Rift Valley Trek
Day 1:
You will be met and transferred our joining hotel to meet the rest of the group. After a rest, you will have lunch before visiting the ethnological museum, which gives a thorough overview of the different cultures and peoples of Ethiopia. After a look around town, you will have an early dinner at a local restaurant tasting traditional food and atmosphere. (Overnight in a Hotel)
Day 2:
This morning you will set off for the stables, about half an hour away from the hotel. After becoming acquainted with your mounts, you will begin your ride out into the stunning Ethiopian Highlands. You will take lunch en route and in the evening, you will camp in the endemic forest of Suba, whose first trees were planted by the 15th century emperor Zara Jacob. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 3:
Today you will ride through the forest which is inhabited by the endemic Menelik Bushbuck, yellow fronted parrot, African Forest Hog and leopard and where you will have lunch before reaching the stables in the middle of the afternoon. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 4:
Today you will ride off over the high plains towards the market town of Chancho. Whilst riding this route you will become acquainted with the great highland plains, peppered by small homesteads and Orthodox churches that form much of the central heart of Ethiopia. The night is spent camping by a traditional homestead. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 5:
Today you strike out north, following the traditional agricultural migration route towards the centre of Ethiopia. You will cross countless small brooks on the way, amongst herds of cattle and green plateaus very far from typical images of Ethiopia. In the evening, you will camp in a traditional fortified Oromo homestead. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 6:
Today you now strike out towards the east in direction of the Rift Valley. These are the lands where Emperor Menelik's horses, which helped conquer all of western and southern Ethiopia, which came to form the base of modern Ethiopia, came from. To this day, the horses of 'Jiddah' as the region is known are renowned for their endurance and height. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 7:
Continuing parallel to the Jemma River Gorge, you continue striking out full east, until reaching close to the old summer retreats of Emperor Leban Dengel. These are the lands described in the 17th century traveller Francisco Alvarez, 'True relations of a trip to the land of Prester John.' (Overnight at Camp)
Day 8:
The great medieval emperor Zara Jacob - the same one who founded the forest of Menagesha Suba, founded the town of Debre Berhan. It is said that he founded the town - Debre Berhan meets 'mountain of light' - after seeing the Haley Comet above the hill where the modern town now rises. Tonight you will camp overnight in a peasant stronghold. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 9:
From your camp atop the Rift Escarpment, you will see the vast Danakil Desert some 2000 metres below - here, lying just beneath you, is one of the earth's great geological wonders. The Rift, having cut a narrow path through southern Ethiopia, here opens up onto the vast Afar Depression - one of the lowest points on earth. Bathed in mist, you can see the fiery desert below. (Overnight at Camp)
Day 10:
After a relaxed breakfast (or watching the sun rise on the Rift) you will drive back towards Addis, arriving around noon, giving you ample time for last minute shopping and visits before a last dinner and our departure from Addis Ababa early the next morning. (Hotel day rooms)