≈AFRICA ADVENTURE TOURS (AAT)'Since 2002. 10 Days - Camping
Price:
ZAR 12,850
Activity Package:
ZAR 3,940
Single Supplement:
ZAR 650
Green Seat (Optional):
ZAR 90
Tour Code:
NETHS 2012
Length:
10 days, 9 nights
Meals:
B x 9, D x 9
Start Point:
Addis Ababa
End Point:
Addis Ababa
No. of Days:
10
No. of Nights:
9
Year:
2012
Accommodation:
Twin Share Tents
Day 1 Addis Ababa to Arba Minch
It’s an early start as we leave Addis Ababa and begin the adventure of Omo Valley in 4x4 vehicles. We pass by the Rift Valley lakes before arriving into Arba Minch. This town is the largest in southern Ethiopia; it is situated among green hills that offer grand views over the Rift Valley Lakes of Abaya and Chamo. Tonight we have dinner in the Soma Restaurant, famous for its fresh fish dishes.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Arba Minch
In the morning we take a relaxing yet very rewarding boat trip on Lake Chamo, which although much smaller, is much bluer in colour , and populated by a substantial number of crocodiles and hippos. Abaya is the largest of the Rift Valley lakes +-1,070km2 and has a rusty appearance resulting from ferrous hydroxide suspended in the water.
Later in the afternoon we visit the Nechisar National Park, which is one of the most beautiful parks in Africa. Established in 1974 and set in the Rift Valley at an altitude of 1,100 – 1,650m, the park not only covers the easterly Nechisar(white grass) plains is named after, but also a large part of the two lakes and the mountainous “bridge of God” that lies between the two lakes. On the open Nechisar plains is the best viewing spot to see large game, most commonly of which is Burchell’s zebra which are regularly see in herds of 100 or more and Grant’s gazelle, although rare there are also ±100 Swayne’s hartebeest. Lion, cheetah and even African Wild dog are present, but you’d be extremely lucky to see them.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 3 Arba Minch to Turmi
The road continues into the savannah, running alongside the “Mountains of Men”, the road then rises up the Karkerte Mountains (providing splendid panoramic views) until it reaches the soft, terraced hills of Konso, here we visit a Konso village on the southern extensions of the highlands to meet the locals who are excellent farmers. The Konso are also noted for there unusual practice of sculpting eerie wooden statues to mark the graves of their dead. Should the Chief of Konso be in residence, we may be granted an audience with him. Then we continue our route through the savannah and on to Turmi where the tour will spend the night.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4 Turmi to Omorate
Today the tour drives through the savannah along tracks that are barely visible, passing through a vast meadowland with shrubs and umbel lifers ("umbrella" acacia trees). As we pass over the Omo River nothing in Ethiopia or modern Africa prepares you for South Omo. This area is filled with extraordinary cultural integrity, where the people weren’t even aware that such a thing as Ethiopia existed until 50yrs ago. Omorate lies on the eastern bank of the Omo River and is almost totally isolated from the rest of Ethiopia.
The main attraction is the Dasanech Villages on the out skirts of the town. The Dasanech are also known as Galeb or Reshiat they were forced out of there homeland in a region called Nyupe, to the west of Turkana, by the expansionist wars of Turkana in the 18th century. They now cover a large territory of the western banks of the Omo all the way south to Lake Turkana. Here we’ll encounter the Galeb people in the countryside, and go into the villages, after which we head back to Omorate to look at the local wild life on the banks of the river. The tour then returns to Turmi for the evening to rest before tomorrow’s adventure.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5 Turmi to Mago National Park
Today the tour continues northwest up towards Murulle, where we can visit the Karo tribes of Kolcho and Dus. We then continue to Mago National Park, from here on there is no real track to speak of any more. Instead we travel through the savannah in a typically African landscape. Here we’ll frequently be running into herds of Oryx and gazelle and surrounded by huge trees, this is the land of the Karo tribe and it is possible to meet with them along the river.
We continue the drive north to Mago National Park. Mago National Park was proclaimed in the 1960’s and is bisected by the Mago River, which flows into the Omo on the southern boundary. After about 2 hours of rough road we arrive at the camp site where we spend the night in tents.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6 Mago National Park to Arba Minch
The tour leaves Mago National Park on the return journey towards to the northeast, passing though the Konso villages. We will have a very brief stop over 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. Then it’s back on the road and towards in the evening we will arrive to Arba Minch.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 7 Arba Minch to Awassa
This morning we return to the road that leads back up the Rift Valley. On route the tour cross through fertile lands that have been planted with bananas, cereals and tobacco. All kinds of fruit and weaved goods are sold along the roadside. On the way we’ll stop off in Chencha and visit a Dorze village. The Dorze people are renowned cotton weavers, and their tall beehive-shaped huts are the most distinctive in Africa, these remarkable huts can measure up to 6 meters tall, and are constructed entirely from organic material. These dome structures are extremely durable; one would last a lifetime.
In the afternoon the tour arrives at Awassa, this large city is located on the edge of Lake Awassa, at an altitude of 1,685m and about 275km south of Addis Ababa. The lake is the smallest of the Rift Valley lakes. Set in an ancient volcanic caldera, the lake has no outlets, yet remains fresh with an abundance of both fish and bird life. Lake Awassa is surrounded by stunning mountains and lush fringing vegetation. There is also a beautiful dyke that run’s along the lake close to town , built to prevent flooding when the lake rises, which is perfect for walk’s, to stretch those legs and go bird watching.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 8 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. This is a particularly lush green landscape, especially in October and November. The local Ormo people, move from one village to the next on small horses, carrying various goods of grain and weaved cotton. We arrive in the evening, have dinner and camp the night.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 9 Dinsho
Dinsho is our gate way to the Bale Mountains National Park. the park encompasses the higher reaches of the Bale range, including Mt Tullo Deemtu, at 4,377m is the second highest peak in Ethiopia. The main attractions are the wild alpine scenery, especially the 4,000m-high Senetti Plateau as well as the Simien wolves. The road across the Senetti Plateau is reportedly the highest all weather road in Africa. We’ll spend the day exploring the park and meeting some of the locals
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 10 Dinsho to Addis Ababa
The tour heads back up north for the drive to Addis Ababa. Your tour ends here.
Meals: Breakfast
≈AFRICA ADVENTURE TOURS (AAT)'Since 2002.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once you make a booking with Africa Adventure Tours (AAT) we will send you a Tour Dossier and a Pre-Departure Information document. This is a brief overview of the information contained in these documents
Food and Meals. Included are three hearty meals a day, (unless otherwise specified). Vegetarians are easily catered for and they're always impressed by our varied menu. Our guides can produce miracles on a camp-stove. Special dietary requirements can be catered for, but only by special request. In East Africa it is more difficult to cater to certain requirements.
Accommodation. On our camping tours you will be staying in two-man dome tents. We supply a mattress and you supply your own sleeping bag. The accommodated tours stay in traditional huts, permanent tented camps and hostel-style rooms.
Health. All people who join an adventure tour need to be in good health. Medical facilities are not always available. If you have a specific medical condition it is compulsory for you to advise us before departure.
Malaria. Malaria is a real concern in many areas of Africa, especially during the rainy season. Our advice is simple, prevent getting bitten by using an insect repellent and use an effective prophylactic. Speak to your doctor before selecting your Malaria medication.
Vaccinations. Please ensure you have the relevant vaccinations. Proof of inoculation is required on certain tours.
Terms & Conditions. All travellers will be required to sign our indemnity form on departure. Any person refusing to do so will not be allowed on the tour.
Currency, Money and Banking. This is covered comprehensively in the pre-departure dossier. South African Rand and Credit Cards work in Southern Africa. In East Africa (incl. Zimbabwe and Zambia) USD cash is best.
Age Restriction. Passengers under the age of 18 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian. Passengers over the age of 65 require a medical clearance certificate from their doctor stating they are fit enough to travel.
What to Bring? A sense of fun and a flexible attitude! A full checklist of essential items is included in the pre-departure info document.
What to Leave Behind. Your watch, cell phone, laptop, work, stress, concept of time, pre-conceptions about anything and any attitude that is not pure adventure.
Changes to Routes/Schedules. Although we will do our best at all times to ensure that the tour remains on schedule we want to make it very clear that this is not always possible. There is always something unexpected on a tour, sometimes the truck gets stuck in mud, or sand, sometimes it rains... Anything can happen, but nothing that a good sense of humour cannot overcome.
How to Make a Booking. You need to complete our booking form and pay a 25% non-refundable deposit to secure your seat. Full payment is due 28 days prior to departure.
Do I Need Travel Insurance? YES! Make sure your insurance covers being airlifted in case of serious illness/injury as good hospital facilities are often a long way from where our tours travel. Free credit card insurance is often insufficient, so a separate policy is recommended. As travel insurance is compulsory, you will be asked for the policy number before being allowed to board our vehicle.
How Many People Can Go On This Tour? The average number of passengers on a tour is 18. On the camping tours there is a maximum of 24 and minimum of 4. On the Accommodated tour the minimum is 4 and the maximum is 18. The maximum number on Gorillas, Serengeti and Masai Mara tours is 18. Single Supplements are limited to 4 per tour on all tours.
Do I Have To Help With Camp Chores? Of course not, but you will not make many friends! On our tours our guides do most of the work. On a camping tour your participation in camp chores is limited: taking turns to assist with washing-up duties, putting up and taking down your tent and loading your bags. On some of our accommodated tours we include a camp assistant.
Who Is Responsible For My Visas? You are responsible for your own visas. Please check the itinerary of your tour carefully and if you need a multiple entry visa be sure to get one. Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months after your departure date from Africa and you must have at least 3-4 blank pages available. Some countries will not allow you to enter without 2 blank pages in your passport.
What Are Local Payments (LP) For? The Local Payment is a USD cash portion of the tour payment that needs to be paid directly to your guide in Africa. This payment covers fluctuating expenses such as flights, National Park Fees, entrance fees etc. and also ensures that we have a reliable amount of hard currency on each tour. Our Local Payment is not a kitty, your food and accommodation are included in the tour price. All Local Payment amounts are subject to change without notice. Changes are very rare and are normally due to a sudden or unexpected price increase by a local service provider or National Park.
What Is a Single Supplement? All of our tours are priced on twin share accommodation. The single supplement is not compulsory on our camping tours but if you want your own tent you need to pay the single supplement. If you are booking one of our accommodated tours alone you have to pay the single supplement. There are a maximum of 4 single supplements available on all tours.
What Is an Activity Package? This is an optional additional package that covers what we consider to be "essential activities" on our tours. Ideally we would include all of these, but not everyone can afford this. This payment is 100% transparent and is listed under the itinerary of the tour and in our pre-departure information document.
≈AFRICA ADVENTURE TOURS (AAT)'Since 2002.
≈AFRICA ADVENTURE TOURS (AAT)'Since 2002.
The Cultural Ethiopia Tour does not have set departure dates. You can choose any date you like to go on this tour. Own transport required to get to Addis Ababa. Just let us know when you want to go! Minimum 2.
.jpg)
.jpg)