Epic Ethiopia - 2024-25

On arrival in Addis Ababa, after clearing customs and immigration, you will be met and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel.

The modern Addis Ababa is home to the African Union and a major base of the United Nations, making this capital the “Geneva” of Africa. There are numerous sights and attractions around this melting pot of a city and the afternoon explorer could take in sights such as the “Mercato”, the largest open-air market in Africa or visit the museums (National or Ethnological).

After settling in you will undergo a thorough briefing on the upcoming trip.

Overnight – Hyatt Regency

This morning you are transferred to the airport in time for the flight to Gondar with Ethiopian airlines.

On arrival you set off and drive up to the Simien Mountains.  Leaving Gondar take a scenic drive into the Simien Massif with regular photographic opportunities.  A packed lunch will be had at a scenic spot en route.

This massif, part of a vast dome of igneous basalts, was formed some 75 million years ago, and experienced a period of vulcanism which ended 4-5 million years ago.  Comprising 220 square kilometres of peaks, plateaus, vistas and valleys, the park offers stunning viewpoints and some of the best trekking routes in Africa.

Opportunities for walking excursions into this mountain park abound, as well as good chances to spot endemic wildlife like the Geladas, Simien Wolves and Walia Ibex.

Overnight – Simien Mountain Lodge

Today is spent exploring within the National Park with guided walking, great wildlife viewing and some of the most impressive scenery in Africa.  

Enjoy the splendor of the Simiens whilst trekking across the high plateaus, up its peaks or along the riverbeds of the lowlands. Treks in the Simien Mountains range from half-day in the Limalimo area to 10+ day adventures further into the National Park. The lodge is inside the park boundaries, and an eight hour trek to Buit Ras camp, from where guests can continue to campsites further in the park.

Your trek will be with a knowledgeable guide and support crew, seeing you camp out under the stars with campfires in the evenings. Camping equipment, meals and luggage service (by mule or car) will be provided. For younger guests, mules will be available to use during the treks. 

Overnight – Simien Mountain Lodge

You drive back from the Simien Mountains to the town of Gondar and fly across to Lalibela  – Ethiopia’s most important and fascinating historical attraction. 

Arriving in the afternoon with time to wander this medieval town and explore the world famous rock hewn churches here. There are three clusters of rock hewn churches and the afternoon will be spent visiting the first of these.

Mezena: According to elders in the area, the name “Mezena” means a landscape that is flat, fertile and central for all places including the churches and other historical sites in the area. As the name indicates on, Mezena is truly a smooth and flat place that is so nice to walk around or situate oneself and enjoy the panoramic ecstasies while inhaling a natural fresh air. It is a place of emerald, luxuriant to produce adorable fruits and vegetables compared to other places in the vicinity. It is also center for all the churches and other historical sites in the surrounding as they are easily accessible from Mezena.

Overnight – Mezena Lodge

Today you visit Yemrehanna Cristos and second and third cluster.

In a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia, some 645 km from Addis Ababa, eleven medieval monolithic churches were carved out of rock. Their building is attributed to King Lalibela who set out to construct in the 12th century a ‘New Jerusalem’, after Muslim conquests halted Christian pilgrimages to the holy Land. Lalibela flourished after the decline of the Aksum Empire.

There are two main groups of churches – to the north of the river Jordan: Biete Medhani Alem  (House of the Saviour of the World), Biete Mariam (House of Mary), Biete Maskal (House of the Cross), Biete Denagel (House of Virgins), Biete Golgotha Mikael (House of Golgotha Mikael); and to the south of the river, Biete Amanuel (House of Emmanuel), Biete Qeddus Mercoreus (House of St. Mercoreos), Biete Abba Libanos (House of Abbot Libanos), Biete Gabriel Raphael (House of Gabriel Raphael), and Biete Lehem (House of Holy Bread). The eleventh church, Biete Ghiorgis (House of St. George), is isolated from the others, but connected by a system of trenches.

The churches were not constructed in a traditional way but rather were hewn from the living rock of monolithic blocks. These blocks were further chiselled out, forming doors, windows, columns, various floors, roofs etc. This gigantic work was further completed with an extensive system of drainage ditches, trenches and ceremonial passages, some with openings to hermit caves and catacombs.

Biete Medhani Alem, with its five aisles, is believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, while Biete Ghiorgis has a remarkable cruciform plan. Most were probably used as churches from the outset, but Biete Mercoreos and Biete Gabriel Rafael may formerly have been royal residences. Several of the interiors are decorated with mural paintings.

Near the churches, the village of Lalibela has two storey round houses, constructed of local red stone, and known as the Lasta Tukuls. These exceptional churches have been the focus of pilgrimage for Coptic Christians since the 12th century.

Criterion (i): All the eleven churches represent a unique artistic achievement, in their execution, size and the variety and boldness of their form.

Criterion (ii): The King of Lalibela set out to build a symbol of the holy land, when pilgrimages to it were rendered impossible by the historical situation. In the Church of Biet Golgotha, are replicas of the tomb of Christ, and of Adam, and the crib of the Nativity. The holy city of Lalibela became a substitute for the holy places of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and as such has had considerable influence on Ethiopian Christianity.

Criterion (iii): The whole of Lalibela offers an exceptional testimony to the medieval and post-medieval civilization of Ethiopia, including, next to the eleven churches, the extensive remains of traditional, two storey circular village houses with interior staircases and thatched roofs.

Integrity

The drainage ditches were filled up with earth for several centuries, before being cleared in the 20th century, and have been disrupted by seismic activity. This has resulted in a severe degradation of the monuments from water damage, and most of them are now considered to be in a critical condition.

Structural problems have been identified in Biet Amanuel where an imminent risk of collapse is possible, and other locations need to be monitored. Serious degradation of the paintings inside the churches has occurred over the last thirty years. Sculptures and bas-reliefs (such as at the entrance of Biet Mariam) have also been severely damaged, and their original features are hardly recognisable. All of this threatens the integrity of the property.

Temporary light-weight shelters have now been installed over some churches and these, while offering protection, impact on visual integrity.

Other threats include encroachment on the environment of the churches by new public and private construction, housing associated with the traditional village adjacent to the property, and from the infrastructure of tourism.

Authenticity

The Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela are still preserved in their natural settings. The association of the rock-hewn churches and the traditional vernacular circular houses, in the surrounding area, still demonstrate evidences of the ancient village layout. The original function of the site as a pilgrimage place still persists and provides evidence of the continuity of social practices. The intangible heritages associated with church practices are still preserved.

Protection and management requirements

For centuries, the Church and State have been jointly responsible for the holy site of Lalibela. Home to a large community of priests and monks, it is a living site which draws many pilgrims to celebrate the great feasts of the Ethiopian Christian calendar. This active and energetic perspective is central to the management of the site.

Overnight – Mezena Lodge

This morning, you will be transferred to Lalibela Airport, in time for your flight via Addis Airport, to Robe Airport.

On arrival you will be met and transferred for an hours drive to camp. The tented camp is situated next to a waterfall on the Sodota Plateau in an extremely unique wilderness area. Wolves are often seen coming in to camp here.

The first afternoon will be a short walk up the Webb River just to familiarize with the area. This stunning little water course has a variety of endemic birds but is also regularly visited by wolves, hyaena’s and mountain nyala.

Evening is spent in camp. At this altitude, the nights and early mornings get very cold. You have a campfire and also charcoal heaters to keep the dining room snug and warm. The stars at this altitude with no light pollution are absolutely stunning

Enjoy the next two days exploring the Bale Mountains National Park,  looking for wolves, explore the Gaysay Grasslands, Webb Valley and get the chance to do some trout fishing.

Overnight – Webb Valley Camp

Depending on time of the year, there is a chance of finding a wolf den and photographing pups. Either way, it will be an early start to from camp to catch the wolves when they are still all together in their packs. There are usually great photographic opportunities when the wolves feel warm enough to awake and greet each other. Often this is quite a vocal occasion. By mid morning, the wolves have separated to hunt individually. Brunch in Camp before setting out for an afternoon explore of the vast Sodota plateau. The vehicle is used to the best advantage and get close to where the individual packs have their territories and are more likely to return to at sunset. 

The evening is spent round the fire in camp.

One of the greatest feelings in the Bale Mountains is that of solitude. Here you are very much away from the madding crowd with only occasional local horsemen and women passing by on their way to distant markets. The birdlife, most specifically the raptors is amazing and it is possibly the only place in Africa to see Golden Eagles. Large portions of the day can be spent in the comfort of camp, overlooking the waterfall and waiting for the wildlife to come to you.

Overnight – Webb Valley Camp

This morning you leave the Bale Mountains after breakfast on a scheduled flight to Addis, and catch a connection to Jinka.  From here you drive on to the homeland of the Bodi and explore the diverse terrain from the foothills of Mount Smith to some beautiful plains where there may be a chance of seeing zebra, hartebeest and giraffe if lucky. Dinner will be by starlight, sharing stories around the campfire before spending your first night under canvas.

The Omo Valley in south-west Ethiopia is a last frontier of Africa. Fittingly for a country that is the cradle of our earliest-known ancestors, people live here in their tribal communities as they have for thousands of years.  You will be taken on a once-in-alifetime adventure to the remotest parts of the Omo Valley for an inspirational journey through some unique cultures. Tribal groups are sometimes only a short distance apart but have such diverse and distinctive traditions and lifestyles.

Travelling by boat allows you to reach deep into the wilderness – a feast for the eyes as you move from mountains to plains and have the occasional encounter with wildlife. The Omo is one of Africa’s great unexplored rivers and you will visit villages seen by few, if any, outsiders before you.

Your journey will be guided by the flow of the river and you will visit up to six different cultures as you meander by boat and vehicle towards the Omo River delta into Lake Turkana. The itinerary will flex to accommodate any ceremonies you might be able to join – from feasts to stick fights.

Overnight - Tama Plains Camp

A three-hour drive on rough bush tracks into the wilderness will bring you to Chen Tented Camp on the banks of the Omo River. On the journey, you will try to coincide with an amazing market that is held each week between the Bodi and the Mursi, where all are dressed in their finest traditional clothes. You will pass close to several Mursi villages on the way to the river.

Drive and walk into a Mursi village to watch how life unfolds in the early hours. The Mursi are pastoralists, spending a lot of time with their livestock and you may be invited to visit one of their cattle camps. 

The different Mursi communities and meet some locals. The river here is a truly wild destination that seems lost to the modern world. The Mursi scratch out a living by planting sorghum along some of the banks. The Omo National Park forms the western bank of the river. Chen Tented Camp is situated in an area through which wildlife regularly passes. All tents are ensuite and situated under the shade of beautiful riverine fig trees where colobus monkeys play and call throughout the early mornings. The evening is spent around the fire on the sandy riverbank listening to the sounds of the African bush.

Game is not as concentrated or predictable as in other African destinations, but you still get the thrill from exploring and following the animal trails in this truly wild area.

Boat upriver for some birdwatching, possibly spotting Egyptian plovers and pels fishing owls. Baboons, and both colobus and grivets monkeys are a constant on the riverbanks and occasionally the elusive De Brazza’s monkey can be seen.

In the evening, you take a walk into the plains to look for some of the wildlife that inhabits the area.

Overnight - Chen Camp

A two hour boat trip doiwn the river brings you to the Nyangatom communities.

You will stop here and spend a short time with them before you take the vehicles and drive the one-hour journey across to Lale’s Camp in the heart of Kara territory.

The Kara are renowned for their body painting and after lunch, you will spend time with them learning of this ancient art.

The evening is spent on the riverbank watching the sun go down from the very comfortable setting of Lale’s Camp.

Overnight – Lale’s Camp

In the early morning, you drive inland to visit a traditional Hamar village.

The Hamar are very recognisable from their women's braided ochre hair styles and colourful traditional dress. Those that live closer to the river have herds of both goats and cattle and the morning will be spent watching and learning how they tend to their livestock.

Lunch will be back at Lale’s Camp with time to rest in comfort, and to take a look back on a fascinating journey down the Omo – a wild and untouched African river.

As the day cools,  you walk into Dus village, the cultural home of the Kara. Here you visit the incredible wooden parliament house where all decisions affecting Kara life are made.

Overnight – Mursi Fly Camp

Today you part from the river for most of the day, travelling inland to the town of Turmi which is the cultural home of the Hamar.

If there are any Hamar ceremonies, there is a chance to visit and watch.  Three days a week, markets are held in Turmi which are bustling affairs full of excitement and chatter. The drive to the town of Omerate, at the entrance to the Omo Delta, takes another hour. Here rejoin the river and spend the evening camped on the riverbank not far from a traditional Dassenech village.

You will see a lot more human activity now that the river has slowed, with wooden dugout canoes plying their trade.  Depending on where the camp will be, either drive or boat to the Dassenech’s traditional DIMI ceremony. These can go on for a month or two and are a coming-of-age ceremony for boys and girls. The parents dress up in their finest wildlife skins and dance before a panel of elders. This will continue, usually for weeks, until permission is given by the tribal elders for the ceremony to take place. This is an extraordinary spectacle, an age-old tradition in a true African wilderness

Overnight – Lale’s Camp

Your journey back to Addis Ababa starts early, either by scheduled flight or by charter.

Depending on when you reach your hotel, you may have time to head out to one of the many markets or select shops in the city. 

You will celebrate your final evening of this amazing journey with dinner at one of the best restaurants in Addis Ababa, before the drive back to the airport to meet your flight out of Ethiopia.

End of arrangements