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A) DEBRELIBANOS OR RIFT VALLEY LAKES (1 day)

One day excursion to DebreLibanos monastery, admiring wonderful views also over Jemma gorge, the Old Portuguese bridge and endemic Gelada baboons.
Or excursion at the Rift Valley lakes of Shala, Abyata and Langano.

B) RIFT VALLEY LAKES (3 days)

C) LALIBELA (3 days)

01. Fly Lalibela and visit first group of the 11 rock-hewn churches. ON Lalibela.
02. Morning one of the churches out of the town: Asheten Mariam by mules or Naktuleab cave church by car. Pm remaining churches in Lalibela.
03. Fly back to Addis Ababa and evening departure (or next day)

D) UGANDA GORILLA EXCURSION, BWINDI (3 Days)

This safari starts and finishes in Kampala. It can also be done from Kigali in Rwanda, or from Kampala in Uganda [The Bwindi gorilla permit is included in the safari cost].
01. Enjoy the Equator, stop at the roadside markets to enjoy some fruit and vegetables. Continue to Buhoma in the thick, impenetrable Bwindi Forest via Kabale. Arrive late afternoon. [Approximate driving time: 8 hours] ON Buhoma Homestead or Buhoma Community Camp (FB)
02 Go gorilla tracking (subject to availability of gorilla permits at time of booking), carrying a packed lunch. You will be accompanied by a guide and porters who will carry your shoulder pack for you. You will then set off to the thick forest in search of gorillas. The terrain can be difficult, with steep slopes covered in dense vegetation that gives the park its name. In addition, the altitude of 5200 feet and more means participants do need to be physically fit. The time taken to track the gorillas varies enormously, from as little as half an hour to as much as 8 hours before one returns to camp. Difficulty, however, is not impossibility and coming face to face with the great primates is well worth it! O/N: Buhoma Homestead or Buhoma Community Camp (FB)
03. Drive to Kampala arriving early afternoon and transfer to Entebbe airport for your flight (HB). [Approximate driving time: 8 hours]

E) HARAR (4 days)

01. Fly Dire Dawa; short visit of the town and then drive to Harar. Lunch. Afternoon visit of Harar: the markets, mosques, city walls, the French poet Rimbaud’s old house, typical Adere people house, the basket production, and more. Evening the hyena man. ON htl
02. Morning excursion to Babile, the valley of marvels. Afternoon remaining visits in Harar and visit of Sofi, for very interesting typical settlements, Harari people culture and very nice vegetation and views. ON Harar or Sofi
03. Drive to Awash Nat. Park. Visit Afar people villages and hot springs, different animals. ON camp Awash park, or Bugget D’Awash/Elen htl or the next new Green Land lodge in Awash park, as soon ready.
04. Morning visit the Awash park: animals, the Awash river falls, the river gorge. Cross Metahara lake & visit on the way Kereyou people. Drive back Addis Ababa. Departure (or next day)

F) ZANZIBAR (4 days)

01. Arrival. Meet and greet and transfer to stone town. Begin with city tour in Stone Town. Here history appears to stand still. You will visit the House of Wonders, Anglican cathedral (former slave market) the Arab Fort amongst others, it is a fascinating look at the essence of Zanzibar not forgetting the dazzling souvenir shops in the narrow ally ways. ON Chavda hotel or similar BB.
02. After breakfast visit prison Island tour. The island lies just off the old stone town. Formally used as a detention place for disobedient slaves. It is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkeling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing.
Drive via coconut plantation to Kizimbani village a site where the spice plantations dominate. The tour includes opportunities to dazzle the senses with fresh spices. A
detailed description is given about a variety of spices, and their uses in cooking and cosmetics. ON Ras Michamvi beach resort or similar, BB
03. After Breakfast, drive to Southern part of Zanzibar Island. 2 hrs of drive via beautiful landscapes to Kizimkazi the departure dock of the marine conservation area. This trip offers the clients an opportunity of swimming with Bottled Nosed and the famous humpback Dolphin. At around 16:00 hrs we set back to the Hotel. ON Ras Michamvi beach resort or similar, BB
04. Drive back to airport for the fight.

G) RIFT VALLEY LAKES & ARBAMINCH (5 days)

01. Drive to Shala, Abyata and Langano Rift Valley lakes, visiting birds, pelicans, flamingoes, hot springs and more. Continue then to relax then at the Wenney ecolodge, secluded in a natural paradise at shore of lake Langano and near to Munessa forest. Possibility of trekking, bird-watching, horse-riding, boat excursion, cycling, and more. www.wenneyecolodge.com
02. Proceed through the Wolayta people and villages and admiring spectacular green hills, to Arbaminch, in amharic 40 springs. Afternoon drive to Chencha, for the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses, and traditions. ON Swaynes hotel, with spectacular views over Chamo and Abaya lakes. www.swayneshotel.com
03. Morning visit the Netch Sar National park, sanctuary of the endemic Swaynes Hartbeest, numerous zebras and more. Afternoon boat on Chamo lake for crocodiles, hippos and more. ON Swaynes hotel.
04. Drive to Awassa lake and then continue for the hot springs, hot water swimming pools and forest (fantastic for walks) at Wondogenet. ON htl in Wondogenet or Wenney ecolodge.
05. Back to Addis Ababa. ON hotel or evening departure

H) BAHIRDAR, GONDAR and LALIBELA (6 days)

01. Fly to Bahirdar. Afternoon boat trip on lake Tana to admire the beautiful monasteries over the lake’s islands, as Ura Kidane Mehret and Mahal Zeghie Gyorgis. ON in Bahirdar
02. Morning drive to admire the Blue Nile falls. Lunch back to Bahirdar. Afternoon drive to Gondar, city of castles and churches. Dinner and ON Gondar.
03. Full day visit of castles and churches in Gondar: visit the castle’s compound, the Debre Birhan Sellasie church (light of Trinity) with wonderful murals, the King Fasiladas bath, the old Qusquam monastery, Empress Mentewab palace and more. ON Gondar.
04. Fly to Lalibela. Afternoon first group of the rock-hewn churches. ON in Lalibela
05. Morning remaining churches in Lalibela. Afternoon cave church of Naktuleab
06. Fly back Addis. day free. Evening departure

I) HARAR & DJIBOUTI (7 days)

01. Drive to Awash Nat. Park, through Nazareth town and the Metehara lake. Visit Afar people on the way. Then the park: game drive for animals (mammals, birds, crocodiles & hippos), the Awash river falls, the river gorge. ON camp Awash park, or Buffet D’Awash/or Elen htl or the next new Green Land lodge in Awash park, as soon ready.
02. Drive to Harar. Lunch. Afternoon visit of Harar: the markets, mosques, city walls, the French poet Rimbaud’s old house, typical Adere people houses, the basket production, and more. Evening the hyena man. ON htl
03. Morning excursion to Babile, the valley of marvels. Afternoon remaining visits in Harar and visit of Sofi, for very interesting typical settlements, Harari people culture and very nice vegetation and views. ON Harar or Sofi
04. Drive to DireDawa, by crossing the morning chat market at Awedae town. Visit the DireDawa, the markets, the train station, and other. Proceed then to Djibouti town. ON htl (Sheraton 4* or with supplement deluxe 5* Kempisky)
05. Drive to Tadjoura, crossing lake Easal. Very nice views. ON LeGolfe htl or similar. 06. Free in Tadjoura or Djibouti. Option to take the boat and make short snorkeling, diving, etc. ON back in htl in Djibouti.
07. Departure from Djibouti.