DAY 01: ADDIS ABABA
Meet and greet you Explore Ethiopia representative at exit of luggage claim and transfer you to the hotel. There may be a wait at the airport to retrieve your baggage from the airport system. Transfer to the 4* Jupiter International Hotel with two superb locations in Addis Ababa’s Kazanchise area, you'll be within walking distance of the UNECA center. The 142 rooms are spacious and comfortable with free broadband internet and multichannel satellite television. The hotel also has a steam room, fitness center, massage, spa and sauna, a great way to relax and unwind after your long flight. You're booked on to a half-day tour of the city to include: The National Archeological Museum of Addis Ababa and Merkato - the largest open-air market in Africa. Then drive to Mt. Entoto (3,200 meters) for a panoramic view of the capital.
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DAY 02: DRIVE TO AWASH NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast drive from Addis to Awash National Park through the awe-inspiring crater lakes of Debrezeit. Your next stop will be at Lake Beseka. Then you will be continuing to Awash National Park. Birding in Awash National Park, located in the rift valley. It is enriched with many species of birds and mammals; African orange-bellied parrots, bustards, weavers, European Hoope somber rock-chat, yellow-throated serine, Red-fronted barbet, pygmy baits, Lesser striped swallow, House martin and Anubis Baboon, Colobus Monkey, Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Egyptian Mongoose, Warthog, Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s Gazelle, Lesser Kudu, Salt’s Dik-dik, etc.
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DAY 03: Drive Harar
Awash-Harar Drive across the Rift valley floor and along the spine of the beautiful Ahmar Mountains to Harar. This is an early 16th century eastern Ethiopian city, was once an important trade center and is famous for its ancient Arabic structures, great city walls, and the French poet Rimbaud's house. Harar is an Islamic center with at least 99 mosques, and is considered to be the fourth holiest Islamic city, after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. Early in the evening visit the Hyena man feeding outside the walls of the city.
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DAY 04: VISIT THE WALLED TOWN OF HARAR
You will have an early breakfast and visit the walled city of Jegol, the house of Arthur Rimbaud (a French poetry who lived 1880’s in Harar), Emperor Haile Selassie home (where he was born & raised) and Harari Cultural Museum. You will start exploring the 16th century UNSCO registered wall city of HARAR. Including the colorful local market and the famous museums and holy shrine, you will enjoy visit of the colorful market in Harar.
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Day 5: Drive back to Addis Ababa
After a relaxed breakfast you will drive to Addis Ababa. You will arrive in Addis Ababa late afternoon where you will do some shopping for souvenirs. Finally, you will be taken to a farewell dinner depending on your scheduled flight; you will be transferred out to Bole International Airport for return flight back home.
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