Sample Itinerary
The ‘Explorer Safari’
Our sample safari is shown below in both images and text.
The text beneath each tab provides a breakdown of each day of the trip. Additionally, the slideshow offers a visual sense of the places you would visit.
We can take you on this very journey. Alternatively, use this itinerary to fine tune which parts of the country you would like to explore on your holiday.
Addis Ababa 
Addis Ababa 
Fasilides Castle, Gondar 
Simien Mountains 
Gelada Monkeys, Simen Mountains 
Rock hewn church, Lalibela 
Cave Church of Yemrehana Cristos 
Stelae field, Axum 
Religious parade, Axum 
Rock church, Gheralta 
Painted interior of a rock church, Gheralta 
Gheralta landscape 
Tented camp, Bale Mountains 
Ethiopian wolf visiting Bale tented camp 
Bale Mountains 
Mountain Nyala, Bale Mountains 
Ethiopian wolves, Bale Mountains 
Hamar People, Omo Valley 
Kara ceremony, Omo Valley 
Dassenech women, Omo Valley
The Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Addis Ababa
Arrive ADDIS ABABA – Highlights of ADDIS ABABA
Arrive in Addis Ababa off international flight and transfer across to the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Transfer time from Airport to Hotel: 20 minutes.
Vehicle type in Addis: Minivan
Breakfast in the hotel before starting a city tour at 09:00hrs.
Visit the Trinity Cathedral and learn of the more modern history of Ethiopia, the Orthodox Church and the role of prominent men and women who helped shape the development of the country. Visit St George Cathedral and museum. Visit the National
Museum and learn of the archaeological finds that have shaped our perception of the evolution of man.
Evening at one of the many fine restaurants in Addis.
ACCOMMODATION: HYATT REGENCY HOTEL OR SHERATON HOTEL
Full Board and all non-alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 2 – Simien Mountains
Fly from ADDIS to GONDAR – Royal Enclosure – Drive to SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
Commercial flight:
Addis – Gondar
Depart: 08:10
The morning will be spent visiting the Royal Enclosure including Fasilides Castle – the most impressive building in the complex. Founded in 1636 as the capital, Gondar is the site of numerous castle-like palaces dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The emperors used to rule from an area of the town known as Fasil Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure)
and within this sector lie the most famous and impressive ruins of the city. Visit Debre Berhan Silassie Church.
After lunch at a delightful little restaurant in Gondar, it will be a 2 hour drive to reach
Limalimo Lodge in the Simien Mountains.
Short walk on to the clifftops in front of the Lodge in the evening.
ACCOMMODATION: LIMALIMO LODGE OR SIMIEN MOUNTAIN LODGE
Full Board and all non-alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 3 – Simien Mountains
A full day excursion in SIMIEN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Leaving Limalimo Lodge relatively early, the drive into the Park takes about 40 minutes.
The morning will be spent looking for and spending time with Gelada Monkeys. This most amazing experience is one of the top wildlife interaction experiences to be had in Africa.
Drive up towards Chenek, one of the higher sections of the Park, to look for Walia Ibex. Have a picnic lunch on the clifftops looking out on some of the worlds’ most spectacular views.
Return to Limalimo Lodge in the afternoon after another visit with the Gelada Monkeys.
Evening around the fire at the Lodge.
ACCOMMODATION: LIMALIMO LODGE OR SIMIEN MOUNTAIN LODGE
Full Board and all non-alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 4 – Lalibela
Return to GONDAR – Charter/Commercial flight to LALIBELA – Rock Hewn Churches
Commercial flight:
Gondar – Lalibela
Depart: 10:30
This flight takes approximately 50 minutes.
After settling in to the Mazena Lodge for lunch, the afternoon will be spent visiting the first of 3 clusters of rock hewn churches. Built on a grander scale than Gheralta, these churches were constructed in the 11th century under the direction of King Lalibela.
Evening spent at Mazena Lodge or the chance to visit one or two of the restaurants in town.
Minivan used in Lalibela for all site visits
ACCOMMODATION: MAZENA LODGE OR MARIBELA HOTEL
Full Board and all non-alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 5 – Lalibela
Cave Church – Ashetan Monastry
Leaving after an early breakfast, the group will drive out of Lalibela to go and visit the cave church of Yemrehana Cristos.
This church pre-dates the construction of those built in town and is much more ornately decorated. The drive takes about an hour and the walk up to the cave takes about 20 minutes.
Return to Lalibela for lunch at Ben Abebe restaurant, before visiting the last of the church clusters.
Driving 30 minutes up the hill out of Lalibela brings you to the start of a 20 minute walk to the Ashetan Monastry. This monastery is perched high above the surrounding countryside and on return from our visit there, we will stop to have evening sundowners watching the incredible sunset across the valleys below. A fitting end to any visit to Lalibela.
Evening meal in Mazena Lodge or one of the restaurants in town.
Minivan used in all site visits
ACCOMMODATION: MAZENA LODGE OR MARIBELA HOTEL
Full Board and all non-alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 6 – Gheralta
LALIBELA to AXUM – Stelae – GHERALTA Drive
Fly from Lalibela to Axum (45 mins)
Commercial flight:
Lalibela – Axum
Depart: 11:00
A quick look at the history of Axum and the impressive Stelae field before having lunch.
Drive to Gheralta and Korkor Lodge. This takes approximately 3 hours along a stunning Ethiopian back country road.
Korkor Lodge is positioned beneath the beautiful Gheralta Mountains and all activities will take place from here in the next few days.
Afternoon spent exploring one of the many rock hewn churches for which the area is renowned.
ACCOMMODATION: KORKOR LODGE
Full Board and all non-alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 7 – Gheralta
Rock Hewn Churches
Visit a couple of the rock hewn churches that are widespread in these mountains in the afternoon. Each usually takes a good uphill hike to get there but the views and churches themselves are well worth the effort.
Dating from the 4th and 5th centuries, these ancient carved churches are still live today. Although smaller than Lalibela, they are more impressive in that the work taken to access the cliff tops and dig away the sandstone to create them is simply amazing. The views from the top of these sandstone cliffs across the Northern Tigray countryside are simply stunning.
Maryam Korkor and Abuna Gebre Mikhail are the two well worth the effort of walking up.
ACCOMMODATION: KORKOR LODGE
Full Board and all non-alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 8 – Bale Mountains
Depart GHERALTA for early connecting flight to the BALE MOUNTAINS
From the Airport in Bale, it is about a 1.5 hour drive up to the Webb Plateau, where we have our tented camp. The last half hour of the drive is really down a bumpy goat track, but well worth the effort when reaching camp.
The camp sits at 3450 metres and overlooks a beautiful waterfall and pond with many endemic birds. From the dining room here, you can sit and watch Mountain Nyala, Ethiopian Wolves and Warthogs amongst others.
It is truly stunning walking country and activities here are geared around looking for and spending time with the Wolves.
The tents are A frame with en suite bathrooms. Showering is best done in the day time as it does get cold at night. Hot water is provided for all the showers and the loo is a flush loo.
Professional Guide, 4 x 4 vehicles – Local Guide/Interpreter
ACCOMMODATION: BALE TENTED CAMP
Full Board and all alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 9 – Bale Mountains
Webb Valley Safari
Explore the Webb Valley looking for Wolves and endemics. With the massive biodiversity of rodents, the birdlife, is fantastic.
Vehicles and walking are both done when looking for the wolves. The walking underfoot is generally flat and easy.
ACCOMMODATION: BALE TENTED CAMP
Full Board and all alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 10 – Bale Mountains
Game Drive – SANETTI PLATEAU
Visit Gaysay Grassland on a bit of a game drive. Great herds of Mountain Nyala and Reedbuck as well as plenty of Warthog, Olive Baboons and Duiker. You can also see Serval, Jackals, Monkeys and occasionally, Hyaena down here.
If the timing works out, it is worthwhile visiting a market day in Dinsho.
The option of doing a drive across the Sanetti Plateau is also there. This is a stunningly scenic drive across the highest commercial road in Africa. The bulk of the Plateau sits above 4000 metres.
ACCOMMODATION: BALE TENTED CAMP
Full Board and all alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 11 – Omo Valley
Charter flight from BALE MOUNTAINS down to the camp in the OMO VALLEY
We’ll arrive at the Omo Camp in the evening. This beautiful camp is set alongside the Omo River under a grove of Fig and Mahogany trees. It is a truly remarkable experience.
ACCOMMODATION: OMO TENTED CAMP
Full Board and all alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 12 – Omo Valley
Hamar Village – Boat Cruise – Mursi Village
An early morning visit to a nearby Hamar village is the ideal start to the day in the Omo Valley. Learning about the basics of life for these communities which inhabit a very remote and demanding environment in Ethiopia.
After breakfast, it is a 3 hour boat cruise up the wild Omo river with plenty opportunities to see crocodiles, monkeys and baboons and superb birdlife.
The journey comes to an end on the banks of the river in Mago National Park, where the Mursi Villagers will come and visit our camp. They stay the night which is often filled with impromptu dance and fireside story telling.
ACCOMMODATION: MURSI FLY CAMP
Full Board and all alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 13 – Omo Valley
Kara Village
Returning the Omo Camp, the afternoon will be spent with the Kara. The smallest of the tribal groups, but one that play a significant role in the settlement of the lower Omo Valley.
Evening dance in the Kara village of Dus before returning to camp and watching the sun set over a beautiful Omo river scene. A fitting way to end a safari of Ethiopia.
ACCOMMODATION: OMO TENTED CAMP
Full Board and all alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
Day 14 – Addis Ababa
Charter or commercial flight back to ADDIS ABABA
On reaching Addis, you will transfer back to your hotel to prepare for your departure flight or a final shopping and gastronomic experience at one of the many fine restaurants in the city.
Transfer to the airport for all flights out.
ACCOMMODATION: HYATT REGENCY HOTEL OR SHERATON HOTEL
Full Board and all non-alcoholic drinks. All private guide fees, Entrance fees, private vehicles and all taxes.
