ETHIOPIA – 16 days

01. Arrival in Addis Ababa (we suggest Thursday to fit the market days; otherwise ok any other day). Morning free. Afternoon tour of the capital: visit Entoto mountains with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church. ON hotel.

02. Drive to visit the Debre Libanos monastery, the old Portuguese bridge and Jemma river valley. Spot also the endemic Gelada Baboons here. Proceed then crossing the Blue Nile valley to DebreMarkos. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON htl DebreMarkos

03. SAT. Drive to Kossober to visit the Gojam and Agew people Saturday’s market. Then proceed to Chagni (60 km, 1 hrs) and Mandura (67 km, 1 hr driving) to admire another colorful market, this time of the Gumze and Agew people. Then drive back to Zengena lake for ON camping (lunch on the way; dinner at camp)

04. SUN. Drive to Dahans Baguna to admire a Gumze & Agew people market. Then proceed to very nice and traditional Agew people villages. Reach then the Blue Nile. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON camping at Shinashia, at a Agew people village.

05. Proceed to Guba (or also called Mankush) village, where you find also a previous palace of Dej Asmach Jemal, built during Emperor Menelik reign. Reach so Janga where you can admire the Blue Nile, before entering in Sudan, called here “Sirba Abay” (189 kms, 4 hrs). Proceed so to Sherkole where you can admire the Berta people, traditional gold miners, at work. (2 hrs drive). Then continue for the overnight at Asosa, at Mango campsite, among lot of Mango trees (lunch on way; dinner camp)

06. TUE. Proceed to admire the Bambasi village very colorful market of the Oromo, Mao & Komo. The Mao & Komo are very traditional tribes, with many scarification all over their body. The Mao men have scarification in the face & chest, while female on the belly. While the Komo on the front & face, while female on the belly. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON camp Asosa

07. Drive to Ye’amsera village (Tongo region) & camp next to the mosque, built in 1952 by an Algerian coming from Saudi Arabia. Here in July (Arabian calendar on Mirage 27) there is a famous pilgrimage. Organize the permits & police escort and drive to the Ganzo people village. The Ganzo are the 81st tribe, just discovered few years ago. Are totally 150 members. Have scarification over their body, mainly the men in the face & chest; while female in the belly, arms & back. They hunt (warthog, alligators, monkeys, etc) and in the evening you’ll participate to dinner and dancing. Is a very particular experience. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON Ye’amsera

08. Morning dedicated to the visit of the Ganzo people. Afternoon proceed to Asosa. On the way make a 1 hrs trek at Inzi, for very nice views over the region, and some villages. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON Mango campsite Asosa

09. Morning drive to the Sudan border town of Kumruk (3 hrs), get the permits, and drive to Fametsere, where under a volcanic mountain (which they call the gold mountain and have many traditional believes) the Berta people extract salt. Proceed then to a traditional gold market, where you can admire the way they do their market. ON camp

10. Enter into Sudan and visit os Southern Sudan tribes and villages. ON camp

11,12,13. Souther Sudan

14. Drive To Gambela, visiting Nuer and Anuak tribes. ON Gambela in hotel

15. Drive to Nekemte (341 kms, 8 hrs). On the way visit very nice views and Wollo people resettlements. Lunch on the way; dinner & ON camping or local hotel

16. Drive back to Addis Ababa. Ones in Addis, short visit of the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Dinner in traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Then transfer airport for departure