We are expert of Photography Expedition to Ethiopia. Ethiopia provides an exciting and rare chance for photographers to document undiluted exotic ethnic traditions by centuries, colorful festivals, ancient African civilizations, amazing nature & exciting wildlife different from the usual African wildlife safari. Because of all these unique mixes of attractions & uncommon photography opportunities, traveling to Ethiopia is like traveling to multiple countries on one trip.
Day 1: Addis Ababa
Arrive at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Met by your ground handler and transferred to the Radisson Blu Hotel for 1 nights stay, by private vehicle.
Day 2: Flight to Mekel and drive to Hamed Ella
Afternoon Flight to Mekele and drive to Homedale via Berehale, which is about totally160km from Mekele. Initially we will drive 100km from Mekele to Berhale, then here in Berhale we will have a lunch stop ( using lunch box) and the place where we will pick up police scouts, road guides and permits for the Afar region. Then we will drive around 60km from Berehale to Hamedella. Along the way we will see the camel caravans, whom carrying salt from the salt lake to Mekele for sale.
Day 3: Dallol /Danakil Depression
Two days we will have photographic shooting of Dallol, which at 116m below sea level is the lowest point on the African continent. Admire the stunning landscape, the ground many shades of red, yellow and orange from the hot water, acids and minerals spurting up from the ground. where lakes of acid form colorful sulfur formation in the hottest and deepest part of Danakil depression and you will also witness the cutting of salt bricks and salt being loading on to camels for the long caravans (approximately 1500-2000 camels weekly).
Day 4: Dallol /Danakil Depression and afternoon to Hawzen
Early morning final shooting of the Dallol area before departing to Hawzen. The at 11:00 we drive to the Hawzen the place where Tigray Rock churches and amazing scenery found.
Day 5: Tigray Rock hewn churches
Abuna Yemata Guh: This is the most compelling church in the cluster. Probably the most spectacularly situated rock hewn church any were in Ethiopia. This small but, very beautiful church has been carved in to the top of the fully perpendicular rock pillars. The interior of the church is reached via a small crack in the rock, is notable for its extensive and paintings show apostles and Abune Yemata on horseback.
There are stunning views from the narrow ledge that leads to the church, looking over a sheer drop of roughly 200m.
The last part of the ascent to Abune Yemata Gus involves clambering up a sheer cliff face using handgrips and foot holds. Afternoon we head to Axum visiting the historical Adwa mountains one the battle field of Ethiopians and Italians.
Day 6, 7: Fly to Gondar for our Semien Mountains Park visit
Simien Mountains National Park, listed as a World Heritage Site in 1918, is one of the more dramatic national parks of Ethiopia We will visit the Semien Mountains National Park on each of the two days.
Day 8: We will be in the Semien Mountains National Park
We will be in the Semien Mountains National Park up until noon on this day and then drive to Gondor and overnight at Goha Hotel. The next morning we will continue our journey to Lalibela.
Day 9, 10: A flight transfer to Lalibela
A flight transfer to Lalibela. Here we will spend time visiting the famous rock hewn churches and architectural wonders of this region. The most famous of these is the rock hewn church with its underground inter leading passages. The following day has been dedicated to visit the rock churches.
Day 11, 12: we will fly back to Addis
After breakfast we will fly back to Addis for our connection flight to Arba Minch. Then drive to Jinka town for 2 nights stay at Omo Eco Lodge. With an elevation of 1490 meters above sea level, the town has a moderate temperature and serves as a capital of the South Omo region. The Ari people dominantly live in and around Jinka and they are the most populated in the whole Omo region. They have adapted the western clothing and their traditional huts are now replacing by the iron roof housing. Out of Jinka is where you find the world’s most fascinating tribes.
Day 13, 14: Drive to the Omo Valley
Drive to the Omo Valley through several village & towns to where the Kara Tribe resides along the Omo River. On the way we will stop by the UNESCO Cultural site of Konso. Konso Cultural Landscape is a 55km arid properties of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia.
Over the next two days, spend the best hours of the day photographing people in the villages as they go about their daily activates, along the river planting crops, herding livestock, and traditional tribal dancing in the evening, whilst allowing plenty of time to set up individual & group portraits. We will also visit the village of Labuke. Our lodges location will allow us unprecedented access to village life and some of the more remote tribes. It will also allow us the unique possibility of mingling with some of these tribes in hours when tourists are not present.
Day 15, 16: we will transfer to Turmi and the Hammer tribe
After breakfast we will transfer to Turmi and the Hammer tribe in the Omo Valley. We will use Turmi as the base for the next three days of photography, allowing us to be flexible and capitalize on all the photographic opportunities in the area. During the stay in Turmi, we wilI also visit and photograph the Erbore and Dassenech tribes.
Turmi is notably the home of the Hamar tribe. The Hamar women wear beautiful, colourful, beaded skins, ornate necklaces and metal bangles around their wrist and ankles. They are famous for their unique hairstyle, which is made up of a crown of long dread-lock braids covered in ocher.
Another tribe are the Dassenech which are a semi-nomadic tribe and they stretch across Sudan, Kenya and southern Ethiopia. They are known for their unique and ornate hair buns. In the afternoon the guides will check if a bull jumping ceremony will be taking place – which if it is a spectacular affair that stuns the senses with its energy, smells and photographic appeal.
Day 17: Drive to Arbaminch
Today we drive to Arbaminch visiting the Konso and Tsemay tribes.
Day 18: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and night departure
We will take the scheduled flight back to Addis Ababa. Shopping in Addis and evening attend farewell dinner in the best restaurant with traditional live music and traditional dish. Then depart to Bole international airport to catch the night flight.
Arrive at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Met by your ground handler and transferred to the Radisson Blu Hotel for 1 nights stay, by private vehicle.
Afternoon Flight to Mekele and drive to Homedale via Berehale, which is about totally160km from Mekele. Initially we will drive 100km from Mekele to Berhale, then here in Berhale we will have a lunch stop ( using lunch box) and the place where we will pick up police scouts, road guides and permits for the Afar region. Then we will drive around 60km from Berehale to Hamedella. Along the way we will see the camel caravans, whom carrying salt from the salt lake to Mekele for sale.
Two days we will have photographic shooting of Dallol, which at 116m below sea level is the lowest point on the African continent. Admire the stunning landscape, the ground many shades of red, yellow and orange from the hot water, acids and minerals spurting up from the ground. where lakes of acid form colorful sulfur formation in the hottest and deepest part of Danakil depression and you will also witness the cutting of salt bricks and salt being loading on to camels for the long caravans (approximately 1500-2000 camels weekly).
Early morning final shooting of the Dallol area before departing to Hawzen. The at 11:00 we drive to the Hawzen the place where Tigray Rock churches and amazing scenery found.
Abuna Yemata Guh: This is the most compelling church in the cluster. Probably the most spectacularly situated rock hewn church any were in Ethiopia. This small but, very beautiful church has been carved in to the top of the fully perpendicular rock pillars. The interior of the church is reached via a small crack in the rock, is notable for its extensive and paintings show apostles and Abune Yemata on horseback.
There are stunning views from the narrow ledge that leads to the church, looking over a sheer drop of roughly 200m.
The last part of the ascent to Abune Yemata Gus involves clambering up a sheer cliff face using handgrips and foot holds. Afternoon we head to Axum visiting the historical Adwa mountains one the battle field of Ethiopians and Italians.
Simien Mountains National Park, listed as a World Heritage Site in 1918, is one of the more dramatic national parks of Ethiopia We will visit the Semien Mountains National Park on each of the two days.
We will be in the Semien Mountains National Park up until noon on this day and then drive to Gondor and overnight at Goha Hotel. The next morning we will continue our journey to Lalibela.
A flight transfer to Lalibela. Here we will spend time visiting the famous rock hewn churches and architectural wonders of this region. The most famous of these is the rock hewn church with its underground inter leading passages. The following day has been dedicated to visit the rock churches.
After breakfast we will fly back to Addis for our connection flight to Arba Minch. Then drive to Jinka town for 2 nights stay at Omo Eco Lodge. With an elevation of 1490 meters above sea level, the town has a moderate temperature and serves as a capital of the South Omo region. The Ari people dominantly live in and around Jinka and they are the most populated in the whole Omo region. They have adapted the western clothing and their traditional huts are now replacing by the iron roof housing. Out of Jinka is where you find the world’s most fascinating tribes.
Drive to the Omo Valley through several village & towns to where the Kara Tribe resides along the Omo River. On the way we will stop by the UNESCO Cultural site of Konso. Konso Cultural Landscape is a 55km arid properties of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia.
Over the next two days, spend the best hours of the day photographing people in the villages as they go about their daily activates, along the river planting crops, herding livestock, and traditional tribal dancing in the evening, whilst allowing plenty of time to set up individual & group portraits. We will also visit the village of Labuke. Our lodges location will allow us unprecedented access to village life and some of the more remote tribes. It will also allow us the unique possibility of mingling with some of these tribes in hours when tourists are not present.
After breakfast we will transfer to Turmi and the Hammer tribe in the Omo Valley. We will use Turmi as the base for the next three days of photography, allowing us to be flexible and capitalize on all the photographic opportunities in the area. During the stay in Turmi, we wilI also visit and photograph the Erbore and Dassenech tribes.
Turmi is notably the home of the Hamar tribe. The Hamar women wear beautiful, colourful, beaded skins, ornate necklaces and metal bangles around their wrist and ankles. They are famous for their unique hairstyle, which is made up of a crown of long dread-lock braids covered in ocher.
Another tribe are the Dassenech which are a semi-nomadic tribe and they stretch across Sudan, Kenya and southern Ethiopia. They are known for their unique and ornate hair buns. In the afternoon the guides will check if a bull jumping ceremony will be taking place – which if it is a spectacular affair that stuns the senses with its energy, smells and photographic appeal.
Today we drive to Arbaminch visiting the Konso and Tsemay tribes.
We will take the scheduled flight back to Addis Ababa. Shopping in Addis and evening attend farewell dinner in the best restaurant with traditional live music and traditional dish. Then depart to Bole international airport to catch the night flight.