- Wild Frontiers

Transcription

- Wild Frontiers

Charity Trek: Ethiopia Lowest to Highest – from the
Danakil Depression to the top of Ras Dashan
Trek through the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and harshest places on earth, to Erta
Ale Volcano before venturing high into the Simien Mountains to summit Ras Dashan - taking
you from the lowest to highest points in Ethiopia.
This charity trek is our major fundraiser for our 2016 Wild Frontiers Foundation campaign – 3
countries, 3 education projects, £30,000. Ethiopia is one of our favourite countries, which
we have enjoyed travelling to for over 10 years. With its diverse and challenging
environments, it makes the perfect setting for a fundraising trip that will help give back to
young people in a community that is close to our heart.
The money raised from the trek will go towards the Wild Frontiers Foundation project to
establish four new e-learning centres in remote school across Ethiopia. It costs £2500 to set
up each e-learning centre and install 25 recycled computers, loaded with educational
software. Teachers from the schools will also be trained in basic digital literacy skills, simple
hardware maintenance and how to use computers to teach a different subjects.
This is a self-funded trek, in that you pay your way to take on the challenge, and we ask you
to commit to raise a minimum of £500 for the cause.
This trip offers amazing sites and challenges in equal measures, also giving you the
opportunity to kick off your walking boots and enjoy the country’s colourful capital, Addis
Ababa, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lalibela with its amazing rock hewn churches and
the medieval castles of Gondar.
“Ethiopia is, quite simply stunning; the sites are like nothing I have seen elsewhere and
the people are warm, friendly and welcoming.” Katie Coates
Duration: 18 Days
Average group size: 5 – 16
Start: Sun 13 Nov 2016
Finish: Wed 30 Nov 2016
WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7751 0710
Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com
TOUR DETAILS
TOUR CODE: ECT/C
HIGHLIGHTS
 Trek in the Danakil Depression from the base to the rim of Erta Ale Volcano
 Camp on the rim of the volcano
 Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Dallol
 7-day trek through the Simien Mountains to the summit of Ras Dashan
 Visit isolated villages and remote camp among spectacular scenery
 Visit Camara, our charity partners in Ethiopia, and see e-learning projects in action
Accommodation and Pitching in: The remote camps will be fairly basic and it will be all
hands on deck in the evening. While we will have a trek team, you will be expected to pitch
in and help put up the two-man dome tents and generally participate in camp duties. Cooks
will be on hand to whip up a hearty meal at the end of each day, but helping peel a carrot
or two is always appreciated. During the non-trekking part of the itinerary you will stay in
hotels. Please note the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only
and is always subject to availability.
Transport: 4WD vehicles, minibuses, planes and of course by foot.
Climate: Temperatures will vary greatly between the Danakil Depression and the Highlands.
We have chosen this time of year to run the trek as it is cooler in the Danakil, however it can
still reach daytime temperatures in the 40s (centigrade), dropping into the 20s at night and
rainfall is rare. In the Highlands, the temperature is fairly consistent year round, hovering in
the mid-20s in the daytime and falling to lows of 6/8 degrees at night. Slightly cooler again
at altitude. The only real change is in rainfall, but as this trip runs between the end of the
long rains in September and the start of the short rains in May, rain shouldn’t be a problem.
3-day Erta Ale Volcano trek: The trek is not technically demanding, however it will be
undertaken partially at night (making walking a little more difficult) when the temperature
drops into the high 20s. During non-trekking days in the Danakil temperatures can exceed 40
degrees so you must be able to cope with extreme heat.
7-day Simien Mountain trek: In the Highlands you will be walking at altitudes between
3200m and 4620m. Some days are easier than others as you follow what is better described
as a goat track than a well-established path, stoney in places with some tough climbs and
descents. Crossing the Bwahit pass at 4200m in the foothills of Ras Dashan is a long and
strenuous day as it the climb to the summit with some rock scrambling as you ascend 100m.
Luggage while trekking: To take a load off while trekking we will have camels, mules and
horses to transport luggage and camping equipment, leaving you to carry just a small
daypack. Bring an extra bag as you will be able to leave things you don’t need while trekking
behind.
Is this trip for me? It may sound obvious, but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone.
Please take time to read the dossier carefully. Anyone in a good state of health, reasonably
fit, with an open mind, not worried about creature comforts and a big sense of adventure
should be able to cope with this trip.
Adventure Rating 
Comfort Grade 
Fitness Level

Cultural Interest 
Additional Comments: Vegetarians can be catered for, but the selection and variety of food
may be limited. Please give us plenty of notice of dietary requirements.
Afar guides. We then continue through the
desert where we reach the basalt rock
formed by old lava flows. A slow and
bumpy drive brings us to the base of Erta
Ale Volcano. After loading up the camels
we will start our trek to the rim of the
volcano at around sunset, to avoid walking
during the heat of the day. The trek will
take 4 – 5 hours, with the latter part of the
walk taking part in the dark. The path is
not that steep, but it is important
everyone has a torch and sticks together.
We camp on the crater rim, a safe distance
away from the lava!
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
Day 1: Addis Ababa: Meeting at our hotel
this morning, there will be time to rest
before having lunch and a tour around
Ethiopia’s bustling capital, including the
Trinity Cathedral and Mercato, the biggest
open air market in Africa. While in Addis
we hope to visit a Camara e-learning
project, so that you can see how your
trekking and fundraising efforts will
benefit Ethiopian school children.
Capital Hotel or similar (L, D)
Day 2: Addis Ababa – Afrera: This morning
we’ll take a morning flight to Semera, the
capital of the Afar region. Once landed in
Semera, we will make our way into the
barren landscape of the Danakil Desert. All
the while we will be slowly losing altitude
and by the time we reach Lake Afrera we
will be 100m below sea level. The road is
asphalt all the way, as the lake is used for
salt extraction. Our camp will be on the
shores of Lake Afrera, next to a hot spring
which is perfect for an evening bath!
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
Day 3: Lake Afrera – Erta Ale Volcano: In
the morning we will have time to walk
through the salt extraction works and
saline pools and explore this scruffy but
fascinating frontier town. We then start
our drive leaving the tarmac and head out
over the sand towards Erta Ale Volcano.
After several hours, we reach Kusrawad,
an Afar village, where we pick up our local
Day 4: Erta Ale Volcano: Erta Ale is an
active volcano, which has one of only 5
lava lakes in the world and is a spectacular
sight. Today we have the full day to
explorer the volcano and its surroundings.
Due to the heat, our explorations will be
confined to the early morning and late
afternoon with a long break in-between.
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
Day 5: Erta Ale Volcano – Dallol: This
morning will be an early start as we leave
camp before dawn. On arriving at the
bottom of the volcano we will freshen up
before driving to Dallol. The driving is all
off road, through the desert. We stop at a
palm grove for lunch and should have a
chance to try some of the local palm wine.
In the afternoon we will arrive at
Ahmedela, a small temporary settlement
where the salt caravans meet before their
long walk to Mekele. Trekking time 3 – 4
hours.
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
Day 6: Dallol – Mekele: Dallol is like
nowhere else; a bizarre landscape of
colourful mineral deposits, sulphur pools
and geysers, where we’ll have the morning
to explorer this seemingly alien terrain.
We will also visit the bizarre landscape of
the salt canyons before making our way
town the town of Mekele, where en route
we may get the chance to see the arduous
work of salt being extracted by hand and
loaded onto camels.
Axum Hotel or similar (B,L,D)
Day 7: Mekele – Lalibela: We have a full
day driving through stunning countryside,
to Lalibela, taking time to stop and enjoy
the epic landscape we’re passing through.
Tukul Village or similar (B,L,D)
Day 8: Lalibela: In the morning, we will
visit the cluster of churches, including the
famous church of St George, which is
carved in the shape of a cross from the red
basalt rock. In the afternoon, we will visit
the second cluster of amazing rock hewn
churches – another UNESCO World
Heritage Site – that will simply stagger
you!
Tukul Village or similar(B,L,D)
Day 9: Lalibela – Gonder – Simien
Mountains (Sankaber Camp 3250m): A
midday flight will transfer us to Gonder
where we will be picked up and drive
through Debark to the Simien Mountain
National Park, the biggest mountain range
in Africa also known as the roof of Africa.
Our destination for tonight is Sankaber
camp. En route we will pass open pastures
with grazing horses and distant rocky
peaks with superb views over the eroded
foothills of the Simien Mountains, the high
chain in Africa. Hopefully we’ll also get a
glimpse of the Gelada baboons and
Lammergeyer vultures. Depending on the
arrival time there may be an opportunity
for an introductory walk. Our days in the
Simiens, will be spent walking between
the altitudes of 3200m and 4620m.
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
Day 10: Sankaber Camp – Geech Camp
(3600m): Today’s trek takes up from
Sankaber to Geech Camp along the edge of
the escarpment passing through Amhara
villages, stopping to admire their way of
life. En route we will stop at one of the
most impressive sights in the Simien
Mountains, where the Jinbar River
plummets into the Geech Abyss. The Abyss
is a vast canyon cut into the main wall of
the escarpment. Our route will then
continue through the village of Geech, a
cluster of thatched roofed huts with
scattered groups of giant lobelias.
For the duration of the trek, mules and
horses will carry our entire luggage,
camping gear and those too tired to walk!
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
(5 – 7 hrs walk)
Day 11: Geech Camp - Chennek Camp
(3620m): Leaving Geech camp we head
towards one of the finest viewpoints in the
area, Imet Gogo (3925m). The views will
simply stagger you, stretching across to
the lowlands and the eroded summits of
the escarpment edge. From here, we
proceed to Chennek camp passing through
groups of giant lobelias and amazing views
of the valley below from the nearby edge
of the escarpment.
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
(5 – 7 hrs walk)
Day 12: Chennek Camp – Bwahit pass –
Ambico (3200m): Today head towards the
village of Ambico, located on the foothills
of Ras Dashen, the highest peak in
Ethiopia. To get there we will cross the
Bwahit pass (4200m), the second highest
peak in the Simiens. With a bit of luck we
might also spot the endemic Walia Ibex.
Today will be a long day but the amazing
views will make it all worthwhile.
Remote Camp (B,L,D
(7 – 9 hrs walk)
Day 13:Ambico – Ras Dashen (4620m) –
Ambico (3200m): Today we climb the
highest peak in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen. We
follow the main valley up and climb
steeply until eventually arriving at the
summit. Please note that there will be
some rock scrambling to get to the
summit. Another tough day as we ascent
nearly 100m but on a clear day, the views
from the top of Ras Dashen extend all the
way to Eritrea (or so they say!)
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
(9 – 11 hrs walk)
Day 14: Ambico – Sona (3000m): Today
we will trek to the village of Sona enjoying
fantastic views of peaks seen in previous
days such as Imet Gogo but from different
angles. As we trek through cultivated
fields and Amhara villages slowly
descending to Sona Camp.
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
(10 – 11 hrs walk)
Day 15: Sona – Lamo (1850m): Today our
walk will descend steeply for the first 3
hours to the Ansiye River, located at
nearly 2000m. Here there will be an
opportunity to rest and freshen up, before
we will then continue down to the village
of Lamo.
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
(4 – 6 hrs walk)
Day 16: Lamo – Mulit (2100m): This
morning we will continue to follow the
Ansiye River downstream - there may be
chance to spot vervet monkeys and the
varied birdlife. The last part of the day
will involve a last ascent to Mulit camp.
Remote Camp (B,L,D)
(6 – 7 hrs walk)
Day 17: Mulit – Gonder: This morning we
will take our last couple of hours trek to
Adi Arkay where we will be picked up and
transferred to Gonder (4 – 5 hrs drive).
Once in Gonder, we will have time for a
well-deserved shower and free time to
wonder in town.
Goha Hotel or similar(B,L,D)
Day 18: Gonder – Addis Ababa: Depending
on flight times, we will have some time to
visit Gonder. We’ll visit the beautiful
church of Debre Birhan Selassie (Light of
the Trinity) with its wonderful murals.
We’ll also visit the Royal Enclosure, a
UNSCO World Heritage Site with its
medieval castles; architecturally unique
and unlike anything else found in SubSaharan Africa. Once in Addis Ababa we
will have day rooms before having a last
dinner where the tour ends.
Day Rooms at the Capital Hotel or similar
(B, L, D)
NB, those on the suggested group flight
will be transferred to the airport after
dinner tonight for their flight in the early
hours of what would be Day 19.
Extensions: If you have more time
available, why not arrive early to adjust to
a new time zone or just to get a feel for
the country before your tour starts? Or
alternatively you might choose to allow a
few extra days after the tour to relax or to
undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can
usually arrange anything from simply
additional accommodation and transfers
to full tailor-made itineraries.
Here is just a small sample of what you
could do:Omo Valley: Visit one of the most
culturally diverse regions in Ethiopia,
home to several unique and fascinating
tribes. 12-15 days.
The Great African Rift Valley: For nature
lovers, this extension to one of Africa’s
predominant geological features gives you
the opportunity for some great bird
watching and relaxing on the shores of
beautiful Lake Langano. 3-4 days.
Please contact the office for more
details and to discuss your individual
requirements.
Warning!
The British Foreign & Commonwealth
Office (FCO) sometimes advises against
certain parts of this itinerary. Before
deciding to book this trip you should first
read the advice on their website www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. You
will need to sign a disclaimer to confirm
you have read the advice and if you are a
UK citizen, you will also need insurance
that will remain valid throughout the
entire trip. One such insurance policy is
Travel & General’s Wild Frontiers Elite
policy. For more information, please see
the Insurance section below or contact us.
Non-UK clients should check the travel
advice of their own governments as well as
the small print of their insurance policy.
PRICING
Tour price: All our tours are priced on a
land-only basis, giving you maximum
flexibility when deciding how to get to and
from your tour. For the latest prices,
please refer to our website or contact the
office.
Travelling Solo & Single Supplements: As
a company approximately 70% of our
clients are solo travellers, so it’s very
unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twinshare
accommodation
but
single
supplements are not compulsory for any
Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to
pay a single supplement we’ll pair you
with someone else of the same sex for you
to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a
single supplement then please note that it
will cover you for all nights of the tour
including all camping nights.
Flights: If you would like us to send you a
quote for the suggested tour flight (see
GETTING THERE) or on any alternative
flight that may suit you better, please let
us know although it should be noted that
in most cases we are only able to quote on
flights originating in the UK.
case we can arrange any transfers or
supplementary accommodation that you
may require.
Please remember that all Wild Frontiers
tour prices mean NO hidden extras, NO
local payments and NO compulsory single
supplements.
Please note that if you are planning on
making your own flight arrangements, we
recommend that you first check with us to
see if the trip is guaranteed. We then
suggest that you purchase flights that are
flexible and ideally refundable as due to
the nature of adventure travel, itineraries
and destination accessibility can change at
any time. For more information, please
refer to our booking conditions.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
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Full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour
Leader with local guides and drivers
Meal plan as detailed in the itinerary
(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
with drinking water as required with
the majority of meals being taken in
local restaurants where viable
All transport as outlined in the
itinerary
All accommodation
2-man dome tents while camping
Foam mats while camping
All entrance fees, as per itinerary
A carbon-offsetting contribution to
Carbon Clear (if booking international
flights through WF office)
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
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Visas (if applicable)
Local airport taxes
Tips (always optional, but some
guidance will be given in the predeparture information pack you’ll
receive after booking)
Beverages other than drinking water
& any costs of a personal nature
International flights to/from the
start/finish of the trip
Airport transfers (unless booking
suggested flights through WF office)
GETTING THERE
For this trip our suggested flights from
the UK (subject to change) are:
12NOV ET701 LHR-ADD 21:00/07:00+1
01DEC ET710 ADD-LHR 01:10/07:00
Key:
LHR – London Heathrow
ADD – Addis Ababa
ET – Ethiopian Airlines
NB If you wish to arrange your own flights
you are completely free to do so and in this
Insurance: Insurance that provides cover
for emergency repatriation in case of a
medical emergency is compulsory for all
tours. You should be aware that due to
some of the geographical areas visited and
some of the activities included on certain
of our trips some standard insurance
policies may not always provide adequate
cover. As such we strongly recommend
that you purchase a policy that adequately
covers your trip.
Travel & General offer a tailor-made
policy that provides cover for all Wild
Frontiers trips. Under this policy there are
two different levels of cover available Standard and Elite.
Cover explained:
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel
insurance policy that provides cover for all
Wild Frontiers activities, including
trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not
provide cover for travel to areas where the
FCO is advising against all or all but
essential travel except where it has been
previously agreed.
Elite
policy:
provides
the
same
comprehensive level of cover as the
standard policy. In addition the Elite
policy also provides cover for travel to
areas where the FCO is advising against all
or all but essential travel. The policy will
not provide cover for any claims arising
from or relating to the reasons why the
FCO is advising against travel.
For this trip the minimum requirement
would be the Elite policy.
These policies are only available to those
travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday and
can be purchased on a trip-specific basis
or annual cover. For more information
please refer to the details on our website
www.wildfrontierstravel.com/insurance
or by calling Travel & General direct on +
44 (0) 845 345 3456. This insurance is
available to EU residents (excluding
Norway & Switzerland) up to the age of 75.
It covers horse riding, mountain walking,
trekking, white-water rafting and all other
activities we offer as part of our tours.
If you are over 75 and/or a resident of a
non-UK European country then you may
still be able to get your insurance arranged
by Travel & General Insurance Services
Limited. Please contact us for assistance
with this.
Responsible Travel: Responsible travel
and sustainable tourism are fundamental
ideas that Wild Frontiers has been
committed to since our birth. It is our
strong belief that these words should not
be simply ‘tagged on’ to dossiers and
websites but should be at the very core of
each trip, and our adventures are
therefore designed with the local people,
culture and eco-system in mind. We
believe that a successful trip not only
delivers a unique and unsurpassable
journey for our clients, but that it also
benefits the peoples whose lands we are
privileged to visit.
In 2012 we were delighted to be awarded
the Guardian Observer Best Ethical Travel
Award.
If you do decide to purchase alternative
insurance, then you must ensure that it
covers you for every aspect of this trip.
Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer
Appointed Representative of Travel &
General Insurance Service Ltd, details of
which can be found at the website of the
Financial
Conduct
Authority
(FCA)
www.fca.org.uk
Please note that no insurance policy will
cover every eventuality and terms and
conditions will apply in the event of any
claim.
Visas: Visas are necessary for many of the
destinations we travel to and while we aim
to provide you with the most up-to-date
information, requirements frequently
change and as such for the latest advice
we advise that you check with the relevant
embassies or contact our recommended
visa agency for this trip, details of which
are below:
Travcour
+44 (0) 20 8543 1846
www.travcour.com
For this tour, UK passport holders
currently require a visa for Ethiopia.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK
residents should contact the relevant
embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on
booking, however ensuring that correct
and valid visas are obtained remains the
sole responsibility of the client.
For more information, please refer to
www.wildfrontierstravel.com/rt
The Wild Frontiers Foundation: The Wild
Frontiers Foundation is the philanthropic
arm of the award-winning adventure
travel company, Wild Frontiers. Set up in
2009, the aim of the foundation is to
provide a platform to create awareness,
raise money and deliver funding to
projects throughout the developing world.
While the Wild Frontiers Foundation has
created its own development projects – in
countries such as Pakistan and India – it
also works closely with partner charities to
help deliver the highest standard of
support at the lowest possible cost.
Indeed, part sponsored as it is by Wild
Frontiers, with others working on an
entirely voluntary basis, every penny or
cent donated to the charity, goes directly
to the projects we are involved in. See
more on our foundation website.
www.wildfrontiersfoundation.org
Supporting Education in Ethiopia: As
mentioned funds raised from this trek will
aid e-learning centre projects in Ethiopian
schools, which we are working on with our
charity partners Camara. The Wild
Frontiers Foundation is proud to support
Camara, an international charity and
social enterprise that uses technology to
deliver 21st century skills to improve
education in disadvantaged communities
around the world. Through our foundation,
Wild Frontiers started working with
Camara on its classroom sponsorship
programme in 2014. With £2500 initial
funding from the foundation, Camara was
able to install 25 recycled computers,
loaded with educational software, and
create a new e-Learning Centre at Aba’ala
Secondary School in the remote Afar
region of northern Ethiopia. Teachers from
the school were also trained in basic
digital literacy skills, simple hardware
maintenance and how to use computers to
teach other subjects. With your help we
can bring four more e-learning centres to
other Ethiopian schools.
admitted to membership. All members are
required to adhere to a Code of Business
Practice
which
encourages
high
operational standards and conduct.
We ask all participants to raise a minimum
of £500 towards the cause. Once booked
on the trek we will provide you with
details of setting up a fundraising page and
getting started towards reaching your
fundraising targets.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel
advice of their respective governments.
The Environment: Trying to do our bit for
the environment, in 2005 we were among
the first UK-based travel companies to
automatically offset every client’s
international flight (if booked with us)
with a payment to Carbon Clear to help
promote sustainable
energy. To read more
about the work of
Carbon Clear, please
follow this link:www.carbon-clear.com
AITO Membership: Wild Frontiers is a
member of AITO, the Association of
Independent Tour Operators. AITO’s
charter states that its exclusive members
strive to create overseas holidays with
high levels of professionalism and a shared
concern for quality and personal service.
The Association encourages the highest
standards in all aspects of tour operating.
AITO sets criteria regarding ownership,
finance and quality which must be
satisfied before new companies are
British Foreign & Commonwealth Office:
The travel advice of the British Foreign &
Commonwealth Office (FCO) highlights
potential hazards people might experience
when travelling abroad and as an advocate
of their “Know Before You Go” campaign
we strongly suggest that you refer to it
before booking and contact us if you have
any queries or concerns. Details can be
found on the website below.
Wild Frontiers Community
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or
just want to see get some different
perspectives, then why not have a look at
the wide variety of resources we have on
our website?
Clients’ Views: See what other travellers
have said about our trips –
www.wildfrontierstravel.com/views
Blogs: See what our tour-leaders, staff and
clients have posted from the road www.wildfrontierstravel.com/blog
Videos: They may not find their way on
the list for Oscars nominations but we have
an extensive (and growing) collection of
short videos giving you an insight in many
of our destinations –
www.wildfrontierstravel.com/video
Photos: Our popular “Photo of the month”
competition has added to the vast gallery
of photos we already have from around the
world. See them here –
www.wildfrontierstravel.com/photos
Events: From time to time we hold
informal presentations, photo exhibitions
and dinner evenings mainly in the London
area. To find out more see here –
www.wildfrontierstravel.com/events
Wild Miles Club: Everyone that has booked
a trip directly with us will become an
automatic member of the Wild Miles Club
gaining instant access to a range of
exclusive discounts from a variety of travel
partners from bookshops to outdoor
clothing shops. In addition, regular direct
bookers will earn “Wild Miles” which can
earn you up to 10% in discounts off of all
tours. For more information visit this page
- www.wildfrontierstravel.com/wild-miles
Facebook: Keep up to date with the latest
news and special offers by liking our
Facebook
page
www.facebook.com/wildfrontiers
ETHIOPIA – THE FACTS
Ethiopia: Ethiopia is one of East Africa's
most popular cultural destinations. It's a
country filled with interesting historical
sights, lots of isolated tribes, interesting
religious
festivals,
and
excellent
mountains for trekking.
Addis Ababa: On first impressions, it has
to be said that the New Flower – as Addis
Ababa translates from local Amharic – is a
rather inappropriate name for a town
bursting with tatty housing, battered
transport and very persistent beggars. But
wander around a while and you will soon
discover a place, if not exactly exuding
charm then certainly interesting and well
worth a closer inspection.
Perched at an altitude of 2,400 metres –
making it the third highest capital in the
world – it enjoys clean and clear air, a
wonderful temperate climate and some
fascinating sights: the Mercato, the Kiddist
Selassie Cathedral and the national
museum – housing the famous 3½ millionyear-old Homo Afarensis Lucy – to name
but a few… As you might expect, it is also
home to a couple of cracking Ethiopian
restaurants.
Danakil
Depression:
The
Danakil
Depression is a geological depression, near
the Horn of Africa and is also a part of the
Great Rift Valley. Afar is well known as one
of the cradles of hominids, and contains
the site of Hadar, where Lucy, the
fossilized specimen of Australopithecus
afarensis was found. The depression
includes the lowest point in Africa, Lake
Asal at 155m below sea level. The Awash
River flows into the Danakil depression
where is ends in a series of lakes. It is the
only river to run its entire course within
Ethiopia’s borders. The Danakil Depression
has very low levels of rainfall and
experiences very high temperatures, the
cooler ‘rainy’ season running from
September til March, and the dry season
for the rest of the year when temperatures
often reach the high 40s (Centigrade).
Gonder: Until the beginning of the 17th
century Ethiopia had what is locally
referred to as a ‘mobile capital’. But in
1632 Fasilidas took the throne and
proclaimed Gonder as his capital, where it
remained for the next 200 years. As king
and emperor, Fasilidas not only ushered in
a period of relative calm in Abyssinia’s
turbulent history he also built a
stupendous fort at this strategic location,
added to by his successors, most of which
is still perfectly intact today.
But what makes the Gonder castle
complex important to today’s visitors,
however, is not so much the size and
grandeur of the buildings themselves but
the symbol they represent. Wandering
around the fort’s spectacular turreted
citadels, vast banqueting halls and
bathhouses leaves you in no doubt
whatsoever as to the importance of this
Christian kingdom 400 years ago.
and plummeting valleys, they are also
among the most spectacular.
Besides the colourful Amharic tribes, the
Simien Mountains are also home to a vast
assortment of wildlife, and it is not
unusual to have spotted Gelada Baboons,
the Simien fox, bushbuck and the
magnificent Lammergeyer vulture within
minutes of entering the park.
But the wonder of the Simiens does not lie
so much with the animals or the people
that live there, it is simply to watch the
sun rise or fall over a land that time
forgot.
Lalibela: The 11 rock-hewn churches of
Lalibela simply defy belief. That anyone
should have conceived of such and idea,
much less acted upon it – and, it must be
remembered, completed the job in just 24
years – really is hard to accept as the truth
but that is exactly what King Lalibela did
here at the end of the 11th Century. Mind
you, he certainly got some help. While
40,000 workers chiselled away during the
day, a host of angels toiled at night.
Standing inside the gaping nave of the
Church of Bet Medhane Alem - the largest
of the monolithic chapels - looking up past
the perfectly formed arches and tombs to
a distant ceiling, a ceiling that was carved
from below, it really does have you
wondering about the possibilities of divine
assistance.
The Simien Mountains: Climbing to an
altitude of 4,620m, stretching 100 miles
east to west, the Simien Mountains are the
largest chain in Africa. With their vaulting
granite columns, towering escarpments
How to book:
In order to confirm your booking we need to have a completed signed booking form for each client
together with a £400 deposit per person. You can either return your booking form to us by post or
by booking online at www.wildfrontierstravel.com
You can contact the office by email to [email protected] or we are very happy to take
your call on + 44 (0) 20 7736 3968.
Protection for you money:
You can book your holiday with Wild Frontiers in complete confidence that all
monies you pay to us for your tour are fully protected. Wild Frontiers is fully bonded
and licensed by ABTOT (The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Ltd) in
respect of all land only tour packages. Our ABTOT number is 5228. Under the terms
of the bond, monies are secured by a bank guarantee. For further information visit
www.abtot.com
If you choose to book your international flights with us then you will also be ATOL
protected as we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA). Our ATOL number is 5975. In the unlikely event of our insolvency,
the CAA will arrange to refund any monies to you that you have paid for an advance
booking and ensure that you are not stranded abroad. For further information visit
www.atol.org.uk
We recommend that you take out adequate travel insurance at the time of booking in the event
that you are no longer able to travel as all deposits are non-refundable – full booking conditions
can be found on the booking form and online at our website.
As I’m sure you can appreciate, Wild Frontiers trips can be
quite complex affairs to arrange and certain elements (such as
permits, visa authorisations, trains and flights) may need to be
requested several months in advance. As such, wherever
possible, we would encourage you to plan ahead and book
early to avoid disappointment. Moreover, by booking early you
are always guaranteed to get the best price with us as we will
automatically offer you a retrospective discount if we happen
to reduce the price of the tour later on. For further details,
please refer to www.wildfrontierstravel.com/price-guarantee
Further information:
When you make a confirmed booking with Wild Frontiers we will send you a pre-departure
information pack giving you details on visas, health and vaccinations, packing lists, suggested
reading on the region, photography and other useful tips to make your trip more enjoyable.
Why Wild Frontiers?
As a young and innovative independent company, Wild Frontiers is delighted to have been voted one of
the ‘Top 10 Tour Operators’ by Wanderlust readers each of the last 6 years - coming third in 2007 and
second in 2009. When National Geographic Adventure Magazine awarded us a similar accolade in 2010,
we were equally thrilled.
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Below are a
few of the factors that we believe set us apart from our competitors and form the reasons as to why our
clients travel with us again and again…
Personal Service & Expertise: Our London office is manned by experienced expedition leaders and most
trips we run stem from our first-hand knowledge - in short, we run the kind of holidays that as passionate
travellers, we like to do ourselves. When you ring our office, you can be guaranteed to chat to someone
who knows the region and the terrain and is able to offer sound and practical advice.
Authentic Experiences: Our unique, original itineraries allow you to take journeys that venture beneath
the surface of the region. We rarely run any group tour more than a couple of times a year and they are
typically on routes we have discovered for ourselves, meaning we are able to give a truly authentic, offthe-beaten-track experience.
Be the First: Our style of travel is all about exploration, and nothing excites us more than opening up
new routes to genuine travellers. We keep abreast of new destinations and are often the first to return
to places that have vanished from the tourist map. We were the first back into Pakistan after 9/11, the
first to return to Kashmir after a decade of tourist isolation, and amongst the first to run a commercial
travel trip to Afghanistan for almost 30 years. Since then we have helped bring Colombia, Yemen, Georgia
and Bangladesh back into the tourist fold, specialising in ground-breaking reconnaissance trips and
imaginative expeditions.
Small Group Size: On our escorted tours, we believe it is imperative to keep the group sizes small. Most
trips are limited to an average maximum of 12 travellers, thus giving you more access to fragile cultures,
better opportunities to interact with local people, and the knowledge you are making less of an impact
while there. “Having been a bit apprehensive about joining a group as a single traveller, I found myself
surrounded by interesting, friendly, helpful people who I hope to catch up with again on future trips.”
Angela Chick, Kashmir Group Tour
Cost of Group Tours: We believe in an honest, upfront pricing structure so you know exactly what the
tour will cost before you book. On our group tours we avoid local payments, ‘optional extras’ or forcing
our clients to go through the annoying procedure of splitting every meal bill. Our tours are provided on
a predominantly full board basis, with drinking water, government permits, entrance fees and transport
all included.
Our clients: Your companions can make or break a trip, and it’s lucky therefore that our clients are often
our greatest asset. Travelling to remote regions is not for everyone, and as such we tend to attract openminded travellers looking for genuine experiences, and a desire to reach those hard to get to places.
Responsible Travel: Awarded 5 star status by AITO (Association of Independent Tour
operators), responsible tourism (RT) has always been an integral part of our company
ethos and our adventures are designed with the local people, culture and eco-system
in mind. In 2012 we were awarded the Guardian Observer Best Ethical Travel Award.
For further details please refer to the RT section of our website www.wildfrontierstravel.com/rt

- Wild Frontiers

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