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Ebyet Tour and Travel is one of the well-established and reliable travel companies in Ethiopia since the year 2000. We are licensed by the Ethiopian Ministry of Cultural and Tourism, with our head office in Addis Ababa, which is in the hub of the country, and seat of the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA). Ebyet Tour has been appointed as the Ground Service Agent by many international and domestic travel companies.

Our core mission is Total Quality Management, ensuring customer satisfaction, first time and every time. We continuously search for new discoveries in countries in our vicinity (such as Djibouti and Tanzania). We plan every single detail thoroughly in order to satisfy any specific travel needs of our clients. With our long experience and care, we ensure our visitors the most enjoyable and memorable trip of their lifetime. Using Ebyet Tour and Travel is your assurance to enjoy and receive quality services while you are traveling within your budget.

Our Services

• Organizing package tours to all parts of Ethiopia, including to remote areas such as the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest places on our planet at 120m below sea level, iss our main service
• We hire different types of cars like cross country buses, midibuses, minibusses, and different models of four-wheel cars
• Air tickets sales to international and domestic routes
• City tours, inside and around Addis, to museums, churches, and to the biggest open air market, locally called Mercato
• We reserve first-class hotels, plus villas, in and out of the capital Addis Ababa
• Our excursion trips are to some of the rift valley lakes, where you can vastly watch water birds, and tropical birds around the lakes, or en route to the lakes

Historic Route with Flight

Day 1: Addis Ababa- Bahir Dar Fly to Bahir Dar, then drive to have boat excursion on Lake Tana. Afternoon, you will visit the magnificent Blue Nile falls. Dinner and overnight in a hotel
Day 2: Bahir Dar - Gonder
drive to Gonder then visit the town with its great modern historical treasures. Dinner and overnight in a hotel
Day 3: Gonder - Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela, the rest of the day visit the 11 rock hewn churches of Lalibela. Dinner and overnight in a hotel
Day 4: Lalibela – Axum
Fly to Axum. The rest of the day you will visit the ancient town of Axum. Dinner and overnight in a hotel
Day 5 Axum - Addis Ababa
Morning flight back to Addis. Rest of day, you will visit the museums and shopping places of Addis, farewell dinner and departure home.

10 Amazing, Fun & Interesting Facts about Ethiopia

Ethiopia, officially known as Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a country located in the Horn of Africa (northeastern Africa). It is surrounded by Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Kenya. It is the 2nd most populous country in Africa. Let us know some interesting facts about Ethiopia

• #1: The Birth Place of humanity  

Ethiopia is the origin of human beings and human technologies longer than almost anywhere else in the world. It is one of the best open air museums in the world in which the early direct ancestors of human being lived before millions of years.

• #2: The Watch & The Calendar
  •     Ethiopia counts its time on the opposite side of its clock. This can be tallied to being behind by 6 hours. 6 pm would be 12 noon and 12 noon would be 6 am.
  •     The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months. The calendar is eight years behind the Western calendar. The months are usually 30 days long but the last month has 5 or 6 days.
  •     September 11th is celebrated as the day of New Year.
• #3: The Ethiopian Alphabet
  •     Type of writing system: abugida (አቡጊዳ)
  •     Writing direction: left to right in horizontal lines.
  •     Each symbol represents a syllable consisting of a consonant plus a vowel. The basic signs are modified in a number of different ways to indicate the various vowels.
  •     There is no standard way of transliterating the Ge'ez script into the Latin alphabet.
  •     There are thirty three basic shapes. These generally represent the consonants followed by the vowel ä. The basic shapes are altered in various ways to indicate a different vowel following the base consonant.
• #4: Coffee’s Birthplace
  •     Ethiopia is the country where coffee was first discovered. Hence it is considered coffee’s homeland.
  •     It was first noticed by a shepherd named Kaldi, whose goats started pacing restlessly after eating the plant’s leaves.
  •     The word coffee itself is considered borrowed from the southern Ethiopian lands of Kaffa.
•  #5: Christianity & Ethiopia
  • There are some interesting facts about Ethiopia related to the religion Christian, here they are:
  •     Ethiopia and its people, the Ethiopians have been mentioned in the Bible. The number of times varies from 40 to 60 according to different sources.
  •     There are a lot of churches here and this gives Ethiopia a prominent place in the World as well as Christian history.
  •     Ethiopia also claims that the final resting place of the Arc of the covenant is at a chapel in the holy city of Aksum, which was once, the capital of Ethiopia.
• #6: Islam & Ethiopia
  • There are some interesting facts about Ethiopia related to the religion Islam, here they are:
  •     Ethiopia has been mentioned in the Koran. It is also worth mentioning that it has mentions in the Iliad and Oddessey.
  •     Ethiopia also happens to be the first country where Muslim prayers were held outside Arabia.
  •     Al Nejashi is the first mosque that has been built outside Arabia.
  •     Ethiopia was the country in which Mohamed’s followers found solace when they were persecuted.
•  #7: League of Nations
  •     Ethiopia is one of the countries that have not been invaded and conquered. Italy had been defeated twice when it tried to.
  •     The country was the first to join the League of Nations, which soon proved to be fruitless. The nations belonging to this league would be given support known as ‘ collective support’. When mass murders and ethnic cleansing happened in Ethiopia, the others did not just bother.
• #8: African Union

    Emperor Hailesilassie I firmly believed that the states of Africa should unite and be its own master.   This led to the birth of Pan Africanism. This thought materialized to what is the African Union today.

•  #9: Hot Spots

    Addis Ababa is the highest city in Africa and the seat for African Union. The hottest place in the world is the Afar depression or the Afar triangle. The highlight is that it remains so throughout the year.

•   #10: Sharing Names

    Ethiopian fathers and their children do not share last names. The children take the first name of their father as their last name.

Time difference in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a different time calculating system and three hours ahead of Green witch Mean time (GMT). The Ethiopian day is calculated in a manner similar to that in many equatorial countries, where day and night is always the same length. Time remains constant through the year counting starts from western 6 and 6 Western 7 is there fore one o'clock, noon is 6 o' clock and 6 is 12 o'clock. In Addis Ababa, then sunrise and sunset at around 6:30 and 18.45 respectively.

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City Tour

Addis Ababa City Tour Package ID: 1001

Duration: Half/Full Day
Season: January- December
Activities: Church, Museum, sightseeing
Customize: This package can be customized
Accommodation: Hotel

Addis Ababa (New Flower):- Whatever you want, you will find it at Addis, from sizzling entertainment, theatre extravaganza, world class Hotels and restaurants to cater for all tastes. See the Century city of Ethiopia; fantastic mixture of old and New, Cultural and Commercial centre, seat of Government, considered to be the political capital of Africa, is the home of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). More than 95 embassies from all over the world have their missions there.*Entoto hill view – *Old Menelik Palace- *Churches – *Museums – *Monuments- *shopping and more…

You sip your early morning coffee as you leave on your early morning drive to Entoto hill. Enjoy spectacular views on the way up to the hill; you will observe the drop in temperature and the air is filled with the aroma of the Eucalyptus trees which line the road.From the top, a panoramic view of the capital and surrounding countryside. There is an old imperial palace of Emperor Menelik II at Entoto, and also two important churches; the churches of St. Mariam and the Archangel Raguel and a small museum in the compound of St Marry church.

Leaving the churches we go downhill to Addis Ababa, stopping off at the National Museum. Here visitors can see exhibits ranging from the 3.5 million-year-old bones of Lucy and other archaeological findings. You will also visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral.After lunch enjoy the afternoon leisure which will give you a wonderful opportunity for shopping in some of Addis Ababa finest shopping and souvenir centers, and also visiting landmarks and monuments.

This tour will comprise the historical sites and natural attraction in Addis Ababa..

Excursion

EXCURSIONS FROM ADDIS ABEBA

As interesting as it is, you probably will not want to stay in Addis too long unless you have some serious shopping to do. Better venture out to the surrounding countryside. The five roads fanning out of the city each has different things to offer from crater lakes to ancient monasteries, spectacular gorges, wildlife, spa resorts and even rock-hewn Churches.

DEBRE LIBANOS AND JEMMA GORGE

The first Tabbot of Debre Libanos, with whom the monastery is strongly associated, is an important figure in Ethiopian history. He convinced the Kings of the Zagwe Dynasty of Lalibela to abdicate to return the throne to the Solomonic line, and was involved in spreading the Orthodox faith south. Abune Tekle-Haimanot (1260 A.D) was later canonized for all his deeds. A cave where he is supposed to have prayed for seven years standing on one foot is one of the sacred spots of Debre Libanos that pilgrims flock to. Perhaps because of these beginnings, Debre Libanos has been one of the most important and influential monasteries in the land while its titular head has been regarded as the premier monk of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

THE AMBO ROAD
Wonchi Crater Lake and Mountain so far could prepare us for the truly enchanting and picturesque Wonchi Crater Lake hidden in the 3,386m-high extinct volcano 30 km south of Ambo. The mountain is high enough to have a characteristic forest zone with an area of heath moorland and other associated vegetation and wildlife. You can get down to the Lake by walking or on horseback hired at the village on the rim of the crater. Once down, dugout wooden canoes can take you to the ancient Church on an island and to the mineral hot water springs.

MELKA KUNTURE
Lying on the south bank of the Awash River near the town of Melka Awash, is Melka Kunture regarded to be one of the most important Stone Age archaeological sites of Ethiopia. Thousands of tools in the form of hand axes and cleavers found here are dated back to 1.5 million years old. There is a good display of these at the National Museum in Addis Abeba.

ROCK-HEWN ADADI MARIAM
This is the southern most rock-hewn Church in Ethiopia, and the local stories and traditions associate it with King Lalibela’s visit to nearby Mount Ziquala in 1106 AD. Like so many other Churches, Adadi Mariam was attacked by Ahmed Gragn in the 16th century. This led to its disuse for several centuries until it was discovered by hunters at the time of Menelik II.

WORLD HERITAGE TIYA
Prehistoric cave paintings, rock art, stone engravings and monuments are found all over southern Ethiopia. The area around Tiya is particularly rich in anthropomorphic monoliths. What makes the stelae of Tiya special is their number in one place (40), the enigmatic symbols engraved on them along with their size, up to two meters high. Tiya has been declared a world heritage by UNESCO, one of seven such sites in the country, to highlight the widespread presence of mysterious engraved stelae stretching across this region of southern Ethiopia.

DEBRE ZEIT CRATER LAKES
There are no less than seven of these lakes, one up on the Ziquala Mountain but most are sunken below ground level (Bishoftu, Hora, Abanquadi or the Green Lake). All the lakes support a variety of bird colonies.

SODORE SPA RESORT
In so many places all along the Great Rift Valley, the volcanic fires underneath the surface manifest themselves in various forms: as smoldering fumaroles, as crackling geysers, gushing hot water streams and as bubbling hot springs.Ethiopia’s potential for geothermal power generation and therapeutic facilities are known to be immense. However at present, the Langano Geothermal Project and the modest Sodore hot springs Resort are the only such developments to speak of. Most go to Sodore for its hot water treatment facilities and to swim in the Olympic-size pool. To others, its nature and wildlife (crocodiles, grivet monkeys and birds) along the Awash River banks are the main attraction here.

AWASH NATIONAL PARK

The Awash National Park, the first to be developed, is located 220 km east of Addis with an area of 837 sq km. Nearly 50 large mammals and 400 bird species characteristic of the dry thorn scrub ecosystem have been recorded in the park. Another interesting feature is the Awash River Gorge that makes up the park’s southern boundary with a waterfall at its head. There is also a palm-lined, shimmering, aquamarine hot spring pool and the Fentalae Volcano with steaming fumaroles. The mystical frankincense (Gum arabica) tree grows in the park - the nearest location to Addis where it can be found.

THE GREAT RIFT AND ETHIOPIA’S LAKES REGION

Literally the largest valley on the earth, the Great Rift Valley is one of the planet’s most outstanding features, running supposedly from Lake Baikal in Russia to Mozambique in Africa and harboring a prolific variety of animals and plants. It also contains many interesting geological features.

In prehistoric times, humans and animals lived along the shores of the rift’s rivers and lakes, making it today a favourite of paleontologists. Already they have made many fascinating finds such as the 3.5 million-year-old Lucy or Dinqnesh, the “most complete and best preserved skeleton of any human ancestor yet discovered”

Trekking

1.Trekking In The Bale Mountains Of Ethiopia (14 Days)

CATEGORY: TREKKING IN BALE MOUNTAINS
TRANSPORTATION: SURFACE AND TREK
TOUR DURATION: 14 DAYS

• DAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: ADDIS ABABA:- Morning after breakfast you will make a full day city tour of Addis Ababa, that includes National Museum, Ethnological Museum, Saint George Cathedral Museum & Church or Trinity Church, Mount Entoto and Merkato. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 03: ADDIS ABABA - SODORE:- Drive to Sodore Spa, Swimming + Hot Spring + Mammals. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 04: SODORE – DINSHO:- Morning drive to Dinsho, Bale Mountains National Park Headquarter. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 05: FULL DAY TREKKING AROUND DINSHO:- Trek around Dinsho and Geysay Valley, with a chance to see three of the endemic mammals like Menelik's Bushbuck, Mountain Nyala and Ethiopian wolf. Camping at Dinsho
• DAY 06: TREK TO WEBE RIVER VALLEY:- Trek Dinsho – Webe River Valley, Endemic Mammals + Birds + Water Falls. Camping at Dinsho
• DAY 07: TREK DINSHO – MARARO:- We trek 5 - 6 hrs through the lush highland vegetation to our first campsite, Mararo. Camping
• DAY 08: MARARO – WASEMA:- After breakfast we resume trek that will last for about 7 - 8 hrs. The trek offers the chance to see Ethiopia's endemic Abyssinian Wolf. Around Worgona mineral spring, Giant Mole rat can easily be seen. Camping at Wasema Valley
• DAY 09: WASEMSA – GEBRE GURACHA:- Today you trek through the highlands ascending Senate Plateau and crossing Batu Mountain, 4200 meters. Camping
• DAY 10: GEBRE GURACHA – LITTLE BATU:- Today you trek towards little Batu Mountain, this trek is the day you face back to the head quarter of Bale Mountains. Camping
• DAY 11: LITTLE BATU - DINSHO LODGE:- After breakfast trek back to Dinsho Loge, end of the trekking, this journey will take for about 5 - 6 hrs. Camping
• DAY 12: DRIVE TO AWASSA:- In this morning, meet the vehicle, then drive to the lake side city of Awassa, which is located on the shore of Lake Awassa the smallest and the shallowest Lake of Ethiopia rift valley lakes. After check in to the hotel, you will make a boat cruise to see hippos and different species of aquatic and forest birds including Storks, Pelicans, Darters, Cormorants, Egrets, King Fishers, and the beautiful the Sunbirds. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 13: AWASSA - WENDO GENET:- Early in the morning, you will drive to the Awassa fish market; here you will visit the traditional fish market along birds like Marabou Stores, Greater White Pelicans, Darters and more. Then we directly drive to Wendo Genet known for its thermal springs and naturally heated pools in a lush rain forested mountain settings.
• Here visitors will walk through the Juniper plantations in searching of the hot springs most of them have curative property and local boil like egg, potatoes, corn and more as well as forest endemic birds. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 14: WENDO GENET – ADDIS ABABA :- Morning drive back to Addis Ababa on the way you will visit the rift valley lakes of Ziway and Koka admire the area, then continue driving have stop at the town of Debre Ziet for lunch and to see the crater lake. Drive back to Addis Ababa and Souvenir shopping and fare well dinner with national music and dance. Overnight stay Hotel

2.Trekking In The Bale Mountains Of Ethiopia (9 Days)

CATERGORY: TREKKING IN BALE MOUNTAINS
TRANSPORTATION: SURFACE AND TREK
TOUR DURATION: 9 DAYS

• DAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: ADDIS ABABA – BALE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK:- Drive to Bale Mountains Head Quarter, Dinsho. The scenery is extraordinary, particularly the last hour as you climb up through forests overlooking valleys. About 5km before Dinsho you come to the swampy Gaysay Grasslands, the first section of the National Park. Camping
• DAY 03: DINSHO AND GASSAY SWAMPY GRASSLAND:- The day is dedicated in search of endemic mammals as same time acclimatization walk. Camping
• DAY 04: MARARO:- Trek to Mararo 5-6 hrs through the lush highland vegetation to our first campsite, Mararo. Camping
• DAY 05: WASEMA VALLEY:- Trek to Wasema Valley. Camping
• DAY 06: GEBRE GURACH:- Day of ascending to Sanetti Plateau, an outstanding example of Afro-Alpine moorland. Here, you will enjoy close up views of the Simien wolf, and cross Batu Mountain, 4200m. Camping
• DAY 07: BATU:- To Little Batu making another way back to the direction of the Head Quarter, Dinsho (6 – 7 hrs). Camping
• DAY 08: DINSHO:- Trek back to Dinsho Head Quarter (5 – 6 hrs). Camping
• DAY 09: DINSHO – ADDIS ABABA:- Drive back to Addis Ababa and Souvenir shopping and fare well dinner with national music and dance. Overnight stay Hotel

3.Trekking Tour Packages in Semien Mountains of Ethiopia

In this category, Petra Travel offers tour packages to sites with astonishing natural formations, features and animal life. Accordingly, Birding and Trekking are included under this category. We have trekking tours to Bale and Semien Mountains and Birding in most parts of Ethiopia.

4.Trekking In The Semien Mountains Of Ethiopia (9 Days)

CATERGORY: TREKKING WITH HISTORICAL SIGHTSEEING
TRANSPORTATION: FLIGHT, SURFACE AND TREK
TOUR DURATION: 9 DAYS

• DAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: ADDIS ABABA – GONDAR - DEBARK:- Transferred to the Air port and flight to Gondar. Visit Fassil compound, king Fassil’s Bath, and Debre Birhan Selassie church. Drive to debark and on the way enjoy the beautiful scenery. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 03: DEBARK - SANKABER-GICH:- Drive to Sankaber. Trekking for about 4 to 5 hours following the narrow path that keeps cloth to the escarpment with a very scenic views. Camping at Geech
• DAY 04: GICH - CHENNEK VIA IMET GOGO:- trekking for about 7 to 8 hours via Met Gojo which offers the most spectacular view of the Semen Mountains north and east over the rock spires and mesas of the lowland. Camping at Chenek
• DAY 05: CHENNEK - AMBIKWA VIA BWAHIT:- trekking for about 7 to 9 hours following track that. Camping at Ambikwa
• DAY 06: AMBIKWA - RAS DEJEN - AMBIKWA:- Trekking for about 8 to 10 hours following a track that leads to the very scenic views. Enjoy the 4540 meters altitude mountain and return back to Ambikwa. Camping at Ambikwa
• DAY 07: AMBIKWA - CHENNEK:- Trekking for about 5 to 6 hours following the more remote and interesting villages of the southern semen mountains. Camping at Chenek
• DAY 08: CHENNEK - GONDER:- Drive to Gonder. Enjoy the scenic views of the Semen Mountains. Overnight Stay Hotel
• DAY 09: GONDER - ADDIS ABABA:- Transfer to the airport and flight to Addis Ababa. Sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa including the Merkato, the largest open air market in Africa, souvenir shopping and fare well dinner with national music and dancing. Overnight Stay Hotel

5.Trekking In The Semien Mountains Of Ethiopia (7 Days)

CATERGORY: TREKKING WITH HISTORICAL SIGHTSEEING
TRANSPORTATION: FLIGHT, SURFACE AND TREK
TOUR DURATION: 7 DAYS

• DAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: ADDIS ABABA – GONDAR - DEBARK:- Transferred to the Air port and flight to Gondar. Visit Fassil compound, king Fassil’s Bath, and Debre Birhan Selassie church. Drive to debark and on the way enjoy the beautiful scenery. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 03: DEBARK-SANKABER –GICH:- Drive to Kaber (1:45 hours). Trekking about 4 to 5 hours following the narrow path that keeps cloth to the escarpment with a very scenic view. Camping at Geech
• DAY 04: GICH - MET GOGO - GICH:- Trekking for about 3 to 4 hours round trip that offers some of the most spectacular views of Semien Mountains, north and east over the rock spires and mesas of the lowlands. Camping at Geech
• DAY 05: GICH - CHENNEK, CROSSING JINE BAHIR & VIA AMBA RAS:- Trekking for about 5 to 6 hours having a very scenic views the promontory view points of the Semien Mountains. Camping at Chenek
• DAY 06: CHENNEK - GONDER:- Drive to Gonder. Enjoy the scenic views of the Semen Mountains. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 07: GONDER - ADDIS ABABA:- Transfer to the air port and flight to Addis Ababa sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa including the Merkato, the largest open air market in Africa, Souvenir shopping fare well dinner with national music and dancing. Overnight stay Hotel.

6.Trekking In The Semien Mountains Of Ethiopia (15 Days)

CATERGORY: TREKKING WITH HISTORICAL SIGHTSEEING
TRANSPORTATION: FLIGHT, SURFACE AND TREK
TOUR DURATION: 15 DAYS

• DAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel.
• DAY 2: FULL DAY CITY TOUR OF ADDIS ABABA:- Morning after breakfast you will make a full day city tour of Addis Ababa, that includes National Museum, Ethnological Museum, Saint George Cathedral Museum and Church, Mount Entoto and Merkato. Overnight stay Hotel.
• DAY 3: FLY TO BAHIR DAR:- An early morning flight gets us to Bahir Dar and we check in to the hotel. This morning you will make a boat cruise on this beautiful highland lake to see the monastery church of Kibran Gebriel (closed for women), Azwa Mariam and Ura Kidanmihret that allows both genders. Under the thatched roof of the monasteries there are some distinctive colorful frescoes of religious scenes an impressive display of illuminated bibles written in “Geez” the religious language from which Amharic is derived. In the afternoon, you will take a scenic drive of 35 km to the little town of Tiss Abay and walk for about twenty minutes to visit the famous Blue Nile Falls. The falls lunges 40 meters below and 400 meters wide, giving rise to steam clouds, smoke like fire, which is locally known as Tiss Isat meaning, “Water that smoke”. Those who may wish to descend to the base of the falls must be climb back to the other side and cross the Blue Nile in a boat in order to back to the point of departure. Overnight stay HoteL
• DAY 4: DRIVE TO GONDER:- In the morning after breakfast drive to Gonder, known as the “Camelot” of Africa. Nestled in the foothills of the breath taking Semien Mountains National Park in the northwestern part of the country, was the 17th and 18th century capital city of Ethiopia which was founded by emperors Fasiladas (1632 – 1667) and once home to a number of emperors & warlords, curtsies and kings who built several castles around the area. On this day you will visit the oldest and the most impressive Gonderine structure, the magnificent castle compound including the two storied palace of emperor Fasiladas, built of roughly hewn brown basalt stone held together with mortar, the fantastically decorated Debre Birhan Silassie Church “light of Trinity”, the bath (now baptismal place during Ethiopian epiphany, January 19) of king Fasiladas and the ruined palace of Queen Mintiwab at Qusquam, where the Scottish explorer James Bruce used to reside for some times. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 5: GONDER - SEMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK:- Early in the morning, you will directly drive to the extraordinary and majestic Semien Mountains National Park via Debark the gateway to the park in a comfortable Land Cruiser up to the site of Buyit Ras, 3230 Meter. On this day, you will prepare our self for the coming trekking days to visit the park’s extraordinary natural phenomena, endemic floral and endemic Gelada Baboon, which is sometimes called the heart-bleeding baboon and you will see the rare endemic Walia Ibex. Overnight stay Hotel

7.Trekking In The Semien Mountains Of Ethiopia (5 Days)

CATERGORY: TREKKING IN BALE MOUNTAINS
TRANSPORTATION: SURFACE AND TREK
TOUR DURATION: 5 DAYS

• DAY 1: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: ADDIS ABABA – BALE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK (GOBA):- Drive to Bale Mountain National Park. Overnight stay Hotel.
• DAY 03: BALE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK:- Game drive to visit endemic mammals and birds in Bale Mountains National Park. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 04: BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (GOBA) – SOF OMAR CAVE - GOBA:- Drive to and visit the Sof Omar Cave. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 05: GOBA – ADDIS ABABA:- Drive back to Addis Ababa and Souvenir shopping and fare well dinner with national music and dance. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 6: BUYIT RAS – KOBA VALLEY – SANKABER:- Early in the morning trek Buwit Ras – Koba Valley – Sankaber. Camping at Sankaber
• DAY 7: MICHIBI - JIN BAHIR – GICH ABYSS:- Trek Sankaber - Michibi – Gich Abyss. Camping at Gich Abyss
• DAY 8: GICH ABYSS – GICH:- In the morning, continue trekking to Gich, via Michotis and Jinbahir. Camping at Gich
• DAY 9: GICH – IMET GOGO:- Trek Geech – Abergina – Imet Gogo. Camping at Imet Gogo
• DAY 10: IMET GOGO – CHENNEK:- In the morning, continue to ChenneK. Camping at Chennek
• DAY 11: CHENNEK – BWAHIT RAS – AMBIKWA:- Leave to Ambikwa via Bwahit Ras, the second highest peak in the region. Camping at Ambikwa
• DAY 12: AMBIKWA – RAS DASHEN – AMBIKWA:- Early in the morning, ascents Mount Ras Dashen 4620 meter, the highest peak in Ethiopia then in the afternoon descend back to Ambikwa. Camping at Ambikwa
• DAY 13: AMBIKWA – CHENNEK:- Trek back from Ambikwa to Chennek, end of the trekking. Camping at Chennek
• DAY 14: CHENNEK- GONDAR:- In the morning meet the Bus at Chennek and then drive back to Gondar. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 15: GONDAR - ADDIS ABABA:- Transfer to the air port and flight to Addis Ababa sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa include the Merkato, the largest open air market in Africa, Souvenir shopping fare well dinner with national music and dancing. Overnight stay Hotel

Festivals

Religion plays an imperative part of life in Ethiopia, Especially the Orthodox Church ceremonies are unique and impressive; principally Gena or Lidet (Ethiopian Christmas), Timket (Epiphany) and Meskel (The finding of the true cross in which Christ crucifix) are among the most important festivals which provide colorful ceremonies and celebrations. During festivals People dress in traditional costume made of cotton by weaving, we organize well-crafted tour program that meet important festivals with other tour packages according to your interest.

Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year):

Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year):-falls on (Meskerm 1) the first month of the year in Ethiopian calendar or September 11 Gregorian calendar at the end of the Ethiopian rain season.

Enkutatash- which means the "gift of jewels" When the famous Queen of Sheba returned from her expensive trip to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her bolt by replenishing her treasury with inku or jewels. The spring festival has been celebrated since this early time and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can be heard at every village in the green countryside. Today's Enkutatash is also the season for exchanging formal New Year greetings and cards with beloved once.

Meskel (Finding of the True Cross):

The feast is celebrated in Ethiopia on September 17 Ethiopian calendar (September 27 Gregorian calendar), Meskal has been celebrated in the country for over 1600 years. The word actually means "cross" and the feast commemorates the discovery of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified, by the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. The feast is now celebrated on 27 September.

Many of the rites observed throughout the festival are said to be directly connected to the legend of Empress Helena. On the eve of Meskal, tall branches are tied together and yellow daisies, popularly called Meskal Flowers, are placed at the top. During the night those branches are gathered together in front of the compound gates and ignited - This symbolizes the actions of the Empress who, when no one would show the Holy crypt, lit incense and prayed for help. Where the smoke drifted, she dug and found three crosses. To one of the three, on the True Cross of Jesus, many miracles were attributed.

Meskal also signifies the physical presence of part of the True Cross at the church of Egziabher Ab , the remote mountain monastery of Gishen Mariam located 483 kms north of Addis Ababa in Wello administrative zone.

During this time of the year flowers gloom on mountain and plain and the meadows are yellow with the brilliant Meskal daisy. Dancing, feasting, merrymaking, bonfires and even gun salutes mark the occasion. The festival begins by planting a green tree on Meskal eve in town squares and village market places. Everyone brings a pole topped with Meskal daisies to form the towering pyramid that will be a beacon of flame. Torches of tree branches tied up together called "Chibo" are used to light the bundle called "Demera". Addis Ababa particularly Meskal Squire is the best place to celebrate the festivals.

Genna (Christmas):

Genna (Christmas) falls on December 29 Ethiopian calendars (January 7 Gregorian calendar). Ledet (Christmas) , it is celebrated seriously by a church service that goes on throughout the night after 43 days fasting known as Tsome Gahad (Advent), with a spectacular procession, which begins at 6 AM and lasts until 9 AM. After the mass service, people go home to break the fast with the meat of chicken or lamb or beef accompanied with injera and the traditional drinks (i.e. tella or tej). Traditionally, young men played a game similar to hockey, called genna , on this day, and now Christmas has also come to be known by that name.

Timkat, (Feast of Epiphany):

This is the greatest festival of the year, falling on 19 January, just two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is actually a three-day affair, beginning on the Eve of Timkat with dramatic and colorful processions. The following morning, the great day itself, Christ's baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist is commemorated. The third day is devoted to the Feast of St. Michael, the archangel, one of the Ethiopia's most popular saints.

Enormous effort is put into the occasion. Tej and tella (Ethiopian mead and beer) are brewed, special bread is baked, and the fat-tailed African sheep are fattened for slaughter. Gifts are prepared for the children and new clothes purchased or old mended and laundered. Everyone--men, women, and children--appears resplendent for the three-day celebration. Dressed in the dazzling white of the traditional dress, the locals provide a dramatic contrast to the jewel colors of the ceremonial velvets and satins of the priests' robes and sequined velvet umbrellas.

On the eve of the 18 January, Ketera, the priests take away the tabots from each church and bless the water of the pool or river where the next day' celebration will take place. It is the tabot (symbolizing the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments) rather than the church building which is consecrated, and it is accorded extreme reverence. Not to be desecrated by the gaze of the layman, the engraved wooden or stone slab is carried under layers of rich cloth.

In Addis Ababa, many churches bring their tabots to Jan Meda (the horse racing course of imperial day) accompanied by priests bearing prayer sticks and sistra, the ringing of bells and blowing of trumpets, and swinging bronze censors from which wisps of incense smoke escape into the evening air. The tabots rests in their special tent at the meadow, each raise a proud banner depicting the church's saint in front.

The priests pray throughout the long cold night mass is performed around 2:00 a.m. huge crowds of people camp out, eating and drinking by the light of flickering fires and torches. Towards dawn the patriarch dip a golden cross and extinguish a burning consecrated candle on the altar, then he sprinkles water on the assembled congregation in commemoration of Christ's baptism. Many of the more fervent leaps fully dressed into the water to renew their vows.

Following the baptism the tabots start back to their respective churches, while feasting, singing and dancing continue at Jan Meda. The procession winds through town again as the horsemen cavort alongside, their mount handsomely decorated with red tassels, embroidered saddle cloths, and silver bridles. The elders march solemnly, accompanied by singing, leaping priest and young men, while the beating of staffs and prayer sticks recalls the ancient rites of the Old Testament.

Fasika (Easter):

Fasika (Easter) is celebrated after 55 days severe Lent fasting (Hudade or Abye Tsome).according to Orthodox Tewahedo Christians do not eat meat and dairy products for the whole 55 days. Vegetarian meals such as lentils, ground split peas, grains, fruit and varieties of vegetable stew accompanied by Enjera and/or bread are only eaten on these days. The fist meal of the day is taken after 3 PM (9 o'clock in the afternoon Ethiopian time) during the fasting days, except Saturdays and Sundays, where a meal is allowed after the morning service.

On Easter eve people go to church and celebrate with candles which are lit during a colorful Easter mass service which begins at about 6 PM (12 o'clock in the evening Ethiopian time) and ends at about 2 AM (8 o'clock after mid-night Ethiopian time). Everyone goes home to break the fast with the meat of chicken or lamb, slaughtered the previous night after 6 PM, accompanied with Enjera and traditional drinks (i.e. tella or tej). Like Christmas, Easter is also a day of family re-union, an expression of good wishes with exchange of gifts.

Kulubi (Feast of Saint Gabriel):

The feast of Saint Gabriel (kulubi Gebriel), the Archangel, is celebrated on December 19 Ethiopian calendar (December 28 Gregorian calendar) which culminates in a pilgrimage to Kulubi a small town, about 68 kilometers from Dire Dawa. Orthodox Tewahedo Christians mark the celebration with colourful processions and ceremonies. Pilgrims walk up the hill to the church to fulfill a vow and give gifts to the church. Normally this festival is attending with the combination of Harar, eastern historic route.

Axum Hidar-Zion (Celebration of St. Mary):

The 16th Century Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion was probably built on an earlier 4th century church, and is the holiest church in Ethiopia. In its sanctuary is said to lest the original Ark of the Covenant and the belief that the Ark itself is a symbolism to Her Womb. It is celebrated on November 30 and attended by tens of thousands of religious people from all over Ethiopia, making it one of the most Joyous annual pilgrimages in Axum, the “Sacred City of the Ethiopians”.

Nature and Adventure

1. Geological Tour To Dallol + Erta Ale (14 days)

Category: Geological Tour and Sightseeing
Transportation: Surface
Tour Duration: 14 days

• DAY 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: ADDIS ABABA – KOMBOLCHA:- In the morning, you will drive to Kombolcha, on the way admiring the western edge of the Great Rift Valley system, possibly market days and visit the Amhara and Oromo people. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 03: KOMBOLCHA – MEKELLE:- In the morning leave, Kombolcha and drive to Mekelle on the way visit the monastery of Hayk Estiphanos. Mekelle was established in the 13th century and in the 19th century Emperor Yohannes IV, made it his capital. It is a plateau land expanse, located between the Dallol Denakil Depression in the east and the Simien Mountains in the southwest and this will allow you to enjoy many prominent geographical features. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 04: FULL DAY TOUR OF THE ROCK CHURCHES OF TIGRAY:- On this day you will visit the famous rock churches of Tigray including Abreha Astebeha, a rock hewn church and its interior is painstakingly decorated, Wukro Cherkos, semi monolithic church, all of its sides except the eastern side is isolated from the cliff, continue visiting to the rock churches of Yohannes Makudi, Dugum Silassie and Debre Tsion Mariam, then drive back to Mekelle for overnight stay. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 05: MEKELLE - AHAMED ELA:- In the morning, drive to Hamed Ela via Agula and Berhaile, on the way admiring the camel caravan. At Hamed Ela, we will collect an escort, local guide and policeman, which is mandatory and necessary for our trip. Camping
• DAY 06: HAMED ELA – LAKE ASALE - DENAKIL DEPRESSION:- After early breakfast drive to the Lake Asale, salty Lake and visit the salt workers and the merchant, then head to Dallol/Denakil Depression, which straddles the Eritrean border to the east of the Tigraian Highlands and is officially listed as the hottest and active place on the earth surface with an average temperature of 40 - 45 degrees Celsius. Most of this vast and unpopulated region lies below sea level at 116 Meters. In the late afternoon drive back to Hamedela for overnight stay. Camping
• DAY 07: HAMED ELA – DODOME - ERTA ALE:- In the morning, we drive to Dodome. Here we will arrange camels to transport your luggage and water, and then you will start hiking to the Erta Ale Volcanic hills (613 meters above sea level) which is 15km one way, and walk to see the volcanic eruption. The eruption is so colorful and spectacular. At night, we will camp nearby the eruption, on the crater rim above the active lava lake. Camping
• DAY 08: ERTA ALE – DODOME – AFDERA:- In the morning trek back to Dodome village, then continue driving to Lake Afdera, a highly saline body of water and lies at an altitude of 103 meters below sea level and listed as the lowest lying in the world. Here you will visit the salt extraction of the Afar people from the lake. Camping
• DAY 09: AFDERA – SEMERA:- In the morning after breakfast drive to Semera an overgrown afar’s people settlement, and also served as the administrative capital of the Afar region. Camping
• DAY 10: SEMERA – AWASH:- In the morning, continue driving to Awash, admiring the Northern part of the Great Rift Valley system and the lower Awash valley. Camping
• DAY 11: FULL DAY GAME DRIVING AT AWASH NATIONAL PARK:- Early in the morning game drive at Awash National Park. The park takes its name from Awash River the longest river in Ethiopia. The river marks the park’s southern boundary and occupied by an area of riveriene forest, wetlands, acacia woodlands, savannah grasslands, rocky cliff hills and escarpment. There are well maintained tracks traversing the park, which takes us in the most spectacular areas to see different plain animals including greater and lesser Kudu, Beix Oryx, Gerenuk, Dik – Dik . . . etc, as well as more than 350 bird species which have been recorded on this 780 km2 Park. Camping
• DAY 12: AWASH – HARAR:- In the morning, leave awash and drive to Harar, the holy Muslim city with its 99 mosques. The medieval walled city of Harar stands amid green mountains on the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley near the Somalian border. In the evening, you will visit the hyena man, while he is feeding the hungry hyenas and you will have a chance to stretch out your hands to feed the hyena. Camping
• DAY 13: FULL DAY TOUR OF HARAR:- Full day visit of the old walled town of Harar, including the Harar National Museum, Arture Remboud House as well as both the colorful Muslim and Christian markets known for their basketry and the traditional Adere houses situated within the famous walled city. Camping
• DAY 14: HARAR – ADDIS ABABA:- In the morning after breakfast, you will drive back to Addis Ababa admiring different type of landscape. In the evening our company will invite you to a farewell dinner party in one of the Traditional Ethiopian Restaurants with traditional music and dances from different ethnic groups, then transfer to Bole International Airport to fly back home.

2.Geological Tour To Dallol + Erta Ale (16 Days)

Category: Geological Tour and Sightseeing
Transportation:Surface
Tour Duration: 16 days

• DAY 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: AWASH:- Drive to Awash through the Great Rift Valley and visit the Awash River cascades late afternoon game viewing. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 03: SODERE:- we drive to Sodore, admiring Awash River, a bath in the hot water swimming pool and lunch. We so proceed to the Awash National park. Game drive and spot many antelopes as the Oryx, the Awash River and very nice falls, many birds, crocodiles and more. Camping
• DAY 04: SEMERA:- Breakfast & game drive. Proceed then to the Afar people and reach Semera, where we take the permits for the Danakil. Camping
• DAY 05: LAKE AFDERA:- Visit the Afar people extracting salt from Lake Afdera. Proceed to the hot springs, where we’ll camp.
• DAY 06: ERATA ALE:- Drive till Dodom. Then organize the camels for the materials and trek from around 1500 hrs till late afternoon to the volcano. Here are fantastic views, with the lava and the volcano rim and Camping.
• DAY 07: ERATA ALE:- Full day at the volcano. Camping
• DAY 08: EMEGUB:- Walk back to Dodom, where we meet the vehicles. Then drive to some of the Afar villages, as Emegubi. It is an excellent chance to experience their way of life. Camping
• DAY 09: AHMEDALE:- Visit the morning life of the people in the village. Then proceed to Ahmedale. Camping
• DAY 10: DALLOL:- Is another special day: drive to Dalol, to see the Afar men extracting salt. Are spectacular colors of nature, unique in the world. Camping
• DAY 11: CARAVANS:-Two days of trekking bring us more in contact with these special people. The trekking is not so hard not having any altitude to do, but is very hot, so must be fit. You’ll admire the camel caravans bringing the salt from Ahmedale to cities in the Tigray and nearby regions; and vice versa camels having sold their products coming back to AhmedAle & Dalol. You’ll see how the Afar people leave and move during these days; how they prepare their traditional bread, tea and lot of new interesting discoveries. Camping
• DAY 12: CARAVANS:- Another full day trekking and discovering. Camping
• DAY 13: THE ROCK CHURCHES OF TIGRAY:- On this day you will visit the famous rock churches of Tigray including Abreha astebeha, a rock hewn church and its interior is painstakingly decorated, Wukro Cherkos, semi monolithic church, all of its sides except the eastern side is isolated from the cliff, continue visiting to the rock churches of Yohannes Makudi, Dugum Silassie and Debre Tsion Mariam, then drive back to Mekelle for overnight stay. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 14: THE ROCK CHURCHES OF TIGRAY:- Another full day trekking and sightseeing in Tigray Churches. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 15: LAKE HAYK:- Crossing Lake Ashandi, we proceed to lake Hayk. Visit Debre Estifanos monastery, over an island of the lake and continue to Kombolicha. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 16: ADDIS ABABA: - Crossing fantastic views, we reach for the afternoon Addis Ababa. If Sunday, on the way visit Afar & Oromo people market at Senbete village. Ones in Addis, short visit of the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa, and fare well dinner with national music and dance. Overnight stay Hotel

3. Geological Tour To Dallol + Erta Ale (18 Days)

Category: Geological Tour and Sightseeing
Transportation: Surface
Tour Duration: 18 days

• DAY 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: AWASH:- Drive to Awash through the Great Rift Valley and visit the Awash River cascades late afternoon game viewing. Camping
• DAY 03: AWASH: - Another full day tour around Awash National Park and it’s surrounding. Camping
• DAY 04: AWASH NATIONAL PARK - ASAYTA:- Drive from Awash National Park to Asayta and visit the Afar people around. Camping
• DAY 05: ASAYTA – LAKE ABE- ASAYTA:- Visit Lake Abe and overnight camping.
• DAY 06: ASAYTA – SERDO- LAKE AFDERA:- Overnight camping
• DAY 07: LAKE AFDERA:- Visit the Lake and its surrounding. Overnight camping
• DAY 08: LAKE AFDERA:- Trek around the lake. Overnight camping
• DAY 09: LAKE AFDERA – SERDO – ASAYTA:- Drive from Lake Afdera to Asayta. Overnight camping
• DAY 10: ASAYTA - AWASH NATIONAL PARK:- Drive to Awash National Park. Overnight camping
• DAY 11: AWASH NATIONAL PARK:- Drive to the palm spring and relax in natural hot spring pool, falls, bird watching and game viewing and more. Overnight camping
• DAY 12: AWASH-HARAR:- Drive to Harar. On the way visit Kulbi Gebreal church which is known for the annual festival celebrated and for the huge crowds arrive to pray for health for a new baby for special for a good harvest, or to give thanks for wishes already granted as well as for its beautiful architecture on mountains top. Evening visit the Hyena Men. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 13: HARAR – BABILE - HARAR:- Drive to Babile and visit the Babile sanctuary. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 14: HARAR - NAZARETH:- Drive to Nazareth and overnight stay hotel.
• DAY 15: NAZARETH – BALE GOBA:- Drive to Bale Mountains National Park and overnight stay hotel.
• DAY 16: BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK:- Visit endemic animals and plants and trekking to Senete plateau and Tuludimtu forest. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 17: BALE GOBA – WENDO GENET:- In the morning drive to Wendo - Genet to see some forest endemic birds like Yellow Fronted Parrot, Abyssinian Woodpecker, and Half Colored king fisher, Yellow Billed Wax bill, Scaly Francolin, Silver Checked Horn Bill, Red Winged Starling, Olive Trash and more. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 18: WENDO GENET – AWASAA – ABJIATA SHALA LAKES – ADDIS ABABA:- Visit to the fish market early in the morning drive to Lake Abjiata Shala. And drive back to Addis Ababa souvenir shopping fare well dinner with national music and dancing. Overnight stay Hotel

4.Geological Tour To Dallol + Erta Ale (20 days)

Category: Geological Tour and Sightseeing
Transportation: Surface
Tour Duration: 20 days

• DAY 01: ARRIVAL ADDIS ABABA:- Arrival in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, meet and great, get assisted and transferred to hotel. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 02: ADDIS ABABA – KOMBOLICHA:- Drive to Kombolicha through Senbete. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 03: KOMBOLICHA – LALIBELLA:- Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 04: LALIBELLA:- Visit the rock hewn churches Lalibell. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 05: LALIBELLA - MEKELLE:- Drive to Mekelle. Overnight stay Hotel
• DAY 06: MEKELLE – DALLOL:- Drive to Dallol. Overnight Camping
• DAY 07: DALLOL:- Full day sightseeing of Afar people extracting salt and spectacular view at Dallol. Overnight Camping
• DAY 08: DALLOL – DUGUM:- Drive back and camping on the way.
• DAY 09: DUGUM:- Trekking to the surrounding hill. Visit the hill top rock hewn churches of Tigray that include Dugum Selassie and Debre Tsion Abrham dated form the 14th century. Overnight camping Dugum
• DAY 10: DUGUM - MEKELE:- Early in the morning drive to visit the Abrha Atsbeha church and continue to Wukuro to visit the Wukro Chirkos church. Overnight Camping
• DAY 11: MEKELLE – KOMBOLICH:- Drive to Kombolicha and overnight stay hotel.
• DAY 12: KOMBOLICH- MILE: Drive to Kombolicha through Bati. Overnight camping
• DAY 13: SEMERA:- Drive to Semera
• DAY 14: AFDERA:- Drive to Afdera and visit the Lake and its surrounding. Camping
• DAY 15: ERATA ALE:- Full day at the volcano. Camping
• DAY 16: ERATA ALE - AFDERA:- Back to Afdera. Overnight camping
• DAY 17: AFDERA - SEMERA:- Drive to Semera. Overnight camping
• DAY 18: SEMERA – AWASH NATIONAL PARK: - Overnight camping
• DAY 19: SEMERA – AWASH NATIONAL PARK:- Visit Awash Great Rift Valley and visit the Awash River cascades late afternoon game viewing. Camping
• DAY 20: AWASH NATIONAL PARK - ADDIS ABABA: - drive back to Addis Ababa souvenir shopping fare well dinner with national music and dancing. Overnight stay Hotel

Cultural Attractions

Cultural Attractions of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is rich in culture and traditions, with strong religious customs from the 5th century BC that continue to play an important part in the people’s daily lives.

Tourists are welcome to share in the greatest of Ethiopian festivals, Timket (Epiphany), along with other the glorious celebrations of Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year), Meskel (The Finding of the True Cross), Gena (Christmas), and Fasika (Easter). Every region has its own local festivals and ceremonies where visitors are treated like honoured guests.

While checking the dates of these events, do bear in mind that Ethiopia retains the Julian calendar (almost eight years behind the Gregorian) and has 13 months. The Ethiopian New Year falls in early September.

The many different cultures associated with the peoples of Ethiopia can be breathtaking for visitors. These include the lip-plates of the Surma and Mursi, the head-dressing, hair styles, and the body paintings of the Hamer and the Karo, the Guragie enset (false banana) lifestyle, the village and agricultural terracing styles of the Konso, and the shoulder jerking dance of the Amhara.

With us you can witness something of the culture of at least a third of the peoples of Ethiopia. Tours can be arranged to all parts of the country but Paradise Ethiopia Travel specialises in visiting three distinct ethnic groups.

The People of Ethiopia

Like all countries with a broad mixture of people, their day-to-day lifestyle is influenced as much by their surroundings as by their heritage. Many peopled are traditional herdsmen-Ethiopia has the largest herds in Africa-and 90% of our population are engaged in agriculture.

The Anuak of the south-west, the Borena who live on the border with Kenya, and the people of Ogaden live a nomadic and pastoral life. In the central highlands, where the land has been farmed for generations, the people are more sedentary, living on lnds they hve cultivated with cereals, pulses and vegedtables. With so many lakes and rivers in Ethiopia, It is no wonder that fishing is important to certain groups, such as the Gambella who live along the banks of the Baro, and the Mursi, Karo and Galeb along the River Omo. The costumes of the pople are as varied as their lifestyles, and provide a fascinating glimpse into their love of ornamentation, often reflected in both modern and traditional styles.

Timeless symbols such as the lion’s mane and cross have long been used as decoration, and jewelers is an integral part of any traditional dress. The basic costume of highland Ethiopia is the shamma, a loose fitting garment worn over skirts or trousers. Also worn is the netela, a light cotton shawl, or kutta, a slightly heavier version. The gabi, a warm blanked-like cloth is worn in colder regions, while the kemis is a full length embroidered dress worn by women.

Omo Valley People

• Tsemai

The Tsemai, the dominant people of Weito village on the Konso-Jinka road, are regarded to be among the least known ethnic groups of Ethiopia. Estimated to be a total of some 5000 people, their territory extends along the western bank of the Weito River, known in Tsemai as the Dulaika River. They are mixed subsistence farmers who practice flood cultivation, with the major crops being sorghum and maize. They also rear livestock, especially cattle, and keep beehives for honey. The Tsemai speak an Omotic language with an influence of Eastern Cushitic language that is closely related to the one spoken in Konso, which, according to oral tradition, is from where their founding chief Asasa originated. The present chief, who lives at the long-standing Tsemai capital of Ganda Bogolkila, is claimed to be the ninth in line after Asasa, suggesting that this migration might have happened between 150 and 250 years ago.

Although their appearance and dress style is similar to that of the Omotic Ari people, the Tsemai share closer political and spiritual affiliations with the Erbore, who speak a similar language, and whose territory lies adjacent to the Tsemai chief’s village. The Tsemai also frequently and openly intermarry with the Hammer, whose territory lies immediately west of theirs. In common with many other people of southern Ethiopia, society is structured around and age set system. Four fixed age sets are recognized, with every set graduating in seniority once a decade, when a new generation of boys between the ages of about 11 and 22 is initiated.

• Erbore

Although relatively large, Erbore is far more rustic and unaffected than many similarly sized towns in South Omo, with the police station on its outskirts more-or -less the only building that isn’t constructed along traditional lines.

In common with their linguistically and culturally affiliated Tsemai neighbors, the Erbore migrated to their present homeland from Konso perhaps two centuries ago. Because they have ancestral and cultural links to Konso and the pastoralists of the surrounding lowlands, the Erbore traditionally played an important role as middlemen in trade between the Omo River and the Konso Highlands.

The town of Erbore lies in and area where several tribal boundaries converge, and because the Erbore people routinely intermarry with other ethnic groups like the Guji and Borena Oromo, The Hammer and the Tsemai. It is also inhabited by a substantial number of Hammer and even Borena women – adding a cosmopolitan feel to the worthwhile Saturday market.

• Dasenech

The Dasenech, alternatively known as the Geleb or Galeba, Marille and Reshiat, live just north of Lake Turkana, the region where Ethiopia borders Kenya and Sudan. These names all concern the same people, in total 24.000 souls. The Dasenech are neighbored by Turkana and Bume and are Ethiopia's most southern people.

The Dasenech can however be divided in eight clans. These are the Elele (ca. 6,000 people), Inkabelo (8,000), Inkoria (3,000), Koro (700), Naritch (3,000), Oro (1,000), Randal (1,000), and Ri'ele (600). Two of them (Inkabelo and Inkoria) come forth from the same ancestors: the Nyupe tribe in West-Kenya, also called the Pokot. These have more or less assimilated the Naritch (probably a splinter group of the Murle of Western Ethiopia) and the Oro. The Oro historically probably have had the dominating language and are solely responsible for the Kushite language now spoken by all Dasenech. The river people Ri'ele seem to have Borena background but have been Dasenech as time went by. The Randal are connected historically with the Rendille of Northern Kenya, whereas the Koro are related to the Maasai of Lake Turkana's west coast. Having contemplated this information it will not be hard to understand that the Dasenech aren't a united people, but more like a cluster of small groups with shared language, land, and rituals.

All clans have a more or less defined territory, except for the Koro and Oro, who are semi-nomadic. The Inkabelo are the wealthiest Dasenech and occupy the best land (Oro and Koro actually travel around in Inkabelo land). One other thing worth mentioning is that all Dasenech seem to have natural antipathy against fish. Eating fish is really a last resort in times of crises. The most important ritual of the Dasenech is the so-called dime. Taking part in the dime ritual are those men who have daughters that have already reached puberty. After the ceremony, which takes six weeks, the participants are upgraded to 'great men', or those that may engage in politics. The dime ritual is directly connected to the upcoming marriage of the daughters and consists for the larger part of slaughtering large quantities of cattle (per participant: 10 cows, 30 sheep and/or goats). By the end of the ceremony the participants are extremely well-dressed, with ostrich feathers in their clay hair, oxtails around their arms, leopard skin over their shoulders, as well as the same skirt they wore during their circumcision many years earlier. In their hands they will carry wooden shields and a stick with a fallus symbol.

The nomadic roots of the Dasenech are most clearly seen today in their traditional villages, comprised as they are of small, flimsy, domed huts strongly reminiscent of the impermanent structures built by other African desert pastoralists, from the Tuareg of the Sahara to the Nama of the Kalahari. One such village lies on the west bank of the Omo, practically opposite Omorate, and can be reached by utilizing the flat-bottomed boat that serves as a ferry across the river (police escort mandatory) Another similar village lies about 20 minutes’ walk south of the town center on the east bank of the river.

• Bome

The Bume are also known as the Nyangatom. the Bume live west of the Dasenech people, south- west of the Karo people, south of the Surma people and North of the Ethio- Kenyan boundary.

They occasionally migrate into the lower regions of the Omo national park when water or grazing is scarce.

Numbering around 6,000 in population, the Bume speak one of the Omotic group languages - Nyangatom. They are agro- pastoralists, relying on cattle herding and flood-retreat agriculture (consisting mainly of sorghum harvesting on the Omo and Kibish Rivers). In other words, they are semi-nomadic hunters and cattle-herders by custom, measuring their wealth in terms of the size of their herd, though flood agriculture now plays and increasingly important role in their subsistence. They tend to indulge in honey and frequently smoke out beehives to get the honey inside the nests.

The Bume are known to be great warriors and, quite frequently, active warmongers. Although they are peaceful and welcoming, they conflict with the neighboring tribes including the Hammer, the Karo and the Surma.

Kangate is the get way for accessing the habitation of the Bume from the east of Omo River. The crossing of the Omo river, although need to have time to do that) to the west enables one to see their small hat villages well.

• Mursi

The Mursi number about 5,000 and are primarily pastoralists categorized in the Nilo-Saharan language family. The Mursi are Known for their lip plate tradition; an unmarried woman's lower lip will be pierced and then progressively stretched over the period of a year. A clay disc indented like a pulley wheel is squeezed into the hole in the lip. As it stretches, ever-larger discs are forced in until the lip, now a loop, is so long it can sometimes be pulled right over the owner's head. The size of the lip plate determines the bride price, with a large one bringing in fifty head of cattle. The women make the lip plates from clay, color them with ochre and charcoal, and bake them in a fire. Stick fighting or "donga": At a fight, each contestant is armed with a hardwood pole about six feet long with a weight of just less than two pounds. In the attacking position, this pole is gripped at its base with both hands - the left above the right, in order to give maximum swing and leverage. Each player beats his opponent with his stick as many times as possible with the intention of knocking him down and eliminating him from the game. Players are usually unmarried men. The winner is carried away on a platform of poles to a group of girls waiting at the side of the arena, who decide among themselves which of them will ask for his hand in marriage. Taking part in a stick fight is considered to be more important than winning it. The men paint their bodies with a mixture of chalk and water before the fight.

• Karo

A tribe living on the east banks of the Omo, the Karo number about 1000. Tourists enjoy watching the Karo preparing themselves for a celebration or traditional dance when they decorate their bodies with chalk paint, often imitating the spotted plumage of Guinea Fowl. The Karo excel in face and torso paintings. Elaborate facemasks are created using locally found white chalk, yellow mineral rock, pulverized iron ore and black charcoal. Karo women scarify their chests to beautify themselves and become more appealing to their men. The scarification of a man's chest is made when he has killed an enemy or a dangerous animal. The scars are cut with a knife or razor blade, and ash is then rubbed in to produce a raised welt. Like the Hamar, the wearing of a gray and ochre clay hair bun with ostrich feathers indicates a man's bravery.

• Benna

Broadly speaking, the Benna belong to the Hamar-Bashada cultural group. Numbering about 35,000 they are primarily settled farmers living in the highlands to the east of the Mago National Park. They enter the Park to hunt during the dry season; if they manage to kill a buffalo they adorn them with clay and have a celebration.

• Dorze

Dorze is a tribe of skillful cotton weavers and potters who live in the mountains just outside Arba Minch. Their houses, standing up to 6 m tall and built in a shape of elephant's head, are the most unique traditional structures in Africa. Staple food of the Dorze tribe is enset or false banana. The Dorze dwellings are entirely organic: they are built using bamboo, grass, and false banana leaves. A visit to the Dorze house is a pleasant and memorable experience for the tourists.

• Hamer

Hamer is a tribe which occupies the large territory of South Omo. They speak a language which belongs to the Omotic group of languages and display an elaborate and unique style of body decorations and clothes. Women wear leather skirts decorated with cowri shells. Their braided hair is painted with ochre, and their arms are decorated with 15 or more copper bracelets. The most important event in the Hamer society is the Bull Jumping Ceremony, the rite which marks a passage of men from one age group to another. This ceremony can be attended by tourists visiting the Hamer territory. Two principal settlements of Hamer are Dimeka and Turmi, especially colorful and interesting to visit on the market days.

• Karo

Karo is a small tribe of perhaps 1000 people or less. They live in the area of two small villages - Kolcho and Dus. Karo are best known for their elaborate body paintings, special for important ceremonies. Colorful face masks are prepared using chalk, charcoal, iron ore, and yellow rock. Hairstyle of both men and women is also very unusual. Foreign tourists are always welcome to attend Karo traditional ceremonies if they are lucky to visit their villages at such times.

• Konso

Konso is a tribe which inhabits the area of basalt hills about 85 km to the south from Arba Minch. They speak a Cushitic language. Konso live in villages usually located on a top of a hill and surrounded by a 2 m stone wall. Konso are famous all over Ethiopia for their advanced methods of land cultivation, ehich include irrigation and building of terraces. Also very famous are the Konso's waqa - carved wooden monuments erected on the graves.

Historical Attractions

• Yaha

Yaha, which lies to the northeast of Axum, is the site of the famous Temple of the Moon, Ethiopia’s oldest standing structure. It is generally agreed the Temple of the Moon was built during the time of the D’mt Kingdom in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. The D’mt Kingdom preceded the Axumite Kingdom. When and how the transition from the D’mt Kingdom to the Axumite Kingdom occurred has not yet been determined. The oldest standing structure in Ethiopia is located in Yeha: the Great Temple. This is a tower built in the Sabaean style, and dated through comparison with dated structures in South Arabia to around 700 BC; although no radiocarbon dating testing has been performed on samples from Yeha, this date for the Great Tower is supported by local inscriptions. Yeha is also the location of an Ethiopian Orthodox monastery, founded according to tradition by Abba Aftse, one of the Nine Saints. Yeha has also been the site of a number of archaeological excavations, beginning in 1952 by the Ethiopian Institute of Archaeology.

• Debre Damo Church

Debre Damo monastery is situated on an isolated mountain in northern part of Tigray. Some three hours drive from Axum with the recently restored road and an additional one hour hard ascending walk from the point where the road ends. (Depending on your fitness) lies, the spectacular monastery of Debre Damo, it is unique compared with most Ethiopian monasteries. Debre Damo was built in the 6th century AD with curved wood plates, painting ceilings and walls dedicated to the ledged of Saint Abune Areggawi, the history of Debre Damo is core on the Nine Saints who came to Ethiopia from Syria and other Europe empires in the 6th century during the reign of Kaleb and Gebremeskel to widen Christianity in the country particularly the northern part of Ethiopia.

• Axum

Axum is the ancient kingdom that flourished in northeastern Africa from the 1st century BC until the early 7th century AD. Axum is 360km north of Gonder and is the ancient city which was once the capital of Ethiopia. It is known for its historical and pre-historic relics. Legend has, that it was once the seat of the Queen of Sheba or Makeda (we call her) who reigned over the region in the 10th century B.C. The Axum obelisks were carved out from a single granite stone and are the world’s tallest monolithic art work. It is believed that they were erected some 2000 years ago. They are unique in their architectural beauty and mysterious past. Axum is also known as an archaeological site where one can find historic and pre-historic relics unearthed through continuous excavations. Mary of Zion climes to be the custodian of the original Ark of the Covenant brought by Menilik I .Axum’s most popular attractions includes as you gaze on the magnificent steals or obelisks, the tomb of king Kaleb and King Gebre Meskel, and the legendary palace and bath of queen Sheba.

• Tigrai Rock Hewn Churches

Over 125 rocks hewn churches are recorded in Tigray region. The rock churches of Tigrai do not function primarily as tourist attraction they were generally excavated using a very different method from that at Lalibela, the antiquity of most of the Tigraian rock-hewn churches remains largely a matter of speculate. Every church has its own oral tradition regarding its excavation, in many cases the church is dated to the reign of Abreha-we-Astebeha the twin Emperors of Axum who converted to Christianity in the middle of the 4th century. Some of these rock hewn churches are pre-Christian temples, which was changed to church after the spread of Christianity in the northern Ethiopia. Most of these churches are difficult to access since they are carved on the top of the cliff, thus visitors who are interested to visit have to be physically fit, the rock churches can be visited form the Mekele or on the way to Axum, from this wokro Churckos and Abreha-we-Astebeha are the most reachable. Most of these churches are found on the Gera-Alta chained Mountains Also these magnificent churches can be visited on the eastern and southern Tigray area.

• Lalibela

The extraordinary, isolated town of Lalibela, set high in the mountain of Lasta situated on the south direction of Axum, is famed for its rock- hewn churches, and is arguably the one place in Ethiopia that no tourist should miss. Known as Roha until recent time ,Lalibela was the capital of the Zagwe dynasty ,which ruled over Ethiopia from the 10th century to the mid of 13th century ,and its modern name obtain from that of the most famous of the Zagwe rulers ,the 12th century king Lalibela. The Lalibela churches are big several are in excess of 10 meter high and because they are carved below ground level, they are ringed by trenches and courtyards, there sides of which are cut in to with stone graves and hermit cells ,and connected to each other by a tangled maze of tunnels and passages.

• Harer

No journey along Ethiopia’s great historic route would be complete without a visit to the medieval walled city of Harar, which stands among green mountains (at an elevation of 1885 meters) on the east wall of the Great Rift Valley 500 km from Addis Ababa and near to the Somali border, with its more than 90 mosques and shrines, is considered the fourth most sacred center of the Islamic world, registered by UNESCO as world heritage in 2008. Harar was founded between the 7th and the 11th century. In the sixteen century Harar, under sultan Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad, became the capital of an independent Muslim kingdom. Harar has for centuries been the main centre for Islamic learning and culture in Ethiopia, and a prosperous center for caravan trade linked by trade routes with the rest of Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the outside world. The Hyena man is considered to be a tourist attraction of Harar. This long-standing tradition of feeding the carnivores at night began in 1960. Harar has an ethnically complex population made up of Adares, the indigenous highland Ethiopian People of this region who speak a Semitic language related to Amharic, Arabs, Oromo’s and Somalis from the plains.

• Gondor

Gonder, the cross roads of Ethiopian civilization, is located 50km north of lake Tana, 740 km north of Addis Ababa and situated in the foothills of the simian mountain at an altitude of 2,200meters above sea level. Gonder served as the capital of Ethiopia for more than 200 hundreds years from the rise of Fasiladas (1636-67) to the fall of Tewodros (1855-68) instruction in painting, music dance, poetry and many other disciplines thrived. Because of the focus on arts and architecture it has been labeled the Camelot of Africa. Gonder is famous for its massive ruins of imposing castles which depict the old days of our emperors and the skill and the craftsmanship used in the building of these several castles. The castle has been renovated recently by the fund of UNESCO; the castle compound is registered as world heritage.