Lungo local tour Ethiopia
Summary: Ethiopia trecking and hiking
Duration: 10 days 9 night
Day 1:
On arrival in Addis Ababa lungo local tour representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to Hotel. An overview of the program and itineraries will be given. The rest of the day visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Museum, where we will view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains when discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 meters and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis. Overnight Hotel
Day 2:
Transfer by lungo to Bole Airport, flight to Mekele. Drive to Hawazien for overnight in Gerelta lodge. On the way visit the Xth century semi-monolithic monastery of the Wukro Cherkos decorated with the rock sculptures visible on the roofs. Then, continue to the semi-monolithicmonastery of Abreha-Atsbeha that dates as to the monastery’s officials to the 4th century AD. It is dedicated to the founders of the monastery and twinning’s after whom it is named. It is well decorated by bas-reliefs and 19th century mural paintings with religious motives. Continue ahead and visit the church of Digum Selassie that dates to the Xth century. This monastery highlights the development of Sophisticated rock architecture in the region. The church encompasses Baptizer and funerary chambers hewn out of the rock. Overnight in Geralta Lodge.
Day 3:
After breakfast, leave the highland Tigray region dominated by Christian culture and drive down to Herhale, the northern outskirt of the Danakil depression inhabited by the pastoralist Afar people here, the trekking arrangement with the local authority is organized. Then, continue to Ahmed Ela. Dinner and accommodation in Open Air.
Day 4: After breakfast excursion to Dallol, the lowest point in the danakil depression (126 meter below the sea level) which boasts one of the most surreal natural landscapes in the world. The sulfurous hot springs that gush in spectrum of color and pave the area with orange colored cone-shaped layers of deposit. Check out the site from which hundreds of Afar painstakingly extract salt bars from the ground and carve to portable size to be shipped by camel caravans to Mekele, the distribution center to the hinterland of the country. Back to Ahmed Ela. Under Tente.
Day 5: After breakfast, drive south along Ert Ale range on rough track to the village of kusrewad, located at the base of Erta Ale Volcanic Mountain where the camel truck is to be organized with accompaniment of the pastoralist local Afar. The party will depart at the sunset because of the scorching heat and the total lack of shade. The trek may take anything between 3 to 4 hours one way. The Erta Ale crater rises 613m above sea level, its caldera measures 1 km2 at the top and is the only permanent lava lake in the world1 at night, the sight of the bizarre bursting lava is absolutely impressive. Night in open air.Early in the morning walk down to the base camp.
Day 6: Having breakfast at the camp, drive along a dusty rough track the village of Afdera near a salty lake in the same name, this emerald colored salt lake lies at 103m below sea level and covers a total area of about 100km2. It is a major site for salt extraction in Ethiopia the principal supply of the country comes from. Dinner and
accommodation under tent.
Day 7:
Today’s journey takes you along the rocky wavy road eastward to the village of Serdo and then, to the west along the Addis Ababa Djibouti highway through an extensive savannah. After lunch at the town of Logia, proceed to Awash Falls lodge situated near the fall of awash in the National Park. Wildlife like; Gerenuk, Gazelles, warthogs, Kudus, hares, Dikdiks, Olive baboons and prolific bids can be seen around the lodge. Overnight in the lodge.
Day 8:
After breakfast in the lodge, roam in the park for game viewing. Such mammals as Oryx, Kudu’s, Warthogs, Dik-dicks and various gazelles can easily be spotted and continue to the unlikely oasis of Filwoha, a 36C hot spring area shaded by giant palm trees. Drive back to the lodge for a lunch on the edge of the spectacular awash falls. Take a walk surrounded by baboons to admire the impressive thundering Awash River falls. Roam up the river course under the river forest with glimpse of colorful birds. You might get a chance of seeing lazy crocodiles sunbathing on the shores of the Awash River and a couple of hippos. Lions can be heard roaring, but chances to see one are quite thin. Same is true for Leopards and Cheetahs. Dinner and overnight accommodation under in your lodge.
Day 9
This day, your journey is leaving the scorching Great Rift Valley up to the west where the highland Addis Ababa is perched at the elevation of 2500m above the sea level. After a short distance from the park check such birds as pelicans, maral out storks. Plovers, vultures, and flamingos on the shores of Lake Beseka. Then, continue to the tropical city of Nazret over night nazaret.
Day 10
After having breakfast proceed up to Debrezeit, the base of the national air force, where you will have a coffee break by the rim of the peaceful lake Bishoftu in cool weather. After Debre Zeit, check in your left to the volcanic mountain of Ziquala (2989m) Topped by a monastery one of the important pilgrimage centers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and on your right to extinct volcanic Mountain of Yerer (3,100m) that flanked Addis Ababa to the east. Farewell dinner is organized at a traditional restaurant where one Enjoys ‘Eskista’- a traditional shoulder dance with Ethiopians. Finally, transfer to Bole International airport for your return flight