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Rift Valley Explorer - 2010/11 Itinerary

20 days - from $3620

• Spot big game in Kenya's northern reserves
• Discover the tribal lands of the remote Rift Valley
• Explore cultural wonders of Ethiopia's highlands

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Game-lands of Northern Kenya
From the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, we begin our journey north and our first taste of the Rift Valley at the soda lake of Elementaita. Next it's on to Samburu National Reserve, the least-visited of Kenya's popular game parks. Set around the Ewaso Ngiro river, the permanent water and forest shade support a rich variety of wildlife from giraffe, zebra and the Somali ostrich to lion, leopard and cheetah. After a full day's game-viewing we cross into Ethiopia at the remote border at Moyale.


Tribes of the Great Rift Valley
We spend the next few days among the tribal lands of Ethiopia's Omo region, from the El Sod crater-lake, where the Borena tribe still extract salt for their cattle, to the terraced, cultivated homeland of the Konso. On our way to Arbaminch we make a detour to the Chencha mountains to see the distinctive architecture of the Dorze. Making for Langano we diascover more crater lakes with their incredible variety of birdlife. Heading into the highlands we finally reach the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.


Rock-cut churches & The Blue Nile
Our journey through Ethiopia's highlands begins at Bahar Dar where we visit the Source of the Blue Nile and Tississat Falls, a 45m drop which is the start of a 1000km journey to Khartoum. Further north we reach Gondar with its' 17th century castles, once the centre of a unique and powerful kingdom. The final stop on our journey is arguably the most impressive - the rock-cut churches of Lalibela - architectural wonders hewn out of the bedrock over 800 years ago.

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Itinerary:

Day 1 Join the tour in Nairobi. Day 2 Lake Elementaita Discovering birdlife in Kenya's Rift Valley. Days 3/4 Samburu National Park A full days search for big game including lion and leopard. Days 5/6 Into the Omo We explore Kenya's remote north before crossing into Ethiopia's Omo Valley. Days 7/8 Rift Valley tribes From El Sod crater-lake, where the Borena tribe still extract salt for their cattle, we discover the terraced, cultivated homeland of the Konso. Days 9/11 Dorze village We explore more tribal villages and the unique architecture of the Dorze before reaching the Ethiopian capital. Days 12/13 Addis Ababa After touring the capital's highlight we head into the highlands via the sacred site of Debre Libanos. Days 14/15 Bahar Dar We reach the source of the Blue Nile, see Tississat Falls and take a boat trip to remote monasteries on Lake Tana. Day 16 Gondar 17th century castles of a once powerful kingdom. Days 17/19 Lalibela Exploring Lalibela's rock-cut churches - architectural wonders hewn out of the bedrock over 800 years ago; we fly back to Addis in the afternoon. Day 20 Tour ends in Addis Ababa.

Accommodations: 15nts hotels, 4nts camping - some hotels are basic in remote areas of Ethiopia; 19 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 10 dinners included.
Transport: 4WD truck and land cruisers.
Comment: Infrastructure is limited so expect rough roads and some long journey through northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia.
Group: 12 to 16.
Staff: Explore Tour Leader, driver & cook.
Trip Reference: KD2010

Dates & Prices
Start End Prices in US$ Local Payment Availability
10 Oct 1029 Oct 10$36200
30 Jan 1118 Feb 11$38800

Prices and itineraries shown for tours departing from January 2011 onwards are subject to change and confirmation with the publication of our 2011/12 brochure, due to be published in October 2010.

The price of a Single Room Option does not necessarily guarantee a single room for every night of the tour. For more information, please refer to the trip dossier / more details for this tour.
Single rooms are available for this tour at a supplement from US$ 360, depending on availability.