Day 1: Early morning flight from Addis Ababa to Gondar (07:00). You will be met at the airport and will depart for the Simien Mountains, driving to Sankober. We will stop along the way to handle park fees, etc. If you like, we can drop you in or around BuyitRas for a 3-4 hour hike to Sankober, which passes close to the escarpment edge. Nearing Sankober, you will have beautiful views on both sides of the escarpment ridge and where you will likely see the endemic Gelada baboons. In Sankober, we will meet you with your supplies. Overnight camping in Sankober
Day 2: From Sankober, depart into a valley, through which the Wazla (or Koba) River runs. (This river is often dry). Coming out of the valley you will have views of the Jinbar River waterfalls falling into the Geech Abyss. Continuing along, you will cross the Jinbar River and ascend into the village of Geech. Total trekking time: 4-5 hours
Day 3: After an early breakfast, depart from Geech to the peak of ImetGogo at 3926m. Here you’ll have spectacular views over the lowlands – one of the highlights of the trip. As you continue to Chenek, you will pass KorbeteMetia, a solid rock wall which opens up exposing beautiful views over the lowlands and the escarpment. This is also a good place for spotting ammergeyersTotal trekking time: 7 – 9 hours. Overnight camping in Chenek
Day4: From Chenek, continue east up a valley to Bwahit Peak, overlooking the camp from where you just came. After the visit, return to Gondar where you may have time to visit the Royal Compound, including several castles dating from the 17th century, Overnight in Gondar.
Day 5: Morning transfer to the airport for return flight to Addis Ababa. You will be met at the airport and will depart north to the Guassa Plateau. On the way you will pick up some food for cooking in the self-catering lodge. Overnight at the Guassa Community-based self-catering lodge
Day 6: Today, you will have time to do some hiking in the nearby mountains, with hopes to see the Ethiopian wolf. Overnight at the Guassa Community-based self-catering lodge
Day 7: Today you will drive to the northern plateau for some hiking in the area close to MehalMeda. Before returning to the lodge at night, you will visit a local Menz village at Tebab. The Menz people are known for their 2-storey stone huts with thatched roofs and their woven wool rugs and traditional blankets. Overnight at the Guassa Community-based self-catering lodge
Day 8: Early morning departure from Guassa. You will continue south and have lunch at the Ankober Lodge, a great location for bird watching. Proceed along a rough road to the Awash National Park. Overnight in Awash National Park
Day 9: Early in the morning, go for a game drive in Awash National Park to visit the wonderful birdlife and wildlife, such as oryx, baboons, greater and lesser kudu, warthogs, gazelles, colubus monkeys. Additionally, you’d be very lucky to see leopards, lions, and other cats. The landscapes in the park are beautiful, looking over the Awash Gorge. Today you can drive deep into the park, near the hot springs and the Fantale Crater. Overnight in Awash National Park
Day 10: Early morning departure from Awash National Park to the Bale Mountains. Today you will have the opportunity to do some hiking in the Bale Mountains National Park. The area around Dinsho boasts a high concentration of wildlife, including mountain nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck (endemic), as well as monkeys, warthogs and abundant species of birds. The Gaysay Valley is also in the area and will be visited. Overnight in Dinsho
Day 11: Today will be a free day to visit various sites around the Bale Mountains National park. At the end of the day, proceed to Goba for overnight.
Day 12: After breakfast, take a day trip to the Harenna Forest for a full day visit. After the visit, return to Goba for overnight.
Day 13: Early morning depart from Goba to the Sanetti Plateau, where you will hopefully be lucky enough to spot the endemic Ethiopian wolf in its natural habitat. After the visit, depart from the Bale Mountains to Yirgalem, a small town in one of the biggest coffee-producing areas of Ethiopia. The remainder of the afternoon will be available to enjoy the surrounds of the lodge. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony as you watch the local hyenas in the nearby forest, Overnight in Yirgalem
Day 14: After breakfast, depart from Yirgalem and drive to Awassa for a visit of the local fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa where you will have the opportunity to see the local trade as well as the local birdlife. Continue your visit with a boat trip on the lake to visit the hippos. Afterwards, depart from Awassa to Lake Langano, Overnight at Lake Langano.
Day 15: In the morning, after a refreshing swim in the lake, depart from Langano north to DebreZeit. On the way you will stop at Lake Ziway to visit the vibrant birdlife along the shores. Time permitting; you may take a boat trip to visit the island of TulluGudo and the local church which once housed the Ark of the Covenant. You may also spot the local hippos, overnight in DebreZeit.
Day 16Today you will have the day available to enjoy DebreZeit before returning to Addis Ababa, Overnight in Addis Ababa.