Orthodox Christianity and Islam, the two main religions in Ethiopia, have coexisted since Mohammed time. The first believers in Islam were converted while the prophet Mohammed was alive and the first mosque was built in the eighth century. However, culturally the Orthodox Church has dominated the political, social, and cultural life in the highlands, as it has been official religion of the imperial court and hence also of the feudal establishment until Haile Selassie was deposed in 1974, since the religion and state have been separated. In general festivals/ celebrations in Ethiopia are great and colorful events, mostly religious, and frequently take place over several days. During the festivals days People dress in traditional costume and celebrate festivals across the country.
Accommodations/ Hotels |
Your choice of Up market/ Midrange/Budget with camping during trekking & adventure trip as per your preferred program |
Meal plans |
Your choice of meal- BB/HB/FB with all meals during trekking and adventure trip with professional cook at camping. |
Transportation (Ground Drives & Domestic Flights) |
Your choice of transportation based on the route you pick with Minivans/ Buses/ 4x4s & Domestic flights with walking/hiking, and pack animals during trekking and adventure trips |
Entrance fee |
All Entrance fee in the sightseeing’s, villages & National parks |
Guiding services |
Option 1- Professional licensed federal English or your preferred languages speaking guide throughout the trip with a local guides in each destination and scout in the case of attraction sight and national park Option 2- English speaking driver guide throughout the trip with a local guides in each destination and scout in the case of attraction sight and national park |
All activities & services based on your preferred program |
Boat trips, pack animals, camel & horse ridding hyena man performance, camping equipments & other activities based on your preferred programs |
Water |
Daily bottled water |
Government tax |
Since our company is legal our price include government tax |
Tour Title |
MESKEL festival with Omo valley cultural route with Rift Valley |
Tour Type |
Meskel Festival, culture, market, scenery, Boat trip, Rift Valley |
Activity level |
Easy –Moderate |
Tour Code |
SET 46 |
Tour Duration |
8 Days & 7 Nights |
Mode of Transportation |
Domestic flight & Drive Minivans/Buses (4x4s is recommended ) |
No of traveler |
Private/Groups/ Joining |
Type of accommodation |
Option of -Up market/ Midrange/ Budget |
Attraction Highlights |
MESKAL - (Finding the True Cross, September 26th & 27th) Meskal is second in importance only to Timket and has been celebrated for over 1,600 years. The word actually means "cross" and the feast commemorates when the cross of Christ was discovered to Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great. In Addis Ababa, celebrations start in the early afternoon when a procession bearing flaming torches approaches Meskal Square from various directions. Participants include Priests in brightly colored vestments, students, brass bands, contingents of the armed forces and floats carrying huge lit crosses. They circle the "demera" and fling torches upon it while singing a special Meskal song. Thousands gather at the Square to bid farewell to the rains and welcome in "Tseday" the spring season with its profuse "Meskal" daisies and golden sunshine. As evening darkens, the flames glow brighter. It is not until dawn that the burning pyramid consumes itself entirely and the big tree at the center finally falls. During the celebrations, houses are stocked with "tella" the local beer, and strangers are made welcome.
The Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia is a little visited area of Ethiopia containing some of the most colorful tribes and ethnic groups. The fascinating costumes, colorful ceremonies and celebrations, arts, crafts, music and dance of the Bena, Hamer, Mursi, Karo, Geleb Dasench people and much more are very special. In the Omo Valley region many of the tribal groups have changed little over hundreds of years and they offer the visitor extraordinary insight into a variety of traditional cultures. On this trip, you get truly off the beaten track, exploring little visited villages and vibrant tribal markets of the Southern |
DAY 1- ADDIS ABABA CITY TOUR & MESKAL FESTIVAL FINDING THE TRUE CROSS, SEPTEMBER 26TH
Morning meet with SET guide at preferred departure point and time, then start the city tour drive up to Mt. Entoto, once used as a capital of the country -the highest point of the capital (3,000 masl), where you will have a panoramic view over the city of Addis Ababa; a visit to the adjacent church of St. Mary with museum and palace of Minillek II then drive down to the National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest hominid (fossil) of Lucy dated back to 3.2 million, After lunch break a drive through Piazza the old downtown with various historical monuments down to the biggest open air market in East Africa called Merkato for a quick drive through the market then head to Meskel square to attend the Meskel festival
MESKAL - (Finding the True Cross, September 26th & 27th)
Meskal is second in importance only to Timket and has been celebrated for over 1,600 years. The word actually means "cross" and the feast commemorates when the cross of Christ was discovered to Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great.
In Addis Ababa, celebrations start in the early afternoon when a procession bearing flaming torches approaches Meskal Square from various directions. Participants include Priests in brightly colored vestments, students, brass bands, contingents of the armed forces and floats carrying huge lit crosses. They circle the "demera" and fling torches upon it while singing a special Meskal song. Thousands gather at the Square to bid farewell to the rains and welcome in "Tseday" the spring season with its profuse "Meskal" daisies and golden sunshine. As evening darkens, the flames glow brighter. It is not until dawn that the burning pyramid consumes itself entirely and the big tree at the center finally falls. During the celebrations, houses are stocked with "tella" the local beer, and strangers are made welcome, overnight hotel
Day 2- drive ADDIS aBABA - AWASSA ON THE WAY TIYA UNESCO SITE
Morning after breakfast meet with SET staffs (driver and guide) at your preferred departure point and time, then start drive down to south, drive to southward to the rift valley regions passing creator lakes and rift valley lakes on the way visit the Tiya steal field a UNSCO registered site in Ethiopia, arrival at Awassa and walk on the lake shore of Lake Awassa, overnight hotel.
Day 3- DRIVE Awassa - arbaminch- ON THE VISIT THE DORZE TRIBE
Mornings after breakfast walk on the lake shore to see the fish market and a very good opportunity to see the aquatic birds, then drive will take you along the scenic farmlands of Gurage People. We will also drive through the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys, on the way visit the Dorze tribe and their village, famed for their bee hive shaped houses and their weaving skills. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze. They are also farmers, who prevent soil erosion by ingenious terracing of the mountainsides. Around their huts they have their own little garden with vegetables, spices; tobacco and Enset (false-banana or musa Ensete). You arrive late in the afternoon at Arbaminch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arbminch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town, Overnight hotel
Day 4- DRIVE ARBAMINCH- TURMI ON THE WAY BOAT TRIP & KONSO TRIBE
Early in the morning drive to the Lake shore to have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, Boat trip on Lake Chamo is along the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Nile Crocodiles which measure about 6 meter with the water birds are great the scenery is truly unforgettable, continue drive on the way stop at KONSO to visit the Konso tribe with their king- UNSCO registered site for their extensive terracing and practice of making a wooden grave mark for their hero and kings, continue driving and late afternoon arrival to Turmi, overnight Lodge.
Remark: - if there is any ceremonial activity like traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony
DAY 5- TURMI- EXCURSION KARO TRIBE AT MURULLE- ON THE WAY DIMEKA MARKET (SATURDAY/ TUESDAY) - AFTERNOONS HAMER VILLAGE
Early in the morning after breakfast excursion to Murulle to see the Karo tribe, famous for their body panting (they prepare the ink for the painting from locally available material like flower, soil and animal blood) we will also admire the scenery view of the Omo river from the edge of the village, then drive to Dimeka Market to attend the weekly colorful market of the HAMER tribe then drive back to Turmi after afternoon break in the lodge late afternoon walk from the lodge to the village to visit the HAMER tribe with their own way of life interaction with their way of life, overnight Lodge.
Remark: - if there is any ceremonial activity like traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony
Day 6- DRIVE TURMI- JINKA ON THE WAY excursion TO OMORATE-DASENCH TRIBE
These day early in the morning after breakfast drive 73 km west to visit the Dassench/Geleb people; who inhabited in the bank of Omo River and we cross the Omo River by locally made boat to see the village these tribes are semi nomadic with very little agriculture on the bank of the Omo River, then drive to Jinka on the way enjoy the interaction of different tribes with their way of life, overnight Lodge.
DAY 7- DRIVE JINKA- ARBAMINCH AM EXCURSION TO MURSI TRIBE ON THE WAY KEY AFER MARKET (THURSDAY)
After breakfast early in the morning leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted, then drive to KEY AFER- Tribal Market one of the best market in the OMO VALLEY since at list four different tribes are coming to attend these weekly market arrival to the small town and escort a local guide walking around the market and explore different section of the market including animal, vegetable, cereals and much more. Then continue drive back to Arbaminch, overnight hotel/ lodges
Day 8- morning GAME DRIVE AT NECHSAR NATIONAL PARK PM FLY ARBAMINCH- ADDIS ABABA
Early in the morning after breakfast drive to Nechisar is named after the white grass that covers the undulating Nechisar plains and contrasts with the black basalt rocks of the Amaro Mountains to the east, and the black soils of the plains. Around 15% of the park comprises portions of Lakes Abaya to the north and Chamo to the south. The water of Lake Abaya is always brown or red-brown due to iron-ferric, in contrast with Lake Chamo which has strikingly blue water and white sandy beaches. The park also covers the neck of land between the lakes which supports groundwater forest. At the foot of Mt Tabala in the south-east there are hot springs. During game drive you will have a chance to observe different wild life include Zebra, lesser and greater Kudu, gazelle, baboons and various bird lives then start drive to Arbaminch after lunch break transfer to the airport arrival at Addis, shopping and coffee break and finally in the evening traditional farewell dinner in cultural restaurant with live tribal music.
END OF THE TOUR
Our tour packages and itineraries have been developed over many years to personalized and customized to suit our esteemed customers particular interests and preferences. Understanding of tour planning & management is essential and there is no substitute for years of experience in travel sector we are the specialists in customized itineraries to fit group tours, family holidays, independent vacations, escorted tours, adventure holidays, cultural and historic tours, flight and hotel reservation and logistics arrangement to experience the hidden treasures.
Remarks- Addis Ababa city tour can be included in your choice of itineraries/ packages based on your detail international arrival and departure schedules.
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To render an efficient, effective value for money competitive qualified tour operation service and profoundly contribute to the sustainable tourism development of the country.
+251-911-441773 / +251-930-337070
Stunning Ethiopia Tours PLC
P.O.Box. 2026/1250
Addis Ababa
ETHIOPIA
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