Ethiopia Expedition
ETHIOPIA EXPEDITION
16 NIGHTS
| Location | Ethiopia |
| Price | $18916 (16 days) / $13306 (11 days south) |
| Dates | 10 – 27 February 2027 |
| Number of people | Max 8 |
| Guides | Graeme Lemon / David Rogers |
Join Ethiopia expert and wilderness guide Graeme Lemon and David Rogers on a 16-day historical, wildlife, cultural expedition to explore the highlights of this fascinating country.
The Simien Mountains
The Simien Mountains allows for spectacular scenery and one of the best wildlife experiences in Africa including sitting with the Gelada monkeys in the early morning sun. The National Park was one of the first places to be made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1978. The scenery is spectacular in every direction you look and it is renowned for its incredible hiking along the clifftops. Three of Ethiopia’s endemic mammal species live here. The Walia ibex which is not found anywhere else on earth outside of the borders of the Simien mountains, geladas and Ethiopian wolves. Lammergeyers, the bearded vultures, soar over incredible drops that in places stretch over 1500 metres to the valley floor. Ras Dashen, which stands at 4620 metres in height, is the highest peak not only in the Simien Mountains but in Ethiopia, making it among the highest peaks on the continent. With unique flora all around, a day spent with the gelada monkeys up in the rooftop of Africa is a truly unforgettable experience.
Lalibela
Medieval Lalibela is the site of eleven rock hewn monolithic churches, believed to have been built by King Lalibela in the 12th century. These amazing structures are carved, both internally and externally, from the volcanic rock in which they stand and are considered among the wonders of the world. Each building is beautifully carved and architecturally unique. Lalibela is one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities and is a centre of pilgrimage for much of the country’s orthodox Christian followers. The city was the capital of Ethiopia from the 12th century into the 13th century when the Zagwe dynasty ruled. Several of the place names and the general layout are said to resemble those of Jerusalem as the King attempted to build the new Jerusalem as his capital. There are numerous churches and monasteries in the surrounding countryside in this region and those seldom visited are a delight to explore and experience.
Bale Mountains
The Bale Mountains are very much the rooftop of Africa, with a number of mountains well over 4000 metres above sea level. The Sanetti plateau, which hosts the highest commercial road in Africa sits at the same height and can feel distinctly alpine. There are small mountain tarns and beautiful alpine meadows, which make for fantastic hiking country. There are also deep forests and open grasslands which make the Bale Mountains quite unique. Trout-filled streams run off the mountain tops in a series of cascades, creating picturesque scenery in every direction. It is home to a healthy population of Ethiopian wolves as well as playing host to many other unusual mammal species. It has fantastic birdlife with a number of endemics, which make it a twitcher’s paradise. The mountains are a major water source for so many communities living in the lower altitudes. Rivers flow in all directions of the compass from this high watershed.
Omo Valley
The Omo Valley in south-west Ethiopia is a last frontier of Africa. Fittingly for a country that is the cradle of our earliest-known ancestors, people live here in their tribal communities as they have for thousands of years. We will take you on a once-in-a- lifetime adventure to the remotest parts of the Omo Valley for an inspirational journey through some unique cultures. Tribal groups are sometimes only a short distance apart but have such diverse and distinctive traditions and lifestyles.
Travelling by boat allows us to reach deep into the wilderness – a feast for the eyes as we move from mountains to plains and have the occasional encounter with wildlife. The Omo is one of Africa’s great unexplored rivers and we will visit villages seen by few, if any, outsiders before us. Your journey will be guided by the flow of the river and we will visit up to six different cultures as we meander by boat and vehicle towards the Omo River delta into Lake Turkana. Our itinerary will flex to accommodate any ceremonies we might be able to join – from feasts to stick fights.
Graeme Lemon has been leading trips in Ethiopia for 16 years pioneering new routes and experiences — he works closely with the local people who are partners in his business. He is a truly exceptional safari guide with a wonderful knowledge of the country, its people, birds and history.
David Rogers is a one of the most experienced photo guides in Africa and has hosted photographic workshops since 2005. He has travelled extensively and his stories, experience and photographs are featured numerous books and articles.
The Visitors book – 2025
“So grateful for the opportunity to do this amazing trip” – Tania, Australia
“Thank you for making our trip fun, stimulating and memorable,” Craig, USA
“A great adventure with very special friends,” Chris, USA
“Accolades, a great experience,” Peter, USA
What a fantastic experience,” Kathy, Canada
“A fascinating time spent in Ethiopia,” Chandler
“Loved Ethiopia and all we saw and did”, George, USA
We recommend guests wishing to experience the fullness of Ethiopia do the full 16 day itinerary as below — It is also possible for guests who have limited time to do the southern section — day 6 onwards, which has been costed separately.
DAY ONE Arrive Addis. Our experienced team will meet you at the airport and help you through to your waiting vehicle. From here it is a short drive to your hotel through the bustling streets of Addis Ababa. The Hyatt Regency is a beautiful hotel very well situated on Meskel Square, one of the most important junctions here. Addis Ababa is a rapidly expanding city at the very heart of African politics. There are varied and well –curated museums covering the early evidence of man through to Ethiopia’s recent history. Your evening meal will be taken at a nearby restaurant; a chance to sample traditional fare in a pleasant and welcoming environment. Overnight at Hyatt Regency Hotel.
DAY TWO: Leaving Addis Ababa, it’s a 1 hour flight up to the city of Gondar. From here it is a 2 hour drive to get up to the Simien Mountains. After checking in to the lodge, we will do a short walk on the cliff tops to stretch legs after a day of travelling. Evening at Simien Mountain Lodge
DAY THREE : We will start the day with a visit to the Gelada monkeys. Sitting with them in the early morning light on the cliff tops is an absolute privilege. We’ll explore deep the Park, taking in the incredible views on offer.
DAY FOUR : We will drive to Gondor and visit the famous Fasilides castles complex, built for the kings in the 17th century. We will overnight in Gondor at a comfortable hotel overlooking the city.
DAY FIVE: Leaving the Simiens early, we catch an onward flight to Lalibela. Checking in to Mazena Lodge for lunch, we will then head off on our first exploration of the first cluster of rock hewn churches. Built in the 11th century by King Lalibela, these incredible structures are carved into the volcanic tufa of the area. Its an important lesson in stepping back in time and tracing the history of ancient Ethiopia. All the churches are live and there will quite possibly be services ongoing during visits. We will watch the sunset over the most famous of all the churches, the cruciform church of St George.
DAY SIX: Leaving Lalibela on an early morning drive we travel to the cave church of Yemrehanna Cristos. Possibly one of the most impressive structures in the region there are a lot of axumite designs in its build. Returning to Lalibela, we will visit the second cluster of churches. In all, there are 11 rock hewn churches in the town modelled on ancient Jerusalem.
The evening will take us high above the town and on to Mount Ashetan. There is a monastery up here that we will visit, but equally as impressive is the walk along the cliffs with views of endless Africa from up here. We will watch the sunset from these lofty heights before heading back for our final evening meal in Lalibela.
DAY SEVEN: We head for Bale Robe via Addis and met by the vehicles for an hours drive to camp. The camp is situated next to a waterfall on the Sodota Plateau in an extremely unique wilderness area. Wolves are often seen coming in to camp here. The first afternoon will be a short walk up the Webb River just to familiarize with the area. This stunning little water course has a variety of endemic birds but is also regularly visited by wolves, hyaena’s and mountain nyala. Evening is spent in camp. At this altitude, the nights and early mornings get very cold. We have a campfire but also charcoal heaters to keep the dining room snug and warm. The stars at this altitude with no light pollution are absolutely stunning.
DAY EIGHT: Depending on time of the year, there is a chance of finding a wolf den and photographing pups. Either way, it will be an early start to from camp to catch the wolves when they are still all together in their packs. There are usually great photographic opportunities when the wolves feel warm enough to awake and greet each other. Often this is quite a vocal occasion. By mid morning, the wolves have separated to hunt individually. Brunch in Camp before setting out for an afternoon explore of the vast Sodota plateau. We use the vehicle to the best advantage and get close to where the individual packs have their territories and are more likely to return to at sunset.Evening spent round the fire in camp.
DAY NINE: This day mirrors the first day where we focus on photographing wolves. We will also explore new areas where Mountain Nyala are more common. Drives down to the grasslands where there are a number of reedbuck, baboons and warthogs. If lucky, the mountains have a good Serval population as well.
One of the greatest feelings in the Bale Mountains is that of solitude. Here we are very much away from the madding crowd with only occasional local horsemen and women passing by on their way to distant markets. The birdlife, most specifically the raptors is amazing and it is possibly the only place in Africa to see Golden Eagles. Large portions of the day can be spent in the comfort of camp, overlooking the waterfall and waiting for the wildlife to come to you.
DAY TEN: Today we will be catching the connecting flight to take us down to the Omo Valley. We will arrive in the evening, via boat, at Chen Camp. This camp is built in partnership with the Mursi and we will be greeted by the elders and children who will likely find us as fascinating as we find them
DAY ELEVEN: We will fly to our destination at Chen Camp on the banks of the Omo River. On the journey, we will try to coincide with an amazing market that is held each week between the Bodi and the Mursi, where all are dressed in their finest traditional clothes. We will pass close to several Mursi villages on the way to the river. From camp it is easy to walk, boat or drive into the different Mursi communities and meet some locals. The river here is a truly wild destination that seems lost to the modern world. The Mursi scratch out a living by planting sorghum along some of the banks. The Omo National Park forms the western bank of the river. Chen Camp is situated in an area through which wildlife regularly passes. All tents are ensuite and situated under the shade of beautiful riverine fig trees where colobus monkeys play and call throughout the early mornings. The evening is spent around the fire on the sandy riverbank listening to the sounds of the African bush.
DAY TWELVE: We wake early to discover what wildlife has been visiting the area overnight and what may still be around. Game is not as concentrated or predictable as in other African destinations, but we still get the thrill from exploring and following the animal trails in this truly wild area. After breakfast we drive and walk into a Mursi village to watch how life unfolds in the early hours. The Mursi are pastoralists, spending a lot of time with their livestock and we may be invited to visit one of their cattle camps. After brunch, we take a boat upriver for some birdwatching, possibly spotting Egyptian Plovers and Pels Fishing Owls. Baboons, and both Colobus and Grivets monkeys are a constant on the riverbanks and occasionally the elusive De Brazza’s monkey can be seen. In the evening, we take a walk into the plains to look for some of the wildlife that inhabits the area.
DAY THIRTEEN: A two hour boat trip doiwn the river brings us to the Nyangatom communities. We will stop here and spend a short time with them before we take the vehicles and drive the one-hour journey across to Lale’s Camp in the heart of Kara territory. The Kara are renowned for their body painting and after lunch, we will spend time with them learning of this ancient art. The evening is spent on the riverbank watching the sun go down from the very comfortable setting of Lale’s Camp.
DAY FOURTEEN: In the early morning, we drive inland to visit a traditional Hamar village. The Hamar are very recognizable from their women’s braided ochre hair styles and colourful traditional dress. Those that live closer to the river have herds of both goats and cattle and the morning will be spent watching and learning how they tend to their livestock. Lunch will be back at Lale’s Camp with time to rest in comfort, and to take a look back on a fascinating journey down the Omo – our wild and untouched African river. As the day cools, we walk into Dus village, the cultural home of the Kara. Here we will visit the incredible wooden parliament house where all decisions affecting Kara life are made.
DAY FIFTEEN: Today we part from the river for most of the day, travelling inland to the town of Turmi which is the cultural home of the Hamar. If we hear of any Hamar ceremonies, our plans will adjust to take them in. Three days a week, markets are held in Turmi which are bustling affairs full of excitement and chatter. The drive to the town of Omerate, at the entrance to the Omo Delta, takes another hour. Here we rejoin the river and spend the evening camped on the riverbank not far from a traditional Dassenech village. You will see a lot more human activity now that the river has slowed, with wooden dugout canoes plying their trade. Depending on where we camp, we will drive or boat to the Dassenech’s traditional DIMI ceremony. These can go on for a month or two and are a coming-of-age ceremony for boys and girls. The parents dress up in their finest wildlife skins and dance before a panel of elders. This will continue, usually for weeks, until permission is given by the tribal elders for the ceremony to take place. This is an extraordinary spectacle, an age-old tradition in a true African wilderness.
DAY SIXTEEN: Our journey back to Addis Ababa starts early, either by scheduled flight or by charter. Depending on when we reach our hotel, we hope to head out to one of the many markets or select shops in the city. We will celebrate our final evening of this amazing journey with dinner at one of the best restaurants in Addis Ababa, before the drive back to the airport to meet your flight out of Ethiopia.
Includes:
- Full board Accommodation
- Activities
- Transfers*
- Vehicles with window seats for all
- Local drinks
- national park fees and taxes
Excludes
- Drinks at all 3rd party properties
- tips to staff
- photographic tips
Domestic flights are correct at time of going to press and based on discounted fares applicable to travellers inbound into Addis Ababa with Ethiopia Airlines. Travellers using other international airlines may face a small surcharge.
From Our Blog
-
Zambia’s Secret Season
We can highly recommend travelling in the Emerald Season to South Luangwa as this article featured in Getaway magazine reveals.
-
You are in the right place to find a villa
Villas & Africa has always been the family-orientated part of David Rogers Travel offering families and small groups a private home with all the flexibility, great food, guiding and activities they are looking for in a remote and unique setting.
-
Winelands Tour with David Rogers
The route and planning If you have just one day to explore the Cape Wineland region, then its best to…
Get updates by email
We love sending our guests news about Africa. Great wildlife moments, safari offers, photos and stories. If you want to stay informed, please subscribe to our newsletter.
