ITINERARY

Unusual East Africa
October 21 - November 12, 2010
Visiting United Arab Emirates, Djibouti, Somalia,
Somaliland, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda

Leave USA by Emirates Airlines

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Arrive DUBAI
HOTEL AL BUSTAN PALACE

DUBAI

Morning revisit Dubai tour.
Afternoon free.
Evening Dune Dinner Safari

Leave DUBAI by morning flight.

DJIBOUTI

Arrive DJIBOUTI
HOTEL KEMPINSKI

Afternoon free.

DJIBOUTI

Morning 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.

Afternoon free.

Travelers’ Century Club members will have the opportunity for a brief visit to Somalia.

Leave DJIBOUTI by Dallo Airline D3#169 8:30 AM
Arrive MOGADISHU11:30 AM
Leave MOGADISHU by Dallo Airline D3 #15912:30 PM

HARGEISA

Today, visit two international relief organizations. There are pPresently 52 international organizations represented to aAssist Somaliland.

Leave HARGEISA by D3 #778 9:30 AM
Arrive DJIBOUTI 10:15 AM
Leave DJIBOUTI by ET #319 12:20 PM                      

ETHIOPIA

Arrive ADDIS ABABA 1:30 PM
HOTEL HILTON

Afternoon free.

Leave ADDIS ABABA by ET#120 7:30 AM
Flying time 1 hour, 204 miles
Arrive BAHAR DAR 8:30 AM
HOTEL TANA

BAHAR DAR

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.

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 include 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 8:50 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 12th 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 #129 8:50 AM
Flying time 1 hour, 55 minutes – 384 miles, 1 stop
Arrive ADDIS ABABA 9:50 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.

ADDIS ABABA

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 #801 10:00 AM
Brief stop in Kigali
Flying time 3 hours, 1077 miles

BURUNDI

Arrive BUJUMBURA 1:20 PM
HOTEL CLUB DU LAC TANGANYIKA

Afternoon city tour.
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.

BUJUMBURA

Morning visit

Leave BUJUMBURA by WB #110 4:55 PM
Flying time 30 minutes, distance 113 miles

RWANDA

Arrive KIGALI 5:30 PM
HOTEL DES MILLES COLLINES

KIGALI

Full day Rwanda Tour.
Begin tour with visit to the Belgium Memorial Museum. This museum is in honor of the Belgian soldiers that were killed while protecting the Prime Minister during the genocide. Continue to Nyamirambo or the old quarters of Kigali, followed by a tour to Nyarutarama, Gacuriro where you can see the new development of Kigali.  Stop at the Kandt Museum. Dr. Richard Kandt was the first European resident of Rwanda, who set up an administrative residence in Kigali, Oct. 1907. After lunch, visit the memorial museum of Gisozi which is very touching and informative about the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.

Leave KIGALI by Rwanda Air, WB #105 6:45 PM
Flying time 50 minutes, 212 miles

UGANDA

THREE  DAY MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Leave Kampala after breakfast AT 8:00 A.M. for a brief city drive 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 JINJA.
HOTEL JINJA NILE RESORT

JINJA

Morning: Jinja tour.
See the source of the Nile, Owen Falls Dam and the picturesque Bujagali Falls. Jinja is a 1 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 drive to KAMPALA
HOTEL SPEKE

KAMPALA

Morning 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 Emirates Airlines in the afternoon.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Arrive DUBAI in the evening.

Leave DUBAI by Emirates Airlines
Arrive USA

Tour Costs as follows:

Land Cost, Sharing: $11,800 per person
Land Cost, Single:   $1,900 supplement
Airfare from New York: $5,200 approx.
Estimated Visa Cost: $630
Airport Taxes, Est.: $150

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