Best Tour
ETIOPIA - South West + Est
Duration: 14 days.
Best time: November-march; july & august.
Number of people: min.5 - max. 10.
Characteristic of the tour:
This trip will take us from west to east offering us landscapes and different ethnic groups: a real ethno-landscape cocktail.
PROGRAM
Day- 1-2- Arrive in Addis Abeba
capital of Ethiopia and 3rd highest capital of the world (2450m.above sea level. Take place at the Taitu hotel; free day eventually visit at the market (the hugest in Africa) or visit the Menelik Palace located on top of the hill.
Day- 3- Addis A. - Jimma.
After a great breakfast we’ll take off on board of ours jeep heading south-west to reach Jimma city. This region is mostly inhabited by Oromo people, they are Moslem and well known for their hard work in the fields where the soil is particularly fertile.
We’ll spend the night at the Wolde Abegaz Mizan Hotel in Jimma.
Day- 4- Jimma - Mizan.
We continue our trip today driving on unpaved road but in good condition through the Kaffa region where they say coffee was discovered and will reach Mizan Teferri. Starting from today we’ll rarely drive on paved road. Along our drive we’ll have the chance to meet some minorities group like the Keficho, Shecicho and the Bench-Maji which inhabit this region for centuries. The way we go is not a busy one and actually off the tourist track; rich vegetation, wild coffee and other spices will surround us. Overnight in Mizan.
Day- 5- Mizan- Kibish.
Today we’ll start to get to the heart of our trip: the focus of the tour in fact is to reach the area where the Surma people live, just a step away to the Sudanese border is. They actually belong to Suri stock which originally inhabit the sub-saharian area of the Nile.
Here we’ll choose a good spot where to set up our tents because we’ll spend a couple of nights.
Day- 6- Surma Village.
We’ll spend the whole day mostly among the Surma which paint their body with melted plaster; we’ll also have the chance to meet the Mursi, Chai and Tirma and will see some of their ceremony they still practice after centuries. The most interesting and spectacular one is for sure the stick-fight done by the Surma where the man has to show he’s a real man ready to be included in the highest social-status and fit for the wedding. It will be a show hard to forget and our cameras will be working a lot.
Day- 7- Surma Village- Mizan.
Today we’ll pack our tents, jump on our jeep and drive to Mizan where we’ll spend the night.
Day- 8- Mizan- Jimma.
Drive back to Jimma and stay overnight.
Day- 9- Jimma- Sodo.
Fortunately the Ethiopian landscape is never boring and during our long driving will pass through huge areas of crops especially sorgo and mais. We’ll also have the possibility to meet other ethnic groups when we’ll cross the Gibe river where we’ll frequently stop. We’ll spend the night at Bekele Molla Hotel in Sodo located in a nice place.
Day- 10- Sodo- Addis A.
We’ll strike back to Addis A. today crossing areas especially inhabited by Gurage people which are particularly fond on preparing the Kocho: a white mush made of the roots of a plant very similar to the banana one. During our driving will take a break near the village of Gutajira where we can spend sometime on the border of Aresheta Volcano where the bottom always laid emerald colour water. Few tourist visit this place because few drivers know about it. Afterward we’ll stop over in Tiya: a very interesting archaeological site, the most important in the country: 36 stele (stone’s slabs) mostly 2 metres tall and carrying carved swords standing like warriors in the battling fields.
We’ll reach Addis A. in the afternoon and spend the night.
Day- 11- Addis A- Harar.
Early breakfast today because we have to drive 500km. east to reach Harar. The long drive won’t be boring because as usually the landscape is beautiful and the road is completely paved. We’ll pass next to Fentale Volcano and will have a break at Lake Beseka where we’ll see people bathing and washing their clothes because the water of the lake is soapy itself. We’ll reach Harar late afternoon and will take place for the night in a typical Harari house located in the old city.
Day- 12- Harar.
This place was for centuries the cross road of any kind of business and actually became a commercial meeting point of Africa, India and the Middle East. In 1850 became the most important trade centre of the African Horn attracting many foreign merchants from Armenia, France and England. Harar is an historic city inhabited of Harari, Afar, Oromo and Kereyou; the majority of people here are moslim and the old is city still surrounded by walls where every morning take place different traditional markets. The women wear beautiful and colourful dress and scarf and in the market you have the chance to meet so many people because it’s so busy. I’m sure that you won’t get bored. At night when the dark wrap up the city we’ll get ready for the real thrill: the hyena feeder which is considered the greatest attraction in town. It will be a really great surprise.
Day- 13- Harar- Babille- Harar.
Today we’ll jump on our jeeps and will drive for about 100km. east and stopping first at Babille where we’ll visit the elephant sanctuary but do not expect to see any of these animal, they have gone long time ago. Than we won’t miss the camel’s market where the trade is really worth to watch. From here we’ll later move to Dakhata Valley also called Valley of Marvels. Here tall rocks have been sculpted into strange shapes by the elements. The valley stretches for about 15km.
Back to Harar where we’ll spend the last night and eventually visit the hyena again.
Day- 14- Harar- Awash.
After breakfast we’ll start driving back west and will stop in Awash where we’ll visiting Awash National Park. It’s one of the most visited park in Ethiopia and there are so many animals in it. Do not expect a Kenyan or Tanzanian safari where you often see the games but anyway you won’t regret the visit. There are some lions but it’s not guarantee you see them. There are natural hot water pool and beautiful waterfall where we could camp for the night or choose to stay at a comfortable lodge nearby.
Day- 15- Awash- Addis A.
Our trip is at the end and today we’ll go back to Addis A. where we’ll arrive in the afternoon and the rest of the day is free. Will stay at the same hotel and just after midnight will fly back home.
End of the tour
The tour include:
In the tour everything is included from airport to airport. Half board. |
