5 Days Tour to World Heritage–listed Harrar, Dire Dawa and Awash NATIONAL PARK

World Heritage–listed Harar is a place apart. With its 368 alleyways squeezed into just 1 sq km, it’s more reminiscent of Fez in Morocco than any other city in the Horn. Its countless mosques and shrines, animated markets, crumbling walls and charming people will make you feel as if you’ve floated right out of the 21st century. It’s the east’s most memorable sight and shouldn’t be missed. As if that wasn’t enough, there are many chances to get up close and personal with wild hyenas. It’s a rare traveller who doesn’t enjoy it here.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival of Addis Ababa and Sight seeing

Stop At: Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa
Arrival of Addis Ababa and meet the Simien Image Tours representative. Then transfer your hotel. Depending on your arrival time make sightseeing in Addis Ababa. You will visit around Addis. AM We exploring Addis Ababa beginning with a visit to the National Museum, one of the most important sub- Saharan museums in all of Africa? The museum is home to the fossilized humanoid Lucy, as well as an amazing collection of artefacts, royal items and art. We then visit the Ethnological Museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie.

PM we take time in St. George Cathedral, built in 1896 by Emperor Menelik and then continue on to Holy Trinity Cathedral. Holy Trinity Cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in Ethiopia and has survived through many historical periods, as its interesting architecture can attest to. The Cathedral contains the thrones and the tombs of the emperor and some of the royal family. Visit Merkato, the largest open
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Caravan Hotel

Day 2: Drive Addis Ababa to Harar

Stop At: Awash National Park, Awash National Park, Afar Region
Morning pick-up from your hotel in Addis Ababa and drive across the rift valley to Harar.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Zubeyda Guest house or similar

Day 3: Full Day Harar visit

Stop At: Harar, Harar, Harari Region
In the morning after breakfast walk around Harare which is the eastern part of Ethiopia known for being origin for the Ethiopian first grade coffee and old historical tourist attraction site for its unique old round wall built at early of 15th century by the governor of Harar.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Harari, Ethiopia
Morning after breakfast full day in Harare for the Walled City of Harar, these includes visit of the old wall; 5m-high wall was erected by Nur Ibn al-Wazir Mujahid. In addition to the wall and its gates, you visit a typical Harari house, the Harari Museum and the house of the famous French poet, Arthur Rimbaud. In the evening you will watch hyena feeding show
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Zubeyda Guest house or similar

Day 4: Drive to Awash National park

Stop At: Dire Dawa, Dire Dawa
In the morning, drive to Dire Dawa to visit Lege Oda Primitive Cave Paintings. En-route, you will have a short stop to visit Aweday chat market. Then, drive to Awash National Park
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Awash National Park, Awash National Park, Afar Region
Then, drive to Awash National Park
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Awash Falls Lodge

Day 5: After a Park visit-drive to Addis

Pass By: Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa
Game drive in the Awash National Park to visit Awash River gorge and Awash River Falls. The thorny bushes of Awash National Park supports not only beautiful birds but also some mammals such as Beisa Oryx, Sommering’s Gazelle, Salt’s Dik Dik, Warthog, Black backed Jackal, Hamadriyas Baboon, Greater and Lesser Kudus. Then, return to Addis Ababa. In the evening, you will be invited farewell dinner in one of the best traditional restaurants of the capital with a show of folkloric music and dances of the different Ethiopian people. Then, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.