are home to
more than twenty monasteries most of which were founded during the
14th Century. The Zege Peninsula has a large natural forest with a
large population of monkeys and forest birds. Travel from Bahir Dar
by motorised boat to Ura Kidhane Mihret which has one of the most
beautiful churches in this region with over hundred paintings. Bahir
Dar is a birdwatcher's delight with regular sightings of white
pelicans, hornbills, cranes, storks, rollers, bee eaters etc.
Overnight stay at the Papyrus Hotel (Full board).
Papyrus Hotel **
This basic hotel is situated on the outskirts of town. It has a
large swimming pool and offers comfortable bedrooms with ensuite
bathrooms.
DAY 3: After breakfast a morning excursion to the Blue Nile
Falls, not far from the source of the mighty Blue Nile River. The
vehicle stops about forty-five minutes from the actual falls and
from here you will walk down a small ravine, across the Portuguese
Bridge and up to the Blue Nile Falls - fairly strenuous but not
unbearable. Please remember to wear proper hiking shoes/boots and
stock up on bottled water. Back to the hotel for lunch and then a
visit to one of the popular markets in Bahir Dar, or alternatively
do some bird watching in the forest. Overnight stay at the Papyrus
Hotel (Full Board).
A special note: Unfortunate consequences of a recent hydroelectric
development have caused the virtual disappearance of the Blue Nile
Falls. As well as destroying the beauty of the falls, the project is
likely to have severe long-term effects on both the plant and bird
life of the region. While at this stage the bird and plant life is
still spectacular, visitors need to be aware that the falls are not
as impressive as they once were. At this stage, when electrical
demand is low and in the rainy season, the diversion through the
hydroelectric plant is switched off for several hours at the time
allowing the falls to resume some of their former glory.
DAY 4: After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your
flight to Gondar, a remarkable town founded in 1632 by the great
Emperor Fasilidas. Gondar was the royal capital of Ethiopia. After
checking into your hotel you will set off to explore the castles and
Emperor Fasilidas bathing pool. From here it is a short walk to the
Debre Birhan Selassie church, possibly the most famous church in
Ethiopia with breathtaking murals on the ceiling. Goha hotel is your
accommodation for the night. (Full board).
Goha Hotel ***
This 64 room hotel is perched on top of a hill with great views over
the city. Goha Hotel is also part of the Ghion Hotel chain. Large
veranda great for sundowners.
DAY 5: After breakfast it is off to the airport for your
flight to Lalibela. Lalibela is famous for its rock-hewn churches
carved well below ground level, and the town is situated among
impressive mountains looking down into the Rift Valley. The churches
are quite eerie and you access them by walking through mysterious
tunnels, passages and courtyards. The churches are A World Heritage
Site and also home to hermits and priests and their younger
scholars. Many of the churches are surrounded by protective
scaffolding to try and conserve these magnificent buildings from
further weathering. Overnight at the Roha Hotel. (Full board)
Roha Hotel **
The Roha hotel (another Ghion hotel chain) is situated about 2 km
from the centre of town and the main cluster of churches. There are
64 rooms with ensuite bathrooms, but there is only hot water during
specified hours - just check with reception when booking in.
DAY 6: After breakfast the adventure continues with a
full day excursion by mule to Asheton Mariam monastery which is 4
000 m above sea level and overlooks the Lalibela valley. The journey
is quite remarkable with incredible views. Asheton Mariam Monastery
has some interesting church treasures including ornate crosses.
Overnight stay at the Roha Hotel. (Full board)
DAY 7: After breakfast, leave the hotel and transfer
to the airport for your flight to Axum. Axum is the oldest town in
Ethiopia and by far the holiest city of the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church and is a photographer's delight. This small town is home to
the ancient stelae (mysteriously erected and transported), the Queen
of Sheba's swimming pool and the ruins of her palace, the Axum
Museum and most importantly St Mary's Church where the Ark of the
Covenant is believed to be housed. Overnight stay at the Remhai
hotel. (Full board).
Remhai Hotel ***
This 65 room hotel is situated on the eastern fringe of the town
centre. All rooms have DSTV, a fridge, 24 hour electricity and water
and the bigger rooms have a telephone. There is an internet cafe,
curio shop, swimming pool, gym and sauna. Traditional shows on some
of the nights.
DAY 8: Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Addis
Ababa. From Bole airport you are driven by 4x4 vehicle via the
crater lakes to Mojo. Overnight Daema Hotel.
DAY 9: After breakfast it is time to drive to Awassa, via the Rift
Valley Lakes of Ziway, Abiata and Shala. All of these lakes support
massive concentrations of water birds and the scenery is spectacular
with abundant wildlife. Awassa, situated in the Rift Valley is a
pleasant town and the perfect place to start off the tour to the
South. Watch out for the grivet and guereza monkeys in the grounds
of the hotel. There are also hippos in the lake. Awassa is a bird
watcher's delight with sightings of fish eagle, silvery-cheeked
hornbill, grey kestrel, weavers and endemic black-winged lovebirds,
yellow-fronted parrots, banded barbets and Ethiopian Orioles.
Overnight at Awassa Wabeshebelle Hotel # 2. (Full board)
Wabeshebelle Hotel # 2 *
This hotel offers a relaxed atmosphere on the lake shores. Watch out
for the grivet and guereza monkeys in the grounds of the hotel.
There are also hippos in the lake. The rooms are very basic with
ensuite, hot water showers.
DAY 10: Early morning walk along the shores of Lake
Awassa for more incredible bird watching in the marshy scrubland.
Here you should see blue-headed coucal, Bruce's green pigeon, white-rumped
babbler and the endemic thick-billed raven. Back to the hotel for
breakfast and after this the long journey to Goba - a five hour
drive into the Bale Mountain National Park which offers five
vegetation zones and is home to many endemic birds and the
endangered Ethiopian wolves. Please be aware that the road is in
very bad shape which makes for a rather arduous journey! Other
wildlife is the mountain nyala, Menelik's bush buck, warthog, bohor
reedbuck, Bale monkey, olive baboon. There are rare sightings of
African wild dog, leopard and lion. Overnight stay at the Goba
Wabeshebelle Hotel. (Full board)
Goba Wabeshebelle Hotel **
This government hotel lies in overgrown grounds about 2 km out of
Goba along the Robe road. There is a good restaurant and all the
rooms are ensuite with hot showers.
DAY 11: After an early breakfast you will be taken up
to the Sanetti Plateau, also part of Bale National Park. This
represents an outstanding example of Afro-alpine moor land. With
luck, you'll enjoy close-up views of the Ethiopian wolf - Africa's
rarest canid. Of the 400 remaining Ethiopian wolves, 75% live in
Bale National Park. Their habitat preference means the Sanetti
Plateau is the best place to find them. Fortunately, they are very
approachable and offer superb photo opportunities. Sanetti Plateau
offers great birding: look for endemics like blue-winged goose;
spot-breasted lapwing and Rouget's rail, all common here. Overnight
at the Goba Wabeshebelle Hotel. (Full board)
DAY 12: Early morning walk (1 - 2 hours) in Dinsho. Look in the
juniper forest for mammals like the endemic mountain nyala and
Menelik's bushbuck. You may also see endemic birds like the
Abyssinian catbird, regarded as Africa's finest diva! Transfer to
Nazret which is the third largest town in Ethiopia. Offering a wide
choice of restaurants, hotels and authentic coffee shops this town
has a very laid back feel. Overnight Adama Mekonnen Hotel before
going to Awash National Park.
Adama Mekonnen Hotel ***
This is a modern multi-store hotel situated about 1 km from the
centre of town along the Addis Ababa road. It is well maintained and
offers 30 ensuite rooms (hot showers) with DSTV.
DAY 13: Early morning departure and drive to the Awash
National Park with lunch stop in Asela. Awash National park is
situated in dry acacia savannah some 200km east of Addis Ababa with
a spectacular gorge and waterfall. Interesting mammals include Beisa
Oryx, Soemmering's gazelle, Defassa waterbuck, Salt's Dik-Dik,
Hamadryads baboon, striped hyena and golden jackal. Accommodation
provided in the Awash Genet Hotel in Awash Saba. (Full board)
Awash Genet Hotel *
The Genet Hotel is situated in the main Addis Ababa road on the
western outskirts of town. All the rooms have ensuite hot water
showers.
DAY 14: After breakfast start the long drive back to
Addis Ababa and overnight at the Ghion Hotel. (Full board).
DAY 15: Transfer to the airport and depart.
Prices include:
Domestic flights with Ethiopian Airlines, hotel accommodation and
meals as indicated, meet and greet on day of arrival and all
airport-hotel transfers, all accommodation, full board throughout
the tour, all excursions to sites of interest as per itinerary,
English speaking guides for all the historical places and entrance
fees for all sites.
Not included:
International flights, visa fees, drinks, tips, personal expenses,
travel insurance, airport taxes.
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Below is an approximate price per person sharing (October 2007):
ex Johannesburgt: US$ 4169Euro 3210
ex Addis Ababa US$ 3728 Euro 2870
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