TOUR 2 - EXPLORING WEST, SOUTH EAST & EAST - 14 DAYS

This 14days, fascinating trip takes you through a magnificent scenic world of fairy-tale names such as ADDIS ABABA, WONCHI, SHASHEMENE, GOBA, AWASH, KULUBI & HARAR, with interesting history, beautiful people, strange landscapes, and endemic animals. And finaly visit you the the colorful “MESKEL" celebration (The finding of the true Cross) on the Meskel Square in Addis Ababa.

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN ADDIS ABABA Arrive in Addis Ababa, in the early morning, and after a warm greeting at the airport by the tour organizer / Tour Guide (HenokTsegaye), transfer to your hotel for check in. In the afternoon, start the city tour with the National museum (The house of the oldest, 3.2 million years old, hominid, “LUCY / DINKNESH”) and drive above 3000 masl to enjoy the panoramic view of Addis Ababa and visit the 19th century palace of MENELIK II. In the evening, @19:00Hour, be a guest of HENOK TSEGAYE (Your Guide) for a welcome dinner in one of the traditional restaurants of Addis Ababa. Overnight SAROMARIA Hotel or similar. On the way to Mount Entoto in Addis Ababa DAY 2 - ADDIS ABABA - AMBO In the morning start your first day journey to the capital city of north-western shoa province, AMBO. On the way visit you ADDIS ALEM MARIAM and after lunch, drive about 11 kms to the city of Guder and visit GUDER falls. Overnight ABEBECH METAFERIA or similar. Debre Zion Maryam - Addis Alem DAY 3 - AMBO - WOLLISSO In the morning, drive about 38 kms to the very beautiful, interesting & breathtaking Crater Lake “WONCHI” through the magnificent landscapes of north western shoa high lands. Visit the lake with activities like walking, horse riding & boat trip. Overnight NEGASH Lodge or similar. Wonchi Crater Lake DAY 4 - WOLLISSO - HOSSAINA Early in the morning start your journey to HOSSAINA. On the way visit you the ADADI MARIAM rock hewn church, TIYA monolithic stelae site (One of the UNESCO registered heritage sites of the country) and if time allows MELKA KUNTURE stone tools excavation site. After lunch break in BUTAJIRA resume driving to your overnight destination. Overnight LEMMA INTERNATIONAL or similar. Adadi Mariam Rock Hewn Church DAY 5 - HOSSAINA - SHASHEMENE Morning drive to SHASHEMENE; on the way visit SENKELE sanctuary and enjoy the endemic animal of the country “SWAYNES HEARTEBEEST”. Late in the afternoon, visit the RAS TEFEREAN church. Overnight HAILE or similar. Swaynes Hartebeest in the Senkelle Wildlife Sanctuary DAY 6 - SHASHEMENE - BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK In the morning, visit the only Banana Art Gallery in the country owned by a Carebean, Ras Hailu & leave for Bale which is one of the few most beautiful National Parks of the Country. On arrival in to the head quarter, walk a little bit and you will witness at least two endemic mammals of Ethiopia (Mountain Nyala & Menelik Bushbuck). Late in the afternoon continue driving for your check in to the hotel. Overnight GOBA WABISHEBELE Hotel. Shashemene - Ras Hailu in his gallery DAY 7 - BALE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK In the morning, drive about 60 kms to, do an excursion trip to SENNETE plateau (The highest all weather road in Africa) and HARRENA forest. On the way visit the second highest place in Ethiopia, TULU DIMTU with a height of 4.377masl. Overnight GOBA WABISHEBELE Hotel. Bale Mountains National Park DAY 8 - BALE GOBA - AWASH Early morning, passing by the the city of Assela & Nazareth, arrive to the city of AWASH, through marvelous landscapes of ARSI-BALE. After a lunch break at Assela town, resume driving for an overnight stay. Overnight GENET Hotel or similar. Market in Bekoji on the way DAY 9 - AWASH NATIONAL PARK Early morning, game drive in to the Awash National Park to observe the charismatic species of the National park BEISA OREX and other species like: Greater KUDU, Warthog, Anubis Baboon, Grivet-monkey (Abyssinian vervet monkey) and Grant’s gazelle. Afternoon, @1:30, drive to the natural hot spring and enjoy water birds and if you get chance the Waterbuck. Overnight GENET Hotel or similar. Awash Falls in the Awash National Park DAY 10 - AWASH - HARAR In the morning, drive out to the walled city of Harar built in the 16th century (1540). Overnight RAWDA or similar Guest House (Traditional House inside the walled city). Church in Kulubi on the way. DAY 11 - HARAR In the morning, visit the Harari museum & Arthur Rambaud’s house in the walled city of Harar. In the afternoon visit the market outside the wall & in the evening participate in the hyena man show.Overnight RAWDA or similar Guest House (Traditional House inside the walled city). Harar DAY 12 - HARAR - ADDIS ABABA Early in the morning drive back to the capital city, ADDIS ABABA. In the evening you will be a guest of HENOK TSEGAYE for a fair-well dinner in one of the traditional restaurants of Addis Ababa; then after taking part in eating the food and folkloric dance transfer to your hotel for an overnight. Overnight CARAVAN Hotel or similar. 2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant DAY 13 - ADDIS ABABA - MESKEL CEREMONY In the morning wonder around the city and observe the preparation of the churches to go to the meskel square. In the afternoon, drive to the Meskel square to attend the colorful “MESKEL / The finding of the true Cross” celebrated by the Ethiopian Orthodox church. Meskel means Cross in Ge’ez and ccording to the Church teachings, Queen Helena (Saint Helena) was the one who found the True Cross, the actual cross of the crucifixion. In Ethiopia, what makes the ceremony unique is the bonfire, “DEMERA”, is lit to commemorate the event that happened centuries ago. Why Bonfire? Church teaches Queen Helena was told in a dream to make a bonfire whose smoke would show her where the True Cross was buried. After the revelation the Queen asked her people in Jerusalem to make the bonfire as told, which led her to the exact location of the Cross. Overnight CARAVAN or similar. Meskel Ceremony - Addis Ababa DAY 14 - ADDIS ABABA Spend the full day in Addis Ababa. You can visit the Leul Genet Palace, The Menelik II. Mausoleum or others. Then when the time comes, sadly, you will get a transfer to the airport. Leul Genet Palace - Addis Ababa We will gladly make the plan according to your wishes! Please contact us.

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