Discover Ethiopia
In Ethiopia — and specially in Omo Valley — tourism is a very controversial issue and we think always twice before to support any project in that sector.
Not in this case: we were happy to produce this publication for Adimasu Tours, a tour company established by Adimasu Gebeyehu, a Omo Valley born Ethiopian with a real and extensive knowledge about the many facets of Ethiopia.
Sponsored by Lufthansa and Ethiopian Airlines, Discover Ethiopia was presented at ITB Berlin (Germany), the world’s leading travel trade show.
-----------------------------------
CREDITS -- Photography: Elisa Amati, Steph Haunt, Ben Hogarth, Joakim Larsen, Claudio Maria Lerario / Text: Joakim Larsen / Graphic design: Lerario Storylab
In Ethiopia — and specially in Omo Valley — tourism is a very controversial issue and we think always twice before to support any project in that sector.
Not in this case: we were happy to produce this publication for Adimasu Tours, a tour company established by Adimasu Gebeyehu, a Omo Valley born Ethiopian with a real and extensive knowledge about the many facets of Ethiopia.
Sponsored by Lufthansa and Ethiopian Airlines, Discover Ethiopia was presented at ITB Berlin (Germany), the world’s leading travel trade show.
-----------------------------------
CREDITS -- Photography: Elisa Amati, Steph Haunt, Ben Hogarth, Joakim Larsen, Claudio Maria Lerario / Text: Joakim Larsen / Graphic design: Lerario Storylab
ADIMASU TOURS DISCOVER ETHIOPIA 1
- Page 2 and 3: 3 WELCOME 4 THE COMPANY 5 OUR TOURS
- Page 4 and 5: Adimasu Tours arranges tailor-made
- Page 6 and 7: OMO VALLEY ATE007 - OMO VALLEY, 10
- Page 8 and 9: DANAKIL DEPRESSION ATE004 - DANAKIL
- Page 10 and 11: BIRD (AND MORE) WATCHING ATE009 - B
- Page 12 and 13: RECOMMENDATIONS Jose Antonio Senz d
- Page 14 and 15: Special thanks First of all we woul
- Page 16: ADIMASU TOURS EXPEDITIONS & ADVENTU
ADIMASU TOURS<br />
DISCOVER ETHIOPIA<br />
1
3<br />
WELCOME<br />
4<br />
THE COMPANY<br />
5<br />
OUR TOURS<br />
11<br />
TRAVEL FACTS<br />
12<br />
RECOMMENDATIONS<br />
14<br />
SPECIAL THANKS<br />
2
Adimasu Tours welcomes you to <strong>Ethiopia</strong>!<br />
Adimasu Tours is a successful tour company established in 2005 by Adimasu Gebeyehu.<br />
Adimasu is a South Omo Valley born <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n with many years of experience<br />
in the tourism industry. An extensive knowledge about the many facets of <strong>Ethiopia</strong> and<br />
the joy of meeting travellers from all over the world has become Adimasu’s guideline<br />
as founder of the company.<br />
Today these are among the fundamental qualities we are looking for when we recruit<br />
new staff. We have a team of 12 drivers and over 30 guides speaking many of<br />
the different local languages. Our fleet consists of around 12 always well-maintained<br />
vehicles. We also own two permanent campsites, one in Kibish Suri and the other in<br />
Yabello, Oromia.<br />
At Adimasu Tours, every trip is customised according to your wishes and requirements.<br />
Every itinerary is flexible; both before and during your tour with us are we open<br />
to change the programme according to your request.<br />
Consequently we are one of the foremost and most well-established tour companies<br />
in <strong>Ethiopia</strong> and we provide excellent and reliable travel service all over the country.<br />
Adimasu Tours is a proud member of <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Tour Operators Association. In 2012<br />
the <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Ministry of Culture and Tourism awarded us third most reliable travel<br />
agency. And we intend not only to live up to that reputation, but also to improve it.<br />
We would be delighted to be part of your adventure and to show you our unique and<br />
beautiful country. Welcome to <strong>Ethiopia</strong>.<br />
Adimasu Gebeyehu<br />
3
Adimasu Tours arranges tailor-made solutions and strives to<br />
comply with your every request.<br />
We specialise in tours for groups, families and individuals, from<br />
1-35 days duration. We offer exclusive tours with personal chefs,<br />
budget tours, packaged expeditions, adventure trips, photography<br />
tours, bird watching tours, nature tours and ethnological tours.<br />
All tours can be arranged in a variety of languages including English,<br />
German, Italian, Spanish, French and Russian.<br />
We specialise in: Lalibela, Danakil Depression, Omo Valley, Bale<br />
Mountains, Simien Mountains, Harar, Suri & Gambela, The Rift<br />
Valley, Lakes, Coffee tours, Historical and archaeological tours.<br />
We also offer 4WD car rental and expedition equipment and are<br />
happy to arrange the following services: air ticketing, hotel reservations<br />
and airport transfers.<br />
Our fleet. We currently have 12 vehicles in our fleet; 4WD’s, land<br />
cruisers and mini busses. Our vehicles are always well-maintained<br />
in order to live up to the high expectations of safety, reliability<br />
and comfort of our international guests.<br />
COMMITMENTS<br />
We deliver high quality services. Your satisfaction is our business.<br />
Starting from the first contact and until after your visit, we<br />
are committed to provide you with the best service possible.<br />
We use only well-trained and experienced staff. Both prior to<br />
your visit, for preparation and during your tour, do we use highly<br />
qualified staff only.<br />
We prioritise your safety the highest. Consequently our cars<br />
are always fully maintained. We use only reliable cars with good<br />
tires. This is particularly important when touring on difficult<br />
roads in remote areas.<br />
We take responsibility. Responsible tourism has always been<br />
an integral part of our company. Our adventures are designed<br />
with due respect to the local people and their culture. Furthermore<br />
we abide by the rules of eco-tourism.<br />
We practice fair-mindedness. We have set fair-mindedness as<br />
a fundamental value and we practice it - not only in relation to<br />
our guests and to our business in <strong>Ethiopia</strong> but in the contact<br />
with people in general.<br />
We are reliable. Both our guests and the locals in the areas we<br />
visit must be able to rely fully on our commitment to what we do.<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong>: a magnificent, diverse and culturally rich country.<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong> is the second most populous nation in Africa with its<br />
85 million inhabitants. The ethnic diversity is large and includes<br />
more than 80 different ethnic groups and spoken languages,<br />
the three largest being Oromio, Amharic & Tigrinya. The country<br />
is 1,130,000 square kilometres; two times the size of France.<br />
It is located in the North-eastern corner of Africa, landlocked<br />
between Djibouti and Eritrea to the North, Somalia to the East,<br />
Sudan and South Sudan to the West and Kenya to the South.<br />
With it’s significant range in altitude, the highest point being<br />
4,620 meters above and the lowest 116 meters below sea level,<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong> has three different climate zones. They offer a wide<br />
variety of flora and fauna. It is home to a number of unique and<br />
spectacular geological sites, among them Danakil Depression,<br />
the lowest place in Africa and the hottest place on the planet<br />
with one of the few permanent lava lakes. It is also home to a<br />
number of endemic mammals and more than 860 bird species<br />
out of which more than 30 are endemic.<br />
Addis Ababa is the capital of <strong>Ethiopia</strong> and is located in around<br />
2700 meters which makes it the third highest located capitol in the<br />
world. It houses a large number of diplomatic missions, like the<br />
head quarters of African Union (AU), the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI),<br />
the United Nation Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and<br />
of more than 90 other diplomatic missions and embassies.<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong> is among the few African countries that has its own alphabet,<br />
time system and calendar. <strong>Ethiopia</strong> is also known for its<br />
2000-year-old history and for being the only African country, which<br />
was never colonised. The monuments of the Axumite Empire, the<br />
rock hewn churches of Lalibela, the castles of Gondar, the walled<br />
city of Harar, and the Konso Cultural Landscape are just a few of<br />
the historical Unesco World Heritage sites in the country.<br />
All over the country scientists are currently making important<br />
findings that contribute to our knowledge and understanding of<br />
the origin of our human race and it’s early development.<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong> is the homeland of coffee, of Lucy, the oldest found<br />
humanoid fossil, and of the first marathon athlete, Abebe Bikila,<br />
running barefoot and winning gold in the Olympics.<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong> has been struggling with droughts and famines for<br />
many years. But this image is finally changing as more and more<br />
people discover the unique value of this magnificent, diverse<br />
and culturally rich country and come to visit.<br />
4
OUR TOURS<br />
5
OMO VALLEY<br />
ATE007 - OMO VALLEY, 10 DAYS<br />
Day 1: Tuesday: Drive from Addis Ababa to Hawassa. Hotel in Hawassa.<br />
We drive south from Addis down through the African Rift Valley. On the<br />
way we stop for bird watching at Lake Langano, Lake Ziway, Lake Shalla<br />
and Lake Abiata. Late afternoon we arrive in Hawassa, a vibrant and<br />
pleasant town located at the shore of Lake Awassa.<br />
Day 2: Wednesday: Visit in Hawassa. Drive from Hawassa to Arba<br />
Minch. Hotel in Arba Minch.<br />
We make an early morning visit to the local fish market at Amora Gedel<br />
by the lake and have time to enjoy the bird life and see the fisher mens<br />
activities. Mid-morning we continue from Hawassa to Arba Minch. We<br />
drive by Woleita Sodo and further south along the beautiful Lake Abaya<br />
and Guge Mountains, past lush banana fields.<br />
Day 3: Thursday: Drive from Arba Minch to Jinka. Hotel or guest<br />
house in Jinka.<br />
We have an early start from Arba Minch and will be entering into Omo<br />
Valley passing Konso, Weito and Key Afer. We visit the weekly Bena market<br />
that attracts the local colourful tribes from the region; the Aris, the<br />
Tesemais and the Hamer. Mid-afternoon we continue our drive to Jinka,<br />
home to the Ari tribe and gateway to Mago National Park.<br />
Day 4: Friday: Day trip to Mago National Park. Hotel or guest house<br />
in Jinka.<br />
We visit Mago National Park, home to the Mursi Tribe, that live in the<br />
lowland plains and we visit a local Mursi village.<br />
Day 5: Saturday: Drive from Jinka to Turmi. Camping in Turmi.<br />
We pass by Dimeka where we visit the weekly Hamer market. Here we will<br />
also see people from the Karo tribe.<br />
Day 6: Sunday: Day trip around Turmi. Camping in Turmi.<br />
We pay a visit to the Karo tribe, famous for their body painting. We will<br />
also get to enjoy the beautiful view of the Omo River.<br />
Day 7: Monday: Drive from Turmi to Yabello. Camping in Yabello.<br />
A beautiful drive through the southern <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n countryside. On the way<br />
we will visit the Abore and the Borena tribes.<br />
Day 8: Tuesday: Day trip from Yabello. Camping in Yabello.<br />
We visit a local salt lake crater and see how people are extracting salt in<br />
the way they have been doing it for hundreds of years. We will also visit<br />
the famous singing wells of Borena - the singing depends, however on<br />
the weather.<br />
Day 9: Wednesday: Drive from Yabello to Hawassa. Hotel in Hawassa.<br />
On the way we will stop to see Tuttefella Unesco World Heritage site and<br />
visit the Gedeo tribe.<br />
Day 10: Thursday: Drive from Hawassa to Addis Ababa. Arrival in Addis<br />
late afternoon.<br />
In the morning we visit the great fish market in Hawassa. On the way to<br />
Addis we stop for lunch at Lake Langano.<br />
ATE008 - WESTERN OMO VALLEY AND SURI, 10 DAYS<br />
Day 1: Drive from Addis to Jimma. Hotel in Jimma.<br />
Day 2: Drive from Jimma to Mizan Tefari. Camping in Mizan Tefari.<br />
We visit the Dizi people and the great forests and coffee plantations on<br />
the way.<br />
Day 3: Drive from Mizan Tefari to Tulget. Camping in Tulgit.<br />
We visit the unique Suri people, where the women wear ear and lip plates<br />
and the men use body scarifications for the sake of beauty. With some<br />
luck we will participate in a donga game, a stick fighting ritual.<br />
Day 4: Drive from Tulgit to Kibish. Camping in Kibish.<br />
We will drive the short way through the beautiful landscape with some<br />
beautiful views of Kibish Valley. Later we will visit the Suri people around<br />
Kibish.<br />
Day 5: Trekking in Suri. Camping.<br />
Day 6: Trekking in Suri. Camping.<br />
Day 7: Trekking in Suri. Camping.<br />
Day 8: Trekking in Suri. Camping.<br />
Day 9: Drive from Kibish to Mizan Tefari. Hotel in Mizan Tefari.<br />
Day 10: Drive from Mizan Tefari to Addis Ababa. Arrival in Addis in<br />
the evening.<br />
6
HISTORIC ROUTE<br />
ATE002 - THE HISTORIC ROUTE, 10 NIGHTS AND 11 DAYS<br />
Day 1: Drive from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar. Hotel in Bahir Dar.<br />
We drive north from Addis through the beautiful countryside in the highlands<br />
of Oromia. On the way we visit Debre Libanos Monastery. We cross<br />
the magnificent Blue Nile Gorge and visit the Portuguese Bridge, <strong>Ethiopia</strong>’s<br />
first built bridge and continue through the countryside of the Amhara<br />
highlands.<br />
Day 2: Day trips around Bahir Dar. Hotel in Bahir Dar.<br />
In the morning we sail to the peninsula of Zege to visit the famous monasteries<br />
of Lake Tana. In the afternoon we drive to the Blue Nile Falls,<br />
Tis Abay (Smoke of the Blue Nile). Here we enjoy the sunset over the<br />
magnificent falls.<br />
Day 3: Drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar. Hotel in Gondar.<br />
After arriving in Gondar we visit the Gondar Castle complex and the bath<br />
of Fasilida. We will also visit some of the unique, old, and historically<br />
interesting churches of Gondar.<br />
Day 4: Drive from Gondar to Axum. Hotel in Axum.<br />
On the way to Axum we drive through the beautiful countryside of Amhara<br />
and enter Tigray and we get to enjoy some spectacular views of the<br />
magnificent Simien Mountains.<br />
Day 5: Day trips in Axum. Hotel in Axum.<br />
We visit the city of Axum and the historic sites, including the historically<br />
interesting sites of the ancient Axumite Empire, the bath of the Queen<br />
of Sheba, the tomb of King Bazens along with the ancient burial stelae.<br />
Day 6: Drive from Axum to Adigrat. Hotel in Adigrat.<br />
On this day we will visit the ruins of Yeha and visit the interesting Debre<br />
Damo and its wonderful views - a monestary that can be reached by<br />
climbing 20 meters up the vertical cliff (sorry, women cannot visit this<br />
religious site).<br />
Day 7: Drive from Adigrat to Mekele. Hotel in Mekele.<br />
On our way we visit some of the beautiful rock hewn churches of Tigray,<br />
focussing on the Gheralta cluster.<br />
Day 8: Drive from Mekele to Lalibela. Hotel in Lalibela.<br />
We drive through the beautiful mountainous countryside of Tigray and<br />
Eastern Amhara. On the way we visit the Yemrehanna Kristos Church.<br />
Day 9: Day trips in Lalibela. Hotel in Lalibela.<br />
The focus of the day will be a visit to the more than 13 churches of Lalibela,<br />
all carved out of the solid rock by King Lalibela around a thousand<br />
years ago.<br />
Day 10: Drive from Lalibela to Dessie. Hotel in Dessie.<br />
The beautiful drive takes us through mountainous Wollo on the western<br />
edge of the Great Rift Valley and offers some beautiful views of the countryside.<br />
We will make a stop at Lake Hayk.<br />
Day 11: Drive from Dessie to Addis Ababa. Arrival in Addis Ababa in<br />
the afternoon.<br />
PARKS & HISTORY<br />
ATE005 - EAST HARAR, 5 DAYS<br />
Day 1: Drive from Addis Ababa to Awash. Lodge in Awash Falls.<br />
We have an early start and drive to Awash National Park. In the afternoon<br />
we go trekking around the park.<br />
Day 2: Game drive in Awash National Park. Drive to Harar. Hotel<br />
in Harar.<br />
With an early start we have a good chance of seeing a variety of<br />
wildlife, including many species of birds, onyx, baboons, greater and<br />
lesser kudu, warthogs, gazelles, and monkeys. Additionally we may<br />
see leopards, lions, and other cats. Overlooking the Awash Gorge,<br />
the landscape in the park is beautiful and Awash Falls is a good place<br />
to take a dip. After the visit to Awash National Park we drive to Harar.<br />
Day 3: Day trips in Harar. Hotel in Harar.<br />
We have a full day dedicated to exploring Harar. The walled city is interesting<br />
with its colourful markets, countless mosques and shrines,<br />
and the unique Harari people and their houses.<br />
Day 4: Day trip to Babile. Hotel in Harar.<br />
Early morning-drive to Babile Elephant Sanctuary between Harar and<br />
Dire Dawa. Babile town has a large market on Saturdays and a camel<br />
market on Mondays and Thursdays. After the visit we return to Harar<br />
for further exploration. In the evening we can visit the Hyena Man<br />
who feeds the hyenas outside the city wall. And if you want you can<br />
give it a try yourself.<br />
Day 5: Drive from Harar to Addis Ababa. Arrival in Addis late afternoon.<br />
On the way we will visit Lake Hora and Lake Bishoft.<br />
7
DANAKIL DEPRESSION<br />
ATE004 - DANAKIL DEPRESSION, 8 DAYS<br />
Day 1: Flight from Addis Ababa to Mekele. Hotel in Mekele.<br />
Alternatively we can drive from Addis to Mekele via Kombolcha and<br />
through the beautiful and mountainous western edge of the Great Rift<br />
Valley.<br />
Day 2: Drive from Mekele to Hamed Ela. Camping in Hamed Ela.<br />
We stop in Berhale to pick up travel permits and continue down into the<br />
Afar Region.<br />
Day 3: Half day excursion to Danakil Depression. Camping in Hamed<br />
Ela.<br />
Drive and hike to visit the salt mining and the colourful sulphur formations<br />
in the hottest and deepest part of the depression. We drive back to<br />
Hamed Ela and in the afternoon we will be watching the camel caravans<br />
passing by.<br />
Day 4: Drive from Hamed Ela to Dodom. Trek fro Dodom to Erta Ale.<br />
Camping by Erta Ale.<br />
In the afternoon we arrive at Dodom, the base camp of Erta Ale. After a<br />
rest we trek from Dodom to the rim of the volcano where we will visit Erta<br />
Ale, the unique lava pool and enjoy the spectacular volcanic landscape.<br />
Our luggage will be carried by camels.<br />
Day 5: Trek from Erta Ale to Dodom. Drive from Dodom to Afdera.<br />
Camping in Afdera.<br />
With the first light we trek back to the base camp. After breakfast we drive<br />
to Afdera, a highly saline lake and visit the Afar salt extraction.<br />
Day 6: Drive from Afdera to Logia. Camping in Logia.<br />
Day 7: Drive from Logia to Awash National Park. Lodge in Awash.<br />
It is a day of driving on good asphalt road through the Afar Region. We<br />
reach Awash in the afternoon.<br />
Day 8: Half day tour in Awash. Drive from Awash to Addis Ababa.<br />
Arrival in Addis late afternoon.<br />
We spend half a day enjoying the game in Awash National Park. At noon<br />
we drive to Addis Ababa.<br />
8
ATE001 - TREKKING IN SIMIEN MOUNTAINS, 9 DAYS<br />
Day 1: Drive from Addis Ababa to Gondar. Hotel in Gondar.<br />
The drive from Addis takes us north through the beautiful highlands of<br />
Oromio. We cross the spectacular Blue Nile Gorge, Abay Gorge and continue<br />
through the Amhara highlands up to Bahir Dar and Lake Tana. From<br />
here we continue north to Gondar, the former capitol of <strong>Ethiopia</strong>.<br />
Day 2: Drive from Gondar to Buyit Ras. Trek from Buyit Ras to Sankaber.<br />
Camping in Sankaber.<br />
We stop in Debark to handle the national park fees etc. and continue driving<br />
to Buyit Ras. This is the starting point of the trek and from here we trek<br />
to Sankaber, close to the escarpment edge. This place offers magnificent<br />
views of the Simien Mountains and here large numbers of the endemic<br />
Gelada Baboon reside. In Sankaber we will pick up our supplies.<br />
TREKKING<br />
Day 3: Trek from Sankaber to Geech. Camping in Geech.<br />
From Geech we will trek into a valley through which the often dry Wazla<br />
(or Koba) River is running. Coming out of the valley we will view the Jinbar<br />
River Waterfall, that fall into the Geech Abyss. We cross the Jinbar River<br />
and ascend into the village of Geech.<br />
Day 4: Trek from Geech to Chenek. Camping in Chenek.<br />
With an early start we trek to the peak of Gogo (3,926 m) that offers spectacular<br />
views over the lowlands to the North. This is one of the highlights<br />
of the trip. We pass Korbete Metia, a solid rock wall which opens up and<br />
gives more wonderful views of the escarpment and the lowland far below.<br />
This is a good place to spot lammergeiers and the indigenous Walia Ibex.<br />
Day 5: Trek from Chenek to Ambikwa. Camping in Ambikwa.<br />
We continue eastward up Mount Bwahit and get a view of the camp from<br />
which we came. Crossing the Bwahit Pass we reach a viewpoint that<br />
offers wonderful views of the Mesheta River Valley and offers us the first<br />
glimpse of Mount Ras Dashen, <strong>Ethiopia</strong>’s highest mountain. From here<br />
we descend through the village of Chiro Leba and reach the Mesheha<br />
River. After crossing the river we climb back up through the valley to the<br />
village of Ambikwa.<br />
Day 6: Day trek from Ambikwa. Camping in Ambikwa.<br />
With a long days trekking ahead we have an early start. We head towards<br />
the valley of the village of Mizma. Hereafter there is a steep ascend to a<br />
ridge crest overlooking the large valley. The trail takes us up along the<br />
valley side straight towards Ras Dashen. We climb to the top where a<br />
buttress marks the summit of Ras Dashen, the highest point in <strong>Ethiopia</strong>.<br />
After this we trek back to Ambikwa.<br />
Day 7: Trek from Ambikwa to Chenek. Camping in Chenek.<br />
Day 8: Drive from Chenek to Bahir Dar. Hotel in Bahir Dar.<br />
Day 9: Drive from Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa. Arrival in Addis late afternoon.<br />
ATE003 - TREKKING IN BALE MOUNTAINS, 7 DAYS<br />
Day 1: Drive from Addis Ababa to Bale Dinsho. Lodge in Dinsho.<br />
From the national park office in Dinsho we start the trek the next day. Here<br />
there is a good chance of seeing different species of mammals, including<br />
mountain nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck and warthogs.<br />
Day 2: Trek from Dinsho to Fincha Abbera Falls. Camping in Fincha<br />
Abbera.<br />
There is no uphill walking on this day. We trek through the beautiful lush<br />
landscape with local villages and farms.<br />
Day 3: Trek from Finch Abbera via Meraro to Wassama. Camping in<br />
Wassama.<br />
On this day we reach the Wassama Lake with its beautiful cold blue water.<br />
There is a good chance of seeing many different species of birds, including<br />
birds of prey.<br />
Day 4: Trek from Wassama to Garba Guracha Lake. Camping in Garba<br />
Guracha.<br />
We pass by Mount Batu (4,307 m), the second highest peak in Bale<br />
Mountains and trek through the amazing landscape of the alpine mountains<br />
with the distinct flora and fauna.<br />
Day 5: Trek from Garba Guracha to Sanetti Plateau. Camping in the<br />
Sanetti Plateau.<br />
This is another day that offers beautiful views of the unique high plateau<br />
of the Bale Mountains and the people who live there. We reach the windy<br />
Sanetti Plateau where we may spot the <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n wolf and where we will<br />
have our last night of camping.<br />
Day 6: Drive from Sanetti to Lake Langano. Hotel in Langano.<br />
Day 7: Drive from Langano to Addis Ababa. Arrival in Addis Ababa in<br />
the afternoon.<br />
9
BIRD (AND MORE) WATCHING<br />
ATE009 - BIRD WATCHING, 13 DAYS<br />
Day 1: Day tour from Addis Ababa. Hotel in Addis Ababa.<br />
We drive from Addis Ababa to Debre Libanos and Jema River Gorge through the<br />
Sululta wetlands. We make a small de-tour to the attractive Aleltu Water Falls.<br />
Day 2: Drive from Addis Ababa to Menagesha State Forest. Hotel in Addis<br />
Ababa.<br />
We drive on the Ambo Road and turn of to Suba. From here we hike to the top of<br />
Mount Wecheche. We return by car to Addis Ababa via Jimma Road.<br />
Day 3: Drive from Addis Ababa to Awash National Park. Lodge or camping<br />
in the park.<br />
First stop on the way is Debre Zeit where we visit the Chalalklaka Wetland and<br />
Lake Hora. In the afternoon we continue to Awash National Park, which is one of<br />
the best bird watching sites in the <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Rift Valley.<br />
Day 4: Day trip in Awash National Park. Lodge or camping in the park.<br />
We have a full day of bird watching in the Awash National Park. We will visit different<br />
habitats, the plains, the cliffs, the wetlands and the forests along the Awash<br />
River. Camel trekking to some of these sites can be arranged.<br />
Day 5: Drive from Awash to Langano. Lodge in Langano.<br />
We make a short stop at the Koka Dam (Awash River Bridge) for spotting aquatic<br />
and woodland birds. Hereafter we continue to Lake Zeway, one of the most important<br />
bird habitats among the <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Lakes. We arrive in Langano late afternoon.<br />
Day 6: Birding in Rift Valley. Drive from Langano to Wondo Genet. Hotel in<br />
Wondo Genet.<br />
In the early morning we go birding around the hotel garden and by the cliffs near<br />
Lake Langano. Later we drive to Abijata-Shalla Lakes National Park for more birding.<br />
This is a good place to watch large numbers of flamingos. In the afternoon we<br />
drive to the forests of Wondo Genet.<br />
Day 7: Day trip in Wondo Genet. Hotel in Wondo Genet.<br />
We enjoy a full day bird watching in Wondo Genet, which is home to many endemic<br />
species of birds. Later we can enjoy and relax in the hot spring pools of Wondo Genet.<br />
Day 8: Drive from Wondo Genet to Hawassa. Hotel in Hawassa.<br />
Along Lake Awassa we will see more birds, different from those of Lake Abiata and<br />
Lake Shalla. Lake Awassa is a fresh water lake, very different from the alkaline lakes.<br />
We visit the Black Forest, another interesting bird watching site by Lake Awassa.<br />
Day 9: Morning visit at Lake Awassa. Drive from Hawassa to Bale Dinsho.<br />
Lodge in Dinsho.<br />
In the morning we visit the fish market at the shore of Lake Awassa. Then we drive<br />
from Hawassa to Bale Dinsho, the gate way to Bale Mountains National Park.<br />
Day 10: Day trip to Sanetti. Drive to Bale. Hotel in Goba.<br />
We enjoy the bird watching on the stunning afro-alpine Sanetti Plateau. With its<br />
cold climate it offers a distinct fauna and flora. We drive to the top of Tullu Dimu<br />
(4,377 m) and watch the endemic birds and mammals.<br />
Day 11: Day trip from Goba. Hotel in Goba.<br />
We drive up and over the Sanetti Plateau and down the other side to the dense<br />
Harenna Forest, located by the southern boundary of the Bale Mountains National<br />
Park. In the woodland avi-fauna we find a large variety of birds and mammals and<br />
interesting plants.<br />
Day 12: Drive from Bale Goba to Asela. Hotel in Asela.<br />
On the way we will cross the beautiful Arsi Mountains.<br />
Day 13: Drive from Asela to Addis Ababa. Arrival in Addis Ababa in the late<br />
afternoon.<br />
On the way from Asela we make a stop at the hot springs in Sidere, near Nazareth,<br />
another good place for spotting birds.<br />
10
ADDIS ABABA<br />
TRAVEL FACTS<br />
ATE010 - ADDIS ABABA CITY TOUR, 1 DAY<br />
A city tour of Addis Ababa, the buzzing capitol of <strong>Ethiopia</strong>, offers many diverse<br />
sights and experiences.<br />
We drive up to the Entoto Mountains above the city. The air is full of the scent of<br />
the many eucalyptus trees and we get to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. We<br />
visit the historic Entoto Maryam Church, where Menelik II was crowned emperor in<br />
1889. The church houses a small museum with relics from the time of Menelik II,<br />
including weapons, clothes, court and household implements. It was here that the<br />
forgotten 16th century town of monarch Lebna Dingel was discovered, a discovery<br />
which Emperor Menelik II interpreted as a divine confirmation for the establishment<br />
of his new capitol, Entoto.<br />
After Entoto we visit the National Museum and the Archeological Museum and<br />
enjoy their exhibitions. We will visit Lucy, in <strong>Ethiopia</strong> called Denkinesh, the famous<br />
and oldest found humanoid fossil dating back 3.5 million years. We will learn about<br />
the Axumite Empire and the monarchs of Tewodros and Menelik.<br />
Hereafter we have time for lunch. There is a broad range of international restaurants<br />
and local cultural restaurants in Addis Ababa, that offer a variety of food;<br />
these include the famous Addis Ababa Restaurant, previously home of Empress<br />
Zewditu, Yod Abyssinal, another famous restaurant, and Gurage Kitfo House, also<br />
offering traditional <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n dining and the lovely traditional coffee ceremony.<br />
After lunch we will visit the Ethnological Museum, located in the compound of the<br />
Institute of <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Studies. The museum houses an exhibition of art, clothing<br />
and artefacts from different ethnic traditions. It offers also reflections on historic<br />
events and the different cultures of the country.<br />
Next we visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Kidist Silassie Church, where the earthly<br />
remains of many of the patriotic heroes from the war against the Italian invaders<br />
are buried. The church also houses the first tombs of Emperor Menelik II and Empress<br />
Taitu, from before they were shifted to Entoto.<br />
We pass Menelik II’s palace and proceed to the African Hall, headquarters of the<br />
Economic Commission of Africa. Here we get a look at the large stained glass<br />
work, designed by renowned <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n artist Afewerk Tekle.<br />
We visit the St. George Cathedral (Georgis Church) in Piazza, north of Churchill<br />
Avenue, that was built in 1896 in the traditional octagonal shape to commemorate<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong>’s patriotism.<br />
Hereafter we visit Mercato, the largest open air market in Africa, where virtually<br />
every possible commodity is on sale. It is the primary distribution, retail and whole<br />
sale point for the city and the central highland. Lastly we pay a visit to the Addis<br />
Ababa Lion Zoo.<br />
Climate: There are two main seasons in <strong>Ethiopia</strong>;<br />
temperatures depend primarily on the altitude. The<br />
lowlands are generally hot and humid, the highlands<br />
have cooler climate. In most of the country, the main<br />
rainy season spans from primo June to the ultimo September,<br />
with short rains in March. In Southern <strong>Ethiopia</strong>,<br />
however and particularly in the Omo area, the seasons<br />
differ with the main rains from March to May and the<br />
shorter rains in October and November.<br />
Topography: The altitude ranges from 116 m below<br />
sea level in the Danakil Depression, officially the hottest<br />
place in the world, to 4,620 meters altitude, on the<br />
peak of Mount Ras Dashen.<br />
Population: The population is estimated at 85 million,<br />
the third highest population in Africa. Around 50% of<br />
the population is under the age of 25.<br />
Language: <strong>Ethiopia</strong> is a multi-ethnic state with more<br />
than 80 ethnic groups and spoken languages. Amharic<br />
with its unique script is the official language. English is<br />
also widely spoken.<br />
Visa and immigration requirement: Visa may be obtained<br />
in <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n embassies prior to leaving your<br />
home country. However, guests from 33 countries can<br />
now purchase a three-month tourist visa on arrival in<br />
Bole Airport in Addis Ababa. These 33 countries include:<br />
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,<br />
Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,<br />
Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea,<br />
Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand,<br />
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation,<br />
South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan,<br />
United Kingdom and United States.<br />
Health requirements: Prior to entry visitors should<br />
obtain a valid health certificate. Vaccinations should<br />
include yellow fever. Vaccination against cholera is required<br />
for any person who has visited or transited a<br />
cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival in<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong>. Your passport must be valid for at least six<br />
months from the date of entry.<br />
Calendar and time: <strong>Ethiopia</strong> is following follows the<br />
Julian calendar, which consists of 12 months of 30<br />
days each and a 13th month of five or six days. It is<br />
seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian<br />
calendar. <strong>Ethiopia</strong> is in the GMT + three hours time<br />
zone.<br />
Currency: The local currency is <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Birr, made<br />
up of 100 cents.<br />
ATE011 - DAY TRIP FROM ADDIS ABABA TO DEBRE LIBANOS<br />
After an early breakfast we drive north from Addis Ababa to Debre Libanos, home<br />
to a 13th century monestary, built by the <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n saint, Abune Teklehaimanot.<br />
Although the original church was destroyed it is still an important pilgrimage site<br />
for the <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Orthodox believers. As an added bonus, packs of the endemic<br />
Gelada Baboon are often seen nearby.<br />
Further down the road from Addis Ababa we come to a viewpoint that offers a<br />
stunning view of the Blue Nile Gorge, which is on par with Arizona’s Grand Canyon.<br />
We will enjoy a picnic lunch in the beautiful landscape by the gorge with the<br />
singing birds.<br />
On the way back to Addis Ababa we visit some Oromia villages. We drive through<br />
one of the famous teff growing regions of <strong>Ethiopia</strong> (teff is a grain from which you<br />
make injeera, the main ingredient in the <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n cuisine).<br />
Credit Cards: By now Visa debit cards are widely<br />
accepted in many ATM’s in towns and cities across<br />
the country. MasterCard, Access, American Express<br />
and Diners Club are not as widely accepted, except<br />
in a few establishments in larger cities. Cash is recommended.<br />
Electric supply: <strong>Ethiopia</strong> uses 220 Volts 50 cycles AC<br />
and two hole sockets. A universal two–prong adapter<br />
is recommended. Adaptors are often available in shops<br />
throughout <strong>Ethiopia</strong>.<br />
Communication: Telephone, fax, internet and postal<br />
facilities are available in most main towns. The IDD<br />
code for <strong>Ethiopia</strong> is +251.<br />
Clothing: <strong>Ethiopia</strong>ns are modest dressers; visitors<br />
should dress with consideration, especially in places of<br />
worship. Shoes must always be removed before entering<br />
a church and a mosque.<br />
11
RECOMMENDATIONS<br />
Jose Antonio Senz de Broto, February 2014<br />
A GOOD AND RESPONSIBLE TOUR OPERATOR<br />
I looked for a good travel agency to go to the South and I was<br />
lucky to get in contact with Adimasu. I chose Adimasu because<br />
I felt there was a sense of responsibility and care about me as a<br />
customer and my wishes. The program was very good and the<br />
guide and driver Asma very satisfactory. I have no problems to<br />
recommend Adimasu to any potential clients. This agency will<br />
tailor a program to fit your requirements and your budget, which<br />
is ox paramount importance. Jose from Spain.<br />
Ramona Schubert, December 2013<br />
A TOUR AROUND ETHIOPIA<br />
We have been on a 35-day tour with Adimasu Tours around <strong>Ethiopia</strong><br />
and have enjoyed every day. Our guide Channey was very experienced<br />
and he did everything to make us feel comfortable. It was<br />
an unforgettable experience and we can recommend this company<br />
to everyone who is looking for an individual tour. Especially convenient<br />
was that everything was included in the price and we didn’t<br />
have to worry about the daily business. Thanks from Germany.<br />
Michael Nekludov, November 2013<br />
THREE-DAY TRIP TO HAWASSA<br />
My wife and I just came back from a short 3-day trip to Hawassa<br />
(south region). Many thanks to Adimasu for his fantastic guiding!<br />
It was really amazing to hear the many breathtaking stories<br />
from the other expeditions that Adimasu guided before (filming<br />
with National Geographic, assisting "overlanders", bikers, birdwatchers,<br />
etc) I would definitely like to go for a longer expedition<br />
to Omo Valley with Adimasu someday!<br />
Evans Novis, October 2013<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
I've just come back from a tour through the Omo Valley. I was given<br />
several recommendations for tour operators from other travellers<br />
and speaking to them all and comparing prices I decided<br />
on doing the tour with Adimasu. I found Adimasu most flexible in<br />
working with me to put together a tour that was within my budget<br />
and accomplished all I wanted to see and do. I also appreciated<br />
the fact that Adimasu was always quick to respond to any questions<br />
or concerns I had before, during, and after the tour.<br />
Barbara, July 2013<br />
GREAT ADVENTURE!<br />
If you want to discover <strong>Ethiopia</strong> you must do it with Adimasu! He<br />
is a very nice and a friendly guy. We spent with Adimasu 4 days<br />
in Simien Mountains and everything was perfect. We didn't have<br />
to worry about anything; everything was organised. We spent<br />
also 8 days in Omo Valley with Adimasu. We did not have any<br />
12
problems because all was well planned. I recommend Adimasu<br />
very much! He can help you with everything! Best regards, Barbara,<br />
Jarek, Aneta, Piotrek, Wojtek, Monika, Asia<br />
Barbara Seura, February 2012<br />
TRAVEL TO OMO VALLEY<br />
My friend and I, both women in our 60’s, recently visited <strong>Ethiopia</strong><br />
and started with a 10-days tour to the Omo Valley with “Adimasu<br />
Tours: <strong>Discover</strong> <strong>Ethiopia</strong>". Adimasu is definitely up there<br />
with the best! He and his employees are professional, polite,<br />
respectful, and very knowledgeable; they have excellent English<br />
skills, and were able to explain the details of the many sights we<br />
encountered each day of our tour. Our driver John was excellent<br />
too. How he was able to navigate roads that looked like paths<br />
to nowhere is beyond me. Our guide, Yemenu, knows the Omo<br />
Valley like the back of his hand. A great guide, a great driver,<br />
and a comfortable, safe car, are absolute musts for a successful<br />
tour to the Omo Valley. We were given as much flexibility as we<br />
wanted. And the bottled drinking water provided by Adimasu<br />
was an extra perk! Adimasu Tours gives a great deal for a very<br />
reasonable rate. I can't say enough good things about our tour,<br />
and dealing the Adimasu.<br />
Suzanne Charkas, February 2012<br />
A WONDERFUL DRIVER, HELPFUL AND PUNCTUAL<br />
My husband and our 9-year old daughter have just returned<br />
from 7 weeks of touring with Adimasu Tours in <strong>Ethiopia</strong> travelling.<br />
Firstly — we had the most wonderful driver, Ayu. He was<br />
organised through another great man, Adimasu Gebeyehuand. I<br />
can't say enough about this man and Adimasu. They were helpful<br />
and punctual. Ayu drove very carefully and he is an all round<br />
wonderful person. We were so impressed with him and the help<br />
that Adimasu gave us in organising our visit and can highly recommend<br />
them.<br />
Tim Draper, December 2011<br />
EXCELLENT GUIDE RECOMMENDATION FOR OMO VALLEY<br />
If you are planning to go in Omo Valley then you will already be<br />
(or soon will be) aware of the minefield of bad advice and bogus<br />
guides. I teamed up with two fellow travellers and tailor made<br />
a fantastic two-week trip down to the Omo Valley with the help<br />
of Adimasu Cabayo's tour company. Adimasu was the perfect<br />
organiser of our tour, completely flexible and able to build a perfect<br />
trip. He provided fantastic, professional service at one of the<br />
lowest prices I was quoted by anyone. Our driver, Alex Dejene<br />
modestly called himself a driver, but in fact he is so much more.<br />
Alex is a remarkable guide, he knows everybody in the Omo<br />
region, his local knowledge is faultless and utterly comprehensive.<br />
The man is truly one of the best guides I have ever travelled<br />
with. As a photographer for rough guides for more than six<br />
years, with 22 guidebook projects under my belt, I feel I'm a fairly<br />
good judge of guides and tour operators, having literally dealt<br />
with hundreds of them over the years. Alex is up there with the<br />
very best of them. A faultless and wonderful trip was delivered.<br />
13
Special thanks<br />
First of all we would like to thank our German partner Mr. Carsten Gruener and his wife Sabine for<br />
all the help and support we are receiving from them.<br />
Our thanks also goes to the <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n authorities, in particular to the chiefs and people of South<br />
Omo and West Omo Regional State, Amhara Regional State, Tigray Regional State, SNNPR Regional<br />
State, and Oromia for their help to visit their areas.<br />
We would also like to thank:<br />
The <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Ministry of Culture and Tourism for their assistance with establishing our company.<br />
The <strong>Ethiopia</strong>n Wildlife Conservation for their constant up-to-date information.<br />
Tim Draper, Ben Hogarth and his wife Steph Haunt as well as Roland Strieker for the professional<br />
photos.<br />
Helena Greb, Trix Kwakernaat, Eef Lenaerts, Barbara Musik, Yu Yang, Arno Schick, Christian<br />
Weil, Fabio Zaffagnini for their translations and Jabu Ventures for text editing, photography, and<br />
graphic design.<br />
To our staff, the drivers, guides, and cooks and our kind front office staff, thank you for living our<br />
commitments.<br />
Last but not least we would like to thank our guests and travellers, who have chosen to discover<br />
<strong>Ethiopia</strong> with us.<br />
14
adimasu-tours.com<br />
adimasu-tours@hotmail.com<br />
Graphic design: Jabu Ventures I/S Denmark — Photos: Elisa Amati, Steph Haunt , Ben Hogarth, Joakim Larsen, Claudio Maria Lerario<br />
15
ADIMASU TOURS<br />
EXPEDITIONS & ADVENTURE IN ETHIOPIA<br />
Contact in <strong>Ethiopia</strong><br />
Tel. +251 93.00.98.822 / 11 81.04.597<br />
Addis Ababa — <strong>Ethiopia</strong><br />
Web<br />
adimasu-tours@hotmail.com<br />
www.adimasu-tours.com<br />
In Germany<br />
Carsten Grüner<br />
carsten.gruener@maillith.de