RIFT AND BALE

Addis Ababa
African capital

A cosmopolitan metropolis, high Addis Ababa has established itself over time as the capital of the entire continent, but this seat of major Pan-African institutions conceals curiosities that are only revealed to the attentive traveler.
After welcoming you at the airport and dropping you off at your hotel to leave your luggage and refresh, we will begin exploring this multifaceted city. Obviously, we will start with the National Museum, where the unmissable Lucy, our common ancestor, is located. We will then go to the Ethnographic Museum in the former palace of Negus Haile Selassie in the heart of the current university, then to Holy Trinity Cathedral where he is buried. In the afternoon, we will gain some height to enjoy the formidable viewpoint offered by Entoto Hill, the origin of the city’s creation and its magnificent rehabilitated park. We will end this day at Sheger Park, a true green lung resurrected in the heart of the city that inaugurates a new era. From this green enclave, you can observe the rise of this irresistible and modern Addis, all of vertiginous skyscrapers, concrete and polished glass.
Overnight at Nexus Hotel

Addis Ababa/Ziway
Toward the origin of humanity.
Melka Kunture belongs to that list of rare Paleolithic sites that illuminate the dawn of time and inform us about the long process of humanity’s development.
We go back a bit further in the thickness of time to confront the enigmatic site of Tya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The significance of these magnificent stelae, methodically arranged in a field, remains a mystery that archaeologists and scientists have not yet managed to elucidate. We will sleep tonight on the shores of the ornithological paradise that is Lake Ziway.
Overnight at Halie Resort

Ziway/Hawassa
A chain of lakes

We will start our day by strolling through this bird paradise. In the late morning, we will head to a completely different lake. The main attraction of Lake Langano is that the water is free of all bilharzia, which makes swimming possible. You can perform water activities on request, and a boat trip is possible to an island renowned for its springs. The lake and its shores lined with acacias where savannah and dense forest alternate shelter a great variety of water birds of all colors. You might even spot some species said to be extinct! Back in Hawassa, an astonishing spectacle awaits you: the preparation for night fishing in the fish-rich waters of Lake Awasa.
Overnight at Halie Resort

Hawassa/Dinsho/Goba
On the road to wild Bale

In the early morning, you can see for yourself how successful this fishing was by going to the market set up on the shores of the lake when the fishermen return. However, know that you will not be the only ones eager for this kind of spectacle. Pelicans, marabou storks, herons, egrets, and all the winged and greedy creatures in the region gather on the banks every morning to scavenge the remains of this miraculous fishing. We will stop in Dinsho, headquarters for the preservation of Bale National Park and will stop this evening in the small equestrian town of Goba.

Overnight at Wabe Shebele

Bale Massif
Extraordinary mountain landscapes

The Bale mountain massif is home to many endemic species of fauna and flora, and especially the famous Abyssinian wolf hunting on the immense Sanetti Plateau with its lunar landscape. Mount Tulu Dintu overshadows the plateau with its imposing stature; it is indeed the second highest peak in Ethiopia. In the massif reigns, against all odds, afro-alpine vegetation. The majestic Harenna forest shelters in its depths many almost-mythical animals such as the black-maned lion or the nyala. Attention, this intense hike requires good physical condition.
Overnight at Wabe Shebele

Sof Omar/Shashemene
In the depths of the earth

Not far from the Bale massif slumbers deep underground a geological marvel: the Sof Omar caves. The name of the cave comes from Sheikh Sof Omar, a holy man who found refuge there and it has become an important Muslim sanctuary. Sof Omar is one of the most spectacular and extensive underground systems in the world, with echo chambers, slender stone pillars, and high arches that follow the curve of the Webe River that helped form this stone miracle.
The international capital of Rastafarians, Shashemene, is just a stone’s throw away. Rastafarianism appeared in Jamaica, and its objectives were the return of Black people to their native land in Africa, and particularly to Ethiopia, the only African country to never have been colonized.
Overnight at Halie Resort

Shashemene-Langano
A hidden paradise

Very close to the Rasta capital hides a small paradise of relaxation, the hot springs of Wondo Genet, descending directly from the mountain, lost in lush vegetation will give you a little taste of paradise. The tree branches bend under the weight of juicy fruits. We will spend an afternoon of relaxation and leisure in this peaceful thermal setting.
On our return journey to the bustling capital Addis Ababa, we will grant ourselves a break in the small haven of peace you already know, that of Lake Langano in a comfortable resort.
Overnight at Sabanna Beach

Langano/Debre Zeit
A lakeside town

After the morning dip in Lake Langano, we will take you to another city of lakes. Bishoftu, otherwise called Debre Zeit, and its many lakes, is located at 1900m altitude, and enjoys a mild climate. In the Quaternary era, violent volcanic eruptions shaped, to the east, Mount Yerer, and to the southwest, the volcanic cone of Mount Zuauala, numerous lava cones, and a group of crater lakes that are a tourist curiosity. Seven of them house magnificent small lakes fed by rains and underground springs.

Overnight at Liezak Resort

Return to the capital
See you soon

After a morning stroll in the pleasant town of Debre Zeit, we will take you back to the capital, which is an hour’s drive away. We wish to show you the metropolis you have already glimpsed through a completely different angle, that of artisans and artists, far from the usual souvenir shops. Indeed, we will take you directly to places of production and creation (potteries, tanneries, art galleries).
And to end the trip in beauty? We invite you to a traditional restaurant where you will have the chance to attend a music and dance show.

Day room made available to you