7 Days Ethiopia WildlifeSafari

• Ethiopia

7-Day Best of the Historic Route in Ethiopia

Day 1: Welcome to Ethiopia!

Upon arrival in Ethiopia, our representative will be waiting to pick you up at the airport and take you to your guesthouse. Here you will be briefed on your upcoming trip and receive all necessary information. Depending of your arrival time, you may have time to explore the capital and visit sites like the National Museum, the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Ethnological Museum, which will give you an insight into the history and culture of Ethiopia. In the evening you will have the opportunity to sample the famous Ethiopian cuisine and see a cultural show at a restaurant in town before returning to your guesthouse for the night.

Day 2: Explore the highlights of Gondar

In the early morning your guide will pick you up at the guesthouse and transfer you to Gondar. Upon your arrival you will transfer to the lodge before embarking upon a fascinating exploration of the royal and ancient city of Gondar. First you will pay a visit to the fortress city Fasil Ghebbi, also known as the Royal Enclosure. This 70,000-sq meter UNESCO World Heritage site was once the seat of emperor Fasiledes and his successors in the 16th and 17th century. The numerous castles and palaces that remain within the walls of the enclosure are a testament to the royal capital’s former splendor. The cultural tour continues with a visit to Fasiledes’ Bath. Emperor Fasiledes built this rectangular pool to convince the people that he was a true believer of the Orthodox faith. Although the complex was used for bathing it was also used for religious celebrations, some of which carry on to this day. In the evening you will enjoy a nice dinner and some welcome rest at tonight’s accommodation, Mayleko Lodge.

Day 3: Hike in Simien Mountains N.P.

After breakfast at your lodge your journey continues north to the spectacular Simien Mountains National Park.These high-altitude landscapes are home to exotic wildlife unique to the area, such as the iconic Walia ibex, the Gelada baboon, several birds of prey and the extremely rare Ethiopian wolf, which has an estimated population of 50 in the Simien Mountains. Along your journey you will pass through the park headquarters in Debark where your guide will arrange for your permits and collect the mandatory guide and scout for your hike.  Depending on your interests and fitness level, your hike can take from one to six hours. Along the way you will experience the beautiful landscapes of the Simien Mountains, enjoy a packed lunch at one of the best viewpoints and most likely run into the endemic Gelada baboon. These red-chested baboons are pretty sociable so you will be able to get quite close to them. After the hike you will drive to your accommodation for the night at Limalimo Lodge

Day 4: Nature walk and return to Gondar

Today you can enjoy a leisurely morning surrounded by beautiful scenery. If you enjoy wildlife you can take a nature walk along the escarpment edge and enjoy the panoramic views and watch birds of prey circling above and below you. If you are lucky bands of Gelada baboons may wander over and bid you a good morning. After lunch at the lodge you will drive back to Gondar for another night at Mayleko Lodge

Day 5: Visit of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela

In the early morning you will be picked up at the hotel and transfer from Gondar to Lalibela.  Lalibela is regarded as one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities and is an important center of pilgrimage. Religious rituals are central to the life of the town and there are often processions of priests and crowds of singing and dancing devotees. The most famous attractions in Lalibela are the monolithic rock-hewn churches, which are the biggest monolithic temples in the world, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The most iconic and visually spectacular of these churches is the Bet Giyorgis. The 15-meter high structure is carved out of rock, excavated externally and internally into the shape of the Greek cross. This church is often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and is therefore a must see on this trip! You will have a local guide showing you around who will be able to tell you everything you want to know about these historic buildings.  At the end of the day you will return to your hotel for some rest and a nice dinner at Maribela Hotel

Day 6: Culture and Coffee in Lalibela

There are several fascinating churches and monasteries carved into the landscape surrounding the town of Lalibela itself, and today we will go on an excursion to visit one of them. After breakfast, you will drive 50 km outside of Lalibela to the beautiful Yemerehana Christos Monastery, one of Ethiopia’s best-preserved late Aksumite churches. In contrast to the other churches you have seen on this tour, this 11th-century monastery is constructed using both stone and wood. Be sure to go inside to look at the walls that have been painted with murals depicting scenes from the Bible. In the afternoon, you will return to Lalibela to experience a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This is one of the most important parts of the Ethiopian culture and therefore a must-do on your trip to the country. The ceremony will take you through all of the steps of preparing and brewing coffee. Be sure to savor the flavors of the coffee during your tasting.  Tonight, you will enjoy a nice dinner and another night at the lovely Maribel Hotel.

Day 7: Return to Addis Ababa

After an early breakfast you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the airport for your domestic flight back to Addis Ababa. From Addis Ababa you can connect with your international flight back home. Depending on the time of your international flight you may have some time to explore the capital if you were unable to do so on your first day. If you wish we can help arrange for a day room so that you can store your luggage and use shower facilities before your international flight.