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 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

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 6

For Ethiopia testimonials click here

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 3-4* hotel, rooms are comfortable and have their own bathrooms. 2 nights are spent at Suba Forest Park Headquarters in simple rustic cottages (or tents may be set up close by), shared rooms & bathrooms. Other 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.

Rates 2012	Oromo Highlands Ride 4-6 Riders - Euros 1315 per person 2-3 Riders - Euros 1535 per person 1 Rider - Euros 1750 single supplement - Euros 150 payable locally No single supplement is charged if you are prepared to share a tent or room with another guest if necessary Lalibela Visit - USD 680 single supplement - USD 90 Note - Rates do not include internal flights between Addis Ababa and Lalibela Prices are quoted in Euros and US dollars. 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.
	Rates include - twin accommodation, all riding, guiding and equipment, land transfers and all meals (except in Addis Ababa).
	Rates exclude - International flights / travel to Addis Ababa (and on to Lalibela) any visa fees, personal medical / travel insurance (which you must have), your bar bill, meals in Addis or any tips you may wish to leave
Dates 2012	Oromo Highlands Ride 8th to 14th January 12th to 18th February 4th to 10th March 13th to 19th May 27th May to 2nd June 14th to 20th October 28th October to 3rd November 11th to 17th November 9th to 15th December Other dates on request for groups 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 an hour to meet the horses. A brief introduction and saddle up. Set off riding across the highland plains, stopping for a picnic lunch, riding onto Rob Gebeya. Dinner and night in camp.

Day 3 - Breakfast and set off riding towards the Mujer River gorge. This area has long been the breeding grounds for Ethiopia's horses and mules. Camp is set up next to a traditional homestead. Dinner and night in camp.

Days 4 - Ride across the plains crossing countless streams and past herds of cattle. The going is good with plenty of chances for some long canters. Dinner and night in camp.

Day 5 - Leaving the plains you ride down towards Mount Wechecha, a medieval stronghold of the imperial court. In the afternoon you arrive at the endemic forest of Suba. The night is spent at the Suba Forest Park Headquarters in simple accommodation.

Day 6 - Breakfast and set off riding through the forest which is home to some interesting wildlife. A picnic out in the forest and return to park HQ for dinner and the night.

Day 7 - Breakfast and a last ride, setting of towards Soluta where the hores are stabled. Goodbye to the horses and drive to Addis Ababa. Night at the hotel in Addis Ababa. Or late evening flight back to London.

Lalibela visit
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.