|
|
|
|
|
| Where to go
in Ethiopia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
The
Semein Mountains
Located north of Gonder, along the road to Axum, the Semein Mountains
offer a uniquely wonderful sight: high peaks and deep gorges, valleys
and river, golden barley fields as far as the eye can see. The highest
mountain (4620 meters) is Ras Dejen, but a lot of the peaks are
above 4000 meters. Only a few roads on the Semien Mountains are
practicable by car, but the entire area is crossed by tracks used
by locals to travel from village to village or to lead their animals
to pasture. This makes it the ideal place for trekking: you can
walk for days on end along easy paths, occasionally passing through
villages amid breath-taking views, frequently encountering colonies
of “Gelada” baboons and, at nightfall, among the steep
gorges, sight endemic mammals including Minilic Bushbuck, Walia Ibex and, not so frequently, the
Abyssinian wolf.
|
|
|
Bahirdar, island monasteries and the Blue Nile falls
The town of Bahirdar is one of the richest historical,
cultural and religious spot in the country. Beyond that its lake
side setting offers a natural significance. The biggest lake in
the country, Lake Tana, 3673km2 is also the source of Blue Nile,
which makes ancient Ethiopia center of contact with the rest of
the world. The falls of Blue Nile, the 2nd biggest fall in Africa
400m wide and falls from a 40m high is reachable after diving 35
km through the country side and experience of nature and culture
together. Blue Nile falls is also rich in aquatic and other specious
of birds. The other most interesting experience of your stay in Bahirdar
is boat trip over Lake Tana to the island monasteries. There are
37 islands of which 21 of them have monasteries and churches which
were made starting from 13th century. These monasteries are very
rich old and unique Biblical and royal wall painting, collections
of gold and silver crowns, old books, parchments, royal dressing’s
medieval Ethiopian kings as well as mummified body remains. Some
of the Islands were also the homeland of the Felasha, Black Jews
and temporary resting place of the original Arc of the Covenant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
HARAR
The walled city of Harar the major commercial and a great center
of Islamic learning and the fourth holiest town in the world have
more than hundred mosques concentrated in the wall It is renowned
for its remarkable handcrafts, fine wreaking and beautifully bound
old Islamic manuscript A town of mosques, minarets and holy shrines,
is remerged in Europe as a city visited in 19th century by important
European travelers including the French poet Arthur Rimbaud
and British journalist sir Richard Burton, said Harar has a power
of impression; visiting the unique housing, its old walls the brightly
colored dress of the Adere and Oromo inhabitants, as well as the busy and colorful
local market. Also worth a visit include the two cultural museum
and at night the “hyena man” feeding meat held in his
own mouth. |
|
|
Bale
Mountains National park, Sof Omar cave and Sheik Hussein
The National park's scenic 2,200 km2 protects the highest mount Tullo Demtu, 4377m is
one of the world heritages in Ethiopia. The park is one of the major
destinations for various activities. The wild alpine scenery, particularly
on the 4000m high Senetti plateau, more than 400 specious of Birds
including the endemic specious to Ethiopia. Mammals such us Semien wolves, mountain Nyala and so
many gazelles are inhabitants and the attractions of Bale along with trekking
experience.
|
|
|
The
caves of Sof Omar
An incredible experience in the largest natural cave system in the world.
The cave system of at Sof Omar, formed by the Weyb river as it goes
underground, is said to be the biggest in the Africa and one of
the biggest in the World. Its passage extends for a total of 16
Km, although the route normally takes by visitor covers1.7 Km and
can be covered in an hour. Local people worshipped animist deities
and spirits there long before the arrival of Islam, and traces of
these influences and beliefs persist till today in various ceremonies
and sacrifices carried out around the cave entrances. The cave is
located above the entrance to the caves 120Km from Goba . On the
area more than 501 specious of birds have been recorded. One of
the most striking features of the cave system is the chamber of
columns, where limestone pillars soar up to 20 meters as in some
ancient temples. Another is the great dome, where the roof is 50
meters high. Generally, the shapes and color of the rocks, the magnificent
pillars and sound of the river as it makes its way through the subterranean
passages makes it a natural adventure and charming travel
Experience in Ethiopia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sheikh
Hussein
The greatest Muslim pilgrimage in Bale. Situated 180Km from Robe
at tourist attractions of Bale mountains national park and Sof Omar
cave in the area. There are two pilgrimages a year (dates are according
to the Islamic calendar) On 9th and 10th Duhu Hijjah, or Eid Al_Arafa,
and the 14th and 15th of of Jimad al-thani. The next pilgrimage
will take place on 22 February.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Ethiopian Rift Valley
The Ethiopian Rift Valley is part of the Afro Arabian rift system bounded
by the Arabian plateau to the North, African plateau to the West and East
African plateau to the East. It is a system of down-faulted troughs
starting from the Jordan-Dead Sea Rift, the Red sea, and Gulf of Aden,
and continues southward to East Africa Rift up to Mozambique. It
extends approximately 6500km in a generally north south direction.
Its floor rises irregularly from the Lake Turkana basin to the main
watershed of Lake Zway; it then descends northwards into Afar where
the floor lies below sea level in places like Dallol.
The Ethiopian Rift System is interesting from academics (geological,
anthropological, etc.) and economic point of view.
The academic interest was particularly focused on the Afar (northern
part of the Ethiopian rift) system .In the late 1960s, with the recognition
of its uniqueness as the worlds only active, sub aerial triple (rift)
junction where the complex tectonics and volcanism of an area between
three separating lithosphere plates (African east African and Arabian)
can be observed on dry land. The most important hominid fossils found
by anthropologists in the Afar are the Bodo skull (300,000 to 400,000
years old) and Lucy (Dinknesh), a skeleton dated at about 3 million
years. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Lakes District
The part of the Rift valley that forms 1230m at L. Chamo in the south to
approximately 1800m at Awash River. The area is known as the Lakes
District. Seven lakes of tectonic or volcano-tectonic origin occur
in this district. From south to north they are L. Chamo, Abaya,
Awassa, Shala, Abjata, Langano, and Zway .One of the routes from
Addis Ababa, the capital, to the Lakes District is with in this
rift valley, running SSW from Mojo for 700 km to the Kenyan border.
The Lakes District is bounded on the East by the Arsi-Bale massifs
and in the west by the Shewan plateau. The region is hot and dry
with an annual rainfall of 1000mm.The area is densely populated
and partly deforested. As the Zway-Shala and Awassa lake basins
are all closed the rivers in the area flow into the lakes. Though
L, Shala and Awassa have no out lets, L. Awassa must be losing water
by underground seepage. Geologically, the area is flooded by thick
sediments underlain by older ignimbrites and basalts.
Recent volcanic centers are abundant. The evidence of Lake terraces
shows that in the recent past the lakes were once more extensive
than at present, and indeed were once joined together as Abaya-Chamo
basin to the south, and Zway –Shala and Awassa basin to the
north .It was assumed that these major basins were separated as
a result of late (<1M.year) earth movements which
involved different systems of faulting and/or drier climates.
Active volcano Danakil and Erta'
Ale
No where else but
in Ethiopia,
A Serious
Expeditions to Mount Erta Ale, an active volcano whose creator
holds the Worlds only permanent Lava Lake.
Day
01 Addis Ababa- Semra,Drive to Semra; the small town where we are having the permit ion
for the visit. Overnight Dubti guest house.
Day
02 Semera- Aferera via Sserdo,
In
the Morning drive to Aferera. Late in the afternoon visit Lake
Afrera where the Afar and Tigray people dig out salt manually.
Overnight Camping
Day
03 Aferera -Dodome,
Drive 65 Km. to Dodome village. In the Afternoon walk 25 Km up to
Ertalle active volcanic mountain. At night visit the colorful active
volcano and spend the night camping.
Day
04 Ertalle,
Full
day visit and more filming at Ertalle and surrounding. Overnight
Camping
Day
05 Ertalle - Dodome,
In
the mornig walk back to Dodome where you are met by your car and
after lunch drive to Waydodo. Overnight camping at Waydodo.
Day
06 Waydodo- Asele,
Drive to Lake Asele and visit the the thousands of camel caravan and
the rock salt mining. Afternoon Drive further to Dallo Cobar Sink;
the lowest spot on earth’s surface not covered by water. At Dallol
you will see the most colorful rock and mineral covers that create a
harmony of different colors like rainbow.Overnight camping at Dallol.
Day
07 Dallol- Mekele, Drive
to Mekelle on the way visiting the camel caravans and local salt
merchants transporting salt to the town. Overnight Mekele Axum
Hotel.
Day
08 Mekele- Addis Ababa,
Catch our Morning flight to Ababa.
Overnight Ghion Hotel.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|