PTT 0502 - RIFT VALLEY, BALE, AFAR,
ERTALE ACTIVE VOLCANO (15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS)

Day 1:
Arrive in Addis Ababa to a warm welcome by PTT staff at the airport, and then
transfer to your hotel. Morning will be free. Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour
of Addis Ababa, starting your tour from the Trinity Cathedral, visit to the
National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of
Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest
hominid “Lucy”; then drive up to Mt. Entoto, the highest part of the capital, where
you will have a panoramic view over the town of Addis Ababa; a visit to the adjacent
church of St. Mary; a drive down to the biggest open air market in East Africa
called Mercato.
Drive back to the hotel for overnight.

Day 2:
Drive to Abyata, Addis and continue to Langano. Today you will drive to Langano, a lake found in the Rift Valley system. This is a start to your trip to the South. Overnight will be at Bisangari or Wenney Ecolodge at Lake Langano. Here, bird watching, horse riding, forest exploration, boat excursions and more are available. More than 400 species of birds have been registered in the area and many Columbus monkeys are present.
Overnight at Wenney or Bishangari Lodge.

Day 3:
Drive to Awassa via the lake. Lunch will be at Awassa, and in the afternoon you will drive to to Wondogent Resort Hotel for a Natural Spa.
Overnight at Wondogent Wabishelle Hotel.

Day 4:
Morning drive to Goba to visit Bale Mountains National Park. En route, you will visit the spectacular green land of the Arsi, and you will catch some great sights of scenery, bird and wild life. On arrival, you will get some rest and then visit the small museum found at the head quarters of the national park. In the museum, you find different preserved wild and bird life.
Continue to Goba for overnight at Goba Wabishebelle Hotel.

Day 5:
Drive to Bale, and then visit Bale Mountains National Park (the locals call it ‘Dinsho’). Overnight will be at Dinsho Lodge or a hotel in Goba.

Day 6:
Drive to Senate plateau, to the moor land, where you will see the very endemic birds of Ethiopia, as well as the Red Jackal. Afterwards, proceed to Harena forest where you will be rewarded by a stunning view of the magnificent escarpment.
Overnight will be at a hotel in Goba.

Day 7:
Drive to Awash National through the very interesting farm land of Bale Region. Lunch will be on the way in lunch boxes.
Overnight camping.

Day 8:
Full day game drive in the Awash National park where you will see low land animals. Lunch will be served in lunch boxes. In the afternoon, proceed to the hot spring. Overnight at hotel or camping.

Day 9:
Drive to Lake Afrera, where Afar people extract salt. Here you will also chance to see the very interesting camel caravan.
Overnight camp.

Day 10:
Drive at bottom of Ertale volcano, one of the few active volcanic sites in Africa. Spectacular views from the top. Experience a night trek and make an overnight camp afterwards.

Day 11:
Activities on the volcano. Later, return to your vehicle and make an overnight camp later.

Day 12:
Drive back to Semera, the capital of the Afar regional state, where you will visit the very interesting Afar people.
Overnight camp.

Day 13:
Drive from Semera to Kombolcha, Overnight at Tekele Hotel. (FB).

Day 14:
Drive from Kombolcha to Addis Ababa, where you will arrive late in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel.

Day 15:
Departure.