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11 days
Daily Tour
Unlimited
English
Imagine yourself leaving Nairobi behind as the road heads northward, with the landscape changing slowly and the sense of adventure creeping into your soul. This is not just a journey; this is a trip into other lands, other cultures, and other stories waiting to be lived.
As you arrive in Addis Ababa, you immediately get the sense of a city that is rooted in history but also alive with modernity. As you are led through the vibrant streets, you get to experience the grandeur, the markets, and the essence of Ethiopia. At night, places like Wonda Genet and Ras Teddy Dan’s are the epitome of culture, music, and vibe, ensuring that your experience is nothing short of spectacular.
The journey then takes you into the peaceful surroundings of Hawassa, where a boat ride on Lake Hawassa gets you up close and personal with the beauty of nature. Expect nothing but peace and quiet as you take in the view. At Wonda Genet, the healing waters are just what the doctor ordered, with the lush greens surrounding you ensuring your relaxation.
But as the journey gets deeper, culture takes the central stage. In the Omo Valley region, your encounters with the Konso and Dorze communities offer a glimpse of traditions and customs handed down over generations. You’ll see unique architecture, customs, and way of life that date back before history itself began. And at the world-famous Crocodile Market, you’ll see life as it is truly lived.
At Yirga Chefe, you’ll savor the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans as you take part in a traditional Ethiopian coffee-making ceremony – a cultural event far beyond just drinking coffee. It’s about people, it’s about culture, and it’s about tradition.
You’ll drive through picturesque landscapes, stay in comfortable hotels, and enjoy hearty meals every day of the tour. You’ll travel together, and camaraderie is built as you travel overland. Each day is a new day of discovery – lakes, mountains, towns, and cultural centers.
It’s about going beyond Ethiopia – beyond its borders, beyond its history, beyond its people. It’s about going beyond.
VISAS: Kenyan and Djibouti passport holders don’t require Ethiopian Visa. All Ethiopia Borders don’t issue visas, you have to apply at the Embassy in your home country and arrive at the border with valid visa. Visa on arrival is only at Bole International Airport. NO VISA NEEDED FOR KENYA PASSPORT HOLDERS.
3:45 AM: Meeting in Nairobi CBD next to International Life House, City Hallway. Opposite the High Court Parking.
4:00 AM: Departure Time (Strictly).
We depart very early this morning for Marsabit town via Nanyuki and Isiolo. The last half of the journey covers one of Kenya’s most scenic routes of the North. We spend the night at Marsabit in readiness for Ethiopia the following morning.
Day 2: MARSABIT–YABELO(ETHIOPIA)
We have an early morning departure to the Northern frontier. We pass by GofRedo crater and through the treacherous and unforgiving Dida Galgallo desert, before rising the northern mountains of Moyale. Here we go through customs and immigration before crossing to the Ethiopia side.
The 100meters crossing immediately takes us to drastic changes in culture, currency, brands, fashion and appearances, language, cuisine and even the side of the road we drive on. The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind and you’re now seven years younger. Many travelers fall in love with Ethiopia the moment they make this crossing.
After clearance and exchanging currencies, we drive across the Borana countryside to the Borena town called Yabello. Here we spend the night in this small and isolated local town.
Today after breakfast we head towards Omo Valley outskirts going up and down the winding road sand at Konso we take the direction of Arba Minch. As we near our destination, Nech Sar National park will be on our right and ahead ofusis a steep climb that delivers us to our town of the day.
Arba Minch city is nestled on a hill with a view of two lakes and Nech Sar National park with 40 springs (Arba Minch). On arrival we have an optional visit to the Dorze tribe to see their Elephant head shaped huts, experience their culture and enjoy their signature local drink. Later we return to Arba Minch and spend the night in here.
This early Morning you can make about tour to the ‘crocodile market’ and return to Arba Minch. Today we make a drive to the capital of Southern Ethiopia Nationalities, the lake side city of Hawassa.
We drive via Wolaita Sodo where we’ll have a lunchbreak. In the evening we have a boat ride in Lake Hawassa and spend the night in the city. The city is cosmopolitan, vibrant, serene and has a big university within. Here you will enjoy the real Ethiopian experience and interact with the local people as you get a feel of the life here.
Take an evening or afternoon walk around Fikr hike, the shores of the lake and enjoy some Bunna (Ethiopian coffee)
Today we have a full day in Hawassa to enjoy Ethiopia’s most relaxed and hospitable metropolitan city and make local interactions.
We also do an excursion to the healing hot springs of Wondo Genet and make an arranged meeting with International born Jamaican reggae artiste Ras Teddy Dan who now lives in Shashemene(Subject to his availability).
In Shashemene we also visit Teddy Dan’s Roots art Gallery, Ethiopia World Federation HQ, Rastafari 12 tribes of Israel HQ, etc. Later we return to Hawassa for the night.
Today we drive past Lakes Langano, lake Abijata and Lake Shala as we head to their sortcity of Bishoftu Which has 5 spectacular crater lakes that we can explore if time allows, including the Abagada sacred Lake.
Gadaa is an Oromo traditional democratic system with elections held every eight years from the early sixteenth century. we finally drive to Addis Ababa where we shall do a city tour. We’ll see Haile Selassie Palace, Menelik palace, the famous Mercato market etc. and in the evening, we go out for dinner with Ethiopian music and dance.
We advise you discuss with your crew about your plans and activities for tomorrow so they can help you plan if you need assistance. Later in the night you can enjoy some Ethiopian night life.
Day 7: Day Trip to Wenchi Crater Lake
Today is a free day to explore the city by yourself and the friends you’ve made in the trip. You can do shopping around, meet friends or visit places of interest by your own. The crew of the trip will be having their day off today to refresh and be ready for the return leg.
However, should you need any last-minute assistance to plan your activities, to consult or for emergencies, they will be readily available for you on call. Dinner is not provided today so you’re in control ofyour day’s programme.
This morning we leave early and drive to Yirga chefe town in Sidamo Region. On the way we go past Hawassa and Dilla as we approach Yirga Chefe in the region where Kaldi discovered coffee and we’ll enjoy an Ethiopian coffee ceremony here.
We arrive in the evening and spend the last night in Ethiopia here. The town is small and busy, and we may have to slip hotels for accommodation.
Day 10: YIRGACHEFE–MOYALE–MARSABIT
Today we wake up to a long and busy day as we will cover huge distance and go through the border process.
After breakfast we drive via Hagere Mariam town(st.Marys) and Yabelo as we head back to Moyale border where we will cross back to Kenya. We then make a drive to Marsabit town and spend the last night of the trip there.
After breakfast we embark on the last drive of the trip back to Nairobi with unforgettable Ethiopian memories. We have a lunch break at Nanyuki before proceeding back to Nairobi.
