Visit To The Holy City Of The Horn Of Africa Tour

Day 1: Addis – Awash

The Awash National Park is one of the most beautiful in Ethiopia. The water of the Awash River passes through a spectacular gorge; the park shelters 392 bird species and various other mammals: Oryx, gazelle and antelopes. Awash is the longest river in Ethiopia; it doesn’t end in a sea but joins the Danakil Depression near Assaita and makes sources of a series of lakes. In the afternoon, we visit the park and its vicinity.

Accommodation: Awash Falls Lodge

Day 2: Awash - Harrar

The road and the fertile land which surrounds the Dengego Mountains (3000 metres above sea level) offer magnificent panoramas to a visitor. Women of this region wear very coloured clothes. Once arrived at Harrar, one observes the khat culture, a shrub whose leaves are chewed for stimulation. On the way one can visit the market of Awaday khat.

Accommodation: Heritage Plazza Hotel

Day 3: Harrar

Harrar is located at an altitude of 1800 metres. Harrar is labyrinth of small streets surrounded by old walls. Its architecture reflects a strong Islamic influence. We walk past the old town and visit a house where Rimbaud has been living. Harrar has been the chosen town of the poet who settled here in order to proceed to his weapons trade destined to Emperor Menelik II. He was here in the 16th Century. Some of the Mosques in Harrar have been established since the 13th Century. Until relatively recently, Harrar has been venerated by Muslims as the centre of pilgrimage, the town being the holiest of the Horn of Africa with a great number of Mosques and Quran schools. A visit in this town includes some of these Mosques as well as few old traditional houses. The evening after dinner may be devoted to visiting the Hyena Man (a man who feeds hyenas).

Accommodation: Heritage Plazza Hotel

Day 4: Harrar – Dire Dawa – Addis (domestic flight)

Dire Dawa, the second most populous and strategically located town in Ethiopia, was founded in 1902 baptized as Addis Harrar(New Harrar) to service the Franco-Ethiopian Railway connecting Djibouti to Addis Ababa. Domestic flight back to Addis. Arrival in Addis in the afternoon.

The price includes :

• Transfer to/from a hotel as indicated in the program;
• Private vehicle with driver(fuel, road tax, parking, vehicle and driver insurance, accommodation of the driver);
• Services of local guides during site visits;
• The services of escort guide qualified in English during the whole voyage (French, Spanish, Italian& German on request);
• Full board meal ;
• Accommodation in double room at the hotel indicated in the program.

The price does NOT include:

• International flights;
• Airport taxes;
• Single room supplement for persons in single rooms
• Visa fees;
• Repatriate insurance/insurance;
• Drinks and personal expenses;
• Service tips.