3 Days Timket Festival Tour in Gondor, Ethiopia

“TIMKET” is the most important celebration of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and takes place every year on January 18th. Timket means Epiphany – a holy day associated by the Western Church with the manifestation of Christ to Magi. Epiphany has however an entirely different significance among Ethiopians – for whom it commemorates the Baptist of Jesus Christ. The use of sacred objects such as “Tabot” makes it unique here. The “Tabot” symbolizes the Ark of the Covenant – the casket in which the Bible says the Moses placed the two tables of stone on which the Ten Commandments had been inscribed. Wrapped in rich brocades, the “Tabot” of the Church is carried on the head priest. The Ceremonial umbrellas provide shade from the sunlight and symbolize the celestial spheres. Priests perform an elaborate dance using “Kebero” and “Sistrum” before the “Tabot”.

Know before you go
  • Duration: 3 days
  • Mobile tickets accepted
  • Instant confirmation
Departure details
  • Traveler pickup is offered.
  • we pick up from any hotel in Addis Ababa and Gondor
  • Airports:
  • Bole Airport, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
  • Gondar Airport, Gonder Ethiopia
  • Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
Return Details
  • Returns to the original departure point
Day 1: Morning Flight Addis to Gondor
  • You’ll get picked up
  • Fasil Ghebbi
    Stop: 4 hours – Admission included
    See details & photo
  • Fasiladas Bath Timket
    Stop: 4 hours – Admission included
    See details & photo
Meals included:
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodation included:
Overnight Reserved Hotel In Gondor
Day 2: Attend Timket Festival

  • Fasiladas Bath Timket
Stop: 5 hours – Admission included
Since today is the official holiday of Timket, We will rise very early and move towards Fasilides’ Bath. The ceremony will be a mix of priests’ blessings, prayers, and a ritual reenactment of Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan. Around midday, the ceremony will conclude at Fasilides’ Bath and almost all the Arks (St Michael’s will remain behind) will be brought back, in a ceremonial procession, to their respective churches.
Meals included:
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodation included:
Overnight Reserved Hotel In Gondor
Day 3: GONDAR (ST. MICHAEL’S DAY) / ADDIS ABABA

  • Fasiladas Bath Timket
Stop: 8 hours – Admission included
In the morning we will attend the spiritual ceremonial of St. Michael’s Day and later having breakfast, we will return to the hotel for check out. Late in the afternoon, fly back to Addis Ababa.
Meals included:
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodation included:
Overnight Reserved Hotel in Addis Ababa

 

Meskel Festival Tours In Addis Ababa

Meskel (The Finding Of The True Cross) Festival (27 September) Meskel (27 September) commemorates the alleged 4th-century discovery of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. The largest ceremony takes place in Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square, where hundreds of thousands of people gather to watch the colorfully dressed priests chant, pray and dance. On These One Day Tours, You Will

• The Witness the ancient Remarkable Meskel Festival Celebration In Addis Ababa at Meskel Square

• Be Wondered About The Style Of Celebration Of The Festivals By Deacons, Priests, Bishops & The Pilgrimage

• Enjoy the magnificent view of Addis Ababa from the top of MNT Entoto

• See the shopping opportunity of holidays in the markets for the festivals

• Visit the vibrant city of Addis Ababa.

• Meet your oldest ancestor Lucy at the National Museum in Addis Ababa.

• Try the varied Ethiopian cuisine at 2000 Habesha after your tours

• Attend an Ethiopian coffee ceremony after your tours

Know before you go
Duration: 9-12 hours
Mobile tickets accepted
Instant confirmation

What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: National Museum of Ethiopia, King George VI Street, Addis Ababa Ethiopia

You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Refresh and begin your sightseeing of Addis with a drive up to mount Entoto for a panoramic view of Addis. Descend down and drive to the National Museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of the ‘Lucy’ fossil.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Addis Mercato, Kenya St, Addis Ababa null Ethiopia

Merkato is the largest outdoor market in entire Africa.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Meskel Square, Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during WWII. Then proceed to Meskel Square to attain the most colorful celebration Meskel. The Ge’ez word Meskel literally means Cross which the celebration day is named after. Meskel is the finding of the True Cross. It is celebrated among Christians in Ethiopia. It is marked by burning bone fire and also by religious hymns and different shows organized by youngsters from the church school. In the evening attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The traditional coffee ceremony will also be served. Later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.

Duration: 4 hours

Full-Day Addis Ababa City Tour

The largest city of Ethiopia and its capital city at the same time is Addis Abeba, which in Amharic means “a new flower”. It is located in the center of the country, 2400 above the sea. It is one of the highest located capital cities in the world. According to many sources, Addis Abeba is third in such classification, after Bolivian La Paz and Ecuador’s Quito. However, La Paz is not the official capital city of its country, so we can move the Ethiopian city up to the second place.

We present the one-day visit schedule. if possible, we can include some other attractions in the capital city of Ethiopia.

Before noon

Visiting Addis Abeba will begin with seeing the orthodox cathedral of the Holy Trinity. It is the most important church in Ethiopia. In this church, there is a mausoleum of the last emperor of Ethiopia – Haile Selassie. his wife is also buried there. Then, we will see the National Museum, which is said to be one of the most important museums in whole Sub-Saharian Africa. 3,2 million-year-old bones of our grand…. ancestor – Lucy, are one of the most famous exhibits in their collection. The attention of visitors is drawn by a rich collection of insignia of emperors and churches, costumes, and weapons. The oldest exhibits are rock sculptures and inscriptions from the times of Queen Saba, found near Aksum and in today’s Eritrea.

The ethnographic museum, which is the next stop on our trip in Addis Abeba, is located at the University. It was founded and managed by the Polish scientist, professor Stanisław  Chojnacki. Probably the most interesting part of the exhibition is the collection of crosses and icons. The museum should be visited by amateurs of folklore instruments since the collection of them gathered in the museum is impressive.

The lunch break will take place in the restaurant serving Ethiopian dishes and local beer. e.g in “Ambassador” with a large garden.

Afternoon

After lunch, we will climb the Entoto hill located 3200 m above the sea. Here located was the capital city of Ethiopia, before Menelik II moved it to Addis Abeba. The king’s palace remained today. The local museum exhibits crowns belonging to kings and churches, costumes, and insignia.

The final attraction of the day in Addis Abeba will be a trip through Merkato, which is believed to be the biggest marketplace in Africa.
After visiting, we will escort you to the chosen hotel or to the airport.

4 Days – Tour to the Historic City of Harar

Most of the country, including all coastal areas, enjoys a so-called Mediterranean climate, almost identical to much of California. Summers are hot and dry with a 7-month period of near-constant sunshine generally from April until November.

Day 1 – ARRIVAL OF ADDIS ABABA AND SIGHTSEEING

Upon arrival at Bole International airport, you will meet Bravo Ethiopia Tours representatives and be taken to your reserved hotel. Depending upon the time make sightseeing in Addis Ababa. The sightseeing includes the national museum (where you can see the Lucy fossil skeleton found), Trinity cathedral church, and Entoto hills.

Day 2 – DRIVE TO HARAR

Heading to Harar which is the eastern part of Ethiopia known for being an origin for the Ethiopian first-grade coffee and old historical tourist attraction site for its unique old round wall built in the early 15th century by the governor of Harar, Harar is also known to be the 3rd holly pilgrimage center for the Muslim religion follower. Evening Hyena man show.

Day 3 – FULL DAY VISIT OF HARAR

Make a full-day excursion in Harar for the visit of Harar sightseeing, the Harari museum, Rainbow house, the surrounding of the old wall, and the old village and market inside the wall.

Day 4 – DRIVE BACK TO ADDIS

Early morning drive back to Addis in the evening has welfare dinner in a traditional restaurant with folkloric dance. and transfer to the airport to fly back home.

End of tour

10 Days – Western Ethiopia & Surma Tribes

Attractions: Scenery, Wildlife/Wilderness, & Tribal Culture

Duration: 10 Days & 9 Nights

Transportation: Surface drive

Day 1 – Arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

Meet and greet your bravo Ethiopia Tours representative at the exit of the luggage claim and transfer you to the hotel.

Depending on your arrival you will visit Addis Ababa will be the National Museum (prehistoric, cultural, archaeological attractions), Ethnographic Museum of Addis Ababa University (culture, dressing style, traditional practices of over 80 ethnic groups, and collection of traditional musical instruments).  Lunch at Lucy Restaurant.

After lunch, you will visit sites like Emperor Menelik’s Palace, (after a drive to Entoto Mountain – 3000 meters above sea level). And visit Merkato, the largest open market in Africa. In the evening, you will have dinner at the hotel and you will rest. Overnight stay in Oasis Hotel Apartment or similar accommodation, Addis Ababa.

Day 2 – Drive to Jimma

In the morning after breakfast, you will drive to Jimma (225 Km from Woliso) via Wolqite, which is home to the Gurage tribe, known as “the hardest working people in Ethiopia”. On the way, you will pass through beautiful landscapes as you drive through the Gibe River Valley.

You will be arriving in Jimma afternoon and checking into a hotel. Later, you can visit the Jimma Museum and King Abba Jiffar Place (the last king of the Jimma region). You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in Honey Land or Central Jimma Hotel.

Day 3 – Drive to Bonga, Kaffa the Birthplace of Coffee

In the morning, you will have breakfast and drive to Bonga (125Km from Jimma). And upon arrival at Bonga and check in to a hotel. You will have lunch at Bonga. Later you will be driven to the forest and you will start a short trek/walk to the birthplace of Coffee, Makira.

In the late afternoon, you will be driven back to Bonga. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in Coffee land or a similar hotel.

Day 4 – Visit waterfalls, forest & natural bridge, and drive to Mizan Teferi 

An early morning drive will take you to surround Bonga forest with its Natural Bridge and Berta waterfalls. You will have lunch in Bonga.

After lunch, you will drive to Tepi (163 Km from Bonga). You will be arriving in Tepi late afternoon and checking into a hotel. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in a guest house or local Hotel.

Day 5 – Drive to Kibish

After breakfast, you will be driven to Kibish (approx.  300 Km from Mizan Teferi). On the way visit the Bebeka Coffee Plantation (the largest coffee farm in Ethiopia), where they cultivate organic coffee trees, peppers, as well as rubber trees. You will have a picnic lunch.

Then you will be driven to Kibish and you will be arriving in Kibish late afternoon and stretch your tent for camping. Later, you can walk around the Surma village at Kibish, where you can visit the local Surma people. You will have dinner and spend the night camping. Overnight stay camping.

Day 6 – Visit Surma Villages around Kibish

An early morning drive will take you to Surma villages ( Surma women are known for their beautification rituals, in preparation for marriage: most women have their bottom teeth removed and their bottom lips pierced, then stretched, to allow insertion of a clay lip plate & men are known for stick-fighting competition, known as Donga, now that is officially prohibited).

You will have a picnic lunch or back to the camping site to have lunch.  The afternoon continues a visit to the villages.  You will have dinner and spend the night camping. Overnight stay camping.

Day 7 – Drive back to Mizan Teferi

After breakfast, you will be driven back to Mizan Teferi (300 Km from Kibish). You will be arriving in Mizan Teferi late afternoon and checking into a hotel. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in local Hotel.

Day 8 – Drive back to Jimma

After breakfast, you will be driven back to Mizan Teferi (300 Km from Kibish). You will be arriving in Mizan Teferi late afternoon and checking into a hotel. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in local Hotel.

Day 9 – Drive back to Jimma

After breakfast, you will be driven back to Jimma (290 Km from Mizan Teferi). You will be arriving in Jimma late afternoon and checking into a hotel. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in Honey Land or Central Jimma Hotel.

Day 10 – Drive back to Addis Ababa and departure

After a relaxed breakfast, a short flight will take you back to Addis Ababa. You will arrive in Addis Ababa in the afternoon where you will do some shopping for souvenirs.

Finally, you will be taken to a farewell dinner at an Ethiopian (Habesha 2000 or YOD Abyssinia) traditional restaurant where you will taste Ethiopian food & drinks and live music & dance.

Then depending on your scheduled flight; you will be transferred out to Bole International Airport for a return flight back home.

End of Tour

4 Days – Danakil Depression Program

Day 1

End of 4 Days – Danakil Depression Program. Of your tour into the DANAKIL to ERTA ALE, the famous volcano with its bubbling lava lake, and the rare possibility of experiencing the nomadic tribe living in this desert- the AFAR people, survivors, and warriors in the hottest and one of the lowest places on earth! Today we drive from Mekele to LAKE AFDERA. The Danakil Depression can be said to ‘begin’ here. It is one of the most spectacular and also absolutely inhospitable regions of the world! Today it is a 4 hours drive on an asphalt road (220km), with a few stops for instance having a coffee with the locals and lunch, prepared by our own cook. The landscape starts to become drier and less and less inhabited; we will be passing the odd local on the way, but not many people are to be seen. We reach the local village Afdera, a 15 min walk from Lake Afdera, around 4:30 pm, and have a stop there to explore it and have yet another coffee or coke with the inhabitants. After that, we continue our journey to the ending point of today: Lake Afdera, which is also our campsite. Meanwhile, the sun is setting we go for a swim, floating on the surface of the salt lake and enjoying the nearby hot springs, experiencing an incredible view. Dinner and a campfire before falling asleep right underneath a startful nightly sky with thousands and thousands of stars will brighten up your dreams.

Day 2

Today’s aim is first DODOM (‘tree planting’) -the base of the ERTA ALE volcano and later, at night, Erta Ale itself. After breakfast at 10 at the lake, it is a 70 km drive on sandy ground and over cold lava rocks. On the way, we visit the salt mines which are local Afar people. They pump saltwater over the surface and let it evaporate to create a salt crust. Lunch will be served in Dodom village, surrounded by many local people. Here we also have to show our permission to climb ERTA ALE (‘the smoking mountain’), get the needed camels for transporting the goods, and more scouts. Dinner time is already at 5-ish since we have to start trekking up to the volcano around 6-7 pm. Dodom is approximately 8.5km away from Erta Ale and this stretch will take about 3 hours of trekking. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic actions of the boiling lava. The Volcano is 613 meters high, the lava lake contains actually 2 caters, one of them, the northern one, is inactive with no Magma. It is notable for being the longest existing lava lake on this planet. Erta Ale ranks as one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia, it is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and a 1km square caldera at its summit. The volcano contains the world’s only permanent lava lake. We set our camp a little bit away from the rim, on the other side of the wind so we won’t have to inhale the toxic gases. After enjoying this great, special, sometimes smelly, sometimes loud and hot experience we overnight in our camp, again with a brilliantly shining night sky.

Day 3

Erta Ale- Dodom-Hamed Ela, from here we descend around early morning in the direction Dodom, which we will reach after 2 hours. Here breakfast will be served and you have some time to relax. We start our drive to HAMED ALE, our next destination= 100 km/7 hours Lunch is served en route, and we reach Hamed Ale around 4:30 pm, a bigger village with a total population of about 500. LAKE ASALE (lake ‘Red Mountain’) a huge salt lake is within walking distance, where we take a deep breath and a wine or beer for sunset, taking in the many reflections. Our tonight camp is in Hamed Ale.

Day 4

Hamed Ale- Dallol- Lalibela

You get served an early breakfast at 6, and around 7 we start driving the short distance (approx 30 min) to Dallol (‘a colorful place’) via Asebo (‘the salt desert’), where- you can guess it- they mine salt. btw: 1,200 km2 of the Afar Depression is covered by salt. You can watch the workers breaking the salt from the ground, cutting it into rectangular pieces, and loading it onto camels. The caravans start from here. This is also the lowest point of the Danakil – 116 meters! We continue driving ahead to Dallol and stroll through the different landscapes formed by volcanic activities. Incredible, moon-like, colorful creations of the sulfur and huge salt mountains are to be found here. From here we proceed to Lalibela (180 km, around 4 hours), leaving the lowland and making our way up (Mekele is situated at 2100m!), having wonderful mountains on our side, reaching civilization at around 5 pm.

End of 4 Days – Danakil Depression Program.

The price depends on the number of the group you will join

N.B, the route can be changed only for good to attend local activities like camel caravan, salt miners.

6 Days Omo Valley Tribes Highlights

Accommodation: Standard Hotel and Lodge
Tour Starts: Addis Ababa
Tour Ends: Addis Abab

Highlights

Have a sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa city.
Explore Lake Chamo with a boat cruise and Dorze village.
Experience the untouched south Omo valley, and cultural tribes.
Witness the colorful weekly markets in the south Omo Valley.

Trip Summary

In this 6-Days – Omo Valley Tribes Highlights a week isn’t enough to explore all the wonders of the Omo valley’s diverse culture, this itinerary does its best, taking you to fly down to Arba Minch to help you cut out one full day drive to get in there and going down to the Omo Valley peoples with the 4 WD car, passing through the magnificent Konso tribes and the colorful Kay Afer market, and proceed further down to the Mago National Park to see the Mursi tribes and on the same day arrive in Turmi for the spectacular cultural insights of the Hamer tribes.

After your immediate excursion in the early morning to the Karo tribes, you drive came back to Arba Minch to get the next day’s flight to set off to Addis. If you are thinking to have a less than a week Holiday here in the south Omo Valley of Ethiopia, this trip will be realized your dream vacation to have a highlighted cultural experience for the cultural peoples.

Itineraries

Day 1 – ARRIVAL TO ADDIS ABABA AND CITY TOUR

On arrival in Addis Ababa, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Addis was founded in 1886 by Menelik II and is situated at an elevation of around 2438m which makes it the third-highest capital city in the world. Addis Ababa enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25°C. we will start our site-seeing at the National Museum which houses some of the country’s historic treasures. The collection of fossils and bones of early hominids discovered in Ethiopia includes the 3.5 million-year-old remains of ‘Lucy’, the oldest hominid ever found. Proceed to visit the two major highlights of the city, the Ethnographic Museum and the church of the Holy Trinity, Ethiopia’s main cathedral and home to the remains of the last emperor, Haile Selassie.

Day 2 – FLY TO ARBA MINCH AND VISIT THE CHENCHA VILLAGE

In the morning have a sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa and then transfer to the Airport for our flight down to Arba Minch where our 4 WD car with driver will waiting for us at Arba Minch Airport and then start driving 40kms northwest of Arba Minch to Guge Mountains to visit the Dorze and Chencha villages. Once warriors, the Dorze have now turned to farming and weaving to earn a living. They speak an Omotic tongue and the Dorze name is synonymous with the best-woven cotton cloth. Also, the Dorze beehive-shaped houses are constructed entirely of organic material and have their own small garden surrounded by beds of spices, cabbage, and tobacco. Some of Ethiopia’s best-woven cotton comes from Chencha, which is located 8 km northwest of Dorze Village. Men weave and women spin. In the late afternoon drive back to Arba Minch.

Day 3 – DRIVE TO JINKA VIA KONSO AND KAY AFER

Early morning drive to Konso where colorfully costumed dress, impressive terracing of the Land and unusually engraved wooden statues used as grave markers can be seen. Differing from their neighbors, the Konso are pure agriculturists, famed for their use of the stone terraces that they utilize to such good effect in this dry and barren region of basalt hills. Originally from the east and speaking an East Cushitic language, the Konso live in settlements that are surrounded by stone walls. The age of each town is classified by a generation pole and each family lives in compounds that are accessible only through gateways that require the visitor to enter on all fours thereby rendering any potential attackers vulnerable. Keep driving to Key Afer for the colorful Thursday market where we should see and photograph the Ari, Bena, Hamer, and Tsemay, people. The Bena and Hamer women usually favor red clay braids in their hair, shiny with butter and perfumed with incense. The long beaded skirts of the Tsemay have a stick incorporated in the back to denote a married woman and the men have elaborately plaited hairstyles decorated with feathers and colorful beads. After visiting the market we drive on to Jinka, often called the gateway to the Omo Valley.

Day 4 – VISIT THE MURSI TRIBES IN MAGO PARK AND DRIVE TO TURMI

Early morning drive to Mago National Park, from here, visit the Mursi highlands where the most illustrious of Ethiopia’s unique tribes live. The Mursi are known all over the world, for their decorative lip plates that adorn the lower lips of the Mursi women. The plates stretch the lower lip beyond imagination and the women’s beauty, pride, and desirability is determined in direct proportion to the size of the plate. The Mursi men and women may appear gracious but the Mursi warriors are not to be sneezed at. On their arms are deep crescent incisions that represent each enemy they have killed in battle. The men are also famous for their hairstyles. The various cultural aspects of the tribe will be explained and you will be able to take their photographs but not for free. Back to Jinka for your lunch. In the afternoon we will continue driving through the Omo Valley region to Turmi via Dimeka for visiting the Hamer tribes. The Hamer tribe is one of the largest groups in the Valley. The Hamer cultivate millet, vegetables, tobacco, and cotton as well as raised cattle and goats. They are known for the fine pottery they produce as well as their remarkable hairstyling. Most dramatic of all are the clay hair buns with ostrich feathers that the men don when they have killed a fierce animal. The Hamer women are simply stunning. The women wear beaded necklaces and iron coils around their arms and decorate their skin with cowry shells. These decorations indicate the wealth and prestige of a woman’s husband.

Day 5 – TURMI – MURULLE – TURMI AND DRIVE BACK TO ARBA MINCH

This day morning, we continue through the savannah along tracks that are barely visible, passing through a vast meadowland with shrubs and umbellifers (‘umbrella’ acacia trees) for an excursion to the Murulle area. We arrive at Korcho village with beautiful views over the Omo River to see the Karo ethnic group, experts in body painting, using clay and locally available vegetable pigments to paint fantastic patterns on each other’s faces, chests, arms, and legs. These designs have no special symbolic significance but are created purely for fun and aesthetic effect, each artist vying to outdo their fellow artists. Karo men also sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes, with special ochre “caps” of hair usually containing several ostrich feathers. In the early afternoon, we will start driving to Arba Minch through Konso.

Day 6 – BOAT TRIP ON LAKE CHAMO AND FLY BACK TO ADDIS ABABA AND DEPARTURE

This day in the morning, we will have a boat trip on the clear blue waters of Lake Chamo to see the crocodiles, hippos & aquatic bird species. The northern shores of Lake Chamo are famous for their large crocodiles, which can be seen in great numbers lounging in the heat. The lake is about 32km long and provides a lush wetland habitat for many species of flora and fauna. Then in the mid-day, we transfer to the Arba Minch Airport and fly back to Addis Ababa. We will arrive in Addis Ababa in the late afternoon and transfer to the Hotel and have a room as a day-use for wash/change and get ready for the evening flight. You might be interested in last-minute souvenir shopping at the markets. In the evening, we will go out to one of the best cultural restaurants for the Farewell Dinner at a traditional restaurant with a live traditional dance program. Then, we will transfer to the airport for the flight home.

End of 6-Days – Omo Valley Tribes Highlights.

5-Day Tour to Omo Valley From Arbaminch

Day 1

5-Day Tour to Omo Valley From Arbaminch – Haile Ethiopia Tours, pick you up from Arba Minch Airport have a coffee head to our destination take a boat trip in Lake Chamo, to visit the crocodile market, it is a local name for a place in Lake Chamo that the crocodiles went out of the lake and chill, there is no buying or selling, also you will see hippos and different kinds of birds.

overnight Paradise lodge.

Day 2

Dec 22, In the morning after breakfast we drive to Turmi where we will have several villages stops on our way down to meet the tribes we come across as such: Banna and Hammer tribes village life daily activity with no interruptions till late afternoon and overnight in Buska Lodge. Not forgetting to mention that we will attend any colorful tribal markets we come across which happen once a week in each tribal destination.

Day 3

Dec 23 In the morning we drive further down to Omorate which is a border town with Northwest Kenya as to visit the Dasenech tribe deep in their remote villages leaving the commonly visited ones by going down as far as the Northern tip of Lake Turkana and experience a wonderful time you will never forget. Later on, we drive back to Turmi if there are any events will be attending like Bull jump overnight Buska lodge

Day 4

Dec 24, In the morning we head to the unique tribe of Mursi ( The women are famous for putting clay-made circular lip and ear plates which symbolizes beauty in honor) crossing through Mago National Park to reach their village. We will visit the uninterrupted authentic daily life activities the entire afternoon where which will give an excellent time of interaction which makes it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Overnight Jinka resort

Day 5

Dec 25, after breakfast, will be spent walking the packed village lanes of the Aari village. These very rural people are friendly, some homes are brightly painted, they do pottery, grow sorghum and daily life is easily photographed. Chickens in the yards, kids wanting to hold your hands, and women cooking by fire all make for a great introduction to the Omo Valley. These people are not painted, pierced, or decorated but an excellent representation of rural southern Ethiopia. after having enough time with the Ari tribe you have lunch they transferred you to Jinka Airport.

End of 5-Day Tour to Omo Valley From Arbaminch – Haile Ethiopia Tours

14 Days – Bird Watching Tour to Central Ethiopia

Itineraries

Day 1 – Arrival and transfer to the Ghion or Extreme hotel in Addis Ababa.

Day 2 – An early morning start we drive to the Mt. Entoto/Sululta Plain with short grassland habitat searching for unique birds such as White-backed Black Tit, Blue-winged Goose, Wattled Ibis, Ethiopian Siskin, Ethiopian Cisticola, White-collared Pigeon, Abyssinian Longclaw, ErlangerLark, Tawny Eagle, Cattle Egret, and Yellow-billed Duck. Jamma Valley escarpment (upper Nile valley) is adjacent to Debre Libanos natural forest and thickets home to the endemic Banded Barbet, White-cheeked Turaco, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Ethiopian Black-headed Oriole, Lammergeyer, Egyptian Vulture, Vareaux Eagle, Lanner Falcon, and Griffon Vultures. The nearby gorge attracts the endemic White-billed Starling, Ruppell’s Black Chat, White-winged Cliff-chat, and Mocking Cliff-chat. Scrub lures Erckel’s Francolin, Stout Cisticola and Tekeze Sunbird.

Overnight at the Ethio-German Lodge nearby the so-called Portuguese Bridge.

Day 3 – Today we drive to Jamma Valley to locate the rare Harwood’s Francolin and Abyssinian Black-wheatear. The road climbs steeply through highland fields and traditional villages. The cliffs and boulder-strewn slopes of the Jamma Valley may have flocks of White-billed Starlings, the extremely rare Salvador Serin, Singing Cisticola, Isabelline Shrike, and Abyssinian Black Wheatear. In the afternoon, we drive to Debre Birhan town while enjoying another sector of plain grassland birds including Erlanger’s Lark, Pectoral-patch Cisticola, and Ortolan Bunting.
Overnight at Eva Hotel Ankober Lodge.

Day 4 – An early start exploring the road to Tarmaber scenic view outlook. Our main interest is to find the rarest endemic Ankober Serin feeding in the highland grass field. In the lower fields, we can expect Yellow-crowned Canary, Brown-rumped, and Streaky Seed-eater. Overhead we may locate Saker Falcon, Lammergeyer, Augur Buzzard, and Alpine Swifts.

After late breakfast, we drive towards Bishoftu east of Addis towards fascinating Crater Lakes such as Lake Chalalaka, an important shallow lake for migratory waders, and significant numbers of Cranes, Marabou storks, and Cormorants. Hora a freshwater lake holding Little Grebe, Pelican, Malachite Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, African Paradise Flycatcher, Masked Weaver, and Starlings. The area is named after the crater lake Bishoftu, meaning tasteless Water supports large numbers of Weavers, Seed-eaters, Thrushes, Doves, Sunbirds, and Finches in the adjoining sedges and thickets. Late afternoon proceeds to.

Overnight at Dreamland Hotel with an excellent view of Bishoftu.

Day 5 – Today we drive to the Bale Mountains found on the other side of the Great Rift Valley looking for Rouget Rail, Thick-billed Raven, Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Slaty-flycatcher, Chestnut-napped Francolin, Moorland Francolin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush to name a few. The remnant of Ruddy Shell-ducks and Wattled Cranes are also found here.

The northern dry forest around Dinsho is known for exceptional wild animals including Mountain Nyala, Menelik Bushbuck, Bohor Reedbuck, Warthog, and Bush Duiker.

Overnight Goba Hotel at the edge of the Senate Plateau.

Day 6 – Beyond Goba we enter typical timberline habitats of Juniper and Hygenia Abyssinica driving up Africa’s highest all-weather roads to 4100 meters above sea level where we enter the 10,000 square kilometers Senate plateau chain of tiny terrains. In this strange and fascinating afro-alpine climate we will find the rare Ethiopian Wolf, Starck Hare, and Giant Mole-rat.

Then the road drops suddenly on the Harenna Leeside with its wet forest and fantastic viewpoints, through a series of dizzying hairpin bends, as it zigzags down to the lowland town of Dolo-Mena. In the afternoon we drive back to Goba looking for birds and animals we missed earlier on.

Overnight Goba Hotel.

Day 7. Mizan – sodo
Drive Sodo on the way to visit Gurga and Sodo village and landscape overnight Sodo. Haile Resort – Today we drive to the Sof Omar Caves on the eastern edge of the Bale Mountains maybe the world’s most spectacular and extensive underground system carved by the Web River into the limestone that lines it. Time has carved out ornate and immense pillars, domes, and chambers, and the river flows through the caves year-round. During one passage through the caves, we have to cross the river seven times in the 1.5km underground caves. It is an interesting shrine and pilgrimage place for Muslims. The roof of the caves is home to thousands of Bats and the floor is covered with droppings accumulating over many years. Web River gorge and cliffs with its bushes support the endemic Salvador Seedeater, Bristle-crowned Starling, Swifts and Swallows, and many more.

Overnight Goba Hotel.

Day 8 – Today we continue through Senate Plateau, undisturbed natural forest of Harenna, Genale River basin towards the Borena diverse ecosystem looking for African White-winged Dove, Juba Weaver, Ruspoli Turaco, Sidamo Lark, Stresemann Bush-crow, White-tailed Swallow, Golden Breasted Starling, Vulturine Guineafowl, Red-napped Shrike, Rosy-patched Bush-shrike and Striped Swallows to name a few.
Overnight the Green Hotel at Negele town.

Day 9 – Dawn excursion to Hara-Kalo and Wadera dry river valleys to search for a remarkable bird called Prince Ruspoli Turaco. On the way expect different birds of prey including Pygmy Falcon, Ovambo Sparrow hawk, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, White-headed Vulture, and the like.

In the afternoon we visit the large grassland of the Liben Plain looking for the birds of dry-open countries such as Sidamo Lark, Tiny Cisticola, Rufous Short-toed Lark, and Kori Bustard, Sooty Falcon, Crowned Lapwing, and many more. After lunch, we continue exploring for birds like Golden-breasted Starling, Shelley Starling, Magpie Starling, Chatterers, and many more arid land birds.

Overnight at Green Hotel.

Day 10 – Today we proceed to bird en route to the town of Yabello an important junction town in the middle of the red sandstone landscape with many large termite mounds. This mosaic arid land is home to several spectacular birds notably the charismatic Stresemann’s Bush-crow, White-tailed Swallow, Vulturine Guineafowl, Yellow-naked Spurfowl, White-crowned Starling, and many more.

Overnight Yabello Motel.

Day 11 – Today we explore the road to Mega and Dubluk where mixed thicket attracts Pygmy Falcon, Slate-colored Boubou, Bare-eyed Thrush, Purple Grenadier, Black-capped Social, and Grey-capped Social Weaver. Birds of prey are numerous including Gabar Goshawk, Amur Falcon, Lappet-faced Vulture on wings, and many more.
In the afternoon we will bird Yabello Forest Sanctuary for Northern Black Flycatcher, White-cheeked Turaco, Tawny Wagtail, Bare-faced Go-Away-Bird, and many Seed-eaters.

Overnight Yabello Motel.

Day 12 – Today we drive back to the Yirgalem area through the typical southern highland forest. Arriving at the Aregash Lodge compound we search the grounds for Great Sparrow hawk, African Hawk-eagle, Tambourine Dove, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Mountain Thrush, Battis, Shrikes, and more.
Overnight Aregash Eco-lodge.

Day 13 – After early morning birding and breakfast we drive to Bishangari meaning Blessed water located on the eastern bank of Lake Langano adjacent to the Chilalo chain of mountains on the southern edge of the Great Rift Valley. Here we find the remnant of a typical tropical rain forest and en route we search for Nubian Woodpecker, Speckled Mousebird, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, African Mourning Dove, and many more colorful forest birds.

Overnight Bishangari Eco-Lodge.

Day 14 – Early morning we explore the tropical rain forest and adjacent bank of Lake Langano for birds including the Yellow-fronted Parrot, Orange-bellied Parrot, African Paradise Flycatcher, Bare-faced Go-Away Bird, African Fish-eagle, Cuckoo Shrikes and water birds including Greater Egrets, Squacco Herons, Greater, and Long-tailed Cormorants, Gulls, Geese, Ducks, Shanks, Kingfishers, and Weavers.

Leaving after a late breakfast we arrive in Addis late afternoon and we will have a farewell dinner before departing for the airport.

12 Days – Tribes of Omo Valley Photography Tour

Tour overview

Located in the far southwest of Ethiopia is the Omo Delta, one of the last great tribal regions left in the world. Living in this remote but accessible area are a vast number of tribal groups all within driving distance of one another. Living in voluntary isolation, their culture, dress, and language have remained intact. Some 45 different languages are spoken, and tribes range from the many thousand strong Borena to the smaller Karo Tribe. With the recently constructed road stretching from Addis Ababa to Arba Minch, this area is now open for exploration and tourism. To anthropologists, the Omo Valley is a living museum; to photographers, the Omo Valley is a visually breathtaking experience.

Seven distinct groups of people live in this area. The Mursi are known for the clay lip plates that the women insert into their lower lips. The Hamar women wear thick copper necklaces, have braided hairstyles colored with red clay, and have high cheekbones. The Karo is highly decorated with chalk. The Konso are pastoralists and weavers. Visually stunning landscapes will be traveled through, ranging from mountains to savannah.

Visitation to the local tribes is a unique travel experience. Photographic opportunities range from documenting the daily life of the tribes, portraiture, and scenic shots as well as the opportunity to enhance one’s compositional skills. Until the 1970s, these tribes had no contact with the outside world and now you have the opportunity to know them. Traveling three photographers per Land Cruiser, eating the local food, and staying at local accommodations make for a special experience.

Most of the country, including all coastal areas, enjoys a so-called Mediterranean climate, almost identical to much of California. Summers are hot and dry with a 7-month period of near-constant sunshine generally from April until November.

Itineraries 

Day 1 – Addis Ababa

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be driven to the hotel which is 15 minutes away. The hotel has internet, a nice lounge area, a good restaurant, wonderful staff, and a money exchange, and is a comfortable place to start the trip.  The group will have a meet and greet dinner that evening. O/N Jupiter Hotel

Day 2 – Addis Ababa

We will start the day with a photoshoot in the  Entoto hills, the highest point in Addis where the women wood carriers walk, donkeys roam and people pray at  St. Mary’s Church.  From there we will walk to the local Shiro Meda market where people shop for shama cloth and traditional clothing. The group will photograph the pilgrims and priests at the ornate Holy Trinity Cathedral. Women in shama- traditional white shawls, and men deep in prayer are both inside this second most important place of prayer in Ethiopia as well as in the expansive courtyard. Lunch at the Lucy restaurant which is adjoining the Ethnological Museum which houses Lucy, the most complete skeleton ever discovered, being 3.2 million years old.

O/N Jupiter Hotel

Day 3 – Jinka

We will take the 11:40 am flight to Jinka arriving at 1:00 pm. The afternoon will be spent walking the packed village lanes of the Aari village. These very rural people are friendly, some homes are brightly painted, they do pottery, grow sorghum and daily life is easily photographed. Chickens in the yards, kids wanting to hold your hands, and women cooking by fire all make for a great introduction to the Omo Valley. These people are not painted, pierced, or decorated but are an excellent representation of rural southern Ethiopia. Past photography groups have visited the school and donated school supplies. The classrooms are visually compelling and great to document. We will walk up the main road visiting the houses and meeting the people. We will be spending the night in the Eco Omo Lodge which is on the banks of the river where people bathe, clothing gets washed and cars get cleaned.   O/N Eco Omo Lodge

Day 4 – Jinka

Early morning we will take the two-hour ride through Mago National Park to reach a Mursi village. As they are nomadic it is impossible to name the settlement we will visit. The women wear circular clay lip plates, the men are garbed in large towel-like wraps. Photographing women grinding sorghum and breastfeeding while making their morning coffee which they drink out of gourds is possible. Our local guides handle the photo fee payments so you can shoot with abandon. For protein, the men bleed a bull in the early morning and drink its blood. The homes are thatched straw and sticks, and these people are illiterate and their traditions are very much intact. many of the men have body adornments. A sense of humor is needed to fully appreciate the Mursi photographic experience.

The afternoon will be spent wandering the dirt street and markets of Jinka. The market is colorful and vibrant with many bars, and stores selling plastic woven baskets, and day-to-day items. Splitting into small groups a guide will help you with translation, setting up shots if desired, and seeing to it that you can photograph freely.

The group will visit Omo Child Center www.omochild.org in the afternoon. The director, Lale Labuko who is the only western-educated Kara tribe member and a National Geographic Emerging Explorer will give us a tour and we will have a question and answer period. The kids can be photographed and visiting Omo Child is always an emotional experience. Lodging once again will be at the Eco Omo Lodge which has a patio where the group can have a cold beer or hot coffee after this long day.
O/N Eco-Omo Lodge

Day 5 – Turmi

Proceeding further into the scenic Weito lowlands, we will be visiting an Arbore tribal village located at the northern edge of Mount Buska. The Arbore women are absolutely stunning, they have extremely dark skin and strong features. Prior to marriage, the women have their heads shaved. They wear dark robes, and colorful beads and their huts are fabricated from tree branches. We will work on our portraiture skills in this village. Arriving in Turmi late in the afternoon, we will be spending the night at the Buska Lodge which will be our base for the next few days. These round-shaped tukul lodges have porches and are on the bank of a stream. If you like shooting star trails this is your mecca as there is little light pollution.  O/N Buska Lodge

Day 6 – Turmi – Dus – Turmi

Departing Turmi at 5:00 AM, our photography group will head to Dus, the friendliest village of the Kara tribe. Settled on the banks of the Omo River, this tribe is known for its creative and decorative body chalk painting. Many of the Kara women have pierced lips and inserted nails and pins. Photographing on the bank of the Omo River can yield images of the kids diving into the water The group will shoot a cattle and goat drive which is iconic. Dust swirling, men with guns and long herders stick driving their herd to the water. The group will photograph the ceremonial, communal dance performed by the people of Dus.

Day 7 – Turmi – Kangaten – Turmi

Starting off from Turmi at sunrise we will be heading to Kangaten, home to the Nyangatom tribe that historically is said to be a split group from the Toposa tribe of South Sudan. Settled on the other side of the Omo River, we will be crossing the Omo River where we will be able to access and visit remote tribal villages. The teenage boys are lively and like to play much of the day. The women are topless and wear many strands of heavy beads, the girls are playful and love to have their images taken. Mid-afternoon, we will return to Turmi where we will be spending another night at the Buska Lodge.  We can also photograph the Hamer tribe digging for water, smoking out bees, or do another local village sunset shoot. O/N Buska Lodge

Day 8 – Turmi – Omorate-Turmi

Departing Turmi at 5:00 AM, we will be heading to Omorate, home of the Dassanach tribe who are said to be descendants of the Turkana tribe in North Kenya. Like many of these tribal groups, they use chain links and other western ‘cast-offs’ as decorative objects. Crossing the newly constructed Omo River bridge and driving further for 12kms, we will be able to photograph a remote Dassanach tribal village, just 11kms from the shores of Lake Turkana. We will photograph the women cooking by fire, grinding corn meal, and the men with their flock.  We will try to continue further south to Lake Turkana to see and photograph the small wooden fishing boats and Dassanch people. O/N Buska Lodge

Day 9 – Turmi

This being Monday we will attend the Turmi market. The Hamer people will be selling honey, snuff, foodstuffs, and local wares. The group will be split up and wander freely shooting the many stalls. Of note, the stores have some artistic designs and the crafts market is the best in the Omo. The grain mills are amazing and many stores are great backdrops for street photography.

The ritualistic bull-jumping ceremony usually takes place on Monday. The women dance with the bells on their ankles making a distinctive noise that blends in with the bugles they blow. The age group (16-25) of men called Maza whip the women as a sign of devotion as they will be responsible for the women as they grow old.  8 bulls are lined up and the nude guy will run across them numerous times. Once completed he is able to marry.  O/N Buska Lodge

Day 10 – Turmi

During the day we will be visiting two local Hamer villages in close proximity.  One visit at sunrise and another at sunset. Leaving the hotel at 5:30 AM the short ride will get us to the Hamer village as the people get ready for the day. Goats going out to pasture, sorghum being ground, kids milking goats. The Hamer women have high cheekbones and wear thick copper necklaces which indicate first wife status and elaborate custom beads. The Hamer are very outgoing and easily engaged. Many of the men wear feathers in their hair and dress in dark green blankets. The sunset shot will be in another village 20 minutes away from our lodge. Another trip’s favorite photoshoot is that of silhouettes… O/N Buska Lodge

Day 11 – Addis Ababa

Today we will fly back to Addis Ababa from the  Jinka airport. The group will return to Addis early in the afternoon and go to a Fair Trade home goods store that has the highest quality fabrics/ shawls/ linen. Those leaving one late-night flight will be driven to the airport. Farewell dinner will be in the hotel.
O/N Jupiter Hotel

Day 12 – Addis Ababa- Homeward Bound

Transportation to the airport is provided.