Activities

6 Day Ethiopia Fly in Safari Itinerary in Details

Day 1: Bahir Dar

You will be met at Bole Airport or your hotel in Addis Ababa. Our Ethiopia safari rep will brief you on the Ethiopia fly in safari. This is before you board a local flight at 0700hrs to Bahir Dar.

You will be met on arrival at the airport by our safari guide. On a boat, this Ethiopia fly in safari heads for a tour on Lake Tana. You’ll visit a selection of the monasteries hidden on the islands.

There are also other monasteries found on the shores of this sacred lake. You’ll go to the Zege Peninsula to the monastery of Azuwa Maryam. The visit also goes to the monastery of Ura Kidane Mehret.

On the island is the monastery of Debre Maryam. This is found near the outlet of the Blue Nile River. In the afternoon you’ll drive out to the Blue Nile Falls.

This will be for a short hike in the area. You’ll finish the day with a sundowner over the lake. Your overnight will be in Bahir Dar at Kuriftu Resort and Spa.

Lake Tana

Lake tana Rivals the attraction of the Blue Nile Falls. Here there are the thirty-seven islands scattered about on the 3,000-square-kilometre. This is about 1,860-square-mile surface of Ethiopia's largest body of water. Lake Tana, which gives birth to the Blue Nile.

There are some twenty of these shelter churches and monasteries. These are sites of immense historical and cultural interest. They are decorated with beautiful paintings and housing innumerable treasures.

Lake Tana is the largest lake of Ethiopia. it is located in a depression of the northwest plateau, 6,000 feet (1,800 metres) above sea level. lake Tana forms the main reservoir for the Blue Nile (Abbay) River. This drains its southern extremity near Bahir Dar.

The lake's surface covers 1,418 square miles (3,673 square km). It has surrounding drainage of 4,500 square miles (11,650 square km). The maximum depth is 45 feet (14 metres).

There are many interesting and historic locations on or around the lake. They include the islands of Birgida Maryam, Dega Estefanos, Dek, Narga and Tana Cherkos. Others are Mitsele Fasilidas, Kebran, and Debre Maryam. We also have the Gorgora, Mandaba, and Zeghe peninsulas. All have fine churches.

Most of these churches were founded much earlier. The actual buildings date from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth centuries. Many have beautiful mural paintings and church crosses. There are also house crowns and clothes of former kings.

Day 2: Bahir Dar – Gondar

You will begin the day on this Ethiopia fly in safari with breakfast. This will be followed by a departure. You’ll drive north to Gondar.

This will be a four-hour drive going through rural villages. You’ll enjoy wonderful insight into the Amhara culture. On arrival you’ll settle in your hotel in Gondar. This is before going out to explore your surroundings.

The sites to be visited include the Royal Enclosure with six castles. There are several other buildings that are worth a visit. Your Ethiopia fly in safari will also visit Fasilidas’s Pool. This pool is still used for Timket celebrations today.

You’ll visit to Ras Gimb Palace Museum and the Debre Birhan Selassie church. They have the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia. Today you’ll spend the night in Gondar at Taye Hotel.

Day 3: Gondar  - Axum

You will wake up to an early breakfast before departure on this Ethiopia fly in safari. You will be flying early morning at 0745hrs to Axum.

Our guide will meet you on arrival at Axum. Enjoy the transfer to your Axum hotel. You will spend the day visiting the sites of Axum. This includes the famous obelisks. One was recently erected after being returned from Italy.

There is the archaeological museum and the Queen of Sheba’s Bath. The latter supplies water to Axum year-round. You’ll also visit Ezana’s inscription, King Kaleb’s tomb and King Bazen’s tomb. You cannot finish the royalty visit without the Queen of Sheba’s Palace.

In Axum you can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church. This is where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. It is only men who are allowed to enter the old church.

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. This is a preserve one specially chosen guardian monk. Your overnight will be at in Axum at Sabean International Hotel.

Obelisks of Axum

The Kingdom of Axum was one of the greatest powers on earth. This was from the early 4th century B.C.E until the 10th century C.E. 

The town was centered as a trade city between Persia and Rome. The city of Axum flourished in culture, power and wealth.

This was a pagan Kingdom during its early peak. Giant pillars were erected to mark the tombs of important leaders. In the 4th century, the King Ezana solidified the Kingdom’s conversion to Christianity. He stopped all pagan practices, including the erection of burial stelea. This included the 80-foot Obelisk of Axum.

Standing only until the 16th century, an earthquake likely toppled the obelisk. Without any importance in a Christian society it was left in many pieces. Most of these did disintegrate back into sand.

The Obelisk lay in ruin for hundreds of years. This is until it was re-discovered by Italian soldiers. It was during the conquest of Ethiopia in 1935. Brought back in three pieces, the 160-ton stele was taken as loot to Rome, where it was reassembled.

After world war II, the UN ruled that the stele must be returned to Ethiopia. But complications arose almost immediately.

Day 4: Axum – Lalibela

You will have the morning at leisure on Ethiopia fly in safari. You can tour what you did not see in Axum. Your Ethiopia fly in safari will later enjoy a transfer to the airport. This is in time for the 1100 hrs morning flight to Lalibela.

This is the most famous of all the Ethiopian historical sites. You’ll venture out after settling in your hotel in Lalibela. You will tour the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. The tour starts with the Northwestern Cluster of churches.

They include Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam and Bet Meskel. There is also Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael and Bet Golgotha. At Bet Golgotha it is only men permitted to enter. Evening and overnight in Lalibela will be at Mountain View Hotel.

Day 5: Lalibela

You’ll spend the full day of Ethiopia fly in safari in Lalibela. The morning will be spent on a trip to the church of Yimrehanne Kristos.

It is the most popular of the churches outside of Lalibela. This church is built with layers of wood and granite. It is set in the entrance to a large cavern.

Your Ethiopia fly in safari will return to Lalibela for lunch break. You’ll have the afternoon visiting the South-eastern Cluster of churches. They include Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos.

You cannot complete Ethiopia fly in safari without visiting Bet Giyorgis. It is the most famous Ethiopian church. It was constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – Saint George. Overnight will be in Lalibela at Mountain View Hotel.

Day 6: Lalibela - Addis Ababa

You will wake up to your breakfast in the hotel. This is before your Ethiopia fly in safari venture out. You will visit the nearby monastery of Na’akuto La’ab.

This is set on the side of a cliff. This will be followed by a transfer to the airport. You will be there in time for the 1150hrs flight to Addis Ababa. Here you’ll be met and transferred to your Addis Ababa hotel. For those travelling out, it’s time to bid Ethiopia farewell.

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6 Day Ethiopia Fly in Safari Costs:

What is included in the 6 Day Ethiopia Fly in Safari cost?

• All transfer in and out
• All Domestic flights
• All transport in Addis Ababa, Bahir dar, Gonder, Axum and Laliblea
• Professional English-Speaking guide
• Hotel Room on Double Occupancy basis (i.e. sharing a Double room) including Breakfast
• All entrance fees, local guide fee, scout, and boat fees
• Bottled natural water every day
• Service tax.

6 Day Ethiopia Fly in Safari Price excludes:

• Personal expenses (tips, photo and video fees, phone calls, table drinks, laundry, etc.)
• Meals (lunch and dinner)
• Any other services/expenses not mentioned above.

What to Carry on the 6 Day Ethiopia Fly in Safari

• Light (walking in the night)
• Closed, comfortable shoes
• Sun protection like sun cream, hat