Flora & Fauna Of Ethiopia Including Lalibela Tour (133634),Holiday Packages to Addis Ababa

Package Overview

This holiday explores the flora & fauna of fascinating Ethiopia, including visiting the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela; the high altitude Simien Mountains, home to the endangered Walia Ibex and Bale Mounatins National Park, which is the best place in the country to see the Ethiopian Wolf. Enjoy the unique alpine flora of these regions & their birdlife. All transfers & English speaking guides included.

HIGHLIGHTS
Addis Ababa • Lalibela • Gondar • Simien Mountains
• Walia Ibex • Lake Langano • Bale Mountains • Ethiopian Wolf
• Lake Awasa • Tiya Stelea

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Day wise Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival

You will be met at Addis Ababa Airport and transferred to your hotel in Ethiopia's capital city.

This beautiful high-altitude country was once ruled by the Queen of Sheba, with a fascinating and ancient history. With over 80 different languages, and many different religions, its strong tribal traditions and festivals are world famous.
Day 2 : Addis Ababa

This morning enjoy a private tour of the city of Addis Ababa, viewing landmark building such as Headquarters of the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, as well as Meskel Square - the main meeting place of the city.

Ethiopia is one of the world's oldest civilizations, so be sure to see the ancient artefacts on display at the National Archaelogical Museum. This includes the fossils remains of Lucy, one of the oldest known hominids ever discovered who lived in Ethiopia over 3.2 million years ago. Over 40% of her skeleton was found intact.

Also visit Trinity Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in the city, and drive through the Mercato, the largest open air market in Africa. Our tour ends with a drive up Mount Entoto, where you can enjoy panoramic views over the city.

As Ethiopia is the birth place of coffee, do try to experience a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony at some stage during your stay.
Day 3 : Lalibela

Transfer to Addis Ababa Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Lalibela Airport and transferred into this spiritual town - the 'African Jerusalem'.

Perched high on an isolated mountain over 8,500 ft (2,600 m) above sea level, Lalibela is home to 11 spectacular rock-hewn churches built by King Lalibela (1181 - 1221) after whom the town is named. Each church is carved entirely out of a single block of granite, with its roof at ground level, and each is built in a different architectural style. The entire town seems frozen in biblical times and is today a pilgrimage site for Christians.

After lunch we visit the extraordinary first group of rock-hewn churches and subterranean complex of passages, found northeast of a stream named 'River Jordan'. They are today a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 4 : Church of St George

This morning we visit the second and third group of churches of Lalibela. The most famous of these is the Church of St George (Bet Giyorgis), carved in a cross-shape from solid red volcanic rock. It is the most beautiful monolithic cruciform church and symbolises Noah's Ark.

In the afternoon, we walk to a local village and join a family to experience their way of life. We bake 'injera' (traditional sourdough flatbread) and cook 'wat' (a local stew). We then dine together with the family and enjoy a typical Ethiopian coffee ceremony in one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, with story telling by the head of the family about local culture and traditions.
Day 5 : Castle Compound

Transfer to Lalibela Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Gondar Airport and transferred to this historic city, which was the 17th century capital of Ethiopia and also of the ancient Abyssinian Empire. Its emperors built many castles here, giving the region a very European feel - hence the name 'African Camelot'. The whole city is today a World Heritage Site.

We visit the Castle Compound with its six castles, including including the oldest and most magnificent Fasiledes Castle, with its Royal Enclosure and Emperor Fasilidas’ bath. This is where the colorful Timket festival (Epiphany) is celebrated every January.

We also visit the church of Quskuam Mariam, the residence of the Empress Mintewab and the church of Debre Berhan Selassie (meaning 'Light of the Trinity'), located on the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. This church was not destroyed, even during the dervishes, and on its painted ceiling 18th century over 100 winged cherubs look down on you, with slightly different but equally quizzical expressions. Full of all the colour, life, wit and humanity of Ethiopian art at its best, the walls provide a compendium of Ethiopian saints, martyrs and folklore.
Day 6 : Mountains National Park

This morning we leave Gondar and drive 3-hours to Debark - the headquarters of the Simien Mountains National Park in the Ethiopian Highlands.

We drive through the spectacular landscapes of one of Africa's largest mountain ranges, with many deep valleys and jagged peaks. Here you will find Ras Dashen, the highest mountain in the country and the fourth highest in Africa soaring over 15,000 ft (4,630 m).

Simien Mountains National Park covers an area of nearly 70 square miles (180 km²). This high altitude park is situated between 4,500 and 6,200 ft (1,900 to 4,430 m) and has a variety of Afro-alpine flora, spread across three distinct botanical zones.
Day 7 : Simien Mountains National Park

This morning enjoy walking in Simien Mountains National Park. The alpine meadows in the highest reaches of this park have very little vegetation and snow falls regularly, but they provide essential sanctuary to the animals that live here.

Simien Mountains National Park was created primarily to protect the critically endangered Walia Ibex, which you can see clinging to the sheer rock faces. It is also home to other endemic species such as the colourful Gelada ('bleeding heart') baboon; the Ethiopian wolf (also known as the Simien fox); caracal and the rare Lamergeyer (a huge vulture).

Enjoy outstanding views of the gorge and mountain range, whose striking formations have been described as ‘the chess pieces of the Gods’. You can walk across the Jibar River all the way down to Chenek, where you will have the best opportunity to seeing the Walia Ibex. There are also over 50 different bird species and varied alpine flora to observe.
Day 8 : Simien Mountains National Park

This morning enjoy walking in Simien Mountains National Park. The alpine meadows in the highest reaches of this park have very little vegetation and snow falls regularly, but they provide essential sanctuary to the animals that live here.

Simien Mountains National Park was created primarily to protect the critically endangered Walia Ibex, which you can see clinging to the sheer rock faces. It is also home to other endemic species such as the colourful Gelada ('bleeding heart') baboon; the Ethiopian wolf (also known as the Simien fox); caracal and the rare Lamergeyer (a huge vulture).

Enjoy outstanding views of the gorge and mountain range, whose striking formations have been described as ‘the chess pieces of the Gods’. You can walk across the Jibar River all the way down to Chenek, where you will have the best opportunity to seeing the Walia Ibex. There are also over 50 different bird species and varied alpine flora to observe.
Day 9 : Addis Ababa

Today drive 3-hours from the Simien Mountains, travelling through the magnificent landscapes of the Ethiopian Highlands to Gondar Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Addis Ababa by your guide, who will drive you 3-hours southwards through the beautiful Rift Valley with its chains of lakes - Lake Ziway, Lake Langano, Lake Abijatta and Lake Shala.

On arrival you can relax or swim in Lake Langano, with wonderful views of the countryside and prolific birdlife around the lakes, including pelicans and flamingos.
Day 10 : Bale Mountains National Park

Today we leave Lake Langano and travel to Bale Mountains National Park.

Situated on the Sanetti Plateau, this park covers an area of over 830 square miles (2,150 sq km). The high altitude plateau is broken up by numerous spectacular volcanic plugs and peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and rushing mountain streams that descend into deep rocky gorges on their way to the lowlands below.

This is the largest Afro-Alpine habitat in the whole of Africa and the best place to see the endangered Ethiopian wolf.
Day 11 : Bale Mountain National Park

Today enjoy exploring the scenery, flora and fauna of Bale Mountain National Park on foot.

Bale Mountain National Park provide wonderful opportunities for mountain walking, birding, horse trekking and scenic drives, as well as the chance to view many of Ethiopia's endemic mammals. These include the Ethiopian wolf (also called the Simien fox), Mountain nyala, Menelik bush buck, warthog, reed buck, gray duiker and various monkeys.

Depart early and ascend the Bale Massif onto the high altitude Sanetti Plateau, which ranges between 12,500 and 14,360 ft (3,800 to 4,377 m). As you climb up the mountain you will see the vegetation changing from juniper forests to heather moorlands and alpine meadows, which at certain times of year are covered in an abundance of colourful wildflowers.

The Sanetti Plateau is a birding area of great importance, as it supports seven globally threatened species, including the Thick-billed raven, Wattled ibis, Blue-winged goose and Rouget's rail. It also supports nearly all of Ethiopia’s highland biome species.

This is also the best place to see the park's most celebrated resident - the Ethiopian wolf. Watching these vibrantly coloured animals hunting giant mole-rats (another endemic species) is a truly wonderful wildlife experience.
Day 12 : Bale Mountain National Park

Today enjoy exploring the scenery, flora and fauna of Bale Mountain National Park on foot.

Bale Mountain National Park provide wonderful opportunities for mountain walking, birding, horse trekking and scenic drives, as well as the chance to view many of Ethiopia's endemic mammals. These include the Ethiopian wolf (also called the Simien fox), Mountain nyala, Menelik bush buck, warthog, reed buck, gray duiker and various monkeys.

Depart early and ascend the Bale Massif onto the high altitude Sanetti Plateau, which ranges between 12,500 and 14,360 ft (3,800 to 4,377 m). As you climb up the mountain you will see the vegetation changing from juniper forests to heather moorlands and alpine meadows, which at certain times of year are covered in an abundance of colourful wildflowers.

The Sanetti Plateau is a birding area of great importance, as it supports seven globally threatened species, including the Thick-billed raven, Wattled ibis, Blue-winged goose and Rouget's rail. It also supports nearly all of Ethiopia’s highland biome species.

This is also the best place to see the park's most celebrated resident - the Ethiopian wolf. Watching these vibrantly coloured animals hunting giant mole-rats (another endemic species) is a truly wonderful wildlife experience.
Day 13 : Bale Mountains

This morning we depart from the alpine Bale Mountains and travel 5-hours to beautiful Lake Awasa.

On arrival enjoy relaxing on the shores of this beautiful Rift Valley lake, where you can see hippos and much birdlife.
Day 14 : Addis Ababa

This morning we visit the Fish Market on the shores of Lake Awasa, before driving 4-hours through the magnificent chain of Rift Valley lakes to Addis Ababa.

Along the way we visit the Tiya Stelea - the remains of an ancient Ethiopian culture whose age has not yet been precisely determined. There are 36 monuments at this UNESCO World Heritage site, including 32 carved stone slabs covered with symbols that are difficult to decipher.

We also stop at the pre-historic Melka Kunture archeological site in the Awash River Valley, where many ancient stone tools and huge mammal fossils nearly 2-million years old have been discovered and the rock-hewn church of Adadi Mariam that is believed to be the southernmost church founded by King Lalibela.

After arriving in Addis Ababa, enjoy an included dinner at a traditional restaurant, where you can enjoy Ethiopian music, folk dance and a variety of local food.
Day 15 : Departure

Transfer to Addis Ababa Airport for your flight home.

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Inclusions

Hotel
Sightseeing

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Price & Rates

No of pax	Age Limit	Price per pax (Rs)
Adult	Above 12 years	$ 4291 / Adult

* Mentioned prices may vary depending upon date of travel, hotel availability, surge pricing and seasonal rush.

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Package Start From

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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