Ethiopia Adventure Travel Tips

In November 2010 my husband and I travelled around Ethiopia for 3 weeks by public bus with our private guide Samson Wolde. Travel (especially bus travel) is a real adventure and not for the faint hearted as there is long travel days (even longer if the bus breaks down) on poorly maintained roads. But it is an excellent way to get up close and personal and experience the life and culture of the locals.

Addis Ababa
We arrived at the airport at 3.30am. We had not booked any accommodation due to our early arrival so we stayed at the aiport till about 7am. A taxi agreed to take us into the city for USD$10. We went to the Ras Hotel where we had to wait till 9am to see if they had a room.

Travel Tip: We stayed at the Ras Hotel 3 times due to its central location. The price includes breakfast which is awful but lunch and dinner are good.

Bahir Dar
We stayed at the Ghion Hotel on Lake Tana and did a boat cruise to the islands to see the painted churches. The Blue Nile Falls area is pretty but not worth the long bumpy ride to get there. Since damming the river, the waterfalls are certainly nothing like the posters show.

Travel Tip: Check if a guide is included with your Lake Tana boat cruise. There was 9 of us on our boat. No guide accompanied us on the boat except for our private guide Samson. The first island we visited Samson acted as intrepreter otherwise we would have not understood what we were looking at. The second island we visited the church guide spoke English.

Gonder
The abandoned castles are very interesting and it is worth hiring the guides inside the gate.

Travel Tip: We stayed at the Belgez Pension which was cheap, clean and quiet but the rooms were very small and cramped. They do your washing for a very small fee - give to the cleaners in the morning.

Simien Mountains
We did a one day 4WD day trip with another traveller and our guide Samson.
Travel Tip: We would have liked to have stayed overnight even though we are not trekkers, as the scenery is stunning.

Lalibela
We spent 2 nights in Lalibela exploring the amazing rock churches.
Travel Tip: Keep your entrance ticket handy as they will be checked at each church entrance.

Arba MinchArba Minch is a overnight bus stop between Addis Ababa and Jinka.
Travel Tip: Spend an extra night on one of the stopovers and do the lake tour.

Jinka
We hired a 4WD locally to tour the main 3 tribes in the area (Mersi, Hamer and Karo tribes). We shared this cost with 3 other travellers who were on the bus and stayed at the same accommodation as us.

Travel Tip: Buy your bus ticket to Addis Ababa early (at least 1 day in advance) so you can obtain a better seat number otherwise you will find yourself stuck at the back of the bus on the 2 day journey. Buy good ear plugs so that you can block out the noise of the loud music videos playing.

Transport
We used a variety of transport that included: public bus, minivan, 4WD and boat.
Travel Tip: If you find that quite a few of you are heading in the same direction, it will be more economical and comfortable to rent a minivan and driver like we did from Bahar Dar to Gondar (7 people).

Tour GuideWe used the services of a private guide. This was the first time we have hired a guide for the entire trip through a new country. The guide proved invaluable in keeping the touts away (worth the money alone), dealing with local tour operators and obtaining hotels.

Travel Tip: Use a private guide's extensive knowledge and experience to enjoy Ethiopia through the eyes of a local.

Name - Elwynn Jones

Website - http://roughitinerary.com

Since 1999 my husband Gavin and I have travelled to 53 countries. Our shortest trip was 5 days and our longest was 7 months. We travel independently and map out a rough itinerary (hence our website name), as we know that our plans will change due to weather, local circumstances or finding out about other attractions not listed in the guide book. We have created this website to share our knowledge, experience and other details we have learnt along the way.

We used the services of Samson Wolde, a local Ethiopian guide who has been showing visitors the sights and sounds of Ethiopia for 25 years. Website - http://ethiopiaadventures.com

Article Source: Elwynn_Jones

 

3 Highlights of an Ethiopia Trekking Holiday

Any trekkers with a love of history should consider visiting the East African country of Ethiopia. Trekking holidays in Ethiopia offer an opportunity to visit a wealth of sites, from rock-hewn churches to castles and underground tombs -- making this one of Africa's hidden gems. Organised tours allow easy access to the best sites. Three such places that should definitely not be excluded from any Ethiopia trekking holiday's itinerary are outlined below.

Lalibela

Dating from King Lalibela's reign in the 12th and 13th centuries, this site is famed for its churches hewn out of local rock - some carved into the rock face, others freestanding. All of the churches are uniquely captivating. Quite remarkably, compared to some other historic churches around the world, they are still used by priests, locals and pilgrims alike. Visitors on Ethiopia trekking holidays are likely to see Ethiopians, who have made the pilgrimage to Lalibela, prostrating themselves inside and outside the churches. Perhaps the most memorable of all the churches is Bet Giyorgis - 15 metres (49 feet) tall and three-tiered, when viewed from above this building is in the shape of a Greek cross.

Axum

Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Axum was the capital of the Axumite kingdom that endured for almost a thousand years. These ancient ruins comprise towering stelae, palace ruins and underground tombs - and are one of Africa's most important archaeological sites. The stone monoliths, carved from single pieces of granite and scattered throughout the city, are among the most famous. According to legend, the celestial powers of the Ark of the Covenant were required to transport the monoliths and place them where they stand today. The Ark may remain nearby, in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Sion. The ruins at Axum contain many individual points of interest to see on Ethiopia trekking holidays, such as the tallest fallen stelae in the Stelae Park. Originally standing 33.5 metres (110 feet) high, it represented a slender 13-storey building with rows of windows and doors. One theory concerning its purposes suggests that it was a dwelling for the spirits of the dead.

Gondor

Gondor is often dubbed Africa's Camelot and is another must-see location on Ethiopia trekking holidays or cultural tours. In 1636, Emperor Fasiladas made Gondor his capital - he has left behind a great Royal Enclosure containing castles, a banqueting hall, stables, a library, a chancellery and three churches, as well as the nearby Fasiladas' Bath used for baptisms. Visitors are also recommended to take a look at Debre Berhan Selassie Church, notable for its beautiful frescoes depicting the story of Christ and a unique ceiling decorated with cherubs. Surrounding the church is a wall with 12 towers, each one representing an apostle.

Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run several Ethiopia trekking itineraries. Operating in Asia for over 20 years, they now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.

Article Source: Jude_Limburn_Turner

 Lonely Planet Ethiopia & Eritrea (Country Travel Guide)