Ethiopia Expedition 2.0 | Omo Valley Tribes, Lalibela & Danakil Depression

Today marks the start of our Ethiopian adventure, and we’re kicking off with a real serious adventure. The Afar and Tigray region (Afar Triangle) is located in the northeast of Ethiopia and is home to one of the most extreme, but also most spectacular, natural wonders: the Danakil lowlands. The area is primarily a fascinating world of adventure trekking and unique geothermal landscapes. After arrival we will meet our special team. Drivers, escorts, local guide, chefs, police escort will be our companions for the following. Our first destination is the village of Ahmedela in the Dallol region. This is a logistical stopover and lunch and our overnight stop. Dallol: “Landscape of Mars”. This area is famous for its extreme geothermal activity. The surface is yellow, green, orange and brown, formed by the erupting salt, sulphur and other minerals. It is one of the hottest places on Earth, with temperatures of nearly 70 degrees Celsius measured along the ground. It is considered the most inhospitable region on the planet. It is the centre of a surreal landscape. The sun sets on the Assale lake. It is approximately 120 metres below sea level, making it one of the lowest points in Africa. Lake Assale is in fact a salt lake surrounded by a vast expanse of dazzling white salt flats. The area was once part of the Red Sea, but geological processes cut it off from the sea, leaving a thick layer of salt due to the evaporation of shallow water. The local Afar people cut large rectangular pieces of salt from the salt crust by hand, known as ‘salt tablets’. Until recently, these blocks of salt were loaded onto camel caravans of hundreds of animals – each camel carrying up to 120 kg of salt. Nowadays, unfortunately, trucks have taken over, but you can still see camel caravans from nearby Eritrea – who are also Afar people. There will be a high adventure factor today, before sunset we will also get a glimpse of the rugged, fragmented canyon-strewn landscape dubbed “Little Arizona”. Accommodation, breakfast and dinner: our many-star accommodation under the African sky – campsite

Early in the morning, before sunrise, we drive again to the lunar landscapes of the Dallol geothermal site, this time on the shimmering salty surface of Lake Asale. Time to spend our picnic breakfasts in a wonder-filled setting. Then we can take a dip in the oily, salty waters of a small loch. Then we drive on to Hawzen. On the way, lunch in Mekele. Before reaching our destination, we will visit the first in a series of Christian churches, Abreha we Atsbeha, believed to have been built by the angels themselves in a single night. After a long day we arrive at our accommodation. Accommodation, dinner: Gheralta Lodgevorsimilar

After breakfast, we head to the most famous point of the Tigray region. Abune Yemata Guh is one of the most unique rock temples in Ethiopia, located in the northern part of the Tigray region, in the Gheralta Mountains. Founded in the 6th century, the shrine is world famous not only for its religious significance but also for its extraordinary location. The temple is built into a sandstone cliff face 2,500 metres above sea level. The visit requires a hike of about 45-60 minutes. The first half of the walk is a steep hike, while the last half is a near-vertical rock climb of 5-7 metres. There are no artificial belays here, you have to use the natural cavities in the wall, barefoot, in cavities that have been regularly carved out by the monks. The interior is carved out of a single huge boulder. The frescoes that decorate the walls and the dome date from the 15th century and depict biblical scenes and the “Apostles”. Thanks to the dry microclimate, the paintings are in excellent condition and the colours (red, ochre, white) have been preserved in their original vividness. The area itself is breathtaking, with the Gheralta Mountains one of Ethiopia’s most spectacular landscapes, often compared to America’s Monument Valley for the contrast of red sandstone towers and plains. There are nearly 30 monasteries in the area, but this is by far the most spectacular. Accommodation, dinner: Gheralta Lodgevorsimilar

After breakfast, we will start our return journey by car to Mecca, with the opportunity to visit more monasteries on the way, and then fly back to Addis from Mecca. Accommodation, breakfast Best Western Hotel 4* or similar

After breakfast we fly to Jinka. Jinka is the last civilised area, the gateway to the nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples of the Omo Valley. Our first introduction to the incredible human kaleidoscope of the Omo Valley begins with a visit to an Ari village. They are the most numerous tribe on the Jinka plateau, skilled farmers with considerable economic power. The Ari women decorate their stucco clay-coated houses with homemade paint. Rich in geometric patterns and motifs, they call it ‘bartsi’, which means to give beauty. We continue our journey to Turmi. Along the way we are sure to meet the Bena boys, who walk on stilts… and also visit a Mursi tribe – whose current situation does not bode well for the future. They are one of the two plate-drawing tribes of the Omo Valley. Late evening after a rich day we arrive at the hostel. Accommodation, breakfast: Buska Lodge Turmi or similar

Turmi is one of the most “popular” and much photographed people of the Omo Valley, the Hamar tribe’s land trumpeter. Among their rituals, the bull jumping is one of the most famous, a ceremony of transition of young boys to manhood. Prior to this, the boy’s female relatives volunteer to be caned, thus assuring their love and support for the young man. Their sebeis and scars show the strength of the family bond. A weekly market is theoretically held on this day. Accommodation, breakfast: Buska Lodge Turmi or similar

After breakfast we continue our wanderings in the countryside. The Omo River is important to the tribes’ lives as it provides the necessary water source for post-flood agriculture. The village of Omorate is near the Kenyan border and is the home of the Dassanec (or Geleb) tribe, who we will visit today. A semi-nomadic people group, they are the most numerous in the area. Their traditional way of life includes crocodile hunting. To reach their villages, however, we have to cross the river in canoes dug out of tree trunks. We return to Turmi for lunch. Then it’s off to Korcho village for a glimpse into the life of the exciting Kara tribe. They are known for their artistic and distinctive face and body paintings, which have an almost endless symbolism. After an exciting day, we return to Turmi and with a bit of luck, we will be in a bull jumping ceremony. Accommodation, breakfast: Buska Lodge Turmi or similar

After breakfast we continue our wanderings in the countryside. The Arbore tribe is known for their artistic beadwork and the distinctive technique of making their huts. We return to Turmi for lunch. Accommodation, breakfast: Buska Lodge Turmi or similar

Early in the morning we drive back to Jinka and fly to Addis Ababa. It will feel good to wash down the dust of the Omo Valley, but not the memories. Accommodation, breakfast Best Western Hotel 4* or similar

In the morning, we take a flight to Lalibela. The town itself is at an altitude of 2500 metres above sea level. Lalibela is one of Ethiopia’s most special, sacred and unique cities in the world, and is one of the wonders of the Christian world. Lalibela is famous for its 11 monolithic rock-cut churches, carved out of red volcanic tuff during the Zagwe dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries. This church complex has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. The temples were not built, but were carved from the top down out of a single huge rock. First, a rectangle was carved out of the rock to form the shape of the temple, then the cavity was deepened as it descended, carving out the interior spaces, columns, windows and roof as it went. Exploring the temples of Lalibela, maybe if there is an event, we will be part of it. Accommodation, breakfast : Lalibela Hill Top lodge or similar

After breakfast, we set off to explore the other churches. Among them we visit the Church of St. George, dedicated to the patron saint of Ethiopia. St. George’s Church (Bet Giyorgis) is the absolute pinnacle of Ethiopian architecture, Christian faith and rock-cut masterpieces, and is also known as the Eighth Wonder of the World. This building, which has become the symbol of Lalibela, is the most famous and iconic of the 11 churches. Bet Giyorgis stands isolated and alone in the western group, in a deep courtyard carved into the rock. It can only be accessed through a long, narrow tunnel or recess carved into the rock, which adds to its mystique. The interior of the temple is puritanical but extremely sublime. A curtain covers the Holy of Holies (Maqdas), and the interior walls are decorated with paintings typical of Ethiopian art, including one of St George slaying the dragon. Then we fly back to Addis Ababa in the afternoon. Accommodation, breakfast Best Western Hotel 4* or similar