Ethiopia – My Brother Traveler

This post is part of a series called Africa

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Ethiopia – Addis Ababa – Holy Trinity Cathedral _2006_P1150901

Ethiopia – Lalibela_2006_P1140997

Ethiopia – Omo Valley – Turmi – Hamar tribe people – market_2006_P1160396

Ethiopia_Lalibela_2006

E-06 Ethiopia trip
Date of the travel: Nov 24 – Dec 16, 2006

ITINERARY:
After three weeks of traveling in Yemen I am leaving Sana on Nov 24 at 2 AM on a plane for Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA, where at 3:40 AM. After getting in my hotel I slept until early afternoon. Then I joined the group for dinner.

On Nov 25 we leave Addis Ababa in three 4WD’s for the northern part of Ethiopia. There are 9 of us travelers and our guide from Adventures Abroad, Claude. We enter the Rift Valley in the mid day. Our first night is in a town Kembotcha in a terrible hotel (the worse I have ever been). The following day we climb mountains to a plateau at 3000 m above the sea level. Late in the afternoon we enter Lalibela one of the most interesting places in Ethiopia. Next day is sightseeing of its rock-hewn churches and later a coffee preparation ceremony. The following day to Mekele, where we see a Memorial of Tigray War.
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On Nov 29 we drive from Mekele to Aksum, which we explore next 2.5 days during its “Mariam Zion Festival.” We meet the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church there. Aksum’s pre-Christian stelae are most impressive and point to the long history of this place.

On Dec 1 while on our way from Aksum to Gondar we see the famous “gelada baboons” of Ethiopia in nature. Among the many historical places of Gondar the Royal Enclosure is most prominent. Then our 4WD’s take us to Bahir Dar, from where we reach the Blue Nile Waterfalls one morning and take a boat ride on Lake Tana in the afternoon. On some of its 22 islands and a large peninsula there are total of 32 monasteries. I collect quite a number of new birds in this part of Ethiopia. Since yesterday we switched from 4WD’s to a bus which takes us over the mountains back to Addis Ababa on Dec 5.

On Dec 6 we explore Addis Ababa. We start with the 4 level National Museum that exhibits among others “Lucy.” What we see is a copy of her skeleton. For security the original is in a bank vault. We spend the whole day sightseeing the city.

On Dec 7 we leave Addis Ababa for the southern part of Ethiopia in only two 4WD’s, because 2 people left the group and there are with Claude only 8 of us.
We drive 550 km to Arba Minch. There we are in a different world than in the north of Ethiopia. Southern part of the country is populated by black African tribes. The following day we visit Nech Sar National Park and the compound of Dorze People. In the afternoon is a boat ride on Chamo Lake full of crocodiles.

On Dec 9 we drive deep in Omo Valley seeing people of various tribes. The most interesting are the Mursi People with their wooden disks inside their lips. For two nights we are in a town of Jinka visiting villages of local people, who are showing us their home products and how they do them. Next day we move to a village Turmi, where each of us has a large tent. Later that day we visit a village of Hamar People and see a ritual when locals drink blood from the necks of living cows. Then follows another day of exploring Omo Valley.

We are leaving Turmi on Dec 13. After visiting a village of Arbore tribe in the morning we reach Voito River at noon. Here is the only bridge connecting Omo Valley with the rest of Ethiopia. We crossed it on our way from Abra Minch to Jinka. Since that time the bridge collapsed under a truck with a bulldozer. So we have to cross the river on foot. The water reaches above my knees. Local people help us and carry our luggage. Claude arranged transportation on the other side which takes us to Abra Minch and the following day to Addis Ababa.

Late on Dec 15 we leave Addis Ababa on a Lufthansa plane for Frankfurt, Germany, where on Dec 16 at 6 AM. From there I take a plane to Prague, Czech Republic to celebrate Christmas and New Year there.

Travel office: Adventures Abroad – Canadian travel company.

Who took part: In the northern Ethiopia there were 9 travelers and Claude from Adventures Abroad. In southern Ethiopia 7 travelers and Claude.

HA-13 Horn of Africa (Egypt, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia)
Date of travel: Feb 9 – Feb 26, 2013

ITINERARY:
On Feb 9, 2013 in the morning I take a Lufthansa plane from Prague, Czech Republic, to Munich, Germany. Here I switch to another Lufthansa plane to Cairo, Egypt. In Cairo the plane lands in midafternoon.
A guide picks me up at the airport and takes me to the “Hotel Sonesta.” I get a day room to rest in. Later on I meet the other members of the group. Some of them I know. After 9 PM departure to the airport. The plane to Asmara, Eritrea, takes off before midnight. Asmara landing is before 2 AM on Feb 10.
In our hotel early in the morning. Asmara sightseeing bus tour starts at noon. Midafternoon we leave the city for town Keren in the north. We see rusting tanks from the war with Ethiopia along the highway. Our bus reaches Keren in the evening. Next morning sightseeing of the town with its Monday and Camel Markets. This is a Moslem part of the country. After lunch drive to Massawa, main harbor of Eritrea. Next morning sightseeing of Massawa on foot and return to Asmara in the afternoon. On Feb 13 drive south of Asmara to excavation of ancient city of Qohaito and to a 1000 year old dam. Overnight in the town Adi Keyh. The following day visit to Senafe and its Christian Orthodox Church on a mountain Amba Metera. Here we are in the Christian part of the country. The ruins of historical town of Metera are close by. Final is a tour of another ancient city Keskese. For night back to Asmara. Last day in Eritrea another sightseeing of Amara.
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AF-14 Trip to the heart of Africa(Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Congo (DRC), Congo (RC),Angola)
Date of travel: Jun 8 – Jun 28, 2014
ITINERARY:
In the evening on Jun 8, 2014 I am taking a plane from Prague, Czech Republic, to Frankfurt, Germany. Here I board an Ethiopian Airlines plane for a 6+ hour flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where early in the morning on Jun 9. In mid morning flight to Kigali in Rwanda with touch down in Entebbe, Uganda. I am traveling by myself.
My arranged driver/guide with a safari car piks me up at the airport. Next day morning visit to “Kigali Genocide Memorial” and then drive to Lake Kivu and a 1.5 hour visit to Goma in DRC (Democratic Republic Congo) .
After 2 days in Rwanda, on Jun 11, I and my guide drive across the border to Uganda, where 8 days visiting Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth Nat. Park, Kibale, Murchison Falls, Paraa Safari Lodge, taking a boat ride on Nile and seeing Karuma Falls and cities Kampala and Entebbe. On Jun 19 I fly to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and stay overnight in a hotel.
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AF-18 ETHIOPIA, SOUTH SUDAN, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, GUINEA
Date of travel: Mar 12 – Mar 23, 2018

ITINERARY:
Early in the evening Mar 12, 2018 I drive an AVIS car from Vista to San Diego airport. Later in the evening I take a plane to Dulles airport in Washington, DC, where early in the morning the following morning. There I board an Ethiopian Airlines plane for 12-hour flight to Addis Ababa. On Mar 14 in the morning the plane lands v Addis Ababa ETHIOPIA. Here I find that my suitcase has not come with me. After some paperwork related to the lost luggage, my hotel sends a car for me. After informing my US travel agent about my problem, I sleep most of the day and then night.
In the morning on Mar 15 I fly from Addis Ababa to Juba, SOUTH SUDAN. A guide with a car takes me on a sightseeing tour of the city before reaching my hotel.
Next morning, Mar 16, I inquire about my suitcase on Juba airport. Then fly on ASKY Airlines via Nairobi in Kenya to Bangui in CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR) where in the afternoon. A local guide drives me to my very nice hotel. The following day my guide arranges 2 city tours, one in the morning and one later in the afternoon to avoid the midday heat. The day after there is a third tour. There was to be a dugout canoe ride, but because I did not want to wade to it through a polluted river, I did not do it.
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