Ethiopia Adventure Tours

Ethiopia Tours
Ethiopia Tours
Ethiopia Tour
Bale Mountains
Dallol Depression
Simien Mountains

Bale Mountains National Parks Adventure Tours

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Ethiopia Tours

Ethiopia adventure tours and activities involve travels to remote areas in the country where travels can see unexpected things. The most important adventure tours in Ethiopia include places such as Ethiopian landscape, the Dallol Depression which is one of the hottest places in the world, and trekking through some of the continent’s legendary mountain ranges such as the Simien Mountains National Park. The types of adventure travels in Ethiopia include jungle tourism, ethno tourism, cultural tourism, overland travel, ecotourism, and accessible tourism.

We have also several places here in Ethiopia that do not require specialized skills and physical exertion to do adventure activities. Some of these places are located very close to Addis Ababa.

BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK : Bale Mountains which cover a total area of 2,200 kilometer

square is located some 400 km southeast of Addis Ababa and categorized under sub-division of the Eastern Highlands of Ethiopia. The Bale Mountains massifs are located between the upper courses of Wabisheblle and Ganalle rivers.

The magnificent Bale Mountains National Park was primarily established to protect two endemic mammals, the Simien Fox and the Mountain Nyala—which is found nowhere else. The Bale Mountains National Park is also one of the best places to do trekking in Ethiopia.

Geological history of the Bale Mountains: These mountains are believed to have been formed some 10 million years back from solidified lava. The altitude between 2,490 and 3,310m is dominated by juniper-

hagenia woodland where as the altitude above 3,510m by Afro-alpine moorland. The Harenna Forest in Bale Mountains National Park is very well known for its wildlife such as Olive Baboon, Guereza, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Vervet Monkey and others.

Please go to “Wildlife Tours” sub-menu under “Our Programs” main-menu of this site for some more important information on Bale Mountains National Park.

Dallol Depression and Erta Ale Adventure Tours

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Ethiopia Tours

Dallol Depression & Erta Ale: The Dallol Depression is the lowest point in Ethiopia and Africa where its temperature is about 50 degree Celsius. If the portion in neighboring Djibouti, where Lake Assal is found is, counted. More than 30 active or dormant volcanoes are listed here, and Erta Ale is the longest continuously active volcano in the world flowing 24 hours a day. The active of volcanoes of the Afar Depression include Dubbi, Erta Ale and Afrera (Afdera). Solidified black lava flows scar the landscapes in a dramatic way. Dallol, the lowest point in Ethiopia, at 130m below sea level, has the highest average temperature than any place on the earth. Many colorful, Sulfur-rich hot springs are found here. 30km to the southeast of Erta Ale is Lake Afrera (Afdera), which is 80m below sea level and one of the main salt production areas of Ethiopia. These salt bars (amole chaw) are a means of trade for the people of the surrounding area. People who are engaged in this trade are called Arehos. The camel caravans, led by

Arehos, transport amole chaw from Dallol to Mekele. Nowadays, the journey of the caravans includes a stop at the town of Berahile to load the salt onto trucks that transport the bars to Mekele.

In addition to its active volcanoes, the Afar Depression is also characterized by faulted depression and volcanic hills. The Erta Ale and Dallol Depression areas are rich in potash and pockets of saline salts as well. The salt plain of the Afar region is a remnant of the dried sea water during the Quaternary period. The Dallol Depression with its surroundings has a high potential of geothermal energy.

Simien Mountains National Parks Adventure Tours

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Ethiopia Tours

Simien Mountains National Parks :The Simien Mountains National Park is one of the most attractive sightseeing of Ethiopia which comprises one of the largest compact groups of mountains in Ethiopia and the fourth largest in the African continent. Most travelers include this park in their Ethiopia tours. The word “Simien” means north in Amharic.

Geological history of the Simien Mountains :The geological history of the Simien Mountains goes back to the Oligocene period, tens of millions years back using volcanic activity. The rocks of the lower part of the Simien Mountains were formed during the Mesozoic Era (225 million – 65 million years).

Climate of Simien Mountains :The high rain season at Simien Mountains usually starts from the first half of June and ends around the end of September. The average maximum daytime temperature

reaches about 15°C.while the nighttime 3-5°C.

Botany of the Simien Mountains

Three botanical areas constitute the Simien Mountains National Park--the lowest altitude (up to about 2,700-3,000 meters), the medium altitude (3,000-3,600 meters) and the highest altitude (3,600-4,620 meters). The lowest altitude between Debark and Sankaber has been used for agriculture and as a grazing land for domestic animals, the medium altitude is dominated by remnants of the original vegetation of giant heath that had covered the area in ancient times and finally, the highest altitudes are covered with the vegetation consists mainly of mosses and lichens. The dominant plant species at this national park include fescues, red and yellow flowers of the “red-hot poker” and giant lobelia are some.

Wildlife of Simien Mountains National Parks

Mammals :The major justification for making the region of Simien Mountains into a national park is that it is the stronghold of the Walia Ibex. The fact that Simien Mountains National Park is the stronghold of the Walia Ibex was the major reason for making the region into a national park. Some of the most important wild animals that are found in this park are Walia Ibex, Gelada Monkey, Simien Fox, Klipspringers, Grimm’s Duikers, Bushbuck, hyenas, Jackals, and more.

Birds: The Simien Mountains National Park hosts more than fifty bird species. One of the most spectacular of these is the lammergeyer, or bearded vulture--bone and bone marrow eater.

Detailed Itinerary Close

Bale Mountains National Park Adventure Tour Packages
TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTAT 016 8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS DINSHO – WOLLA VALLEY – WASSEMA VALLEY – GEBRE GURACHA – GOBA SURFACE

Day 01: ADDIS ABABA
Arrive in Addis Ababa for an overnight stay, be met and greeted by His-Cul Tour Operator’s representative, and then transfer to your hotel. O/N in hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – DINSHO
Pick up from your hotel is around 8:00AM to drive to Dinsho, the headquarters of the Bale Mountains National Park through the Rift Valley route. After hotel check in, rest at your hotel. Later those not wanting to rest will be able to visit some endemic plants and animals and the beautiful scenery at Dinsho. O/N at lodge

Day 03: DINSHO – GEYSAY VALLEY – DINSHO (5 - 6hr)
Today, hike to Geysay to see what it has to offer to its visitors such as, the endemic Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Warthog, Colobus Monkeys and baboons. In the afternoon return back to your lodge. On this same day, you arrange your packhorses and scout for your further trekking in the next days. O/N at lodge

Day 04: DINSHO – WOLLA VALLEYS (5 - 6hr)
This morning, your luggage and all the necessary camping equipment will be loaded on the pack animals and then you trek from Dinsho to Wolla Valley with your scout and guide through the lush highland vegetation. O/N Camping at Wolla Valley

Day 05: WOLLA VALLEY – WASSEMA VALLEY (7 - 8hr)
In addition to the various species of birds, mammals and plants, one can see the endemic Abyssinian Wolf in today’s activity. O/N Camping at Wassema Valley

Day 06: WASSEMA VALLEY – GEBRE GURACHA (7 – 8hr)
Trek from Wassema Valley to Gebre Guracha through different valleys and marvelous landscapes. O/N Camping at Gebre Guracha

Day 07: GEBRE GURACHA – SANETTI PLATEAU – GOBA (4.5 – 5.5hr)
This trekking will allow you to have a chance to cross Mt. Tullu Deemtu with 4,377m at Sanneti Plateau. Mt. Tullu Deemtu is the second highest point in Ethiopia next to Mt. Ras Dashen (4,620m) at Simien Mountains National Park. Afro alpine flora, alpine lakes, long and steeply ridges and other photogenic locations are some of the attractions you visit en-route. Your vehicle will pick you up at Sanatti Plateau and then you will drive to Goba town for your overnight. O/N in hotel

Day 08: GOBA – ADDIS ABABA (400km)
Retrace from Goba to Addis Ababa through Assela and Nazret. After arrival, refresh yourselves at a hotel and transfer to the airport for your evening return flight to home.

Detailed Itinerary Close

Dallol Depression & Erta Ale
TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTAT 014 7 DAYS/ 6 NIGHTS MEKELE – DALLOL DEPRESSION - ERTA ALE AIR AND SURFACE

Day 01
Arrive in Addis Ababa for an overnight stay, be met and greeted by His-Cul Tour Operator’s representative, and then transfer to your hotel. O/N in hotel

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – MEKELE – HAMMED ELA
Today, you take your early morning flight to Mekele to start your Ethiopia tour to the adventurous place of the Dallol Depression and Danakil area. After arrival in Mekele, you drive to Berahile (1,000m above sea level), the most important place for travelers to continue their sightseeing tours to Lake Asale and the Dallol Depression. At Berahile, you get your permission and take your road guide and scouts, before continuing to Hammed Ela for two overnights. After collecting your permission, road guide and scouts, drive 51km east of Berahile to get Hammed Ela. This drive will use the same track the camel caravan travelers follow in either way between Berahile and Hammed Ela. O/N Camping at Hammed Ela

Day 03: HAMMED ELA – DALLOL - HAMMED ELA
Today is dedicated to see colorful landscapes at the Dallol Depression, one of the best points of interest in the Dallol area, where one will have a chance to see sulphurous hot springs that filled the Dallol area in such a way that it resembles another planet. The Dallol Depression is filled with cone-shaped and dyed icing sugar like orange deposit formed from substances coming out from the ground. You shall go to this place early morning, to avoid getting overheated. O/N Camping at Hammed Ela

Day 04: HAMMED ELA – KUSREWAD – ERTA ALE
You will start today’s activity by driving from Hammed Ela to Kusrewad and then to Erta Ale. Erta Ale is our planet’s most incredible and only everlasting lava lake for the past 110 years, and hence you can see active lava coming out of a hole and forming lake at this place. O/N Camping near the summit

Day 05: ERTA ALE – HAMMED ELA
After breakfast, drive back to Hammed Ela, of course; through Kusrewad again.

Day 06: HAMMED ELA – MEKELE
Retrace to Mekele. O/N in hotel.

Day 07: MEKELE – ADDIS ABABA
Transfer to the airport to catch your return flight from Mekele to Addis. After arrival, refresh yourself at your hotel, do your last minute shopping, and finally in the early hours of the evening, transfer to the airport for your evening return flight to home.

Detailed Itinerary Close

Simien Mountains National Parks
TOUR CODE DURATION SITE TRANSPORT
HCTAT 015 8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS AXUM – GONDAR – SANKABER – GEECH – CHENECK – AMBIKO – RAS DASHEN AIR AND SURFACE

Day 01: ARRIVAL IN ADDIS ABABA
Day 01” and substitute the previous sentence for “Arrive in Addis Ababa for an overnight stay, be met and greeted by His-Cul Tour Operator’s representative, and then transfer to your hotel. O/N in hote

Day 02: ADDIS ABABA – GONDAR – SANKABER
After early breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Gondar. Upon arrival in Gondar, you will have a brief (about two hours) visit of one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ethiopia in Gondar, the 17th century Castles of King Fassilladas, and then the Qusquam Church and the painted church at the Monastery of Debre Birhan Sellassie. After lunch, drive to Sankaber (3,230mt) and do trekking preparation. Sankaber is where you will start your trekking from the next day morning. O/N camping at Sankaber

Day 03: SANKABER – GEECH
After breakfast, your luggage and camping equipment will be loaded on pack animals, and then you will start your trekking from Debark to Geech (3,604m) with your guide, muleteer, cook and scout. In today’s activity, you climb up the Michotis area and the Geech village. You also admire a large waterfall en- route. O/N Camping at Geech

Day 04: GEECH – CHENEK (5 – 7hr)
Trek to Chenek (3,625m) passing through the major peaks of Imet Gogo (3,930m), Shayno Safar (3,964m) and Enatye (4,072m). Imet Gogo is the most stunning place to see great valleys than any other place in the Simien Mountains. At Geech, one will have a chance to see the most important endemic animal to Simien, Walia. O/N Camping at Cheneck

Day 05: CHENECK – BWAHIT – AMBIKO (6 – 8hr)
Trek to Ambiko (4,435m) through Chiro Leba area (3,310m), tributary valleys, and points where you can see Ras Dashen (4,620m) from distance. O/N Camping at Ambiko

Day 06: AMBIKO – RAS DASHEN – AMBIKO (7 – 9hr)
With an early start, head to Mt. Ras Dashen (4,620m), the tenth highest mountain of Africa and the twenty-fifth highest in the world by crossing valleys, ascending the summit of Ras Dashen and finally, scrambling up a gully. In the afternoon return to Ambiko for your overnight stay. O/N Camping at Ambiko

Day 07: AMBIKO – CHENEK – SANKABER – GONDAR
Trek back from Ambiko to Sankaber, of course with a slow descent. Your driver will pick you up from Sankaber and take you to Gondar. O/N in hotel

Day 08: GONDAR – ADDIS ABABA
Take your flight from Gondar to Addis, and after arrival do your last minute shopping (or a half-day city tour), and in the late evening, transfer to the airport for your evening return flight to home.