ITINERARY

Unusual East Africa
October 21 - November 15, 2008
Visiting Yemen, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia,
Somaliland, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda

SANA'A

Full day tour
Sana’a is considered to be the oldest living capital of the world. Visit the city walls and the gates of Bab al Salem. Bab Sha’ub, Bab al Sabah and Bab al Yemen. This late gate was built in the ninth century by the Ottoman Turks. Enter the old Suq al Mileh from the door of Bab al Yemen. This ancient suq still bustles with its travel – spices, incense, coffee and silver.

SANA'A

Full day excursion to Wadi Dhahar, Thula, Hababa, Shibam and Kawkaban. Today’s excursion into the Wadi Dhahar, will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your Yemen visit. Located in the isolated Haddad Valley, it is here that you will see tribal people living as they have for centuries Of special interest is Dar al-Hajar (Rock Palace), the summer palaces built atop a protruding rock formation in the center of the valley. Also visit the ancient and historical villages of Thula and Kawkaban where lunch will be served at a local funduq. Thula is a unique example of an almost perfectly preserved highland town of stone tower houses.

ASMARA

Full day excursion to the Red Sea and Massawa.
Driving along one of Africa’s finest highways, a masterpiece of bold, modern engineering, you descend 7,400 ft. in less than 70 miles to arrive at Massawa. One the way you will feel and see gradual yet startling climate changes, from the cool highlands of Asmara the temperature steadily increases, the vegetation changing accordingly too.

Afternoon tour of Massawa, situated along the coastal area of the Red Sea. See the ancient buildings and the former Imperial Palace, now a hotel. Return to Asmara and continue with city tour.

Arrive DJIBOUTI 10:20 AM
HOTEL KEMPINSKI

Afternoon city tour including Place of June 27, the most elegant street in the city to the sidewalk merchants selling daggers from Tadjoura, skins, shells, baskets and African souvenirs. We will continue to Place M. Harbi with many picturesque side streets and busy markets with donkey cart traffic jams.

Arrive MOGADISHU 12:00 PM
Enjoy a brief stayover

Leave MOGADISHU by Dallo Airlines, D3 #159 3:00 PM

HARGEISA

Today, visit two international relief organizations. There are Presently 52 international organizations represented to assist Somaliland.

HARGEISA

City tour including all places of interest.
Hargeisa and the whole Somaliland region was annexed by the British from Aden and they established a protectorate naming the region British Somaliland. Berbera, a major trading harbour on the Red Sea was the protectorate’s first capital due to its strategic importance. However, the capital was moved from Berbera to Hargeisa, and the city was granted capital status in 1941. During the East African Campaign, the protectorate was occupied by Italy in August 1940, but recaptured by the British in March 1941. The protectorate gained independence at the State of Somaliland on 26 June 1960. Days later, as the country was unified with Italian Somaliland to form a new Somali Republic (Somalia) on 1 July 1960.

HARGEISA

Morning free.

Leave HARGEISA by ET#309 4:35 PM
(Distance 366 miles, time 1 hour 45 minutes, brief stop in Dire Dawa)

ADDIS ABABA

Morning free.

Leave ADDIS ABABA by ET#124 2:10 PM
Flying time 1 hour, 204 miles

ARRIVE BAHAR DAR, 3:10 PM
HOTEL TANA

Bahar Dar is a small town set on the south eastern shore of Lake Tana (Ethiopia’s largest lake), where local Fishermen still use papyrus boats, and just 30 km. from the spectacular Tiss Isat Falls. Here the Blue Nile creates “Smoking Water” an awe inspiring sight as it plunges into the gorge below.

BAHAR DAR

Morning drive to the mighty Blue Nile Falls “Tiss Issat,” where the Nile creates “Smoking Water,” an awe inspiring sight as it plunges into the gorges below.

Tour to explore some of the ancient monasteries that were built around Lake Tana , or on the many islands. These includes Deke Stephanos with its priceless collection of icons, as well as the remains if several medieval emperors. Kebran Gabriel, and Ura Kidane Mehret with its famous frescoes.

Leave BAHAR DAR by ET #122 8:30 AM
Flying time 10 minutes, 65 miles

Arrive GONDAR, 8:40 AM
HOTEL GOHA

Afternoon: Gondar city tour
Gondar was the 17th century capital of Ethiopia , renowned for its medieval castles and churches. The primary attraction is the “Royal Compound” with many majestic castles. Outside this enclave, there are fascinating historic sights such as the Bath of Fasiledes, the monastery of Qusquam and the icon rich monastery of Debre Berhan Selassie. Some sights will be seen the next morning.

Leave GONDAR by ET #122, 9:10 AM
Flying time 30 minutes, 117 miles

Arrive LALIBELLA 9:40 AM
HOTEL ROHA

Afternoon tour.
Lalibella is named after the King, who in the 12 th Century initiated construction of the eleven churches for which Lalibella is famed. This historic village lies in the mountains of north central Ethiopia and is virtually only accessible by air. Our tour will include the fascinating monolith churches, which were hewn by hand from the solid rock and are still in use today.

Leave LALIBELLA by ET #122 10:00 AM
Flying time 40 minutes, 149 miles

Arrive AXUM, 10:40 AM
HOTEL YEHA

Axum , Ethiopia 's most ancient city, and capital of one of the most glorious empires of the past, is one of the most illustrious links on the historic route. The Axumite Empire flourished 3,000 years ago. Its riche can still be pictured as you gaze on the magnificent stelae or obelisks, the graves of King Kalebe and King Gebre Meskal, and the legendary bath of the Queen of Sheba.

Afternoon tour of Axum
See the astounding array of towering granite obelisks or steles, the stone thrones of judges, ruins of palaces, tombs of kings and the Church of St. Mary of Zion containing an impressive collection of gold and silver crosses, manuscripts and crowns of past Ethiopian Emperors.

Leave AXUM by ET #107 9:40 AM
Flying time 1 hour, 55 minutes – 384 miles, 1 stop

Arrive ADDIS ABABA 11:55 AM
HOTEL HILTON

Afternoon Modern city tour.
The capital city of Ethiopia is built on a steep mountain side 8,000 feet above sea level. Founded in 1886, the city is an enchanting mixture of old and modern and on a tour of the modern section, you will see Africa Hall, Trinity Cathedral, and the National Museum.

Morning City Historical Tour.
This tour includes the Menelik Mausoleum, situated in the enclaves of the old palace, it was built in 1911. To enjoy a panoramic view of Addis, we will drive to Mt. Entoto , where we get a breathtaking view. See St. George Cathedral built in 1896 in the traditional octagonal shape. Before returning to our hotel, visit the National Archaeological Museum.

Afternoon free.

Evening enjoy a Cultural Dinner with entertainment.

Leave ADDIS ABABA by ET #807 10:00 AM
Brief stop in Kigali
Flying time 3 hours, 1077 miles

Arrive BUJUMBURA 1:05 PM
HOTEL NOVOTEL

Afternoon city tour.

BUJUMBURA

Morning continuation of city tour of Bujumbura.
Sprawling up the mountainside on the southeastern tip of Lake Tanganyika, the city overlooks the vast wall of mountains in the Congo on the other side of the lake. The city is a mixture of grandiose colonial town planning, wide boulevards and imposing buildings. Visit Musee Vivant, a reconstructed, traditional Burundian village, and nearby Musee de Geologie du Burundi, which offers a respectable selection of fossils.

Leave BUJUMBURA by Rwanda Air, WB #110 4:55 PM

RWANDA

KIGALI

Full day Rwanda Tour.
Drive thorough Kigali to view the highlights, then travel to the Southern city of Butare. Visit the Botanical Gardens, the old churches, handicraft shops and the National Museum.

Leave KIGALI by Rwanda Air, WB #105 7:00 PM
Flying time 50 minutes, 212 miles

THREE DAY MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Leave Kampala after breakfast at 8:00 A.M. for a brief city drive the to Murchison Falls National Park. (about 6 hours). Stop for lunch at the Masindi Hotel along he way. Continue via Budongo forest and lake Albert.
HOTEL PARAA SAFARI LODGE

MURCHISON FALLS

After breakfast transfer to Paraa for a 3-hour launch trip up to the falls to view a variety of wildlife and birds. Return to Paraa around mid-day. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon enjoy a game drive.

After breakfast drive up to the top of the falls, from where you can walk down to the river’s edge and see the water’s narrow as they are forced through a rocky cleft and plunge down 35 meters in a majestic cascade.
Leave Murchison and return to Kampala via Masindi.
HOTEL KAMPALA SHERATON

KAMPALA

Morning: Jinja tour.
See the source of the Nile, Owen Falls Dam and the picturesque Bujagali Falls. Jinja is a one-hour drive from Kampala and enroute you pass through beautiful forests and the tea and sugar plantations on the outskirts of Jinja. There will be time for photographs at the source of the Nile before it makes its remarkable journey through Africa. Owen Falls Dam marks a magnificent harnessing of power which supplies much of Kenya and all of Uganda. Bujagali Falls represents the power of the Nile as it thunders on its northwest journey.

Afternoon: Kampala Tour.
Visit the historical and cultural highlights of this city of the hills. The tour includes a visit to the Kasubi Tombs, last resting place of Kabakas (kings) of Buganda, Uganda’s largest tribe; the Bahai Temple (the only one in Africa); Uganda Museum; the colorful Nakasero market and the National Theatre Arts & Crafts Village.

Leave ENTEBBE by ET#810 6:25 PM
Flying time 2 hours, 757 miles

ADDIS ABABA

Day free.

Leave ADDIS ABABA by LH#591 10:40 PM
Brief stop in Khartoum – 12:25 AM – 1:45 AM
Flying time Addis/Khartoum, 1 hour, 45 minutes, 623 miles
Flying time Khartoum/Frankfurt, 6 hours, 25 minutes, 2731 miles

Arrive FRANKFURT 6:10 AM
Leave FRANKFURT by connecting flight.
Arrive USA

Note: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner

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