Today we have a chance to explore the city of Addis Ababa. Built on the foothills of Mount Entoto, the panorama of Addis Ababa from the 3,200-meter peak, either by day or night, is a breath-taking spectacle.

We start the city tour by visiting the National Museum where we will visit the cast of 3.2 million years old "Lucy" and different historical monuments. We proceed to The Ethnological Museum which was the palace of his majesty Emperor Haile Selassie, the last king of Ethiopia. This museum provides an overview of Ethiopian crafts, culture and art.

Continue the city tour to St George Cathedral, a very historic and old church of Addis. St. George's Cathedral Ethiopia is an Orthodox Church built in 1896. It's one of the top tourist destinations in Addis Ababa. There's also a small museum on site with lots of relics and paintings, so a trip to the Cathedral is well worth the time spent. If time permits at the end we drive through one of the biggest open-air market in Sub Saharan Africa, Merkato Market and return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Accommodation: Friendship Hotel

Meal Plan: B B

Today we drive 130 Kms North of Addis to Debre Libanos Monastery & Portuguese bridge. The Debre Libanos Monastery dated 13th century, was founded by Ethiopia’s most respected saints Tekle Haimanot. The monastery is set beneath a cliff on the edge of a canyon and a significant pilgrimage site up to date.

From here we proceed to the Blue Nile Canyon, one of the most spectacular canyons in the world – larger than the Grand Canyon in USA! One-mile-wide and one-mile-deep taking about no less than 45 minutes’ drive to reach the riverbed. Before reaching the canyon, passing through green land plateau, not far lies the 16th-century “Portuguese” bridge, the legend says the bridge is made by egg shells. The endemic gelada baboons, lammergeyers, rappels vultures, bone breaker birds are all habitats of the area.

We return to Addis for dinner in one of the traditional Ethiopian restaurants accompanied with local music & dances.

Accommodation: Friendship Hotel

Meal Plan: B B

After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for a flight to Dire Dawa. Upon arrival, we have the opportunity to explore the city, which was only founded in 1900 as a way station for the railway from Djibouti to Addis Ababa.

We will have lunch and drive to Harar, a city that has been both architecturally and historically heavily influenced by the culture of the Arabian Peninsula.  Exploring the old town with its 1294 m long city walls dating from the 16th Century is an exciting adventure. Harar is the stronghold of the Ethiopian Muslims with 99 mosques and shrines.  Visit the National and Harari museums; the house of Ras Mekonnen (father of Haile Selassie); and a traditional Harari home.  In the evening see the "Hyena Man" feeding the hyenas that gather nightly outside the town.

Accommodation: Harar Ras Hotel

Meal Plan: D B

Morning drive from Harar to Awash. Drive through the Awash National Park, visit the Awash River falls. On a game drive we will can expect to see some mammals, such as Beisa Oryx, Klipspringer, Hamadryas and Anubis baboons, Salt’s Dikidik, Grivet Monkey and others. We have lunch and enjoy the afternoon at Doho Lodge; relaxing or take a swim in the hot natural hot spring pool.

Acoomodation: Doho Lodge

Meal Plan: B L D

After breakfast we embark on morning game drives before returning to the lodge for a hot lunch.

Awash National Park is home to more than 81 species of mammals, including Ethiopia's largest protected population of Beisa Oryx. It is possible to come across other charismatic mammals such as the tiny Salt's Dik-Dik, the Grivet Monkey or the Lesser Kudu. It also offers an exceptional variety of landscapes; from the plains of Ilala Sala, to the hot springs of Filhoua, passing by the falls and canyon of Awash or the Fantale volcano (2007 m).

After lunch we depart Awash to the rift valley lakes region of Ziway.

Accommodation: Haile Resort

Meal Plan: D B

After breakfast we leave packed lunch box and depart for Lake Ziway for a day excursion on the lake. Five volcanic islands dot Lake Ziway’s surface, with hiking trails, forests, and ancient monasteries to discover. Tulu Gudo is the largest island and is famed for once acting as the hiding place of the Ark of the Convenant. The Story goes that King Menelik I, the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, brought powerful relic to Ethiopia in the 4th century B.C.  Zeway was named after Zay People who migrated from Axum with the Ark of the Covenant in 9 Century.  On a boat excursion on Ziway, we'll see families of hippos and many lowland water birds. Some familiar birds we may spot include African Fish-Eagle, Spur-winged Lapwing, and African Fish Eagle. After enjoying a picnic lunch we return to our hotel in Ziway, where we'll spend the night.

Accommodation: Haile Resort

Meal Plan: B L D

Today we check out and drive to Butajira, to visit the 12th to 15th AD stelae of Tiya. Classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, we’ll see the northernmost example of a peculiar type of engraved, standing stelae which stretch across parts of southern Ethiopia. These stellae are believed to have been erected between the 12th and 14th centuries and are almost certainly grave markers, en route, enjoy the farmland of the Gurage people and their thatched-roof circular houses. We proceed to visit the 13th century Adadi Maryam rock- hewn church (a rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela) and Melka Kunture (pre-historic tool-making site), an archeological site famous for the prehistoric stone-tool factory (1.5 million years old!) then drive back to Addis.

Accommodation: Friendship Hotel

Meal Plan: B B

Today marks the end of our trip. We will be transferred to the airport depending on the time for our departure flight.