Simian Mtns, Stone Cathedrals of Lalibela, Ancient Axum & Ethiopian Epiphany Festival

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TREKKING, CULTURAL & BIRD VIEWING IN EAST AFRICA

Tuesday 12 January to Sunday 31 January 2010 (Addis to Addis) 9-day trek in the Simian Mountains Leader: Bruce Klepinger

HIGHLIGHTS

• Trek the wild Semyen (Simian) Mountains. Lobelia & heather-covered crests. Immense, precipitous gorges.
• Expansive views of the East African Rift Valley. Game viewing. Highest point in Ethiopia.
• Lake Tana’s well-preserved medieval monasteries. Bahar Dar, prominent city of the 16th century & castles.
• Awesome Blue Nile Falls. Colorful markets of Addis Ababa. Rolling green highlands.
• Gondar, Ethiopia's royal capital until 1868, “Camelot of Africa," home of the Falasha -Ethiopia’s “Black Jews”
• Celebration of Timkat, Ethiopian Epiphany, biggest celebration of the year, ringing bells, blowing trumpets.
• 12th Century monolithic stone cathedrals hewn from solid rock at Lalibela. Architecturally unique.
• Ancient Axum, city of the Queen of Sheba (1000 BC). First recorded kingdom in Ethiopia 3rd century BC.
• Axum, site where Christianity became the state religion in the 4th century.
• Culturally and visually an incredibly diverse country.

BACKGROUND

A country rich in history and tradition, Ethiopia is one of Africa's larger and more complex countries. Bounded on the west by the arid Sudan and bisected on its southern edge by the East African Rift Valley, Ethiopia's most prominent feature -the great Central Plateau -lies between. Elevations range from 6000 to 10,000 ft and dip westward toward Sudan. Multiple deep canyons have been slashed into the earth by the runoff from the storms of the rainy season (June to mid-October). From this central prominence emanate the waters of the Blue Nile. Much of the highlands have been denuded of topsoil carried away by the floodwaters and deposited hundreds of miles away in the fertile Nile Valley. The bulk of the population of Ethiopia resides on the Central Plateau where Addis Ababa is located. The Highlands' climate is temperate and largely determined by Ethiopia's proximity to the Indian Ocean. Rainfall is variable, but often is over a meter per year. The coniferous forests have largely vanished; settled agriculture and mountain grasslands now dominate the plateau. Until Eritrea gained formal independence in 1993 the northern frontier was the Red Sea, but Ethiopia is now landlocked.

On the northern rim of the Central Plateau, just south of the Eritrean border, the Grand Canyon-like Simian Mountains (also known as the Semyen Mountains) rise Semyen Mountains © Bruce Klepinger dramatically above the surrounding foothills. Precipitous escarpments on the north and west appeared as faulting and uplifting thrust and tilted the land upward. The waters of the many tributaries of the Takazze River have torn into the uplift eroding the land into a series of tremendously deep canyons, 3000 to 4000 ft or more. Each is separated from its neighboring gorge by crests or "hogs-backs." The towering ridges and intervening abysses appear as gigantic troughs and crests of an enormous sea. The elevation change is so great that the summits have different ecological characteristics than the valleys. Although appearing jagged from the bottom of the sheer-walled canyons, the tops of the ridges are often flat and bear prairies with stands of mountain lobelia and groves of giant heather. Present are bushbuck, Walia ibex, klipspringers, Hamadryas and Gelada baboons, as well as a wide selection of birds. On the northern escarpment the mountains are the highest and the landscape is the most rugged. Ras Dashan (15,160 ft) is the tallest mountain in the country and one can easily see why the Simiens have been dubbed "The Roof of Africa." There is only one dirt road in the Simiens and a small number of trails link the local villages. These tracks generally follow a sinuous meandering route along the convoluted crests avoiding the gorges.

Ethiopia has its own unique language (Amharic), its own brand of Christianity, and a distinguished past. Recorded history begins in the third century BC with the Axumite Kingdom. Throughout the highlands many ruins are testament to the achievements of this early civilization. Favorably located, the Kingdom had contact with the Persian and Greco-Roman Empires and links as distant as the Far East. Christianity reached the country in the fourth century AD and flourished thereafter, an isolated island in a sea of Islam. Located at an elevation of 8500 ft amidst awe-inspiring scenery, the great cathedrals were carved from the solid stone of the underlying bedrock in the twelfth century. These free-standing, monolithic masterpieces contain priceless artistic and religious treasures and are certainly some of the least recognized wonders of the world. In fact, the first European travelers to see these incredible structures called Lalibela the "New Jerusalem" and the "Christian Citadel in Wondrous Ethiopia."

 

PARTICULARS

Our journey is a unique blend of a trek in an outstanding mountain range and a tour through the highlands on the classic Historical Route. This trip begins in Addis Ababa (7600 ft) after which you'll fly to Bahar Dar in the northern part of the country. We’ll visit the famous Tississat Falls (Blue Nile Falls) and monasteries on Lake Tana. Next, we'll fly to Lalibela (8500 ft) to tour the monolithic cathedrals hewn into the rock after which we’ll fly to Gondar to witness Timkat celebration and visit the castles. Following Timkat, we’ll continue by our own private vehicle to the Simian Mountains where we'll begin a 9-day trek into the interior of the National Park. The elevation of the trek is mostly above 10,000 ft with the option to go as high as 15,160 ft. Trekking is 4-6 hours per day (depending on our group) with usually less than 3000 ft or less per day gain/loss. Mules will carry our luggage. After the trek we’ll continue to Axum, Ethiopia's oldest city, dating back some 2000 years. We’ll have opportunity to visit the Adwa battlefield and the monastery of Debre Damo before our return flight to Addis.

ITINERARY

Day 1, January 12 Arrive Addis

Upon late-evening arrival in Addis Ababa, trip members are met at the airport and transferred to our hotel, the Sheraton Hotel, our comfortable base in Addis...D

Day 2, January 13 Addis Ababa

In Addis, our city tour includes Ethnological Museum and the National Museum, which holds archaeological treasures including the hominid “Lucy,” and we drive through the largest open-air market in Africa. Lunch is at a local restaurant, and we gather for our welcome dinner this evening at the Sheraton...BLD

Day 3, January 14 Bahar Dar / Lake Tana / Tissisat Falls

We fly to Bahar Dar and check into our hotel, set on the shore of Lake Tana amid beautiful gardens and birdlife. This afternoon, we boat out into the lake to visit a mysterious island-monastery. Overnight at a basic hotel at Lake Tana...BLD

Days 4-5 , January 15-16 Lalibela

We fly to Lalibela, where we spend two days of exploring some of Ethiopia’s famous rock-hewn churches. Overnights at a basic hotel in Lalibela...BLD

Day 6, January 17 Gondar

We’ll have a little time in Lalibela and then fly to Gondar this morning. Set at an altitude of 6,700 feet, Gondar served as Ethiopia's royal capital until 1868. We’ll enjoy an afternoon visit to this medieval city, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with Lake Tana in view in the distance. Overnight at a basic hotel in Gondar. BLD

Day 7, January 18 Gondar / Timkat Eve This evening, we watch various Timkat Eve festivities around town. Overnight at a basic hotel in Gondar. BLD

Day 8, January 19 Gondar / Timkat Day

Today is the main Timkat Day, and we watch the morning processions and celebrations around town. Overnight at a basic hotel in Gondar...BLD

Days 9, January 20 Simian Mountains / Trek to Geech (11,800')

Departing Gondar, we enjoy a whole new aspect of Ethiopia as we head into the wild canyons and high plateaus of Simian Mountains National Park. Simian means “north” in Amhara, and this mountain escarpment is in the northern part of Ethiopia’s highlands. We drive to the village of Sanka Ber (10,496'), meet our camp crew and pack mules, and begin our trek, following trails used by the local people as they walk from village to village amid their terraced fields. Today’s hike of four or five hours brings us along the top of a dramatic escarpment, and we drop down into the Geech Abyss through farmlands to our camp near the little village of Geech. From camp there are wonderful panoramas of the Simian peaks. Overnight at camp...BLD

Day 10, January 21 Exploration Day

An optional day hike of about four hours offers us to acclimatize to the altitude and also to see beautiful panoramas of the Simiens and perhaps some of its unqiue wildlife. We hike up to a vista point at Imet Gogo (12,877') and then onward to Saha before returning to camp at Geech. Overnight at camp...BLD

Day 11, January 22 Trek to Chenek

A panoramic hike of five or six hours on an undulating trail brings us to our beautiful campsite at Chenek, set amid a ring of cliffs. There is unique Afro-alpine vegetation of giant lobelias around camp—some of these unusual plants have spikes as tall as 20 feet. The Simians are known for cliff-nesting raptors, and we may see lammergeiers soaring overhead as we hike. Overnight at camp...BLD

Day 12, January 23 Trek to Ambiko

Today’s hike is our longest day, an eight-or nine-hour hike to Ambiko, set at the foot of Ras Dashen. Our trail takes us part way up Bohait Peak, the second highest peak in the Simians, down to the Meshwa River, and then steeply up to the village of Ambiko. Overnight at camp...BLD

Day 13, January 24 Optional Hike up Ras Dashen

Our camp at Ambiko puts us in a good position for a day hike up to Ras Dashen at 15,160 feet. Those who want to make this hike will have a dawn start and a steady climb through forests of giant lobelia. It is a short rock scramble to the summit itself. The hike takes around seven to nine hours round trip. Overnight at camp...BLD

Days 14-16, January 25-27 Trek to Arguzeye, Sona, and exit to the north

We descend steeply to the village of Arguzaye, with opportunities to meet the local farmers as they work their fields, and the next day we hike to Sona, traversing further through the rugged farm country of the Simians. Overnights at camp...BLD each day

Day 17, January 28 Axum Bidding farewell to our camp staff, we board vehicles and drive on to Axum. Overnight at a basic hotel...BLD

Days 18-19, January 29-30 Axum – Adwa – Debra Damo

We’ll explore Axum in the morning, with two days to explore town and visit the Church of St. Mary of Zion, where, according to Ethiopian legend, the Ark of the Covenant resides within a special chapel. We’ll take the next day to drive to the famous monastery at Debre Damo and return to Axum. We’ll enjoy our farewell dinner on the final evening. Overnights at a basic hotel...BLD each day

Day 20, January 31

Fly to Addis Ababa, where day rooms are held for us at the Sheraton. Lunch is on your own, and the afternoon is free. This evening, transfer to the airport to connect with homeward-bound flights...B

Below: Monolithic rock church at Lalibela

LAND COST INCLUDES

Accommodations and group transfers per itinerary; intra-Ethiopia ground transportation, drivers and fuel; all meals as indicated; all entrance fees to monuments; group camping equipment; leadership and all group trek expenses. Domestic Ethiopian air ticket priced separately

DOES NOT INCLUDE

items of a personal nature, including sleeping bag, laundry, alcoholic drinks, immunizations, etc.; tips to local staff; meals enroute to/from Ethiopia; domestic and international airline tickets; domestic and international airport departure taxes; non-group transfers; photographic and video camera fees where applicable; excess baggage charges; additional nights at beginning or end of trip and visa charges.

PRICE

Land cost approximately $7000 (final price due summer 2009) Ethiopian domestic airfares $565 Single supplement $900

Version 10 April 2009