{"id":8362,"date":"2020-05-28T08:45:21","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T08:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildtimessafaris.com\/?post_type=product&p=8362"},"modified":"2024-05-27T11:23:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T11:23:55","slug":"safari-ethiopia-13-days-highlights","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/wildtimessafaris.com\/en\/product\/safari-ethiopia-13-days-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"Safari Ethiopia \u2013 12 days \u2013 Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Program & Routing:<\/h3>\n

\"\"Day 1 – City tour in Addis Abeba<\/h4>\n

Meet & Greet at the airport, transfer to hotel.<\/p>\n

Depending on arrival time, visit to the cultural hightlights of the city: National Museum (where Lucy and Rami, world\u2019s oldest hominids are exhibited), Ethnograpic Museum, Intoto Hills and Place, Saint Georges Cathedral.<\/p>\n

Overnight at Hilton Hotel in Addis.<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 2 – Flight to Bahir Dar and visit to church at Lake Tana<\/h4>\n

Transfer to the Hall of Domestic. Morning flight \u00a0Addis Abeba \u2013 Bahir Dar. Car and driver (up to Axum) will await you at the parking (they are not allowed inside the arrival hall) with a sign that carries your name. Transfer to Abay Minch lodge, a hotel with beautifully situated cottages inside their own park.<\/p>\n

After early lunch in this hotel, you will go on a boattour at Lake Tana. It will be a relaxed afternoon. There are many monasteries on little islands in the lake, more than 20 in total. A visit to the famous 16th century buildt Ura Kidane Mihret-church (\u2018Maria, savior of the World\u2019) with its glorious colorful murals, hundreds of years old handwritten bibles can\u2019t be missed.<\/p>\n

Note: every visit to a touristic site needs to be accompanied by a local guide. We can\u2019t influence the choice of guide unfortunately.<\/p>\n

Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Kuriftu Lodge in Bahir Dar.<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 3 –\u00a0 Waterfalls of the Blue Nile and drive to Gorgora<\/h4>\n

Travel in the early morning over a bad road to Tiss Issat (\u2018The smoking water\u2019). Here your hike starts to the Blue Nile waterfalls. They are the biggest except one waterfalls of Africa, just the Victoria Waterfalls are bigger. After the rainy season the water tumbles down over a spread of 400 meters over a distance of 45 meter high! This is an impressive sight!\u00a0 Lunch in Bahir Dar.<\/p>\n

After visiting the falls, drive to Gondar, which is about 200 km away and is situated at the shores of Lake Tana. About eighthundred meters outside the village lies, \u2018Tim & Kim\u2019s village\u2019, an oasis of piece and quiet, birds and flowers. This project is meant to assist the locals with work in tourism: www.timkimvillage.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Day 4 – Day of rest in Gorgora<\/h4>\n

This day you can fill at leisure. Go canoeing on the lake, spot birds, visit the village, read a book.<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 5 – Travel to Gondar<\/h4>\n

Travel to Gondar, once the capital of the empire. You will see lots of people and cattle in the road. Ethiopia has about 100 million people, 60 million cows, 40 million goats and it seems like everybody wants to use the roads at the same time. \u00a0Lunch at Four Sisters restaurant<\/p>\n

Visit the Royal Enclosure (UNESCO World Heritage site) after lunch. It is only 400 meters walk to the entrance from the envisaged restaurant for lunch. The local guide will telle you all about the history of the land and of the 17th century castles built by Emperor Fasilides and his descendants, a unique mix of Portuguese and Indian architecture! Overnight in Gondar in Gondar Hills Lodge.<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 6 – Travel to Simien Mountains<\/h4>\n

After breakfast visit the other jewel of the Ethiopian Orthodoxe church, the Debre Birhan Selasiie church (\u2018Light of the Trinity\u2019). The rich murals are in pristine original state. Very special are the wooden ceilings with the 365 serafin cups (one per day to make sure that God protects us every day).<\/p>\n

After lunch leave for the age old Simien mountains, that is also on the World Heritage site list of UNESCO . Ras Dashen, the highest pea, is at 4.543 meter. \u00a0Nature is breathtaking beauty with stunning views over the low lands and the thousands of friendly grass eating Gelada-baboons that are all around you. Especially the males with their bloodred manes and deep red coloured chest are particularly impressive.<\/p>\n

Overnight in Limalimo Lodge in the Simien Mountains NP. Meals and Drinks are included.<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 7 –\u00a0 \u00a0Hike in Simien NP<\/h4>\n

Drive to Sankaber to start the hike, hike in 2-3 hours to the waterfall of Jenber River.<\/p>\n

Picnic lunch during the hike (INCLUDED)<\/p>\n

Back to de lodge whenever you want.<\/p>\n

Day 8 – Panoramic views at Tigray<\/h4>\n

Early departure for an intense travelday (ca. 260 km) to Axum, via a beautiful road alongside steep abysses of the Simien mountains. In the province of Tigray the small ecofarms with grass roofs merge into the vast landscape. Overnight (two nights) in Armah hotel, a comfortable hotel in Axum. Unfortunately there is no luxury hotel yet in Axum.<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 9 – Mighty Axum<\/h4>\n

Axum is a city full of impressive monuments (again UNESCO World Heritage sites!), that bear witness to the glorious past of the kingdom of Axum. In the early days of our era Axum had her glory days. It was one of the great world powers, together with Persia, China and Rome. The Axumites developed their own unique language, the Ge\u2019ez, and their own handwriting. Most of all however, they were skilled builders, with the 2.500 year old obelisks to prove it. Each obelisk is hewn from a massive piece of granite and the highest one still standing is 23 meter high!<\/p>\n

The visit then leads us to St.Mary of Zion, known for the tale of the Ark of Covenants, in which the stone table with the 10 commandments is preserved. It is said that the ark is hidden in this church in Axum. The day ends with a visit to the graves of king Kaleb and his son Gebre Meskel, both stunning examples of the refined architecture of Axum. Overnight at the same hotel.<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 10 – To Lalibela, the Petra of Africa<\/h4>\n

Transfer to the airport for a local flight<\/p>\n

Short flight (45 minutes) to Lalibela; by car this would be at least two days. Transfer to Mountain View hotel. After lunch visit the underground churches that made the little village famous. The buildings, all under UNESCO protection, were hewn from the rocks in the 13th century by order of the king of of Lalibela. Some churches are even standing totally solo from the rocks. Bet Giorghis is the most amous of all: this church is built in the shape of a cross. You will come across many priests and devout christians in white robes.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day there is time to relax at the terrace of your hotel and enjoy some drinks and the views over the Lasta mountains. Overnight at Sora Lodge<\/p>\n

Day 11 – Second part of your visit to Lalibela in the morning and afternoon at leisure<\/h4>\n

Visit the second group of churches in the morning. It is not possible to visit all the 11 churches in one day, this would be too much. Afternoon at leisure<\/p>\n

Overnight at the same hotel in Lalibela.<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 12 – Fly back to Addis Abeba and back home<\/h4>\n

Early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and flight to Addis Abeba<\/p>\n

Time at leisure in Addis<\/p>\n

Day room at the Hilton Hotel.<\/p>\n

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Have any questions or want to go on this stunning safari?\u00a0 Call us via WhatsApp (+254722513592) or send us an email (info@wildtimessafaris.com<\/a>) for an unforgettable journey!<\/p>\n

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