≈AFRICA ADVENTURE TOURS (AAT)'Since 2002. 10 Days - Camping
Price:
ZAR 14,350
Activity Package:
ZAR 3,940
Single Supplement:
ZAR 600
Green Seat (Optional):
ZAR 100
Tour Code:
NETHN 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 Bahir Dara
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
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar is a large town on the edge of Lake Tana with a sticky tropical ambience, more similar to somewhere like Awassa in the Rift Valley. This is probably the most important commercial center today, with a population of 150, 000, it’s the largest town in Ethiopia and the fastest growing as well.
The central market is one of the finest in the country and worth a few hours. You can pick up a goatskin injera, a holder used by herdsmen as a “picnic basket”. There in a daily fish market on the shore of the lake about 500m from the Ghion Hotel. Here you can also see a great many papyrus tankwa boats, and a large numbers of pelicans.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 3 Bahir Dar to Gonder
In the morning we drive from Bahir Dar to Gonder, the tour arrives in the afternoon; here there’ll be a tour of Gonder. Gonder is the most immediately impressive of Ethiopia’s major cities, and was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas.
In Gonder, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences. In the afternoon, we visit Fasilidas' castle, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! Constructed in 1640 and re-stored some time in the mid-20th century.
Fasilidas castle is made of stone and shows a unique combination of Portuguese, Axumite and even Indian influences. The walls are decorated with a symbol similar to the Star of David, which became the emblem of the Ethiopian royal family after the Solomonic dynasty reclaimed the Throne in the 13th century.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 4 Gonder to Simien Mountains
4 km after leaving Gonder on our way to the Simien Mountain National Park, we visit the Woleka village. This village of the Felasha (African Jews) is famous for their (poor) ceramics made in the Felasha tradition. All but one of the Felasha occupants was airlifted to Israel during the last famine. The Felasha woman who remains is also trying to emigrate to Israel.
Than we head off to the Simien Mountains, one of Africa’s largest mountain ranges (Simien National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The road passes over mountainous areas of wild beauty, drawing close to the Simien Massif (in Amharic, Simien means north). In the park, many of the mountain peaks exceed 4,000 m (13123 ft); the highest is Ras Dejen, at 4,543 m (1905 ft) above sea level is the highest point in Ethiopia and the 4th highest in Africa.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 5 Simien Mountains to Axum
The road passes over mountain regions of the National Park with all of its wild beauty, passing though the Limalimo Mountain, we traverse the Tekeze valley, with breath taking views all day we finely reach Axum. The legends narrated in the Kebre Nagast (‘Book of Kings’) recount how the city of Axum was as early as the 10th century B.C already the city in which the Queen of Sheba resided. It is recounted that the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Axum and it remains there to this day, preserved in a sanctuary.
Famous long before the time of Christ, Axum was the capital of the long Axumite reign, one of the oldest African empires, and represented a crucial connecting-point between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years. A visit is organised to the stelae: granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. In ancient times, there were seven large steles, now one of them is in Rome – Mussolini brought it there during Italy’s occupation of Ethiopia.
We’ll also visit the museum, next to the church of Tsion Maryam, build by Haile Selassie’s wife and contains the crowns of past Kings, ancient crosses and the supposed Ark of the Covenant. There is also a visit to the church of Tsion Maryam (St Mary of
Zion), which contains the crowns of Ethiopian kings and other treasures, although entrance is forbidden to women. Then at night the tour stay’s in one of the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6 Axum to Mekele
By way of a beautiful panoramic roads, we drive to Yeha, the ruined city of Yeha dates back 2,700yrs. The cities most antiquity is a well-preserved 12m-high stone temple that is thought to be over 2, 500yrs old. Nobody knows what religion was practiced in the temple, but appearances suggest links with the pagan faith of the Sabaean civilization of South Arabia. A little further along the road we find the monastery of Debre Damo, the oldest church in Ethiopia (dating from the Axumite epoch). Only men are allowed to visit the church and it is necessary to climb up to it with the aid of a rope. From the 8th to the 15th century, in this region, hundreds of rock-hewn churches were carved and constructed out of one rock. Many of the churches are carved directly into the cliff walls of the ‘Ambas’: typical Ethiopian mountains with flat tops and almost vertical sides. Along the way, we visit some of the churches. Then it’s onward to Mekele for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7 Mekele to Lalibel
The whole day is required to cover this distance. The unpaved road climbs several times to heights of about 3,000 m and descends into valleys where powerful rivers run. The landscape is dry, but visually splendid. For a considerable stretch, the winding road follows the spectacular canyon of the river Tekeze, one of the principal rivers of Ethiopia. Just before Lalibela, is the beautiful rock hewn church of Genete Mariam. Afterwards we arrive to Lalibela in the evening; dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8 Lalibela
This strange city in the mountains of Lasts is located at 2,600 m above sea level. Roha, as it was known back in the 10th century to the mid 13th century and was the capital of the Zagwe dynasty. Its modern name comes from the most famous of the Zagwe rulers, the 12th century King Lalibela.
It contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as one of the wonders of the world. Each church has a unique architectural style; all are superbly carved and most of them are decorated with well-preserved paintings. The entire city may be described as a sculpture dedicated to the glory of God. Legend has it that King Lalibela was instructed by angles to build the replica of a rock city he saw in a vision, other stories say he was in exile in Jerusalem and was inspired to create the ‘new’ Jerusalem in Roha. The day is dedicated to visiting the churches and exploring the city itself. Tonight we have dinner and stay in the same hotel as the previous night.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9 Lalibela to Kombolcha
The road runs through villages, cultivated plains and small passes. Here, we are close to the land occupied by the Afar shepherds, a Semi-nomadic people who live mainly in the deserts of Danakil depression. We encounter them on the road with their caravans of camels. Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Kombolcha.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10 Kombolcha to Addis Ababa
The road crosses the Ethiopian plateaux, with its vast expanses of cultivated fields. In Senbete, on Sundays, there is an interesting market where the Afar, Oromo and Amhara peoples meet. We arrive in Addis Ababa in the evening. 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 Historical 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.
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