Ethiopia: Africa’s Hidden Treasure

On arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, our representative will receive and transfer you to your hotel.

Once you have settled in, it is time to go on a city sightseeing tour. Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by Menelik II. Situated at an elevation of around 2,438m, it is the third highest capital city in the world. The city enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25°C.

Start the tour by visiting the national museum. Among the museum collection is fossils and bones of early hominids discovered in Ethiopia, including the 3.5 million-year-old remains of ‘Lucy’, the oldest hominid every found.

Next we will visit 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.

Today we take early morning flight to Bahir Dar, capital of the Amhara region situated on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in the country. It is also one of the best well-planned cities in Ethiopia.

Once we have arrived in the city, we will set out on a boat trip on the lake to learn the secrets held by the monasteries and churches on the islands. We will also visit Ura Kidane Mihret church on Zeghie peninsula. Under the thatched roof are some distinctive colorful paintings of religious scenes, and an impressive display of illuminated bibles written in Ge’ez, the religious language from which Amharic is derived.

In the afternoon we will visit Tississat Falls, located about 32km south of Bahir Dar.

This morning we drive (185km) north to Gondar, the former capital of Ethiopia. It has now become one of Ethiopia’s largest and most impressive cities, with its walled Royal Enclosure.

Gondar’s most famous monuments are its exceptionally well preserved 17th century castles. The largest and best is that of King Fasilidas. It is a stone structure with round turrets and wooden balconies. The king also built a remarkable bath a mile or so outside of town known as the ‘Pavilion of Delight’. The Bathhouse of Fasil is the place where thousands of Ethiopians congregate every January to celebrate Timekat festival. This whole complex of buildings is unique in Ethiopia and unlike anything found elsewhere in Africa.

In the afternoon we will also visit the Debre Birhan Selassie Church (Light of Trinity), known for its sensational angelic ceiling and mural.

After breakfast we drive to Debark on the edge of the Simien Mountains. We drive up into the mountains for some spectacular views of this unique ecosystem. We can also take an optional 1.5hr walk, mostly flat or downhill, to see the Endemic Gelada baboons, Klipspringers, Lammergeyer vultures, and bushbuck.

The scenery is truly breathtaking and there will be time for a walk around the Sankaber region of the National Park. The maximum altitude we reach is 3250m.

In the afternoon we will drive back to Gondar for overnight stay.

Today we will take a short flight to the city of Axum, which was once one of the most powerful in the ancient world. Located at the centre of the trading routes between the Mediterranean and India, and the great port of Adulis on the Red Sea, it was economically, politically and technically advanced and at times had control over both sides of the Red Sea.

Axum is also the place where Christianity originated in Ethiopia and it is also believed to be the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. The old church of St Mary of Zion was the first church to be built in Sub-Saharan Africa around 330AD. Its ruins can be seen in the precinct of the church compound.

We will also visit the famous monolithic stelae of Axum; the tallest one still standing reaches over 21 meters and the greatest one of them all, once 34 meters high now lies toppled on the ground. However, it is still the largest monolith ever erected by man. The subterranean tombs, stone inscriptions of ancient Axumite kings and the small archaeological museum are also living witness of the ancient Axumite history.

Next, we will explore the ruined palace of the Queen of Sheba, who is said to have given birth to Menelik the First, fathered by King Solomon, the founder of Ethiopia’s ruling family until the late Emperor Haile Selassie.

A short flight today will take us to Lalibela, where we will visit the first cluster of rock-hewn churches.

Lalibela, the ‘New Jerusalem’, is thought to have been constructed some 800 years ago by King Lalibela as his capital. Although churches carved on rocks are found in other parts of the world, those found in Ethiopia are particularly interesting. Generally, they were excavated on all sides of a rectangle, leaving a large block of granite isolated in the center. This rock was then shaped and formed both inside and out and the carvings show extremely skilful workmanship and they have been classified as one of the wonders of the world.

Each church has a unique architectural style and all are superbly carved. There are 11 rock-cut churches of which the most impressive is Bet Giorgis. It is carved in the form of a Greek cross and it is exceptionally well preserved.

Today, we will visit the church of Yimrhane Kristos. This exquisite church, a masterpiece of Axumite wood and stone construction is renowned for its beautiful wooden coffer ceiling inlaid with hexagons and medallions with both figurative and geometric motifs.

After the tour we will drive back to Lalibela. In the afternoon, explore the remaining rock-hewn churches of Lalibela that include the churches of Bete Gabriel and Rafael, Merkorous, Emanuel and Abba Libanos.

Bete Emanuel is the best in this group and exceptionally carved with unique Axumite building features, such as the indentations on the walls, symbols of the multi-story building taken from the stelae of Axum, monkey heads and false windows.

Spend your rest of the day absorbing the atmosphere of this extraordinary town with its Tukul or round houses.

This day we will fly back to Addis Ababa and have some free time in the afternoon. In the evening, we will go out to one of the best cultural restaurant for a farewell dinner accompanied by traditional dance program.

Next morning, after breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Tour ends.