Day 01: Arrival in Addis Ababa and sightseeing
Up on your arrival at Bole International Airport and you will clear immigration and proceed to baggage claim, after collecting your checked bags, clear customs and pass through the arrivals hall where you will be meet by FINOT TOUR ETHIOPIA representative, who will assist you with your transfer to your hotel.
After a break in the afternoon, you will enjoy a half day guided tour of Entoto mountain and the Ethnological Museum, with its artifacts and displays of the cultures and handicrafts of Ethiopia’s many ethnic groups. At the famous National Museum, with its cultural and archaeological relics, you will visit the famous “Lucy,” a 3.2 million-year-old female hominid who was discovered in Ethiopia’s Awash Valley in 1974. Time permitting; the open-air market of Addis, the Mercato, is the largest on the continent, and you will take a drive through it. you may also visit Ba’ata Church, also known as Menelik’s Mausoleum, one of the oldest of the churches in Addis, built in 1911. It houses beautiful paintings and the royal tombs of past emperors, including Emperor Haile Selassie.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Transportation: Land cruiser 4X4 recent model car
Accommodation: Monarch Hotel or similar
Consultant note
You will cover approximately 70km and 4 hours’ drive
Game drive varies the time
Day 02: Drive to Menze Guassa Area
Arrive at Guassa Community Lodge at Regreg around lunchtime, meet up with guide and check in. After a short rest, take a short trek to the nearby mountain top; this idyllic spot offers genuinely stunning views over the Guassa plateau and the chance to spot the Ethiopian wolf. Along the trail, your guide will describe the natural surroundings as well as the local history and conservation efforts. You will end back at ‘Regreg’, where you’ll be briefed about the upcoming treks.
Transportation: Land cruiser
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Consultant note
You will drive 290 km and 6 hours’ drive time
Game drive varies the time of arrival
Day 03: Trek to Atse-wiha
After an early breakfast, trek on foot or mule back for around five to six hours from Regreg to Atse-Wiha Camping ground,walking through an Afro-alpine meadow to “Lobelia Valley”, which is filled with thousands of these giant plants. The trail then winds its way into the moorland where visitors will experience the enormous highland flora as well as an impressive array of animal life including the endemic gelada and Ethiopian wolf. Have a picnic lunch in the majestic surroundings, and keep an eye out for a rare and the graceful bird of prey - the lammergeyer, or bearded vulture. This raptor, considered the lord of the high plateau, can often be seen soaring in searching of food. In the late afternoon, the mules are sent back to their base and you’ll set up camp at Atse-Wiha.
Transportation: Land cruiser
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Consultant note
Game drive varies the time of arrival
Day 04: Trek to Cheguarit Meda
This scenic trail to Cheguarit Meda (four to five hours) offers splendid views of the untouched juniper forest of yegana, now become rare in Ethiopia. These trails offer a variety of interesting attractions including endemic bird species and wildlife and scenic overlooks down to the lowlands. Before the final ascent towards the camp, discover a cluster of stone houses in the traditional Menz village at Tebab. The Menz people are famous for their two story stone huts with thatched roofs, and their woven wool rugs and traditional blankets are considered to be some of Ethiopia’s finest weaving work. Before returning to camp, you’ll sip coffee with villagers. The evening will be most memorable as everyone gathers around a campfire to attend a traditional Menz dance ceremony!
Transportation: Land cruiser
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Consultant note
Game drive varies the time of arrival
Day 05: Sort trekking and drive back to Addis Ababa
Enjoy a short trek to the main road, where there will be a vehicle waiting for you to drive back to Addis Ababa. Afternoon arrival at Addis, Finally cultural dinner with live cultural dance performance in one of the best Ethiopian traditional restaurant. Then transfer to the airport for your departure.
Transportation: Land cruiser
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: -
Consultant note
You will drive 270 km and 6 hours’ drive time
Game drive varies the time of arrival
