Special customised tours and arrangements

With our in depth knowledge and long experience of Ethiopia we will customise your tour especially for you. We will guide you from Ras Dashen’s rugged peaks in the Semien Mountains to Dalol in the Danakil Depression (the lowest place in the world). We will guide you to the ancient rock hewn churches of Lalibela to the island monasteries of Lake Tana, the jagged ridges of the highlands to the lush forests of Kaffa. From the highland table mountains and plateaus to the Great Rift Valley’s savannas, lakes and hot springs.

Ethiopia’s history and archaeological findings astonish you. We will introduce you to a multitude of cultural
and ethnic diversity. You will experience the unique endemic bird and wildlife during adventures off-road
safaris from the ancient historical monuments and medieval castles to the nomadic peoples of the lowlands.

Axum
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The town of Axum is Ethiopia's oldest city. Axum dates back some 3,000 years to when it was the capital of the Axumite Empire. The Queen of Sheba made it her capital 1000 years before Christ. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church was founded here in the fourth century and Axum remains the holiest city of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The legacy of the Queen of Sheba lies just below the shifting sands, and churches hewn out of sheer rock attract wide-eyed tourists. The African nation's historic route begins in the ancient city of Axum, which dates to about 1000 B.C. This capital city was the first place in Ethiopia to adopt a new religion -- Christianity. According to the Old Testament, The Queen of Sheba was born in Axum and travelled to Israel to meet King Solomon. Together they had a son named Menelik, who later became the first emperor of Ethiopia. Menelik brought the original Arc of the Covenant to Ethiopia from Israel. Today, the Arc, which houses the Ten Commandments, still remains well hidden in Axum to this very day. The Ark of the Covenant is guarded by a select monk whose sole commitment is to protect the Holiest of Holies. Axum is also known for the world’s largest monolithic towering sculptures that are more than two thousand years old. Their significance is still under investigation by archaeologists.

The town of Axum is Ethiopia's oldest city. Axum dates back some 2,000 years to when it was the capital of
the Axumite Empire. The Queen of Sheba made it her capital 1000 years before Christ. The Ethiopian
Orthodox Church was founded here in the fourth century and Axum remains the holiest city of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

All that remains of Axum's past glories are the huge granite pillars, some fallen and some still perpendicular.
Made of single blocks of granite, the tallest stood over 33 metres high - the largest raised monolithic stone
block in the world. The biggest now standing is 23 metres high.

All three sections of the 1,700-year old Axum obelisk has arrived back in Ethiopia, 68 years after it was
looted by Italian fascists. Many Ethiopians see the obelisk as an important national symbol – its return
has been subject to great national anticipation and excitement. Seized by Italian troops in 1937, it was
taken to Rome where it remained, despite a 1947 UN agreement to return it to Ethiopia. It was eventually
dismantled into three pieces in 2004 in preparation for its journey home.

Lalibela
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Ever since Francisco Alvarez, the first European to describe the rock churches of Lalibela, came to this
holy city between 1521 and 1525, travellers have tried to put their experiences into words; praising
it as a New Jerusalem, a New Golgotha and the Christian Citadel in the Mountains of Wondrous Ethiopia.

The inhabitants of the monastic township of Roha-Lalibela in Lasta, province of Wollo, are unable to
believe that the rock churches are entirely made by man. They ascribe their creation to King Lalibela,
one of the last kings of the Zagwe dynasty who reigned Ethiopia about 1200 A.D.

The Zagwe dynasty had come to power in the eleventh century, one hundred years after Queen Judith,
a ferocious woman warrior had led her tribes up from the Semyen mountains to destroy Axum, the
capital of the ancient Ethiopian empire in the north. The Zagwe kings ruled until the thirteenth century, when
a famous priest, Tekla Haymanot, persuaded them to abdicate in favour of a descendant of the old Axumite
Solomonic dynasty. According to legend before the throne of Ethiopia was restored to its rightful rulers,
upon command of God and with the help of angels,Lalibela’s pious zeal converted the Royal Residence
of the Zagwe in the town of Roha into a prayer of stone.

The Ethiopian Church later canonized him and changed the name of Roha to Lalibela. Roha, the centre
of worldly might, became Lalibela the holy city; pilgrims to Lalibela shared the same blessings as pilgrims
to Jerusalem, while the focus of political power drifted to Shoa in the south.

Legends flourish in Lalibela, and according to legend Lalibela grew up in Roha, where his brother was king.
It is said that bees prophesied his future greatness, social advance and coming riches. The king, made
jealous by these prophecies tried to poison his brother, but the poison merely cast Lalibela into a death
like sleep for three days. During these three days an angel carried his soul to heaven to show him the
churches which he was to build.  Returned to earth Lalibela withdrew into the wilderness and upon God’s
command took a wife by the name of Maskal Kebra (Exalted Cross). Lalibela flew with an angel to
Jerusalem. Christ himself ordered the king to abdicate in favour of Lalibela. Anointed king under the throne
name Gare Maskal (Servant of the Cross) Lalibela, living himself an even more severe monastic life than
before, carried out the construction of the churches. Angels worked side by side with the stone masons, and
within twenty four years the entire work of carving out the eleven stone cathedrals was completed.

Gondar

Gondar is 50 kilometres north of Lake Tana, 500 kilometres north of Addis Ababa and nestles in the foothills
of the Simien mountains at 2,200 metres above sea level. Gondor was the capital of Ethiopia from the rise
of Fasilades to the fall of Tewodros (1855-68) which is reflected in the many castles and palaces in the city.

The city's main imperial precinct, known as the Royal Enclosure, covers an area of 7.7 hectares and contains
five castles, raised walkways and connecting tunnels surrounded by high stone walls. The oldest of these
is the Castle of Fasilades. Built of stone in the mid-17th century it reflects a number of influences, Axumite,
Portuguese and Indian. The upper storey offers panoramic views and Lake Tana is visible on a clear day.
The castle has been renovated recently. Fasilades grandson, Lyasu the great, built his own castle and
decorated it with ivory, gold and precious stones but it was severly damaged by an earthquake
in the early 19th century.

 

The Simien Mountains

The simien mountain massif is one of the major highlands of Africa, rising to the highest point in Ethiopia,
Ras Dejen (4620m), which is the fourth highest peak in the continent. Although in Africa and not too far
from the equator, snow and ice appear on the highest points and night temperatures often fall below zero.

The national park has three general botanical regions. The lower slopes have been cultivated and grazed,
while the alpine regions ( up to 3600m) were forested, although much has now disappeared. The higher lands
are mountain grasslands with fescue grasses as well as heathers, splendid Red Hot Pokers and Giant Lobelia.

The park was created primarily to protect the Walia Ibex, a type of wild goat, and over 1000 are said to live
in the park. Also in the park are families of the Gelada Baboon and the rare Simien fox. The Simien fox,
although named after the mountains, is rarely seen by the visitor. Over 50 species of birds have been
reported in the Simien mountains.

Bahir Dar Lake Tana and the Blue Nile Falls

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