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Ethiopia is a world unto itself, from its
Orthodox Christian heritage, revealed in
the famed 12th century
rock-hewn churches of
the highlands, to its array
of animistic tribes in the
Great Rift Valley. Our
in-depth adventure takes
in the full sweep of this
storied land, from
fascinating Axum, once
home to the Queen of
Sheba, to the amazing
tribal heritage in the
Omo Valley, where we’ll meet groups like
the Mursi, with their clay lip plates. Each
trip is timed for a festival—January trips
attend Timkat, the exuberant Epiphany
celebration, and the September trip witnesses
Meskel, with its carpets of meskel daisies.
Days 1-6 Addis Ababa / Axum / Lalibela /
Gondar / Lake Tana In Ethiopia’s rugged
mountain highlands, Christianity has been part
of the culture since the 4th century. We visit the
holy city of Axum, where according to Ethiopian
legend, the original Ark of the Covenant resides
within the Church of St. Mary of Zion. We also
explore Lalibela’s World Heritage churches,
carved into volcanic rock in the 12th century, and
Gondar’s medieval castles.
Days 7-12 Tribes of the Omo River Valley
For the semi-nomadic peoples of the Omo
River, body adornments such as scarification,
face painting, and lip plates hold rich
cultural symbolism. We visit many villages,
including those of the Karo, with their
elaborate hairstyles, and the Bume, known
for their huge necklaces.
Days 13-15 Addis Ababa / Timkat or Meskel
Festival Our private charter flight (avoiding
a two-day drive!) whisks us to Addis, and
we witness Timkat’s lively processions of
Orthodox priests and parishioners in dazzling
traditional dress (January), or the dancing and
celebratory bonfires of Meskel (September).
Depart on Day 15.
Our cultural odyssey brings us into remote villages in the Omo Valley where
some of Africa’s most fascinating tribal cultures thrive. PHOTO: CHRIS LEWINGTON
PAUL SPRINGETT
TRIBES OF THE OMO VALLEY AND SPECTACULAR FESTIVALS
“My third trip with
WT and it certainly
won’t be my last.
The itinerary
was fascinating,
our Trip Leader
delightful, and the
office wonderfully
responsive.”
Sandra C., New York NY
HIGHLIGHTS
• The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the
medieval city of Gondar
• Tribal villages of the Karo, known for
their body painting, and Bume and
Mursi tribes
• Spectacular festival on each trip:
Timkat (January) or Meskel (September)
• See traditional dances of the Karo
• Small group size—maximum 8—for
greater flexibility and cultural encounters
DETAILS
• 15-day trip begins and ends in
Addis Ababa
• 3 nights at the 5-star Sheraton in Addis,
11 nights best-available hotels and lodges
• All meals included except 1 dinner
DATES
Jan 6-20, 2018 Timkat Festival
Jan 11-25 Timkat Festival
Sep 13-27 Meskal Festival
Jan 6-20, 2019 Timkat Festival
Jan 11-25 Timkat Festival
TRIP COST
$7695 (7-8 members)
$8195 (4-6 members)
Single supplement: $1490
Internal airfare: $1390-$1890 (subject to
change)
Harar Post-Trip extension: from $1190
TRIP LEVEL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Rugged road travel by 4WD vehicle, easy
walks, cultural explorations
TON KOENE