ETHIOPIA WITH ORIGINS SAFARIS - A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL EXPERIENCE - Origins Safaris

ETHIOPIA WITH ORIGINS SAFARIS – A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL EXPERIENCE

by | Oct 6, 2017 | Blog | 0 comments

Ethiopia is like nowhere else on the planet, a beautiful country blessed with a peerless history, fabulous wildlife and some of Africa’s most soulful peoples.  Ethiopia has all the essential elements that call travellers back here time after time – wildlife you just don’t find elsewhere, epic landscapes of rare beauty, an endlessly fascinating historical tale that provides depth and context to any journey through the country. But there is something else at large in Ethiopia, a spiritual dimension that infuses every aspect of travel here and brings ancient stories and landscapes to life in a way that are never encountered anywhere else on the continent.

Origins Safaris Trips to Ethiopia

At Origins Safaris we have over 50 years of authentic African safari experience and we are passionate about wildlife, cultural heritage, adventure and exploration. We customize each and every safari to your personal requirements and expectations, ensuring an exclusive, unique and authentic experience every time. We offer safaris to Ethiopia covering its different elements – heritage, endemic species, extraordinary scenery and cultural traditions – or a combination of them all.

Historical Wonders

Ethiopia, the only African country to have escaped European colonialism, has retained much of its cultural identity and its story is one of Africa’s most fascinating. It all begins with Lucy (one of our most celebrated ancient ancestors), moves effortlessly into the realm of ancient Aksum with its oblelisks and echoes of the Queen of Sheba, and then takes on power and passion as Christianity; with mysterious echoes of Ancient Israel, takes centre stage. And unlike so many other places in Africa, the ancients here left behind some extraordinary monuments to faith and power which serve as focal points for so many wonderful journeys.

The Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela

A journey through Ethiopia’s historic route is a trip back in time. From the reign of King Solomon, Ethiopia (then known as Abyssinia) was the epicenter of religious mystique and the supposed resting place for the Arc of the Covenant. Rumours and mystery are interwoven with history and heritage. The Knights Templar, the so-called Crusaders, came here in search of their Holy Grail. Ethiopia has a story all of its own, and a magnetic attraction that crosses all cultures and boundaries. Visit the amazing rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and Tigrai, see unbelievable monastic wall-paintings & iconic images, and attend a service in the most extraordinary surroundings imaginable.

The small town of Lalibela in Ethiopia is home to one of the world’s most astounding sacred sites: eleven rock-hewn churches, each carved entirely out of a single block of granite with its roof at ground level. Constituting the major pilgrimage site for followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, its eleven churches are among the finest of Ethiopia’s nearly 200 rock-hewn churches.

Were it not for these extraordinary churches, Lalibela would almost certainly be well off the tourist radar. A dusty rural town nestled into rolling countryside, Lalibela only recently received electricity. It has few motorized vehicles, no gas stations and no paved streets. Isolated from the modern world, the town goes about its business much as it has for several hundred years.

Of Lalibela’s 8-10,000 people, over 1,000 are priests. Religious ritual is central to the life of the town, with regular processions, extensive fasts, crowds of singing and dancing priests. This, combined with its extraordinary religious architecture and simplicity of life, gives the city of Lalibela a distinctively timeless, almost biblical atmosphere.

History of the Rock-Cut Churches of Lalibela

The town of Lalibela was originally known as Roha. It was renamed after the 12th-century King Lalibela, who commissioned these extraordinary churches. Lalibela was a member of the Zagwe dynasty, which had seized the Ethiopian throne around 1000 AD. When his rivals began to increase in power, Lalibela sought the support of the powerful Ethiopian Orthodox Church by building the churches in this small town.

King Lalibela’s goal was to create a New Jerusalem for those who could not make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (and to create a sacred city to rival powerful Axum, with its Ark of the Covenant). According to some reports, he had been to the Holy Land himself and was inspired by what he saw. But the king made no attempt to copy the churches of the Holy Land; in fact, Lalibela’s sacred architecture could not be more unique.

The churches of Lalibela were not constructed — they were excavated. Each church was created by first carving out a wide trench on all four sides of the rock, then painstakingly chiseling out the interior. The largest church is 40 feet high, and the labor required to complete such a task with only hammers and chisels is astounding.

Popular legend has it that angels came every night to pick up where the workmen had left off. One of the churches, Bet Maryam, contains a stone pillar on which King Lalibela wrote the secrets of the buildings’ construction. It is covered with old cloths and only the priests may look on it.

King Lalibela’s project for gaining the church’s favor had two unexpected results: the creation of a holy place of unparalleled beauty and the king’s conversion to a religious life. After laboring for 20 years, he abdicated his throne to become a hermit, living in a cave and eating only roots and vegetables. To this day, Ethiopian Christians regard King Lalibela as one of their greatest saints.

The churches have been in continuous use since they were built in the 12th century. The first Europeans to see these extraordinary holy sites were Portugese explorers in the 1520s, one of whom noted in his journal that the sights were so fantastic, he expected readers of his descriptions would accuse him of lying.

What to See at the Rock-Cut Churches of Lalibela

The roofs of the Lalibela churches are level with the ground and are reached by stairs descending into narrow trenches. The churches are connected by tunnels and walkways and stretch across sheer drops. The interior pillars of the churches have been worn smooth by the hands of supplicating worshippers.

The rock-cut churches are simply but beautifully carved with such features as fragile-looking windows, moldings of various shapes and sizes, different forms of crosses, swastikas (an Eastern religious motif) and even Islamic traceries. Several churches also have wall paintings.

Each church has its own resident monk who appears in the doorway in colorful brocade robes. Holding one of the church’s elaborate processional crosses, usually made of silver, and sometimes a prayer staff, these monks are quite happy to pose for pictures. Some sport incongruously modern sunglasses with their splendid ensemble.

There are 11 rock-cut churches at Lalibela, the most spectacular of which is Bet Giorgis (St. George’s). Located on the western side of the cluster of churches, it is cut 40 feet down and its roof forms the shape of a Greek cross. It was built after Lalibela’s death (c.1220) by his widow as a memorial to the saint-king. It is a magnificent culmination of Lalibela’s plans to build a New Jerusalem, with its perfect dimensions and geometrical precision.

Unlike some of the other churches, St. George’s is plain inside. A curtain shields the Holy of Holies, and in front of it usually stands a priest displaying books and paintings to visitors. In the shadows of one of the arms of the cruciform church is its tabot, or copy of the Ark of the Covenant. One explorer was allowed to open it and found it empty. No one was able to tell him what happened to its contents.

In the “Northern Group” across the main road from St. George, the most notable church is Beta Medhane Alem, home to the Lalibela Cross and believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world. It is thought to be a copy of St. Mary of Zion in Axum.

Bete Medhane Alem is linked by walkways and tunnels to Beta Maryam (St. Mary’s), possibly the oldest of the churches. In the east wall of the church is an array of geometric carved windows in a vertical line. From the bottom up is: a Maltese cross in a square; a semi-circle shape like that on the Axum stelea; a Latin cross; and a simple square window.

The windows illuminate the Holy of Holies in which the church’s copy of the Ark is placed. Other decorations include a Star of David combined with a Maltese cross, a Sun with a smiling human face flanked by eight-spoked wheels, Mary on a donkey accompanied by Joseph, and an Annunciation.

Next to Beta Maryam is Beta Golgotha, known for its artwork which includes life-sized carvings of saints on the walls. It is also home to the tomb of King Lalibela, over which stands a gold-draped Ark. The Western group is completed by the Selassie Chapel and the Tomb of Adam.

The “Eastern Group” includes the monastery of Ashetan Maryam and Yimrehane Kristos church (possibly from the 11th century).

The Churches of Tigrai

The Tigrai region is the northernmost of the nine regions of Ethiopia. Tigrai is recognized as the cradle of the ancient Ethiopian civilization, and contains the core of the archaic Aksumite Kingdom. Tigrai is believed to be the first region in Ethiopia to have embraced Christianity. Hidden from the rest of the world and Ethiopia’s best kept secret is the famous Ethiopian Historical Circuit. Despite being one of Ethiopia’s most fascinating regions, Tigrai is also one of its least explored. This is largely owing to its location. However access has improved due to road access and airport in Mekele, Tigrai’s largest town and de facto capital.

Although Lalibela is praised and considered the pinnacle of the art of rock carving in Ethiopia, it is not the only site boasting examples of the techniques. The rock-hewn churches of Tigrai are very different from the Monolithic churches (carved out of the ground) you find in Lalibela, as they are usually Semi-Monolithic (Only partly separated from the host rock) or they are built into pre-existing caves. With over 120 churches hidden in Tigrai these mesmerizing churches belong to the oldest in Ethiopia, dating back to the 5th century. Originally some of these churches were pre-Christian temples, which were later changed to churches after the spread of Christianity in the northern Ethiopia. Today these architectural gems remain in active use today, and serve as vibrant places of worship that come alive. Tigrai’s churches are scattered throughout the region, and not all of them are easily accessible. Many are built into high into cliffs and need to be climbed to, though the majority can be reached without great effort. All the churches differ, with some notable for their striking architectural design or impressive location, others for their artful wall murals and unique artifacts.

In comparison to Lalibela you will have a completely different experience in Tigrai, away from the masses and off the beaten track. The journey is the reward! Reaching some of these concealed churches is a long and strenuous hike and sometimes a vertiginous and scary experience. But those hikes belong to the exquisite beauty of the visit and makes the overall experience even more rewarding.

History

The reason that most (almost all) the churches were built high within the mountains was to fend off any potential attackers. In the 10TH Century, the Jewish Queen Judith tried to eradicate Christianity by burning churches and valuable Christian relics. Later an invasion led by Ahmed Gragn (the “left-hand”) in the 16th Century also destroyed valuable treasures. Signs of their destruction still appear in many of the churches.

Peoples with Proud Traditions

When it comes to human cultures, Ethiopia has an embarrassment of riches. There are the Suri, Afar, Mursi, Kara, Hamer, Nuer and Anuak; whose ancient customs and traditions have remained almost entirely intact. Venturing into these communities and staying among them is akin to receiving a privileged initiation into a forgotten world. A highlight of any trip here is witnessing one of the many festivals that are an integral part of the traditional culture, from age-old ceremonies marking rites of passage to Christian celebrations of singular passion, the impact upon those who witness such events can provide travel memories to last a lifetime.

There are numerous tribes and ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Just like the people of Africa in general, the people of Ethiopia are a diverse group with over eighty different ethnic groups within its borders. Ethiopia’s population has grown from approximately nine million in the 1800’s to over eighty two million people today. This is the second largest population in Africa. There are approximately forty six ethnic groups just in the Omo Valley. These include the Benna, Ari, Mursi, Bume, karo, Tsemay, Konso, Hammer, Dassenech, and Borenna, just to mention a few.

Tribes of the Omo River

Renowned the world over for its decorated tribes, the Omo Valley is a stop on many a tourist route in Ethiopia. But visits to the area can cross ethical boundaries, and few tourists are allowed the pleasure of a genuine experience with local people.

Ethiopia’s Omo Valley is one of the wildest and most ethnically diverse places on Earth. Sadly, development and the ravages of modernization are threatening these unique peoples, and as such the Omo Valley tribes is a ‘capture it while you can’ destination. This harsh and inhospitable place has over ten distinctly different tribes existing within a 38 mile / 60 km radius each with its own unique language, clothing, hairstyles and bodily ornamentation.

Suri

The Suri tribe, who due to their remoteness are one of the least visited of the Omo Valley’s tribes. The Suri tribe are pastoralists, placing much value on their cattle, which they protect vigorously against theft from neighbouring tribes. The Suri tribe, however, also steal livestock from their enemies, and in recent times there has been more pressure on their grazing lands due to input of people from adjacent Sudan who have been displaced by civil war, resulting in not-infrequent fighting in the area.

The Suri people do not make wood-carvings, statues etc., and instead are renowned for their incredibly ornate decoration of themselves, which they achieve through painting, scarification and adornment with flowers and other natural objects. The paintings are dynamic artworks varying greatly in design, and are truly fascinating to photograph! Virtually no area of the body is left out, and nakedness is a standard and acceptable part of daily life for the Suri, who regard Westerners concept of clothing with fascination!

Possibly more famously, Suri women, like Mursi tribe women, wear lip plates. In her early twenties, an unmarried woman’s lower lip will be pierced and then progressively stretched over the period of a year. A clay disc, which has its edge indented like a pulley wheel, is squeezed into the hole in the lip. As the lip stretches, a succession of ever-larger discs are forced in until the lip, now a loop, is so long it can sometimes be pulled right over the owner’s head! The size of the lip plate determines the bride price with a large one bringing in fifty head of cattle. Suri tribe women make the lip plates from clay, colouring them with ochre and charcoal and baking them in a fire.

Another famous component of Suri tribe life is stick fighting, known a Donga. At a fight, each male contestant is armed with a hardwood pole about six feet long and with a weight of just less than two pounds.

The men paint their bodies with a mixture of chalk and water before the fight. In the attacking position, this pole is gripped at its base with both hands, the left above the right in order to give maximum swing and leverage. Each player beats his opponent with his stick with the intention of knocking him down. Players are usually unmarried men.

The winner is carried away on a platform of poles to a group of girls waiting at the side of the arena who decide among themselves which of them will ask for his hand in marriage. Taking part in a stick fight is considered to be more important than winning it.

Hamer

The Hamer tribe is one of the most well known Omo Valley tribes in Southern Ethiopia. They inhabit the territory east of the Omo River and have villages in both Turmi and Dimeka. They are especially well known for their unique rituals, including a cattle-leaping ceremony that the young men have to undergo in order to reach adulthood and to marry.

They are a highly ‘superstitious’ people and are known for one of the most bizarre rituals on Earth. This is when the women allow themselves to be whipped by the male members of their family as a symbol of their love! The scars of such encounters are conspicuously evident on the bodies of all Hamer tribe women.

These Hamer tribe women take great pride in their appearance and wear traditional dresses consisting of a brown goatskin skirt adorned with dense vertical rows of red and yellow beads. Their hair is characteristically fixed in dense ringlets with butterfat mixed with red ochre. They also wear many bracelets and necklaces fashioned of beads or metal, depending on their age, wealth and marital status. The men wear woven cloth wrapped around their waist, and many elders wear delicately coloured clay head caps that are fashioned into their hair and adorned with an ostrich feather.

The young Hamar tribe men are famous for their “Evangadi dance” and “Bull jumping” ceremony (it is as part of this ceremony that the afore-mentioned whipping occurs). This ritual entails young men who wish to marry jumping over a line of bulls, thereby proving their worth to their intended bride’s family. It also signifies their advent into adulthood.

Kara

The Kara tribe lives along the east bank of the Omo River and practice flood retreat cultivation, their main crops being maize, sorghum and beans. Unlike the other Omo valley tribes, they keep only a small number of cattle due to the prevalence of tsetse flies. Like many of the Ethiopian tribes in the Omo, they paint their bodies and faces with white chalk to prepare for any ceremonies. The chalk is mixed with yellow rock, red iron ore and charcoal to make its requisite colour. Facemasks are worn at times and they have clay hair buns adorned with feathers.

Scarification is also an important part in the Kara tribe people’s lives. This includes the complete scarification of a man’s chest with which to indicate that he has killed an enemy or dangerous animal (Amongst the Karo tribe, killing one’s enemies isn’t viewed as an act of murder, but as an act of honour!).

This scarification process involves lightly slicing the skin with knives or razor blades and then rubbing ash into the open wounds to produce a permanently raised effect. The Kara tribe women have decoratively-scarred abdomens, which are considered sensual and very desirable.

Mursi

Mursi Tribe is famous for the clay lip plates that the women insert in their lower lips; the Mursi tribe is probably one of the last Omo Valley tribes in Africa amongst whom it is still the norm for women to wear these large pottery or wooden discs or plates.

The lip plate (dhebi a tugoin) has become the chief visible distinguishing characteristic of the fascinating Mursi tribe people. A girl’s lower lip is cut, typically by her mother or another woman of her settlement, when she reaches the age of 15 or 16. The cut is then held open by a wooden plug until the wound heals. It appears to be up to the individual girl to decide how far to stretch the lip, which she does by inserting progressively larger plugs over several months. Some girls even persevere until their lips can take plates of 5 inches (12 cm) or more in diameter!

The Mursi tribe as we know them today are the product of a large-scale migratory movement of cattle herding peoples in the general direction of the Ethiopian highlands.The Mursi tribe people attribute overwhelming cultural importance to cattle. Almost every significant social relationship – particularly marriage – is marked and authenticated by exchanging cattle. The “Bride wealth” (ideally consisting of 38 head of cattle) is handed over by the groom’s family to the bride’s father, who must meet the demands of a wide range of relatives from different clans. This ensures that cattle are continually redistributed around the community, thereby helping to provide for the long-term economic security of individuals as well as their families.

There is so much individual beauty found within and between the different cultures, as reflected by their spectacular bodily adornment. However the reality of photographing the tribes of Ethiopia is so much more than simply capturing images of the wildly varied peoples of the valley. It is about connecting with the people – with the tribes – whose traditions are being tested by a fast-changing world, while simultaneously experiencing ancient and beautiful cultures that may not be here in the near future.

Outdoor Adventures

Welcome to Africa’s most underrated wildlife destination. The Ethiopian wolf, that charismatic canid from the high country around the Simein Mountains, Menz-Guassa and Bale Mountains, is the ultimate prize; the sighting of a lifetime. There are gelada monkeys across the high northern plateau as well as other primates, while watching the extravagantly horned and sure-footed walia ibex cling to a rocky precipice is one of the great sights in nature. The birdwatching, too, ranks among the best in Africa. And there are elephants at Babille, crocodiles in Nechisar and the hyenas of Harar. It’s quite a line-up, one that could add a whole new dimension to your trip.

 Nature’s Bounty (Beauty & Endemic Species)

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most beautiful countries and its landscapes are epic in both scale and beauty. Here is a place where you can trek more than 3000m above sea level (the Simien and Bale mountains) or visit the lowest place on the African continent, the Danakil Depression. In between, there are lush highlands and stirring deserts, vertiginous canyons and sweeping savannah, vast lakes and high plateaus. If you look hard enough, you’ll also find landmarks of great significance, from the source of the Blue Nile to, again, the mesmerisingly desolate Danakil Depression, peppered with an astonishing 25% of Africa’s active volcanoes.

The Ethiopian Highlands were the last region of Africa to emerge from the last great “Ice Age”. In so being this, the sheer breathtaking beauty of this country’s scenery carved by those glaciers overwhelms your senses, and embeds itself in your mind’s eye. Every journey is a visual feast, but also a haven for endemic and endangered animal species, such as the Simien Wolf, Walia Ibex, Gelada Monkey and Mountain Nyala, along with 20+ endemic bird species.

Ethiopia is a land of legends and mystery; the landscape is also mesmerising. In the far north are the Simien Mountains – a mystical world of primeval forests, misty peaks, bizarre plants and exotic creatures. Trekking these stunning highlands is like stepping into an otherworldly paradise.

The Simien Mountains

Due to its scope and size, the mighty mountain massif of the Simien Mountains is poetically called the ‘roof of Africa’. Ras Dashen, at 4543m, is Ethiopia’s highest peak and its crowning glory and the fourth highest peak in the continent. Although in Africa and not too far from the equator, snow and ice appear on the highest points and night temperatures often fall below zero.

The Simien Mountains National Park in Northern Ethiopia is an exotic setting with unique wildlife and breath-taking views on a landscape shaped by nature. The natural beauties of this region have always filled visitors from Ethiopia and abroad with awe. The Simiens consist of a high plateau, which ends abruptly in deep escarpments up to 2000m deep from which there are vistas of up to 100km over the surrounding lowland valleys. The Northern escarpment offers the most dramatic scenery with wonderful views to numerous deep canyons, dramatic ridges, and isolated monoliths and spires.

The main attraction of the Simien Mountains National Park is its biosphere: the steep cliffs and the cool climate at the altitude of the Erica tree line (3600 to 4000 m ash) have created conditions that are appropriate for the survival of an ibex species (Capra ibex wee) endemic to the Simien Mountains. Despite the severe restriction of their habitat over the last centuries, several hundred animals have survived up to the present. Apart from the Walia ibex, many other animal species are found in the Park, for example the endemic Simien fox or Ethiopian wolf (Canis .071817,51-3 simony’s), several birds of prey, the endemic Gelada baboon ( Theropithecusgelada), the Klippspringer (Oreotragus omotragus), and the bush buck (liagelphus scriptus). The rareness of these species formed the backbone of the concept for conservation of the area, which led to the establishment of the Simien Mountains National Park in 1969, and its listing as a World Heritage Site in 1918. More than 180 bird species are found in the Simien Mountains. Six species are endemic to Simien. Among the most spectacular bird species in the area are the Bearded vulture or Lammergeyer (Gypaetus barbatus) with its 10-foot (3m) wingspan, the Tawny eagle (Aquila rapax) and the Thick-billed raven (Corvus crassirostris).

Walia Ibex

The Walia ibex has become a national symbol, and the species is the primary asset for tourism development in the Simien Mountains. It is endemic to the Simien Mountains, and is one of the most endangered mammal species in the world. The low number of animals, poaching, and the very restricted areas of remaining habitat threatened to eradicate the species altogether. Walia ibex live on the steep slopes and grassy ledges of the escarpment. Their number, as estimated by international experts, fluctuated from around 150 individuals in 1969 to about 400 in 1989, and to 250 individuals in 1996. Recent counts by the local Park staff estimate that the number of Walia ibex has risen (2003).

Simien Wolf

The second large mammal found in the Park is the elusive Simien fox or Ethiopian Wolf. The Ethiopian wolf, or Simien fox, is extremely rare. In fact it is the planet’s rarest canid, with an estimated population of less than 50 in the Simien Mountains, and no more than 400 in the entire country (the majority reside in Bale Mountains National Park, in southern Ethiopia). The main threat to the wolf’s survival stems from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion into the afro-alpine zone. As with the Walya ibex, the main threat for the species is poaching and decreasing habitat.

Gelada Monkeys

With their expressive faces, playful antics and magnificent silver manes, the geladas are simply delightful. Once almost hunted to extinction, these monkeys are now a protected species. The gelada is found only in the Simiens. They live in groups of one hundred or more, and favour the escarpment where they clamber over and under the cliff edge like agile acrobats. Unlike most primates that advertise sexual receptivity with swollen red buttocks, the gelada has a scarlet patch of skin on its chest, which led to its ‘bleeding heart’ moniker. It is easy to approach within a few metres of these wild animals, especially those found around Sankabar (3600m) and Chenek (3620m).

Trekking the beautiful Bale Mountains in Ethiopia

Located in southeastern Ethiopia, 400km from Addis Ababa, the Bale Mountains are a landscape created by volcanic fires and shaped by glacial ice. The highlands are almost always ringed by clouds and covered in mist, rain or sleet. Giant lobelia plants stand guard over the undulating plateau and its numerous glacial lakes and swamps. You are surrounded on all sides by volcanic ridges and peaks.

Averaging 4,000m above sea level there is nowhere else like it on the African continent, a place where natural selection has been hard at work; plants, animals and birds have all been fine tuned to withstand the extremes of temperature, oxygen depletion, fierce winds and extreme ultraviolet radiation.The result has been the creation of an ecosystem that is one of those rare and rarefied places, where many of the things that live here are found nowhere else. There are more animals unique to these mountains than just about anywhere else on the planet!

The Bale Highlands are home to 20 endemic Ethiopian mammals (five of which, including the magnificent and endangered mountain nyala, are found only here), 12 endemic amphibians, 12 reptiles, 16 endemic birds and all the Bale monkeys and big-headed mole-rats in the world.

The Bale Mountains are rated one of the four top birding spots in Africa and it is easy to see why, with such rare birds as the blue-winged goose, Abyssinian catbird, spot-breasted plover and Abyssinian ground-hornbill to be seen. Ethiopia has more than 860 species of bird, 283 of which are found in the Bale Mountains and 16 of which are endemic to these highlands.

The star of the Bale show is undoubtedly the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis). With its thick, brick red coat on top and white belly below, its narrow snout and lithe body, it looks more like a large fox or a jackal than a wolf. The afro-alpine zone of the park is home to about half of the world’s total population of between 400 and 450 Ethiopian wolves – this is the rarest canid on the planet and Africa’s most endangered carnivore.

The Hottest Place on Earth

The Afar or Danakil Depression, is not only the lowest point on the surface of the earth (120+ meters below sea level), but it is also the hottest inhabited place on the planet. As one of the most tectonically active areas in the world, the Danakil is an area of singular geological fascination. It is a strange lunar landscape, studded with active volcanoes, aromatic sulphur-caked hot springs, solidified black lava flows, and vast salt-encrusted basins.

The Afar Triangle (also called the Afar Depression or the Danakil Depression) is a geological depression that is caused by the Afar Triple Junction which is part of the Great Rift Valley. It overlaps Eritrea, Djibouti and the entire Afar Region of Ethiopia. The Afar Triangle includes the Danakil Depression and the lowest point in Africa, Lake Asal (155 metres or 509 feet below sea level). Only the Awash River flows into the area, where it ends in a chain of lakes that increase in salinity. Dallol is also part of the depression, one of the hottest places year-round anywhere on Earth. The climate varies from around 25 °C (77 °F) during the rainy season (September–March) to 48 °C (118 °F) during the dry season (March–September).

Afar is well known as one of the cradles of hominids, containing the Middle Awash, site of many fossil hominid discoveries such as Ardi, (Ardipithecus ramidus); the Gona (Gawis cranium), site of the world’s oldest stone tools; and Hadar, site of Lucy, the fossilized specimen of Australopithecus afarensis.

The sulphur springs of the Danakil Depression are spectacular – a combination of extreme temperatures, acidity and sulphur concentrations cause these constantly-changing neon mineral formations.  In the Horn of Africa, 3 plates are slowly moving apart, and the Danakil is sinking – already 100 meters below sea level with blistering temperatures.  It has been described as mars on earth!  This is also the heart of the ancient salt trade, with horizon-to-horizon salt pans.  The nomadic Afar people harvest the salt in blocks and carry them out with camels and donkeys.

Profiled Trips

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine.

If you are already planning your 2017 / 2018 safaris away from your hectic life, I bet some of the following trips to Ethiopia will tempt you. Please let us know should you wish to join our specialized guides on one of these trips.

Cultural Immersions – 11th – 30th August 2018

Nowhere in the world is as well-endowed with traditional and tribal cultures as Ethiopia. Our typical cultural expedition takes you into this remote region of the African continent where you will be immersed into an array of tribal lifestyles and biblical-like living museums. You will also enjoy ‘street level culture’ with a fascinating blend of cafes, bars, sidewalk musicians, small galleries and bistros; where it is hard to draw the line between participant and observer, or between creativity and its creators. This trip will include the following incredible attractions: the picturesque and historic town of Lalibela (The Coptic Christian’s “New Jerusalem”), the colourful town of Harer (Africa’s most holy Islamic city), the night-life of Addis, the Dassanech Dimi Ceremony, the Suri Stick Fighters, Hamar bull jumping, The Mursi & the cradle of mankind, the Nyangatom, and the Kara – masters of paint.

After several years of “no foreigner access” to the amazing Donga stick sighting of the Suri in Ethiopia, I am thrilled to say that this door has now re-opened, and all of our trips to the Suri this last season (June to August) have all been lucky enough to experience this awesome spectacle. A quick video clip: Watch Video

So, why not join Origins on the most amazing cultural expedition of your life, to see people and lifestyles totally unaffected by the western world. You will feel nothing but sheer privilege at being able to travel amongst them. HOWEVER, if you are inconvenienced by spartan accommodation or are apprehensive in unfamiliar situations, then this expedition is not for you!

Tigrai by Helicopter – 2nd – 28th October 2017 & 2018

During October 2017, Origins Safaris will be positioning Phil Mathews with his EC130 B4 Eurocopter in the Tigrai region of Northern Ethiopia, providing an exclusive opportunity to guests travelling in the region over the optimum season.  Our exceptional itinerary highlights the spectacular scenery, endemic wildlife and lesser known historical sites that remain exclusive to travel by helicopter.  These will not only include the historic and picturesque town of Lalibela, the spectacular Tekezze Gorge, the Mountain churches of Tigrai, the inaccessible regions of the Danakil Depression, but also full overnight stops on the top of The Simien Mountains, and the caldera of Erta Ale Volcano, to totally immerse yourself in such a spectacular region. Herewith a video of a helicopter ride in Ethiopia: Watch Video

Contact Us

If any of these components are on your bucket list. Please contact us on www. https://originsafaris.com/ethiopia-overview/ and ask for details of a safari that includes the Ethiopian components you wish to see.

Origins Safaris – Authentic African Experiences Since 1963

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The Sahara & Zakouma - Chad

 

The Sahara & Zakouma – Chad

March 2020

Chad has is a country full of adventure and an experience that visitors never forget – Chad is ‘Africa for the hardcore’. Travel here is tough – many of the roads are broken due to years of conflict and lack of maintenance. There are few comfortable hotels and added to that, the summer heat is mind-melting.

So why bother, you may ask? Well, we could list the sublime oases lost in the northern deserts, tell you about the stampeding herds of wildlife in the national parks or the deep blue lure of a boat trip on Lake Chad. But let’s be honest about it, these things alone aren’t why people come to Chad. Chad offers an opportunity to break emphatically with a comfortable Western world and come to a place that promises experiences, good and bad, that you’ll be recalling forever.

The Ennedi desert is an adventure through remote and breathtaking landscapes that sums up our ethos, and takes you to places that few western travellers have ever been. This part of the Sahara offers a vast collection of sandstone mountains sculpted by the wind and sand over millennia into stunning rock formations and arches. Here, you can enter the land of the Tubu; one of Africa’s most traditional and least known people, who live amongst a myriad of petroglyphs and rock paintings from generations before. A video for you to watch is on this link: Watch Video

Nearby the Zakouma National Park is a park of extremes and abundance – we encounter flocks of tens of millions of red-billed quelea flying to roost, and is the last stronghold of a thriving population of Kordofan Giraffe, Roan Antelope, Tiang and a host of other somewhat unusual antelope species being hunted by a healthy Lion population. Herewith a link to a video on Zakouma: Watch Video

Click here for more Information about Chad

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The Cradle of Mankind, Kenya

 

The Cradle of Mankind, Kenya

February 2020

Nowhere in the world is as well-endowed with traditional and tribal cultures as Ethiopia. Our typical cultural expedition takes you into this remote region of the African continent where you will be immersed into an array of tribal lifestyles and biblical-like living museums. You will also enjoy ‘street level culture’ with a fascinating blend of cafes, bars, sidewalk musicians, small galleries and bistros; where it is hard to draw the line between participant and observer, or between creativity and its creators. This trip will include the following incredible attractions: the picturesque and historic town of Lalibela (The Coptic Christian’s “New Jerusalem”), the colourful town of Harer (Africa’s most holy Islamic city), the night-life of Addis, the Dassanech Dimi Ceremony, the Suri Stick Fighters, Hamar bull jumping, The Mursi & the cradle of mankind, the Nyangatom, and the Kara – masters of paint.

After several years of “no foreigner access” to the amazing Donga stick sighting of the Suri in Ethiopia, I am thrilled to say that this door has now re-opened, and all of our trips to the Suri this last season (June to August) have all been lucky enough to experience this awesome spectacle.

 

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Lowland Gorillas & Forest Elephants, RCA

 

Lowland Gorillas & Forest Elephants, RCA

June 2020

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a country with staggering rare natural beauty and some of the world’s most amazing wildlife. It’s one of the best places in Africa for encounters with forest elephant and lowland gorillas, and the best places in the world, some say, to see butterflies. It’s also one of the most impoverished and least developed countries on the continent.

Dzanga Bai is a Garden of Eden in the dense Central African Rainforests. It is a clearing in the middle of nowhere, with a tree platform, where large herds of Forest Elephant (especially bulls in musth ready to fight and looking for fertile females) and other species, such as Sitatunga, Bongo, Red Forest Buffalo and even Lowland Gorilla come to drink, feed, search for salt and socialize. It is quite an amazing spectacle for even the most seasoned African traveller.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

Click here for more Information about The Central African Republic

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Cultural & Tribal Group Trip, Ethiopia

 

Cultural & Tribal Group Trip, Ethiopia

September 2020

Nowhere in the world is as well-endowed with traditional and tribal cultures as Ethiopia. Our typical cultural expedition takes you into this remote region of the African continent where you will be immersed into an array of tribal lifestyles and biblical-like living museums. You will also enjoy ‘street level culture’ with a fascinating blend of cafes, bars, sidewalk musicians, small galleries and bistros; where it is hard to draw the line between participant and observer, or between creativity and its creators. This trip will include the following incredible attractions: the picturesque and historic town of Lalibela (The Coptic Christian’s “New Jerusalem”), the colourful town of Harer (Africa’s most holy Islamic city), the night-life of Addis, the Dassanech Dimi Ceremony, the Suri Stick Fighters, Hamar bull jumping, The Mursi & the cradle of mankind, the Nyangatom, and the Kara – masters of paint.

After several years of “no foreigner access” to the amazing Donga stick sighting of the Suri in Ethiopia, I am thrilled to say that this door has now re-opened, and all of our trips to the Suri this last season (June to August) have all been lucky enough to experience this awesome spectacle.  A quick video clip: Watch Video

So, why not join Origins on the most amazing cultural expedition of your life, to see people and lifestyles totally unaffected by the western world. You will feel nothing but sheer privilege at being able to travel amongst them. HOWEVER, if you are inconvenienced by spartan accommodation or are apprehensive in unfamiliar situations, then this expedition is not for you!

Click here for more Information about Ethiopia

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Gerewol Ceremony, Chad

 

Gerewol Ceremony, Chad

October 2020

This is possibly Africa’s most spectacular tribal festival. Every year, after the rainy season, the nomadic Bororo (Fulani) people, with roots lost in prehistoric times, meet in secret areas of the Sahel, straddling Niger, Chad and Cameroon, to celebrate. The men devote their time to show off and display their best physical features and celebrate. This is a crucial time to exchange news, make friends, and have love affairs. Click on the link for a quick video clip: Watch Video

Click here for more Information about Chad

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Tigrai by Helicopter, Ethiopia

 

Tigrai by Helicopter, Ethiopia

March 2020 and April 2020

During October 2017, Origins Safaris will be positioning Phil Mathews with his EC130 B4 Eurocopter in the Tigrai region of Northern Ethiopia, providing an exclusive opportunity to guests travelling in the region over the optimum season.  Our exceptional itinerary highlights the spectacular scenery, endemic wildlife and lesser known historical sites that remain exclusive to travel by helicopter.  These will not only include the historic and picturesque town of Lalibela, the spectacular Tekezze Gorge, the Mountain churches of Tigrai, the inaccessible regions of the Danakil Depression, but also full overnight stops on the top of The Simien Mountains, and the caldera of Erta Ale Volcano, to totally immerse yourself in such a spectacular region. Herewith a video of a helicopter ride in Ethiopia: Watch Video

Click here for more Information about Ethiopia

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About Benin

 

The birthplace of voodoo and a pivotal platform of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence across the country.  A visit to this small, club-shaped nation would therefore not be complete without exploring the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Ouidah, Abomey and Porto Novo, learning about spirits and fetishes.  But Benin will also wow visitors with its natural beauty, from the palm-fringed beach idyll of the Atlantic coast to the rugged scenery of the north. The Parc National de la Pendjari is one of the best wildlife parks in West Africa. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and hundreds of other species thrive here.

In fact, Benin is wonderfully tourist friendly compared to most of its neighbours. There are good roads, a wide range of accommodation options and ecotourism initiatives that offer travellers the chance to delve deeper into Beninese life. Now is an ideal time to go because the country sits on the cusp of discovery.

Benin has varied resources of wildlife comprising flora and fauna, which are primarily protected in its two contiguous protected areas of the Pendjari National Park and W National Park. The former is known for many species of avifauna and the latter park is rich in mammals and predators.

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About The Central African Republic

 

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a country with staggering rare natural beauty and some of the world’s most amazing wildlife. It’s one of the best places in Africa for encounters with forest elephant and lowland gorillas, and the best places in the world, some say, to see butterflies. It’s also one of the most impoverished and least developed countries on the continent.

The Central African Republic is a landlocked nation within the interior of the African continent that consists of flat or rolling plateau savanna.  In the south west, where the Sangha River flows close to the Republic of Congo, exists a truly unique and special expanse of rainforest.  This is the world of the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park – this protected area has gained international importance and it contains the last unlogged forest and intact fauna in the country.
 
The Central African Republic is home to many different species from the beautiful blue headed doves to the sleek and slender serval.  In the savannah regions you can find lions, cheetahs, leopards, baboons, antelope, buffalo, and other species of insects, amphibians and reptiles.  In the dense Congo jungle you can find the smaller forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, and other primates.  Located in the rivers you cannot forget the crocodiles, hippos and large variety of fish species. A special population of “Bili” apes is also established within the Congo region; this particular type of chimp is larger than their cousins and they also build their nests on the ground instead of in the trees. The Black Rhino also inhabits the area, one of the last niches this rare species can be found.

 

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About Chad

 

Chad has always been someplace where travellers wave goodbye to their comfort zone and say hello to adventure. Put simply, Chad is a country and an experience that visitors never forget. If Ghana and Gambia are ‘ Africa for beginners’, Chad is ‘Africa for the hardcore’.  At the moment terrorism and violence has put the dampeners on even the most ambitious travel adventures here.

Even when at peace, travel here is tough. Many of the roads are broken due to years of conflict and lack of maintenance. There are few comfortable hotels and added to that, the summer heat is mind-melting and travel costs can be astronomical.

So why ever bother, you may ask? Well, we could list the sublime oases lost in the northern deserts, tell you about the stampeding herds of wildlife in the national parks or the deep blue lure of a boat trip on Lake Chad. But let’s be honest about it, these things alone aren’t why people come to Chad. Chad offers an opportunity to break emphatically with a comfortable Western world and come to a place that promises experiences, good and bad, that you’ll be recalling forever.

Chad is best described as having broad, arid plains in the center, desert in the north, mountains in the northwest and lowlands in the south.  Chad’s animal and plant life correspond to the three climatic zones. Chad is home to an abundance of different animals. There are 134 species of mammals -17 of which are becoming endangered – and 588 species of birds in residence. One of Chad’s most prominent mammals is the Red River Hog, or Bush Pig, along with the African Bush Elephant, the Cape Hyrax, and a type of old-world monkey called the Mantled Guereza. While Chad is primarily composed of deserts in the north, to the South there are fertile grasslands which provide a suitable habitat for grazing animals such as buffalo, rhinoceroses, giraffes and antelopes to dwell in. The birds that live in Chad range from the flightless ostriches to the wetland dwelling herons.

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About The Democratic Republic of Congo

 

Of all the countries of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the closest to “Tarzan’s Africa”. You can very easily imagine him swinging on a vine right in front of you as you travel through this country, visited more by adventurers than tourists. No one goes there to rest and sit in a chair for a couple of weeks. Congo is an experience and asks for active people who (with respect for nature and local culture) like to learn, observe and have no objection against social contact.

Located in central Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo covers more than 2.3 million square km. More than half of the country is covered by dense rainforests. It is two thirds the size of Europe with only 450 km of paved road – an area of vast jungles and dark corners, scattered outposts and tribal strong-holds, equatorial rainforests and active volcanoes – truly one of the most untamed countries on the surface of the earth.

The rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo contain great biodiversity, including many rare and endemic species, such as both species of chimpanzee: the common chimpanzee and the bonobo (also known as the Pygmy Chimpanzee), mountain gorillas, okapi and white rhino. Five of the country’s national parks are listed as World Heritage Sites: the Garumba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga and Virunga National Parks, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The civil war and resultant poor economic conditions have endangered much of this biodiversity. All five sites are listed by UNESCO as ‘World Heritage In Danger’.

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About The Republic of Congo

 

A land of steamy jungles hiding half the world’s lowland gorillas, masses of forest elephants, and hooting, swinging troops of chimpanzees; the Congo (not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo across the Congo River) is on the cusp of becoming one of the finest ecotourism destinations in Africa. Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki and Parc National d’Odzala are two of the most pristine forest reserves on the continent and between them they are arguably the highlight of the whole of Central Africa.

The Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) is a surprising Central African gem with seemingly endless pristine tropical forest and fingers of moist savannah covering its interior. Nearly 150 distinct ethnic groups exist in the Congo and the region’s Ba’Aka people are among the most well known representatives of an ancient hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Their lives and well-being are linked intimately with the forest. A mosaic of rivers, forests, savannahs, swamps and flooded forests, the Congo Basin is teeming with life. There are approximately 10, 000 species of tropical plants and 30 percent are unique to the region.

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About South Sudan

 

Although South Sudan is one of the lesser-known nations in the world, the very fact that South Sudan is so undiscovered is what makes it likely to attract the first intrepid visitors here.  Tourism in South Sudan is a very new field, however the rewards for those adventurous spirits who are up to the challenge, are immeasurable. South Sudan is a diverse country boasting a wealth of tribal groups and is an anthropologist’s dream. Wildlife buffs can get excited over the vast numbers of large mammals that appear to have survived the decades of war relatively unharmed, trekkers may take on the challenge of the Imatong Mountains on the bountiful border of Uganda, whilst other travellers may dream of following the White Nile across the length of the world’s newest country and its unique splendour.

The White Eared Kob migration in Southern Sudan is one of the biggest animal migrations in the world and has been described as more spectacular than other migrations on the African continent and that its scale may exceed that of Tanzania’s Serengeti.  Boma National Park provide a habitat for large populations of kob and topis (two types of antelope), buffalo, elephants, giraffes, Hartebeests (another antelope), and lions. Southern Sudan’s forest reserves also provided habitat for bongo (also an antelope), giant forest hogs, red river hogs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys.

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About Kenya

 

“Jambo na Karibuni” (“Hello & Welcome”). This friendly Swahili greeting will be your introduction to all the new friends and acquaintances you make on safari in Kenya. As you plan for the safari ahead we suggest you run through the information that follows so that you get the very most out of your safari. Kenya is rightfully described as “All of Africa in One Country”, and it is exactly that. It is a fact that Kenya enjoys some of the world’s greatest environmental diversity resulting in unparalleled species and sub-species varieties.

Kenya is simply the best wildlife viewing destination in Africa. People from all over the world are drawn here by its essence: the chance to immerse yourself in the spectacle of the big game: the predators and the prey ritually entwined in a cycle of life and death. Kenya straddles the Equator with geography ranging from snow capped Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, to lush tropical rainforest and golden sands at sea level.  Kenya is a land of contrasts and extremes: a country with an extraordinary variety of landscapes and locations, all of them striking in their own particular way. It has earned the epithet ‘the cradle of mankind’ for the discovery of archaeological evidence of the earliest origins of mankind. Kenya not only boasts every known landform but also a wealth of animal and bird life which owes its very existence to the contrasts in the country’s terrain. You do not have to be an ornithologist to enjoy its one thousand species of birds or a zoologist to be amazed by its variety of animals – birds range from the beautiful to the bizarre and the wildlife from the weird to the wonderful…

We are among the last generations to have the opportunity to experience the vanishing cultures of East Africa. Kenya is the tribal home to 40 different ethnic groups, many still living exactly as their ancestors did thousands of years ago. You can immerse yourself in the ways and culture of some of Africa’s proudest and most striking tribes.

 Kenya has 480 kilometres of Indian Ocean coastline and a coral fringe reef, which is home to a colourful plethora of marine life.  You can explore its balmy waters by dhow, yacht or powerboat; dive, snorkel and swim in the clear azure waters over fabulous coral beds; hunt for Marlin, Tuna and Sailfish or explore the mangrove swamps and creeks where the cycle begins.  The coast is home to a striking mix of people and cultures with beautiful ancient architecture contrasting with the modern day bustle of the 21st century.

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About Tanzania

 

Tanzania is a true wilderness. Over a quarter of this magnificent country is dedicated to incredibly wild and beautiful national parks and reserves – it is East Africa at its best. Tanzania is a land of superlatives: the deepest, the highest, the largest, and the oldest. Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Loliondo – which make up the famed “Northern Circuit” – tempt you with a million-strong Wildebeest migration, a huge volcanic caldera, a flamingo-rimmed lake, rhino, buffalo, black-maned tree-climbing lions and elephant bathing in rivers. Experience the Ngorongoro Crater, a unique ecosystem isolated from the rolling savannahs that surround it.

Tanzania is dominated by Kilimanjaro; one of the world’s most massive extinct volcano’s and Africa’s highest mountain. It soars some 15,000 feet above the surrounding arid plains, and 2.5 square miles of its surface ascends to over 18,500 feet.

Tanzania is home to 35 species of antelope and over 1.5 million wildebeest – over 80% of the total population in Africa…. Famous parks such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area offer some of the best safari opportunities in Africa. The Serengeti plains alone support over 3 million animals whilst the Ngorongoro Crater hosts the greatest concentration of large mammals in Africa on the floor of an extinct volcano; a natural refuge for big game. Whilst these two parks are the best known, there are many others that offer more diverse opportunities for the more adventurous. Parks such as the Ruaha and Selous Reserve are huge and relatively untouched. The incredible wilderness of the Miombo woodlands in Southern Tanzania offers dramatically changing scenery and wildlife. And the exotic lure of the islands; Pemba & Zanzibar, are incredible ‘getaway’ destinations.

Lying between Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi the Olduvai Gorge is one of East Africa’s most amazing archaeological hotspots, where Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Homo Habilis (Handy Man); a 1.8 million year old fossil, whose bones were discovered in the wall of the Gorge. Early hominid footprints, estimated to be 3.5 million years old, were discovered at Laetoli by Dr Mary Leakey here in 1979.

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About Uganda

 

Uganda – “The Pearl of Africa” – is one of East Africa’s better kept secrets.  It has long been a favourite haunt for back-packers.  Uganda has it all: remote wilderness areas, breathtaking scenery, extraordinary cultural diversity and incredible wildlife.  Uganda is one of East Africa’s better kept secrets.  It has long been a favourite haunt for back-packers.  In the past its tourism strengths have often been ignored in favour of its sexier neighbours… in fact Uganda has it all: remote wilderness areas, breathtaking scenery, extraordinary cultural diversity and incredible wildlife.

It is a lush, green country straddling the equator.  The country’s dominating feature is water: the vast blue of Lake Victoria, the ever-flowing river Nile, Lakes Edward, George and Albert, and the expansive network of wetlands and marsh. Dramatic mountains punctuate the landscape: the snow- capped Rwenzori Mountains (Ptolemy’s famous ‘Mountains of the Moon’), the volcanic ranges of the southwest, and the massive Mount Elgon in the East of the country.

Uganda is a shameless cross-dresser – here lush tropical rainforest and ‘jungle’ snatch your attention away from miles of arid savannah on par with its more famous rivals the Mara & Serengeti. Tourism musts include: Murchison Falls, the Mountains of the Moon and Africa’s greatest river; The Nile – all form part of the mystique that drew explorers, pioneers and settlers from across the world to compete for this beautiful country in the famous ‘Scramble for Africa’ in the 19th century.

Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle. Where else but in this impossibly lush country can one observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippos and crocodiles before setting off into the misty mountains to stare deep into the eyes of a mountain gorilla? Certainly, Uganda is the only safari destination whose range of forest primates is as impressive as its selection of plains antelopes. And this verdant biodiversity is further attested to by Uganda’s status as by far the smallest of the four African countries whose bird checklist tops the 1,000 mark.

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About Rwanda

 

Rwanda is a mountainous country with a moist, temperate year-round climate. Its conical mountains and shrouded equatorial jungles have helped it earn the well-deserved nickname as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”. Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa and the country carries the burden of recent history following an infamous civil war.  Mention Rwanda to anyone with a small geopolitical conscience and that person will no doubt recall images of the horrific genocide that brutalized this tiny country in 1994. But since then a miraculous transformation has been wrought and today the country is one of tribal unity, political stability and a promising future.  Visitors to Rwanda are now openly amazed at how far the country has come and how willing its people are to talk about and regret the terrible happenings of the past.
 
Rwanda has a number of unique delights to offer travellers: Parc National des Volcans in the Virunga volcanoes is home to the Mountain Gorillas to which Dian Fossey dedicated her life.  Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the world’s most majestic and pristine mountain rainforests. It is believed to be one of Africa’s oldest and largest forests remaining in Central Africa. Home to chimpanzees and 12 other primates species (including a 400-strong troop of Ruwenzori Black and White Colobus Monkeys as well as a rich variety of orchids. Akagera National Park is central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. The rolling highlands, vast plains and swamp fringed lakes of this north-eastern territory contain a rich biodiversity and are home to a number of rare species, such as the shoebill stork. With more than 12,000 large mammals and 482 bird species, this breath-taking landscape is every nature lover’s wildest dream. Finally Lake Kivu is one of a string of huge fresh water lakes which lie along Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake, and the sixth largest lake in Africa that is home to a large variety of birds.

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About Ethiopia

 

Nowhere in the world is as well-endowed with traditional and tribal cultures as Ethiopia. Our typical cultural expedition takes you into this remote region of the African continent where you will be immersed into an array of tribal lifestyles and biblical-like living museums. You will also enjoy ‘street level culture’ with a fascinating blend of cafes, bars, sidewalk musicians, small galleries and bistros; where it is hard to draw the line between participant and observer, or between creativity and its creators. So, why not join Origins on the most amazing cultural expedition of your life, to see people and lifestyles totally unaffected by the western world. You will feel nothing but sheer privilege at being able to travel amongst them. HOWEVER, if you are inconvenienced by spartan accommodation or are apprehensive in unfamiliar situations, then this expedition is not for you!

A journey through Ethiopia’s historic route is a trip back in time. From the reign of King Solomon, Ethiopia (then known as Abyssinia) was the epicenter of religious mystique and the supposed resting place for the Arc of the Covenant. Rumours and mystery are interwoven with history and heritage: the Knights Templar, the so-called Crusaders, came here in search of their Holy Grail.

Although Ethiopia’s rich cultural history may be the primary focus – the sheer breathtaking beauty of this country’s scenery overwhelms your senses and embeds itself in your mind’s eye. Every journey is a visual feast. The spectacular highlands are a haven for endemic and endangered species such as the Simien Wolf, the Walia Ibex, the Gelada Baboon and the Lammergeyer Vulture.

Your journey becomes a quest to absorb and understand the myths and religious crusades that have dominated this land: from the incredible rock-hewn underground churches of Lalibela (‘A prayer in Stone’) and the numerous festivals that happen throughout the year, to the dizzying heights of the Simien Mountain Range (described by one writer as ‘the chess pieces of the Gods’) or the spectacular Danakil Depression – the hottest place on earth. The Ethiopian experience is multi-dimensional and intense.

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Kenyan Guides

 

 

STEVE TURNER
The Turner’s have a long and established history with Africa. Steve’s upbringing in the wildernesses of East Africa fostered a very special and dedicated interest and extensive knowledge in not only natural history, but also the communities who live within these rich environments. He has travelled widely throughout the region with and without guests searching for similar experiences – including a massive 25,000 kms photographic expedition taking some 6 months across north, west and central Africa. His passion for culture, wildlife and nature has taken him and his guests throughout the African continent, and as far afield as Australia, Asia, The Amazon, The Arctic and Antarctica. He is one of the few Gold certified guides in East Africa.

 

SELEMPO EDWIN LESOINE
‘Known as Selempo’ for short, (pronounced – “Sell–em-po”), Edwin is a Maasai, and is one of Kenya’s top ornithological guides with massive experience and knowledge of bird species in the more remote areas of East Africa; he currently leads birding safaris in Kenya and Rwanda. Additionally Edwin is an all round guide with great knowledge on the smaller creatures that are often ignored in the shadow of big game, reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies and wild flowers. Multi-talented, mild and a fascinating guide and raconteur, Selempo is one of the few Gold members of the Kenya Professional Guides Association (KPSGA). As a member of the board of directors, he regularly sits on the examination committee to set and invigilate.

 

STANLEY KARITHI
Stanley is Kikuyu by tribe and grew up on his family farm in Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley. He is one of our top guides: a fully qualified, silver member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association. Stanley enjoys the diversity of cultures and influences that his job exposes him to – he strongly believes that he learns something new with every trip he guides from the clients in his group. He is an extremely sought after and popular guide – a true ‘people person’. He enjoys meeting visitors and sharing stories of his upbringing, culture and typical family life in Kenya also sharing traditional songs in Swahili.

 

ZACHARY METHU MBUTHIA
Zachary Methu Mbuthia is from North Kinangop and is a Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA) silver member. Zachary joined Origins Safaris in 2005 as an expert in ornithology and an accomplished all-round driver-guide. Due to Zachary’s love and passion for nature, he has proved to be a wonderful guide in all the other areas of guiding, which include wildlife, culture and history of Kenya.

 

 

PETER LIECH ADEDE
A love for Africa and its wildlife is in Peter’s blood. Peter is an accomplished naturalist with broad knowledge of birds, mammals’ and plants. He also has a larger than life personality and transforms each game drive into fun, vibrant, informative and life changing experience. He is one of the few Kenyan guides leading anthropological trips to the Northern Kenya – where the Giants trod, for the last of the dying cultural experience, and exploration of origins of mankind sites that yielded hominoids like the 1.5 million years Homo Erectus skull. He is a member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association and holds a Silver medal.

 

FELIX WAMBUGU
Felix is Kikuyu by tribe and specialises in leading professional photography clients throughout Kenya. He is a member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association and has achieved Silver Level accreditation. Felix is an excellent guide, he has good people skills, a sense of humour and a deep knowledge of the bush, the wildlife, the culture and the different eco-systems.

 

 

JOSHUA SONKOYO
Joshua is Maasai by tribeand is now qualified as a bronze level guide with the Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association. Joshua is currently studying for his Silver level exam. Joshua’s upbringing gives him deep insight into the Maasai tribe, which he delights in sharing with clients on safari. His knowledge and familiarity with wildlife throughout Kenya and particularly in the Mara makes him an extremely accomplished safari guide.

 

 

HENRY MIWANI
Henry is Maasai by tribe and joined Origins Safaris in 2003. He enjoys the variety of clients that he now accompanies on trips. He also enjoys giving Maasai Cultural talks to his clients. He is a member of Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA) and has achieved the Silver Level certification.

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About Benin

 

The birthplace of voodoo and a pivotal platform of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence across the country.  A visit to this small, club-shaped nation would therefore not be complete without exploring the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Ouidah, Abomey and Porto Novo, learning about spirits and fetishes.  But Benin will also wow visitors with its natural beauty, from the palm-fringed beach idyll of the Atlantic coast to the rugged scenery of the north. The Parc National de la Pendjari is one of the best wildlife parks in West Africa. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and hundreds of other species thrive here.

In fact, Benin is wonderfully tourist friendly compared to most of its neighbours. There are good roads, a wide range of accommodation options and ecotourism initiatives that offer travellers the chance to delve deeper into Beninese life. Now is an ideal time to go because the country sits on the cusp of discovery.

Benin has varied resources of wildlife comprising flora and fauna, which are primarily protected in its two contiguous protected areas of the Pendjari National Park and W National Park. The former is known for many species of avifauna and the latter park is rich in mammals and predators.

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About Chad

 

Chad has always been someplace where travellers wave goodbye to their comfort zone and say hello to adventure. Put simply, Chad is a country and an experience that visitors never forget. If Ghana and Gambia are ‘ Africa for beginners’, Chad is ‘Africa for the hardcore’.  At the moment terrorism and violence has put the dampeners on even the most ambitious travel adventures here.

Even when at peace, travel here is tough. Many of the roads are broken due to years of conflict and lack of maintenance. There are few comfortable hotels and added to that, the summer heat is mind-melting and travel costs can be astronomical.

So why ever bother, you may ask? Well, we could list the sublime oases lost in the northern deserts, tell you about the stampeding herds of wildlife in the national parks or the deep blue lure of a boat trip on Lake Chad. But let’s be honest about it, these things alone aren’t why people come to Chad. Chad offers an opportunity to break emphatically with a comfortable Western world and come to a place that promises experiences, good and bad, that you’ll be recalling forever.

Chad is best described as having broad, arid plains in the center, desert in the north, mountains in the northwest and lowlands in the south.  Chad’s animal and plant life correspond to the three climatic zones. Chad is home to an abundance of different animals. There are 134 species of mammals -17 of which are becoming endangered – and 588 species of birds in residence. One of Chad’s most prominent mammals is the Red River Hog, or Bush Pig, along with the African Bush Elephant, the Cape Hyrax, and a type of old-world monkey called the Mantled Guereza. While Chad is primarily composed of deserts in the north, to the South there are fertile grasslands which provide a suitable habitat for grazing animals such as buffalo, rhinoceroses, giraffes and antelopes to dwell in. The birds that live in Chad range from the flightless ostriches to the wetland dwelling herons.

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About The Central African Republic

 

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a country with staggering rare natural beauty and some of the world’s most amazing wildlife. It’s one of the best places in Africa for encounters with forest elephant and lowland gorillas, and the best places in the world, some say, to see butterflies. It’s also one of the most impoverished and least developed countries on the continent.

The Central African Republic is a landlocked nation within the interior of the African continent that consists of flat or rolling plateau savanna.  In the south west, where the Sangha River flows close to the Republic of Congo, exists a truly unique and special expanse of rainforest.  This is the world of the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park – this protected area has gained international importance and it contains the last unlogged forest and intact fauna in the country.
 
The Central African Republic is home to many different species from the beautiful blue headed doves to the sleek and slender serval.  In the savannah regions you can find lions, cheetahs, leopards, baboons, antelope, buffalo, and other species of insects, amphibians and reptiles.  In the dense Congo jungle you can find the smaller forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, and other primates.  Located in the rivers you cannot forget the crocodiles, hippos and large variety of fish species. A special population of “Bili” apes is also established within the Congo region; this particular type of chimp is larger than their cousins and they also build their nests on the ground instead of in the trees. The Black Rhino also inhabits the area, one of the last niches this rare species can be found.

 

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About South Sudan

 

Although South Sudan is one of the lesser-known nations in the world, the very fact that South Sudan is so undiscovered is what makes it likely to attract the first intrepid visitors here.  Tourism in South Sudan is a very new field, however the rewards for those adventurous spirits who are up to the challenge, are immeasurable. South Sudan is a diverse country boasting a wealth of tribal groups and is an anthropologist’s dream. Wildlife buffs can get excited over the vast numbers of large mammals that appear to have survived the decades of war relatively unharmed, trekkers may take on the challenge of the Imatong Mountains on the bountiful border of Uganda, whilst other travellers may dream of following the White Nile across the length of the world’s newest country and its unique splendour.

The White Eared Kob migration in Southern Sudan is one of the biggest animal migrations in the world and has been described as more spectacular than other migrations on the African continent and that its scale may exceed that of Tanzania’s Serengeti.  Boma National Park provide a habitat for large populations of kob and topis (two types of antelope), buffalo, elephants, giraffes, Hartebeests (another antelope), and lions. Southern Sudan’s forest reserves also provided habitat for bongo (also an antelope), giant forest hogs, red river hogs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys.

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About Chad

 

Chad has always been someplace where travellers wave goodbye to their comfort zone and say hello to adventure. Put simply, Chad is a country and an experience that visitors never forget. If Ghana and Gambia are ‘ Africa for beginners’, Chad is ‘Africa for the hardcore’.  At the moment terrorism and violence has put the dampeners on even the most ambitious travel adventures here.

Even when at peace, travel here is tough. Many of the roads are broken due to years of conflict and lack of maintenance. There are few comfortable hotels and added to that, the summer heat is mind-melting and travel costs can be astronomical.

So why ever bother, you may ask? Well, we could list the sublime oases lost in the northern deserts, tell you about the stampeding herds of wildlife in the national parks or the deep blue lure of a boat trip on Lake Chad. But let’s be honest about it, these things alone aren’t why people come to Chad. Chad offers an opportunity to break emphatically with a comfortable Western world and come to a place that promises experiences, good and bad, that you’ll be recalling forever.

Chad is best described as having broad, arid plains in the center, desert in the north, mountains in the northwest and lowlands in the south.  Chad’s animal and plant life correspond to the three climatic zones. Chad is home to an abundance of different animals. There are 134 species of mammals -17 of which are becoming endangered – and 588 species of birds in residence. One of Chad’s most prominent mammals is the Red River Hog, or Bush Pig, along with the African Bush Elephant, the Cape Hyrax, and a type of old-world monkey called the Mantled Guereza. While Chad is primarily composed of deserts in the north, to the South there are fertile grasslands which provide a suitable habitat for grazing animals such as buffalo, rhinoceroses, giraffes and antelopes to dwell in. The birds that live in Chad range from the flightless ostriches to the wetland dwelling herons.

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Big Game Safari – Kenya

 

Big Game Safari – Kenya

Any Time of Year

Kenya is rightfully described as “All of Africa in One Country” and it is exactly that – it is a fact that Kenya enjoys some of the world’s greatest environmental diversity resulting in unparalleled species and sub-species varieties.

Kenya is simply the best wildlife destination in Africa. People from all over the world are drawn here by its essence – the chance to immerse yourself in the spectacle of big game; the predators and prey ritually entwined in a cycle of life and death. Kenya is known for its safaris, diverse climate & geography, expansive wildlife reserves and national parks.

On your luxury Big Game Safari to Kenya you will be visiting some of the most contrasting examples of our Kenyan parks in order to see the extensive range of wildlife and scenery, with stop-overs in Nairobi at either end of your safari, where you will be able to visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage.

You will visit the following:

  1. Meru National Park – a wild, beautiful, lesser-known and more private park, beloved of the late George Adamson and his wife Joy.
  2. Samburu National Reserve – a rugged, remote park with some of the most colourful game viewing and 6 species rarely seen elsewhere – Grevy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Somali Ostrich, Gerenuk, Guenther’s Dik Dik and Beisa Oryx.
  3. Ol Pejeta – an award-winning catalyst and model for community conservation and home to a remarkable variety of wildlife including White & Black Rhino.
  4. Maasai Mara National Reserve – a park of wonderful volcanic scenery, rolling grasslands and plenty of game especially during the Great Migration; an amazing spectacle of nearly 2 million zebra & wildebeest move through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem searching for grass and water.

Join us on an exclusive trip of a lifetime with Big Game Safaris.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

Click here for more Information about Kenya

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The Wonders of Voodoo, Benin

 

The Wonders of Voodoo, Benin

January 2020

“If you want to plumb the secrets of Voodoo you’ll have to wait for the end of the world”. These are the words of a Voodoo song. Voodoo is one of the least understood religions of the world. There are fifty million believers just in West Africa alone, but few westerners understand many of its beliefs, which go back thousands of years.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

 

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Migration Safari - Tanzania

 

Migration Safari – Tanzania

July – October 2020

Tanzania is a true wilderness – over a quarter of this magnificent country is dedicated to incredibly wild and beautiful national parks and reserves. It is East Africa at its best. Tanzania is also a land of superlatives: it has the deepest, the highest, the largest and the oldest.

Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Loliondo, which make up the famed “Northern Circuit”, tempt you with a million-strong Wildebeest migration, a huge volcanic caldera, a flamingo rimmed lake, rhino, buffalo, black-maned tree-climbing Lions and elephant bathing in rivers. Experience the Ngorongroro Crater with its unique ecosystem isolated from the rolling savannahs that surround it.

You will also visit Arusha on your you will also visit Arusha on your luxury Migration Safari, which is the gateway to the safari circuit; a small bustling town that exudes a great sense of anticipation and excitement, which sprawls beneath the massive bulk of Mount Meru filled with craft shops selling local artisans’ work.

Our exclusive Migration Safari will let you experience the integral and complete wonders of Tanzania.Top of Form

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

Click here for more Information about Tanzania

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Tribes of South Sudan

 

Tribes of South Sudan

March 2020

Although South Sudan is one of the lesser-known nations in the world, the very fact that it is so undiscovered is what makes it likely to attract the first intrepid visitors here. Tourism is a very new field, and of course there is still conflict in some regions of the country, however the rewards for those adventurous spirits who are up to the challenge, are immeasurable as it is a diverse country boasting a wealth of tribal groups.

 

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Conservation Safaris to the Pendjari, Benin

 

Conservation Safaris to the Pendjari, Benin

Pendjari National Park in Benin and it’s surrounding larger wilderness eco-system is one of the largest remaining wildlife strongholds in West Africa. The park, which spans 4,800 km2, is becoming a safe haven for iconic species thanks to improved law enforcement and stability in the region. Pendjari’s expansive landscape contains important wetlands which are critical for many local species including West Africa’s largest population of elephant, cheetah, buffalo, and various antelope species. The park is home to more than 460 avian species and the critically endangered West African lion, of which fewer than 400 adults remain, and 100 live in Pendjari. Historically the park has faced major threats, including poaching, demographic pressure on surrounding land, and exponential resource use. But the Benin Government wanted to change this trajectory and chart a different path for this critically important landscape, with the aim of providing better protection for the people and wildlife who live there. By partnering with The African Parks Network, the National Geographic Society, the Wyss Foundation, and the Wildcat Foundation a lifeline has thrown to this little-known but globally important protected area.

 

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Marine Safaris in East Africa and the Red Sea

 

Marine Safaris in East Africa and the Red Sea

December 2020

Our Marine Safaris span across the eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea, travelling by private live aboard boats to areas that our specialist marine guides know and love. These safaris, conservation quests, vacations and educational experiences take you to unique, lesser known ocean destinations with incredible ecosystems. You shall explore beaches, seagrass beds, mangroves and coral reefs, and you will come face to face with sea turtles, dugong, whales, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and manta rays. Whether swimming, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, stand up paddle boarding or witnessing marine conservation under a palm tree, the team will immerse you in the ocean’s lore, helping you to appreciate its significance in this ever-precarious world. You will leave with a love and respect for the sea, its creatures and all its natural wonders.

 

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The Sudd Migration, Gambella

 

The Sudd Migration, Gambella

February 2020 and April 2020

The Sudd wetlands of southern Sudan and western Ethiopia, nourished by tributaries of the White Nile, are home to an astounding number of white-eared kob – hundreds of thousands of animals – Africa’s second-largest mammal migration. Join us on some of the pioneering expeditions into these road-less and inaccessible swamps.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

 

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Black Pharaohs

 

Black Pharaohs

October 2020

Sudan is simply the original, mysterious and unique destination, still unknown to the most, this is the area where the African and Arabic culture meet. Its ancient history is very much connected to the Egyptian one, where the Nile Rivers meet and then cross the Sahara Desert and along its valley lay interesting archaeological sites of the Egyptian and Meroitic civilizations, most of them are World Heritage protected by Unesco. This is the Land of Kush, home to the Black Pharaohs who’s kings and queens built “more pyramids than Egypt” (220 vs 11). The astonishing landscape of the three deserts, associated to the beauty of the Nile Cataracts, the hidden Nubian villages and the welcoming people make of this place an innovative, unexpected destination for the modern day explorer.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

 

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