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Ethiopia..."The Wild & Ethnic Route"
Southern Ethiopia
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Welcome to southern Ethiopia! If you want a taste of Ethiopia's numerous ethnicities and wildlife, this is the right tour for you. Arba Minch is the place to enjoy wildlife - in the Nech Sar National Park and on the Chamo Lake, which includes one of the most spectacular displays of big crocodiles and hippos in Africa. If you get lucky, you might catch a glimpse of zebra, camels, flamingos, giraffes, elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, or buffalo in Mago National Park.
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During the course of the tour, we will ride through the regions of Jinka, Turmi, Konso, and Mursi. You will have the opportunity to meet some of the most fascinating tribes in the country and become acquainted with their customs and traditions. Ride up close and personal with some of the wildlife and enjoy some great off-road tracks. There is something for everybody!
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TOUR DETAILS
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Host:
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Africa Riding Adventures Tours ADDAF2
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Tour Character:
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Adventure tour with in-depth cultural experience
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Start/End:
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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Duration:
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14 days (incl. arrival and departure)
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Riding days:
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12 days
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Entire Route:
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Approximately 1568 miles (2524 km)
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Motorcycles:
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KTM 640 LC4 Enduro, KTM 525XC Desert Racing
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Group riding:
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Required
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Number of participants:
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4-6
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Accommodation:
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Hotels where possible, tents where necessary
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Highlights:
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Nech Sar National Park, Lake Chamo, crocodile farm, Lake Stepahy, Mago National Park, Shalo and Abyata Lakes National Parks, Hamer Tribe, Geleb Tribe, Mursi Tribe, Karo Tribe, Tsemay Tribe, Konso Tribe, native cuisine.
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PRICING & DATES
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*rates based on a 4-6 person group
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€3,545
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per rider
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TOUR DATES
Nov. 19 - Dec. 2, 2008
March 5 - 18, 2009
Nov. 18 - Dec. 1, 2009
March 5 - 18, 2010
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€1,700
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per passenger
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EURO
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Currency
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CURRENCY ASSISTANT 
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ALL TOURS
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DAY BY DAY
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 Day 1:
Addis Ababa
Arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Cultural evening in one of the best restaurants in Addis. Overnight in Addis.
Day 2:
Addis Ababa - Arba Minch
(314 mi/505 km; asphalt)
Departure to Arba Minch, or "Forty Springs", which takes its name from the bubbling streams springing up. Arba Minch is located right in the Rift Valley, making it the perfect base to explore the region. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Day 3:
Arba Minch
(68 mi/110 km; off-road)
Visit the Nech Sar National Park and ride through beautiful tracks, fantastic for bird watching and wildlife spotting. In the afternoon, take a boat trip to Lake Chamo, one of the biggest in the region, and be amazed by one of the most impressive displays of big crocodiles and hippos in Africa. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Day 4:
Arba Minch
(93 mi/150 km; asphalt & off-road)
Visit the villages of Dorze and Chencha, traveling through stunning landscapes. Admire the beautiful cloth made in this area and the bamboo hats that last over 80 years. An unusual attraction is the crocodile farm, where visitors can see at close hand these animals at various stages of growth. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Day 5:
Arba Minch - Turmi
(176 mi/283 km; off-road)
Departure to Turmi, which will be our base to explore the area. Camping overnight in Turmi.
Day 6:
Turmi
(130 mi/210 km; off-road)
Visit Lake Stephany, which presents an awesome spectacule of blistering saline lake bed bounded in the distance by jagged mountains. Enjoy riding at full speed close to the wild animals. Visit the village of Dimeka. The Monday market is not to be missed, with large numbers of Hamer people coming to buy, sell, and exchange news. Camping overnight in Turmi.
Day 7:
Turmi
(152 mi/245 km; off-road)
Departure to Omorate, where other Omo Valley tribes like the Geleb and Karo will be seen. Geleb and Karo men sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes, with special ochre 'caps' of hair usualy containing several ostrich feather. Visit the northern tip of Lake Turkana. Camping overnight in Turmi.
Day 8:
Turmi - Mago National Park
(85 mi/136 km; off-road)
Departure to Mago National Park, where the Karo Tribe are one of the main points of interest. They're experts at painting using clays and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic patterns on each other's faces, chests, arms, and legs. There will be some difficult tracks for about 30 km (19 mi).
Day 9:
Mago National Park - Jinka
(81 mi/130 km; off-road)
Visit the Mago National Park, famed for the diversity of its larger wildlife species - the kind you expect to find in the African savannah. Get acquainted with the nearby tribes, namely the Mursi tribe, whose women split and stretch their lower lips to make room for the insertion of terracotta or wooden dishes as a sign of beauty. In the evening we will depart for Jinka, where we will spend the night.
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Click here for more photos!
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Day 10:
Jinka - Yabelo
(168 mi/270 km; off-road)
Departure to Yabelo, stopping in Konso to visit one of the villages and the King's Palace, where mummification is still practiced. This is a very nice and fun road. Overnight in Yabelo.
Day 11:
Yabelo - Yirgalem
(152 mi/245 km; asphalt)
Departure to Yirgalem. We will stay in what is, in our opinion, the best eco-lodge in the country, hiden inside untouched forest. Overnight in Yirgalem.
Day 12:
Yirgalem - Langano
(112 mi/180 km; asphalt & off-road)
Departure to Langano. Visit the Shala and Abyata Lakes National Parks. Abyata feeds thousands of water birds, especially flamingos and white pelicans, while Shala provides their nesting areas. Overnight in Langano.
Day 13:
Langano - Addis Ababa
(130 mi/210 km; asphalt)
Departure to Addis Ababa. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner in one of the best restaurants in Addis. There are many good restaurants, bars, discos, live jazz, and cultural dance venues to offer if you want to extend your stay. Overnight in Addis Ababa.
Day 14:
Flight home.
Note: We reserve the right to make changes.
 Ready to ride? Book here
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This tour is best suited for very experienced riders with the ability to ride with full confidence on any surface.
