Ethiopian Cultural and Historical Safari

This tour is a Dar es Salaam to Dar es Salaam tour.

This is one of the most comprehensive tours of Ethiopia available. The tour has a historical aspect to it where you will visit highlights such as Bahir Dar, Gonder, Mekele, Debre Marko, Axum amoungst other areas. You will be educated about the rich historical aspects of Ethiopia which are like no other country in Africa.

There is also a strong cultural aspect to the tour where you will meet up with some of the most remote tribes in Africa, including the Caro, the Dus and the Murci Tribes. You will visit these tribes villages and get a full understanding of there way of life.

Combine this with the spectacular scenary of Ethiopia makes this a once in a lifetime trip to the Horn of Africa!

DAY 1/2 Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar

After a short briefing we drive to Bahir Dar, the road takes a winding route over the Ethiopian Plateau towards Debre Libanso for lunch. After eating we continue to our campsite at Bahir Dar. Bahir Dar is a large town on the edge of Ethiopia's largest lake, the deep blue Lake Tana. Optional Activities: Lake Tana cruise. Blue Nile Falls

DAY 3/4 Bahir Dar to Gonder and Simein Mountains

In the morning we drive from Bahir Dar to Gonder. We will take a tour of Gonder, once the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire and home of some impressive ancient African archecture. The next day we explore the castles of Gonder and visit a Woleka village before travelling to the Simien Mountain NP. This mountain range is one of Africa's largest.

DAY 5/6 Simien Mountains NP to Axum and Mekele

On our way to Axum we pass the Limalimo Mountain and traverse the Tekeze valley. Axum is the site of Ethiopia's most ancient city and the reputed home of the biblical Ark of the Covenant. The next day we tour the ruined city of Yeha (dating back over 2,700yrs). The ancient crowns of many Ethiopian Emperors are held in Axum and, if that is not enough, the supposed ruins of the home of the historical Queen of Sheba are also to be seen here. After absorbing all this history it is on to Mekele for an enjoyable dinner.

DAY 7/8 Mekele to Lalibela

The whole day is required to get to Lalibela. The unpaved road climbs several times to heights of 3,000 m, before descending again into river valleys. The landscape is dry, but visually splendid. We will arrive in Lalibela in the early evening. Lalibela is one of the holiest cities and home to amazing churches that are hewn from solid rock. Between the 10th and 13th centuaries, Roha (previous name) was the capital of the Zagwe dynasty. The current name comes from the famous Zagwe ruler, the 12th century King Lalibela.

DAY 9/10 Lalibela to Kombolcha and Addis Ababa

The road runs through villages, cultivated plains and small passes. We are close to the land occupied by the Afar shepherds, a Seminomadic people who live mainly in the deserts of Danakil depression. On our return to the capital of Addis Ababa the road crosses the Ethiopian plateau and the expanse of cultivated fields. We arrive in Addis Ababa in the evening. Optional Activities: Dinner and Cultural Evening

DAY 11/12 Addis Ababa to Arba Minch

It's an early start as we leave Addis Ababa and begin the adventure in the Omo Valley in 4x4 vehicles. We pass by the Rift Valley lakes before arriving into Arba Minch. The next morning we take a relaxing boat trip on Lake Chamo, populated by a substantial number of crocodiles and hippos. Later in the afternoon we visit the Nechisar NP.

DAY 13 Arba Minch to Turmi and Omorate

The road continues through savannah, running along the "Mountains of Men", the road then rises up the Karkerte Mountains until it reaches the soft, terraced hills of Konso where we visit a village. Nothing in Ethiopia or Africa prepares you for South Omo. This area is filled with extraordinary cultural intensity. Here we'll encounter the Galeb people.

DAY 15 Turmi to Mago National Park

Today the tour continues up to Murulle, where we visit the Karo tribes of Kolcho and Dus. We continue to Mago NP and there is some rough road before we arrive at camp. Tonight we sleep in tents.

DAY 16/17 Mago NP to Arba Minch and Awassa

We will have a very brief stopover in Jinka and then continue towards Key Afer, here we will visit the Ari and Bana tribes and you can have lunch in one of the local hotels or restaurants. All kinds of fruit and goods are sold along the roadside. On the way to Awassa we stop off in Chencha to visit a Dorze village. The Dorze people are renowned cotton weavers, and their tall beehiveshaped huts are the most distinctive in Africa.

DAY 18/19 Awassa to Dinsho

The tour now heads out east towards Dinsho, the route taken passes through immense fields of wheat, barley and high-altitude meadows. Dinsho is the gateway to the Bale Mountains NP. The park encompasses Mt Tullo Deemtu, the second highest peak in Ethiopia.

Day 20 Dinsho to Addis Ababa

The Ethiopian Cultural and Historical Tour heads back up north for the drive to Addis Ababa and end of the service!

Please Note:

This 20 Day Ethiopian Cultural and Historical Safari is also available as two shorter tour options, following the same itinerary as the first 10 Days of this tour or the last 10 Days of the above itinerary.

For more details please contact African Budget Safaris.

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