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Black and Green Trading Ltd – t/a Journeys by Design 36 Park Crescent Brighton East Sussex BN2 3HB Tel +44 1273 623790 Fax +441273 621766 www.journeysbydesign.com ATOL 9680

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A Private Tailor made Ethiopian Journey

Tigray Trust Visit

For The Global Heritage Fund UK

Hosted by The Tigray Trust

Designed by William Jones, as discussed

MAY 2015

Fri 01 May: Arrive Addis Ababa, Sheraton Hotel 1 night

Sat 02 May: Schedule flight Lalibela, Mount View Hotel 2 nights

Mon 04 May: Drive Tigray, Gheralta Lodge 2 nights

Wed 06 May: Drive Axum, Sabian Hotel 1 night

Thurs 07 May: Scheduled flight Gondar, drive Bahir Dar, Kuriftu Lodge 2 nights

Sat 09 May: Schedule Addis Ababa, Sheraton Day Room, Depart



Your Private Itinerary The following tailor-made journey initially pushes out the frontiers of travel into the highland Christian kingdom of Abyssinia. The itinerary is primarily designed around the work of the Tigray Trust. A geophysical and field survey revealed that as well as a temple - probably dedicated to a moon God - the site includes a palace, metal-working zone, town, two cemeteries and a vast battlefield commemorated by a toppled stele carved with the disc and crescent and an inscription in early Ge'ez. Rescue excavations in the elite cemetery uncovered four rock- hewn tombs containing burials accompanied by rich grave goods – including a pendant necklace, bronze cosmetic spoon and a unique and extraordinary bowl surmounted by a horse figurine. The wealth and sophistication of this site must derive from the seams of gold and iron ore that run along the valley. The site offers huge potential for the creation of an archaeological park – the restoration of an ancient landscape that can benefit its modern-day inhabitants. It could incorporate conserved monuments, information and interpretation panels, walking trails linking up the various elements of the site and a small museum and shop where the local people can sell products such as honey, woven baskets and leatherwork. Tying in this archaeological park with the wider network of rock-hewn churches in the region - with an associated training program for local guides - would further add to the sustainability benefits to the community (10,000 people live within its immediate vicinity). The itinerary that we have personally crafted for you includes a seamless ground arrangement, from the moment that you land to the moment that you take off again for home. We will meet you off your international flight, arrange all transfers and accommodation and can be reached 24hours a day in the unlikely event of an emergency.



Your Private Itinerary

Friday 1st

May Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa

Upon arrival into Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines (please note international flights are your responsibility to

book), you will be met and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel. You will overnight here on a bed and breakfast

basis. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to experience a city tour and visits to the National and

Ethnographic Museums (time permitting). In the evening, you will head to Mama’s Kitchen for a jazz night.

The sumptuous, neo-classical Sheraton is a comfortable base for your stay in Addis. It drips in marble and

lavish furnishings, and delivers unexpected levels of luxury in one of the less privileged corners of the

continent.

Centrally located opposite the National Palace on a hilltop overlooking the city, and surrounded by wonderful

flowering gardens, Addis Sheraton boasts 293 deluxe guest rooms including 33 suites, 20 classic suites, 9 junior

suites and 4 executive suites. There is a wide selection of restaurants, boutiques, a small spa, pool (with

underwater music system), even a Vegas-style fountain light show and - one of our personal favourite

highlights - a terrific pastry trolley!

The Sheraton undoubtedly is the best-looking and best-managed hotel in the country, and while it’s very

'International’ in feel, if you look hard enough, there is still a sense of the local in the form of some great

traditional food to savour - notably the excellent breakfast buffet - alongside an attentive, professional service.



It’s difficult to find fault with the Sheraton. Perfect for those seeking a glass of fine wine, high style comfort

and respite after a couple of dusty and tiring weeks on the road. Certainly, the pleasures of an outdoor cocktail

on a balmy evening, followed by dinner in the superb haute cuisine French restaurant Les Cascades or equally

enjoyable Indian dining room Shaheen, is hard to argue with; as is the quality of massage on offer; and, with a

rare ATM right in the lobby, access to cash is virtually guaranteed.

Addis Ababa

The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa, which means new flower in Amharic. In response to possible invasions

from the south, the capital was moved from Ankober - at the end of the last century by Emperor Menelik II - to

its current strategic military position at the foot of the Entoto Hills.

Addis is the 3rd highest capital in the world (7,500 – 8,000 ft) and for that reason offers bracing temperatures

and plenty of fresh highland air. As cosmopolitan a city as any, Addis Ababa has high rise apartments, theatres

and hotels - features of developed city designs that sit not wholly comfortably alongside traditional homes of

wattle and daub. The city is characterised by its plentiful eucalyptus trees and wide streets, by the occasional

donkey train making its way among the traffic, and by the bustle of a busy but moderately sized city. Addis has

a number of attractive Orthodox churches, museums and sites of interest, one of which is Africa’s largest

market, Mercato, where everything under the sun is sold under the sun.



Saturday 2nd

May Mount View Hotel, Lalibela

This morning, you will be met and transferred to Addis Ababa airport to connect with your ET122 scheduled

flight to Lalibela at 0740hrs. Upon arrival at 0945hrs, you will be met and transferred to the Mount View Hotel

for two night’s stay on a full board basis. During your time here, you will explore the rock hewn churches of

Lalibela.

Perched at an altitude of 2,680m, this contemporary hilltop hotel of wood and glass construction is the latest,

and certainly smartest, of the privately owned lodges springing up in the Lalibela area. Built by two former

guides, Getachew and Metaso, who teamed up with an American investor to complete the lodge in 2008,

Mount View affords unbeatable panoramic vistas - both at sunrise and particularly at sunset - of the

surrounding highlands, and is arguably the best (and definitely the most scenic) accommodation option in

town.

Strikingly designed, particularly by Ethiopian standards, on the outskirts of Lalibela, it’s a modern, minimalist

hotel consisting of a roomy central living area - facing west - with large glass windows, lending it the kind of

sense of space and light not found in most hotels in the country.

Alongside numerous outdoor terraces, are thirty rooms, all of the same standard, with balconies offering

further wonderful, private views of the surrounding countryside. Bedrooms are en-suite, of a good size, clean

and comfortable, while bathrooms are simple yet functional with a comparatively reliable supply of hot water

in this arid region.



Staff are helpful and friendly, particularly the well-known Jamaican head chef who, alongside his team,

produces tasty European and local fare, served in a open dining room full of natural light (particularly beautiful

at sunrise.)

You will be able to visit Ethiopia’s famous rock hewn churches built in the 12th century and attributed to King

Lalibela. The drive from the hotel to the churches takes about five-ten minutes; the walk is about fifteen

minutes or more.

There are no less than 1000 churches in the Lasta region of Lalibela some hidden in enormous caves, but it is

exceptional to find 11 churches of such master craftsmanship in one locale.

At the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th centuries King Lalibela of the Zaghwe dynasty built a series of

rock hewn churches - the New Jerusalem as he called it - now rightly acknowledged to be one of the wonders

of the world. There are 11 churches in the town named after him, with others in the surrounding countryside.

10 are still in use today.

Stamina permitting set out on a trek to the Asheten Mariam church on Mt Ashten. You will be able to ride

mules for the majority of the trek but you will have to walk the steeper and rockier sections. This walk is quite

strenuous and unsteady underfoot so you should consider carefully whether you are up to it. It is a round trip

of 12 kilometres and is about four hours of walking. Once at the top of Asheten you can walk off the back of

the mountain into the Nakutalaub Cave Church – discuss this with your guide – not normally done but very

good fun.

Asheten is the first of the rock churches built by King Lalibela. The site of the Asheten Church was in fact where

Lalibela had proposed to build all his churches but found that there wasn’t the space and moved the remaining

23 churches to lower ground. The walk is well worth it and Asheten boasts the best views in the area. Look out

for Bateleur Eagles.



Monday 4th

May Gheralta Lodge, Tigray

This morning, after the morning church services in Lalibela, you will begin your drive to Tigray. Please note this

drive is approximately 9 hours through some very pretty countryside. We will stop en-route for picnic breaks

and any other item of interest. It is a long drive starting at about 0600hrs to ensure we reach Gheralta before

dark. You will be shown to your accommodation at Gheralta Lodge where you will spend two nights on a full

board basis. During your stay, you will visit the monastic church of Debre Mariam Korkor in addition to the

numerous built-up cave and monolithic cave churches in the region.

The main reason for the visit to Gheralta is for the private excavation tour with the Tigray Trust sites on

Tuesday 5th

May. See description of the tour on the following day.

Founded and run by Enrica and Silvio Rizzotti, this little piece of Italy in the heart of Tigre is the most exciting

hotel development in the country, setting a long-awaited and refreshingly high standard by which other

operations in Ethiopia, it is hoped, will follow.



Boasting extraordinary vistas of the sharp, imposing peaks of the Gheralta range, the lodge is beautifully built

with local stone, wood and thatch in a traditional Tigrayan style, blending effortlessly with the wild, rural

setting. Handsome, beautifully finished, and opened in 2007, it provides an ideal base, full of home comforts,

for exploring the rock-hewn churches of this mountainous province, one of Ethiopia’s best-kept secrets and a

must for those keen to combine trekking with terrific artistic and historical treasures.



There are 12 rooms at Gheralta Lodge each spotlessly clean and featuring mains electricity, comfortable beds,

bathrooms with modern appliances and the best hot power-showers we’ve had in over 20 years of Ethiopian

travels.

In the stylish main building of Gheralta Lodge there is a small lounge area with DVD player, a library and, most

welcomingly, a fine restaurant which serves simple but very tasty food - made with the best local ingredients.

Along with lovely touches such as loungers on the veranda, a book swap facility, top Italian wines and great

sunset views, Gheralta Lodge brings a very welcome dose of La Dolce Vita to the north of Ethiopia.



Tuesday 5th

May Private Excavation Tour, with the Tigray Trust

After a leisurely breakfast you will depart Gheralta Lodge to the Maryam Anza excavations in the morning

which is about a 20 minute drive.

Outline timings on the day:

9.00: Set off from Gheralta Lodge

9.20/9.30: Arrive at church of Maryam Anza. To be met by Tigray Trust Project Manager Walday Asgedom

Gebresadik and escorted to the Excavation Camp (5 minutes walk).

Louise Schofield and Jacke Philips (co- directors of the excavations) will meet the group at the camp and will

give an introductory talk.

We will then visit the ongoing excavations in the elite cemetery.

Returning to the camp we will show some of the highlights of what's been found so far.

Then we will visit the rest of the site - the stele, temple mound, palace terrace and industrial zone.

Visit should be finished by 11/11.30am.

In the evening Louise and some of her team will join us for dinner at the Gheralta Lodge to discuss the day

further.



Wednesday 6th

May Sabian Hotel, Axum

This morning, you will be transferred by road to Axum, via Nebelet and Yeha to see the German site. Upon

arrival into Axum, you will be shown to your accommodation at the Sabian Hotel where you will overnight on a

full board basis.

Sabian Hotel is a modern and centrally located hotel in Axum. All the rooms are very comfortable with satellite

televisions and wireless internet access. The hotel's restaurant serves Ethiopian and International cuisine.

Situated in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, Axum is a medium sized town. An ordinary looking place, it

hides a wealth of culture and history. Axum is the cradle of Ethiopia’s 3000 year old civilisation and, it is said,

founded by the great, great grandson of Moses. In the 6th century, in its heyday, the Axumite Kingdom was

one of the four great powers of the ancient world, ruling the two southern sides of the Red Sea.

The main features of interest in Axum are the colossal rock stelae, the stone work of royal tombs and the

legendary bath of the Queen of Sheba. The 16th century Church of St. Mary stands on the ruins of an earlier

4th century church. It is the country’s oldest and holiest Christian shrine. Most importantly, Ethiopian

Christians believe it the resting place of the original Ark of the Covenant - one of the most precious relics of

Judeo-Christian tradition.



Thursday 7th

May Kuriftu Lodge, Bahir Dar

This morning after breakfast, you will be driven to Axum airstrip. From here, you will connect with the ET123

1115hrs scheduled flight to Gondar. Upon arrival in Gondar at 1245hrs, you will have lunch and visit the Fasil

Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure) before being transferred by road to Bahir Dar. Please note this drive is approximately

3 hours. There is no direct scheduled flight Axum to Bahir Dar. You will then be shown to your accommodation

at Kuriftu lodge for two night’s stay on a full board basis. During your stay, we will include a full day boat

excursion on Lake Tana. You will also have the opportunity to see the hermit cave churches.

Consisting of a main area and 29 rooms, Kuriftu Lodge is a reasonably large lodge, and its focus on well-being,

together with its position, makes for a potentially sumptuous stay. The shared areas include a reception, bar /

lounge area, swimming pool, restaurant, extensive outdoor seating and spa. While it will take a little time for

the new stone facades, linking walkways and patio to settle and age, the overall design is attractive, with

leather seating, low tables and pleasant table and chair arrangements in the dining room.

In many respects, it is the rooms - bungalows - that make the place. Raised, possessing a large shaded balcony

and reminiscent of the sort of hotel suite facility one might see overlooking a lake in Switzerland, each room is

approached by means of stone steps, and includes a four poster bed, lounge, en-suite bathroom and up to

date amenities such as flat screen TVs and the like.



Characterised by stone tiled floors, bare walls, great sweeping spaces, well positioned pieces of furniture, the

emphasis here is on the few, on quality, while a propensity for minimalism is offset by the occasional cosy

application - an open log fire, for example. The overall effect is one of space and - encouraged by flat wooden

ceilings, enormous support beams - also of homeliness. A fine balancing act. Bahir Dar is a town on the shores

of the lovely Lake Tana that rose to prominence in the 16th

century. An important commercial centre, it is now

the capital city of its region.

Friday 8th

May Lake Tana

Today, you will take a private boat excursion to the island monastery of Ura Kidane Mehret and Azua Maryam

on the Zeghie peninsula of Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest at 85 km long and 65 km wide. You can walk between

the two monasteries which takes about twenty minutes through local coffee fields planted under high canopy

forest – great bird life and quite good fun.

In their funerary texts, the Pharoahs referred to it as “Lake Karou of the Country of the Happy.” In the Middle

Ages, churches sought refuge on the islands of Lake Tana and due in part to the difficult access are to this day

rich in Ethiopian illuminated manuscripts, religious paintings and other treasures. After a picnic lunch, you will

continue on the boat tour to Narga Sellassie Monastery on Dek Island. This adds an extra four hours on the

lake but it is worth the effort and the boat is comfortable enough. The total round trip on the boat is six and a

half hours (!) so be prepared for time to read a book and take plenty of suncream and a hat. You will return to

the Kuriftu Lodge that evening.



Saturday 9th

May Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa / Depart

This morning, you will be met and transferred by road to Bahir Dar airstrip for your scheduled flight to Addis

Ababa. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel for a day room. In the evening, you

will depart on your international flight home.

- End of services



Your Itinerary Cost:

For 12 people travelling: UK£ 2, 603 per person






Optional Extra:

Single supplement is UK£ 200

This Includes:

Seamless on the ground itinerary

UK£ 250 per person donation to the Global Heritage Fund UK

Full board accommodation

English speaking guide in Ethiopia

4WD vehicle including fuel, driver’s allowance and comprehensive insurance coverage in Ethiopia

Local guide fee

Vehicle entrance fees

National Park fees

Park ranger fees

Scheduled flights as stipulated on Ethiopian Airlines (NB: Scheduled flight costs increase if international flights

are not with Ethiopian Airlines)

All road transfers as stipulated

This Excludes:

International flights on Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian visas

Travel Insurance

Lunch and Dinner in Addis Ababa

Items of a personal nature and tips

Photography fees

Any unforeseeable cost increases in Government taxes and levies



Why Journeys by Design?

Journeys by Design is a small and highly skilled company, started by Will Jones in 1999 as a specialist frontier

operator. Will was raised in 6 different Africa countries, leading him to study environmental science, the

foundation for Journeys by Design today. His passion for conservation is as strong as ever, and naturally

inspires and filters down to all in the team.

Our team has over 50 years of on the ground experience and we tailor-make distinctive African journeys for

only a select handful of clients and families each year. Our success rests upon the unique and distinctive style

of our journeys and the personal attention paid to each safari. Not only do we use the finest camps, parks and

wildlife guides in east and southern Africa, but we also explore and promote the lesser-known frontiers of this

vast safari continent.

Journeys by Design only sell Africa. Africa is our sole focus and passion, our area of expertise, hence our ability

to design extraordinary experiences. 70% of our business is repeat or referred which we hope underscores the

quality of safari we provide.

“Journeys by Design’s modus operandi is always the same:

make it original, unfailingly well-organised, fun, caring and life changing”

Conde Nast Traveller, The Experts


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