Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

Lost Worlds of Ethiopia TRIBES OF THE OMO VALLEY AND SPECTACULAR FESTIVALS

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

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

Ethiopia is a world unto itself, from its Orthodox Christian heritage, revealed in

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

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

“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

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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.

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

TON KOENE

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL AFRICA@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 32