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Ancient Cultures & Rare Mammals: 5 - 20 November 2010
offered by supplier M18965 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 16
- 21
day(s)
Group Size: 1
- 10
people
Destination(s):
Ethiopia
Specialty Categories:
National Parks
Wildlife Viewing
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 4400 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 5650 US Dollar (USD)
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Situated within the Great Rift Valley and believed to be the cradle of humankind, Ethiopia is a melting pot of Eastern, Western and African cultures, matured into a fabulous mixture of races, religions, tribes and languages. Our exploration of Ethiopia takes us across an extraordinary range of scenes. We explore the high altitude Bale Mountains, home of the critically endangered Ethiopian Wolf; dry Awash National Park, a mecca for game and bird watching, Rift Valley lakes teeming with waterbirds and conclude our travels with a spectacular trek through the lofty heights of the Simien Mountains, with its impressive aggregations of Gelada Baboons. Our southern extension takes us to the remote Omo Valley where we interact with primitive and highly adorned animistic tribes. The spectacular scenery, fascinating history, diverse cultures and astonishing wildlife make Ethiopia a truly superb destination.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa
Day 2: Addis Ababa to Lake Awassa
Day 3: Lake Awassa to Bale Mountains
Day 4: Bale Mountains
Day 5: Bale Mountains
Day 6: Bale Mountains to Lake Langano
Day 7: Lake Langano to Awash National Park
Day 8: Awash National Park
Day 9: Awash National Park
Day 10: Awash National Park to Addis
Day 11: Addis to Gondar
Day 12: Gondar to Simien Mountains National Park
Day 13: Simien Mountains National Park
Day 14: Simien Mountains National Park
Day 15: Simien Mountains National Park
Day 16: Simien Mountains National Park to Addis (depart).
Addis Ababa: The tour begins with our first night in a comfortable hotel where an overview of the program and itineraries will be given. We will be visiting the historical sites of Addis Ababa, including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains were discovered in 1974. We will also take time to explore the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 meters and offers a panoramic view of the metropolis.
Lake Awassa: This large lake is particularly rich in fish and the fishermen gut their fish and discard the waste around the fish market. This attracts large numbers of grotesque Marabou Stork and other birds. Photographic opportunities are unrivalled.
Bale Mountains National Park: We will search the trails for a variety of mammals, including Mountain Nyala, now entirely restricted to the Bale Mountain massif, Menelik’s Bushbuck and Warthog, unusual at this high altitude. We should also be lucky to see some of the special bird species found here such as the colorful Chestnut-naped Francolin, the secretive Abyssinian Ground Thrush and the vocal Abyssinian Catbird.Today will be a day of great contrasts and amazing scenery. We depart early, and ascend the Bale Mountain massif onto the Sanetti Plateau, which lies between 3800m and 4377m above sea level. As we ascend we will enter a Tid or Juniper forest zone.
Once we reach this unique plateau, we will be driving on Africa’s highest road, passing close to the summit of Ethiopia’s second highest mountain. This habitat is termed “Afro-alpine moorland”, and is characterized by Jibrra or Giant Lobelias, which tower like monolithic giants over the rich tussock grasslands and extensive cushions of yellow Everlasting flowers. This site is of immense importance, supporting many mammals which are strictly endemic to Bale, such as the Giant Mole-rat (which can weigh up to 1kg), Bale Monkey, Bale Hyrax and Harenna Shrew, as well as one bird species (Bale Parisoma), 34 plant species, two chameleon species and four frog species! These high altitude grasslands are estimated to support an incredible biomass of 4,000kg of rodents per hectare.
This abundant food source is popular with the plateau’s most celebrated resident, the Ethiopian or Simien Wolf, crowned with the unenviable title of “the world’s rarest canid.” Watching these vibrantly colored animals, most closely related to the European Timber Wolf, exhibiting their hunting prowess whilst pouncing on Giant Mole-rats is surely amongst Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences. We should enjoy excellent photographic opportunities in this unique montane wonderland. We reach the escarpment of this elevated plateau and stare down, through the clouds, at the vast Harenna Forest below. This remarkable forest is the largest intact forest block in Ethiopia and the largest protected Afro-alpine forest on the continent. It still supports populations of Lion and the only surviving forest-dwelling African Wild Dog. Although unlikely that we will see either of these species, the descent through this breathtakingly beautiful moss-draped forest is inspirational.
Lake Langono: Olive baboons can been seen on the rocky cliffs behind the hotel. On a night excursion we hope for striped Hyena and other nocturnal arid habitat species.
Awash National Park: Awash National Park is situated about 225km east of Addis Ababa. This land is inhabited by nomadic Afar tribesmen; adorned in fine white cotton tunics, bedecked with traditional jewellery, daggers and spears. The men sport a unique bushy hairstyle, and women and girls are also extravagantly attired and adorned. They adhere strictly to their ancestral ways of tending their camel and goat-herds and roaming throughout this inhospitable land.
Awash is the longest established and best preserved of the Ethiopian national parks. Here we will visit various sites, exploring riverine forests, wetlands, Acacia woodlands, savannas, rocky hills, cliffs and escarpments. Mammals are well represented and we will seek the regal Beisa Oryx, fleet-footed groups of Soemmering’s Gazelle, Swayne’s Hartebeest, the elegant Gerenuk (a giraffe-proportioned relative of the widespread Impala), both Greater and Lesser Kudu and the cute, rubber-nosed Salt’s Dikdik. Both Olive and the outlandish Hamadryas or Sacred Baboon occur and in riverine woodlands, Grivet Monkeys abound. Night drives in and around the park may produce Lion, Leopard,, African Wild Cat, Black-backed Jackal, Spotted and Striped Hyena, Abyssinian Hare, Aardwolf and the seldom encountered Aardvark.
Gondar: Gondar boasts astonishing medieval castles, palaces, churches, banqueting halls, baths and libraries. The city of Gondar was founded in 1636 by Ethiopian emperor Fasiladas and became Ethiopia’s principal cultural center and a major market for trade. Flanked by twin mountain streams at an altitude of more than 2,300 meters, Gondar commands spectacular views over farmlands to the gleaming waters of Lake Tana 35 kilometers to the south. The city retains an atmosphere of antique charm mingled with an aura of mystery where an extensive compound near its center contains the hulking ruins of a group of imposing castles - like an African Camelot.
Simien Mountains National Park: These, the highest mountains in Ethiopia, provide a dramatic backdrop as we seek two of the country’s most endangered mammals, the Gelada Baboon and magnificent Walia Ibex. This World Heritage Site with its jagged skyline and blocks of volcanic core rock standing tall against the Tekeze lowlands was once described by a nineteenth century traveler as a place where Greek gods play chess. Troops of Geladas, up to four hundred strong thrive here, and we will spend quality time observing these unique and fascinating primates. Deeper in the park, we will scan the steepest cliffs and highest peaks for the endemic Walia Ibex, an impressive goat that has been seen by very few wildlife enthusiasts.
The Simien Mountains will also provide us with further chances for encountering Ethiopian Wolf, Serval, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Klipspringer, Guereza Colobus, Rock Hyrax and two endemic species of rats. Other large mammal species include the Anubis baboon, Hamadryas baboon, Klipspringer, and Golden Jackal. The mountains are also home to five small mammal species and 16 bird species endemic to Eritrea and/or Ethiopia as well as an important population of the rare Lammergeyer, a spectacular vulture species.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- All meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 16
- Mineral water throughout the tour
- All lodgings
- Ground transportation
- Reserve entrance fees
- All guiding services.
Price Excludes:
- International flight costs to Ethiopia
- Passport and visa fees
- Beverages
- Special gratuities
- Telephone calls
- Laundry and items of a personal nature.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Ethiopia
Nature & Wildlife
National Parks
Wildlife Viewing
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, ext: 18965
