Tour of Ethiopia, Danakil, Harar, Bale and Awash National Park

Day 01: Arrival

Upon your arrival at Bole International airport Addis Ababa, and completion of the entry formalities, you will be met by one of our representatives and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight: Jupiter International Hotel/ Similar

Day 02: Fly Addis – Mekelle (~1 hr. flight) and drive to Ahmedella/ Excursion to Dallol (~ 180 km & ~ 5 hrs. drive)

Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Mekele. After arriving at Mekele airport you will be transferred drive to Ahmedella.

The Danakil Depression can be said to ‘begin’ here. The site is spectacular, full of eye-catching colors, as in the sculpture springs. The desert has several points lying more than 100 meters (328 ft.) below sea level. You will pass through a small town of Berhale where the camel caravans stop before they proceed to the northern highlands. En route, you will come across a group of caravans heading to the salt mines while the others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels.

Upon arrival, you will have a short refreshment break and continue to drive to visit Dallol. Dallol is a locality in the Dallol woreda of northern Ethiopia. Located in Administrative Zone 2 of the Afar Region in the Afar Depression, it has a latitude and longitude of 14°14′19″N 40°17′38″E with an elevation of about 130 meters (430 ft) below sea level. The Central Statistical Agency has not published an estimate for the 2005 population of the village, which has been described as a ghost town.

Dallol currently holds the official record for record high average temperature for an inhabited location on Earth, and an average annual temperature of 35°C (95°F) was recorded between 1960 and 1966. Visit and drive back to your tent for overnight stay.

Overnight: Camping at Ahmedella

Day 03: Drive Hamdella – Dodom – Erta Ale (~ 125 km & ~9 hrs. drive)

This day will take you to explore Erta Ale. The Erta Ale Volcanic hills are 613 meters above sea level and are home to the most active volcano in Ethiopia. Walking up the volcano will commence after sunset so we can enjoy cooler temperatures. You will be expected to arrive at the crater around midnight where you can see the volcanic lake.

Nighttime is best for viewing the bubbling lava lake and photographic opportunities are incredible. After watching the eruption, you will camp nearby on the crater rim.

Overnight: Camping at Ertale.

Day 04: Drive Erta Ale – Mekelle (~ 350 km & ~ 7 hrs.)

In the morning, after breakfast, you will drive to Mekele. After your arrival at Mekelle, you will be check in to your hotel and stay the night at your hotel.

Overnight: Planet Hotel / Similar

Day 05: Fly Mekelle – Dire Dawa via Addis Ababa and drive to Harar Hyena man show

Today you will have a morning flight to Dire Dawa which has a connection through Addis Ababa. Upon arrival at Dire Dawa airport, you will be meet one of our representatives and drive to Harar city.

World Heritage-listed Harar is a place apart. With its 368 passageways held into just 1 sq km, Its countless mosques and shrines, animated markets, crumbling walls, and charming people will make you feel as if you’ve floated right out of the 21ST century. It’s the east’s most memorable sight and shouldn’t be missed. There are many chances to get up close and personal with wild hyenas. At night-time, you will drive to visit the Hayna Man show.

Located north of Fallana Gate, this is one of Harar’s two hyena feeding stations. A highlight of any visit to Harar, this impressive spectacle begins around 6.30 pm. There are generally two to four hyenas that make an appearance after the ‘Hyena Man’ calls them. If none turn up, you’ll be taken to a nearby hyena den where hyenas can be seen with their pups.

Overnight: Ras Hotel / Similar

Day 06: Sightseeing Harar

This day after you have your breakfast you will explore the old walled town of Harar, Harar is a labyrinth of small streets surrounded by old city walls. Its architecture reflects a strong Islamic influence.

On sightseeing of Harar, you will visit the old town, Ras Mekonnen Palace and Statue, the markets, the French poet – Rimbaud house, the Harari museum and the tomb of the Emir Abdullahi who built the Harar walls known Jugol.

Overnight: Ras Hotel / Similar

Day 07: Drive Harar – Awash National Park (300 km & 6 hrs. drive)/ sightseeing

After breakfast, you will start to drive to Awash National Park. Awash National Park is one of Ethiopia’s most visited parks. interesting and beautiful. Awash National Park lies on an important migratory route between the north and the south, imparting an astonishing amount of birdlife. More than 460 species have been recorded, among them the extremely rare yellow-throated seedeater and somber rock chat, both found only in and near Awash.

In the south of the park, the grassy Illala Sala Plains is the one place devoid of the dominant thick acacia scrub that makes wildlife spotting tough. The beautiful Beisa Oryx and Soemmering’s gazelles are usually seen here. Also present are salt’s Dik- Dik, greater and lesser kudus Defassa waterbuck, warthogs, and black-and-white colobus, which prefer the riverine forest. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, black-backed jackals, caracals, servals, wildcats and aardwolves are also found in the park.

Upon arrival, you will check in to your lodge, you will start to explore the park. After the visit, you will drive back to your lodge for your overnight stay.

Overnight: Awash Falls Lodge

Day 08: Drive Awash National Park – Bale Mountains ( Full day drive)

Today you will have an early breakfast and drive to Bale Mountain National Park. More than any other park in Ethiopia, this national park is known for its wildlife, but it’s a very beautiful place. As you approach from Dodola, ridges to the east are punctuated with fortress-like escarpments, standing out from the gentler, rounded rock pinnacles to the north, and the great wildlife watching commences right from the start when the road cuts through the Gaysay Grassland in the valley between them, which is home to the densest concentration of large mammals in Ethiopia.

Up in the hills, accessible by footpath and road, are deep gorges, alpine lakes, rushing streams, several waterfalls, lava flows and views that go on almost forever. If it wasn’t located in such a remote corner of the country it would probably be as popular as the Simien Mountains. When you arrived at the lodge, you will check in and stay the night at your lodge.

Overnight: Bale Mountain Lodge

Day 09: Excursion Sanetti Plateau and Harenna Forest

This day takes an excursion to the Bale Mountains National Park – Sanetti plateau, where you will be able to witness high mountain botany reaching over 4,377m above sea-level. You will also be able to encounter various game and birds amongst which endemic Ethiopia is found.

The Sanetti Plateau is home to the largest numbers of the remaining Ethiopian wolves. They are the world’s rarest canid and Africa’s rarest carnivore. Other endemics include the Mountain Nyalla, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Bale Monkey, Bale, and Harenna Chameleon and Stark’s Hare. There are several endemic rodent species including the charming Giant Mole Rat, the staple diet of the Wolf. The Park is a birdwatcher’s paradise and has been rated ‘4th best birding site in Africa’ by the African Birding Club.

Walkabout the plateau enjoying the awe-inspiring landscape to Harenna Forest. The Herrena Forest in the south of the area is the second-largest stand of the moist tropical forest remaining in Ethiopia and includes the only cloud forest in the country. When descending the Herenna escapement, one first comes across stands of the giant heater- a fairy tale wood, with old man’s beard, a lichen that appears to drip off the trees and the trunks and branches being covered with thick blankets of moss.

Common wildlife in the area includes the Black and white colobus monkey, baboons, warthogs, and bushbuck. You may also probably encounter giant forest hog, bush pigs and the Bale monkey. Although not seen frequently, the forest does contain some large carnivores – and lions, leopards, and wild dogs. This forest is also a home for myriads of birds.

Overnight: Bale Mountain Lodge / Similar

Day 10: Fly Bale – Addis Ababa / Departure

Today you will drive from Bale Mountain Lodge to Bale Goba airport to catch your flight to Addis Ababa. Later, you will be transferred to Bole International Airport for your departure back home.

Day use at Jupiter International Hotel/ Similar