ETHIOPIA
LAND OF ORIGINS
SEP - OCT 2027 • 21 DAYS • 18 GUESTS
Archeological finds dating back over 3 million years, ancient cities with churches cut out of the rock face and bountiful wildlife, all combined with a colourful and diverse culture, make Ethiopia an incredibly unique destination. With lush highlands, stirring deserts, sweeping savannahs, vast lakes and high plateaus, all host to an abundance of wildlife. Let us take you on an incredible journey from the majestic Simien mountains in the Northern Highlands, to the southern Omo Valley with its rich mosaic of ethnic tribes. Join us for the ultimate adventure to what is said to be the origin of mankind, the beautiful forgotten world of Ethiopia.
Experience the lively and colourful Meskel festival, considered the most important religious festival in Ethiopia. Visit the fortified city of Gondar, known as Africa’s Camelot. Head to the Simien Mountains National Park with its spectacular jagged landscapes and plains of Giant Lobelias often called ‘God’s playground’ due to its unique formations. Get close to endemic Ethiopian animals, including grass-grazing Gelada baboons, Walia ibex and the elusive ‘Abyssinian fox’ otherwise known as the Ethiopian wolf. Head south to Bahir Dar and the peaceful waters of Lake Tana; explore the scattered islands on this vast lake; visit hidden, ancient monasteries; enjoy the dance of White pelicans, Black-crowned cranes, and hippopotamus bathing in the shallows, as fishermen gently paddle past in their traditional ‘tankwa’ papyrus boats. Venture to the small hillside town of Lalibela, one of the holiest towns in the heart of Ethiopia and visit the awe-inspiring rock-cut churches, their impressive architecture now a UNESCO world heritage site.
From the valleys and escarpments of the Northern Highlands, head south via Addis Ababa to the Great Rift Valley, overnighting on the shores of one of Ethiopia’s most beautiful lakes, Lake Awassa. Drive south through the countryside dotted with ethnic dwellings and nomadic tribes, into the heart of the Omo Valley and visit the towns of Jinka, Turmi and Konso. Witness the diverse tribal cultures of this region, one of the few places in the world where you can still find indigenous people who have had minimal influence from the outside world. Arba Minch is known for the Dorze people, famed for their huge beehive-shaped huts and weaving skills, Jinka is where we find the Hamar people, recognizable by their, muddy ochre-tinted hair. Around Turmi live the cattle-herding Dassanech tribe and the Mursi tribe, whose women wear clay plates in their lower lips or ear lobes and unique headdresses. From the ethnic heartland head north to Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia’s most scenic park at an altitude of 600m-4000m, with one of the highest numbers of endemic animal species in the world. Keeping a watch for the Mountain Nyala, Giant Mole rats and the elusive Bale monkeys. An unmissable adventure into a forgotten world.
HIGHLIGHTS
Visit the indigenous tribes of the Omo Valley.
Journey through Simien and Bale Mountains National parks.
Enjoy diverse and unique landscapes.
Experience the lively Meskel festival, considered the most important festival in Ethiopia
See bountiful wildlife including Gelada baboons, Ethiopian wolves, Walia ibex, Giant Mole rats, Mountain nyala, Black-crowned cranes and hippopotamus.
Travel to Lalibela with its gravity-defying churches carved into the rock face.
Meet many ethnic tribal groups throughout the country
Enjoy authentic meals and an evening in a traditional Ethiopian home.
Travel to the ends of the earth to the Danakil Depression to see the camel caravans transporting hand-mined salt and camp on the rim of a volcano.
Pre-Extension - Danakil–Desert, Lava, Salt & Camels
SEP 2027 ● 5 DAYS ● 18 GUESTS
Take a journey to one of the lowest places on earth on our Pre-extension to The Danakil Depression. Home to the Afar people, a semi-nomadic group who ‘mine’ salt by hand in one of the toughest, driest and hottest places on earth. Climb the Erta Ale Volcano to see the bubbling, hissing, steaming lava. At Dallol, wander in awe at the outlandish active geysers and surreal acid lakes, with boiling gases and rich minerals creating a kaleidoscope of psychedelic colors. Explore salt canyons with crusty towers and pinnacles and the mythical Lake Afrera at 100m (300ft) below sea-level. Finally, head out to the salt flats and watch the caravan of camels, donkeys and mules transporting salt ‘mined’ by the Afar people. Said to be one of the most visually stunning places in the world, an epic and rewarding adventure unlike any other.
*Please note that this Pre-extension will truly take you to the center of the Earth, so be prepared for the extremes, this is not for the faint-hearted and you need to be mentally and physically prepared to participate in this extension. You can expect basic facilities, remote locations, energetic hikes, hot days and cold nights.
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“Right from the beginning of our contact with your company we had timely and professional responses, so we knew it was going to be a well organised trip. What we didn’t expect was such intimate contact with the villagers and such insight into their customs, traditions and way of life. Thomas, Suzanne and Natalia, you were fantastic at educating us about so many aspects of PNG and its people, providing access to villages through your personal contacts and also giving so much energy to the group. The whole trip was an amazing experience, shared with a wonderful group of travellers and led by knowledgeable, prepared, well connected, calm and enthusiastic guides. As first time Wild Earth Explorers, we loved it and we will be back to experience other journeys in the future.”
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ITINERARY OVERVIEW
PRE-EXTENSION DANAKIL — DESERT, LAVA, SALT & CAMELS
SEP 2027 ● 5 DAYS ● 18 GUESTS
Day 01| Arrive in Addis Ababa
Day 02| Fly Addis Ababa to Mekele / Hamed Ella
Day 03| Dallol Depression
Day 04| Erta Ale Volcano / Camp on the volcano rim
Day 05| Travel to Mekele / Fly Addis Ababa / Start Main Expedition
ETHIOPIA - LAND OF ORIGINS
SEP - OCT 2027 - 21 DAYS – 18 GUESTS
Day 01| Depart home en route to Ethiopia
Day 02| Arrive in Addis Ababa / Special cultural welcome dinner
Day 03| Addis Ababa Exploration / Meskel Festival
Day 04| Fly to Awassa / Drive to Bale Mountains
Day 05| Bale Mountains
Day 06| Charter Flight to Arbaminch / Dorze Village
Day 07| Boat trip on Lake Chamo / Drive to Jinka / Konso Village
Day 08| Mursi Village / Drive to Turmi / Key Afer market
Day 09| Karo Village / Hamer village
Day 10| Drive to Jinka / Dimeka Market / Fly Addis and on to Bahir Dar
Day 11| Lake Tana Monasteries / Blue Nile Falls
Day 12| Drive to Lalibela / Awramba and Amhara Villages
Day 13-14| Two days exploring Lalibela
Day 15| Fly Lalibela to Axum / Axum visit
Day 16| Fly to Gondar / Gondar Visit
Day 17| Drive to Simien Mountains National Park
Day 18-19| Two full days exploring Simien Mountains
Day 20| Drive to Gondar / Fly to Addis Ababa / Mt Entoto / Fly home
Day 21| Arrive home
WILD EARTH LEADER
PHOTO CREDIT © Thomas Baechtold, Dinknesh & Adobe Stock