Ethiopia

Ethiopia, with its myths and cultures, has captured the hearts of many travellers, including that great adventurer Wilfred Thesiger whose book 'The Danakil Diaries' is a wonderful insight to the country. It is one of the only African countries never colonised by the west, a remote land with arcane religious practises and strange tribes. Starting from stables just outside Addis Ababa these rides explore the highlands inhabited by the Oromo tribe, a people of the horse to this day, and the horses used are local breeds - the famed Abyssinian ponies renowned for their polo playing abilities. The itinerary includes visits to the Menegasha Suba forest and to the facsinating town of Lalibela. The rides are run by Yves Stranger, who originally from Guernsey, has lived in Ethiopia for seven years and speaks fluent Amharic (the national language).

Summary

Horses and Riding

Accommodation

Rates & Dates

Travel

Itinerary

Riding: 5-7 hours a day

Horses: local Abyssinian ponies and crosses

Pace: slow to moderate

Riding ability: confident intermediate riders and above

Weight limit: 90kg

Accommodation: 3∆ camping & 3* and 4* hotels

Group size: max 8

The horses are Abyssinian ponies, a hardy mountain breed of about 14hh many of which are renowned for their polo playing abilities. Some have blood from Lipizzaner, Arab and thoroughbreds, descendents of Emperor Haile Selassie’s stable. The horses are tough, well accustomed to the altitude, energetic and brave. Saddles are generally ‘McClellans’, with one or two stock saddles and English saddles available. Saddle bags are provided.

Hours: There is usually about 5 to 7 hours riding a day, stopping for picnic lunches en-route.

Pace and experience required: The rides are at a slow to moderate pace overall due to the terrain but there are some lovely canters across open valleys. The ponies are responsive to ride with quite a lively temperament, though they are also very sensitive and sensible making them easy to handle. You need to be a fairly experienced rider who is comfortable on a horse at all paces from a walk to fast canter and you will also need to be quite fit - both riding and physically fit as there is quite a lot of walking, leading your horse, involved. If in doubt about ability please contact us

Nights in Addis Ababa are spent at a 4* hotel, rooms are comfortable and have their own bathrooms. Nights when riding are in a private tented camp. Tents are small two man 'dome' tents, furnished with comfortable 3'' foam pads / mattresses. Sleeping bags are required. Washing facilities are quite basic but a 'shower' tent (jugs of hot water are provided on request) and a 'long drop' loo tent are set up for the group. There is a central mess tent where breakfast and dinner are served and a cook prepares and cooks all meals for you. Nights in Lalibela are spent at the Yemereha Hotel, a comfortable lodge style hotel in the town of Lalibela. Rooms in all hotels have ensuite facilities.

2010 rate
9 nights (with Lalibela extension) Euros 1785
Single supplement - E 150 (payable direct in Ethiopia)
6 nights (with 6 days riding) Euros 1225
Single supplement - E 80 (payable direct in Ethiopia)

Single tents can normally be arranged if requested, though a single supplement is charged - single supplements are not charged if you are prepared to share a tent with another guest.

Rates include - all riding, 9 or 6 nights twin accommodation (single tents / rooms for single travellers paying the supplement if available), meals, guides, and transfers from / to Addis Ababa airport at set times with the group.

Rates exclude - flights to Addis Ababa, internal flights to Lalibela (9 night itinerary), personal medical insurance (compulsory), any visa fees and extras such your bar bill, tips, laundry etc.

Prices are quoted in Euros as the ride prices in Ethiopia are set in this currency. Payments to us can of course be made in pounds sterling if you wish and we can give you a sterling rate at the time of booking.

2010-2011 dates
UNDER REVIEW

Season October to June

The meeting point for the rides is Addis Ababa airport. For flights from London budget around £550 to £650 economy return (varies with season and availability). Ethiopian Airlines and British Midlands both have direct flights from London to Addis Ababa.

Sample itinerary

Day 1 Met at Addis Ababa and driven to a hotel in the city. Relax and time to explore the city. Dinner and night at a hotel in Addis Ababa.

Day 2 After breakfast, you will be driven about 30 minutes to the stables meet the horses. A brief introduction and saddle up. Set off riding, stopping for a picnic lunch, riding onto camp which is set up ahead of you in the afternoon. Dinner and night in camp.

Day 3 - Breakfast and set off westwards, riding over the plateau parallel to the Muger River gorge. Stop for a picnic lunch then ride on to camp for dinner and night.

Day 4 - The ride today takes you first up into the hills and over the ridge looking across at Wouchacha mountain. Picnic lunch en-route, dinner and night in camp.

Day 5 - Breakfast and set off towards Menagesha Suba Montane Forest. Camp is set up at the park headquarters. Dinner and night in camp.

Day 6 - An early walk into the forest for those who wish, then mount up and ride up through the forest and down onto the plains of Menagesha. Dinner and night in camp.

Day 7 - Breakfast and set off riding, back across the open plains. A fast finish, with long canters across the plains to the base at Solulta. Goodbye to the horses and drive to Addis Ababa. Night at the hotel in Addis Ababa. Or late evening flight back to London.

Day 8 - Breakfast and an early morning flight to Lalibela. You will be met on arrival and driven into town to the hotel. Lunch before visiting the first group of the amazing 11 rock-hewn churches. Night in Lalibela.

Day 9 - Breakfast and set off by mule to visit Asheten Maria, a church a little way out of town. Return to Lalibela for lunch and in the afternoon visit the second group of churches. Night in Lalibela.

Day 10 - Time permitting visit the Naktuleab cave church. Then transfer airport to fly back Addis Ababa for onward flight / travel.