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Ethiopia: Experience Ethiopia with Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour

Ethiopia is a country that we like to say offers a “three in one” African experience… more uniquely than many other African destinations, Ethiopia offers travelers unique experiences in History, Culture and Nature.

History: There are several ancient monasteries and Rock-Hewn churches (the most famous at Lalibela, which is also considered to be the “Eighth Wonder of the World”) as well as eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Click here for more information on these World Heritage Sights. For more information on Lalibela click here.
Culture: With close to 70 million people, Ethiopia hosts about 80 different tribal groups, all of which speak different languages and have their own cultural codes. The Ethiopians love to celebrate, whether important events in their history, major landmarks in the religious calendar or simply special family days. At these celebrations best clothes are worn, food and drink are plentiful, musicians play and people dance and sing. The major Ethiopian Orthodox festivals that represent the people at their most colorful and festive. Meskal is a two-day festival at the end of September celebrating the Finding of the True Cross. Bonfires are lit and singing and dancing take place around them, while the priests don their full ceremonial regalia. Timkat usually falls on the January 19, 12 days after Christmas according to the Julian calendar. Festivities take place the day before as well as the day after. The festival is celebrated throughout the Ethiopian highlands in Orthodox Christian strongholds, but nowhere is it quite as spectacular as in Lalibela, an isolated mountain town in the arid north of the country. It is a colorful three-day festival celebrating Epiphany and it is marked by the procession of the tabots (the replicas of the Ark of the Covenant, the original of which is said to be in the chapel at Axum) around the towns, draped in heavy embroidered materials. Further south is the Omo Valley with its popular ethnic treasures. This is where about 50% of Ethiopia's ethnic groups live: the Konso with their terraced agriculture and rituals; the Mursi with their clay lip plates and barbarian life style; the Hamer with their bull-jumping ceremony (click here for more info on the Bull Jumping), which young men must experience in order to qualify for adulthood; and the Karo with their body painting and adornment. Here unusual traditions such as dance, music and rituals from birth to marriage and burial are still observed in their genuine and original forms.

Nature: Massive erosion over the years on the Ethiopian plateau and Simien National Park has created one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices dropping some 1,500 m. The park is home to some extremely rare animals such as the Gelada baboon, the Simien fox and the Walia ibex, a goat found nowhere else in the world. Southwards, the Rift Valley system is another wondrous region where many other attractions are sited. The six or seven Rift Valley crater lakes are home to a large number of bird and marine life. They are also a paradise for nature and water lovers. National parks with their exotic birds, animals and plant life add to the beauty of the Rift Valley region. Beautiful landscapes and natural features are the most enjoyable components of the system. Salt lakes, active volcano sites and caravan routes still number among Ethiopia's great attractions in the Rift Valley.

Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour is one of Ethiopia’s premier tour operators. The word “Dinknesh” actually is the Ethiopian name for “Lucy” (directly translated to “you are special”), or scientifically called Australopithecus Afarensis the first known hominine. This is the most spectacular discovery of the Awash Valley in Ethiopia’s Afar region, which came in 1974, when 52 fragments of a skeleton enabled the famous “Lucy” to be reconstructed.

The weather in Ethiopia is pleasant year round, with temperatures in most parts of the country averaging around 20°C (68°F) no matter what season it is. The rainy season is from mid-June to the end of September.

What’s more, in Ethiopia you can experience the Millennium yet again! Due to a different calendar, Ethiopia is living the year 1998 right now, which means they will have a Millennium experience all over again in a few years! Ethiopia and the rest of the Christian world had celebrated the 1st millennium together 1,005 years ago. This was because both were using the same calendar – the Julian calendar. But in 1582 A.D., the rest of the Christian world as a whole stopped using this calendar (made various amendments) and began using the revised Gregorian calendar except Ethiopia. The present calendar is thus seven years and eight months a head of the Julian calendar.

Imagine then traveling to Ethiopia to celebrate a second millennium in one of the world’s most historically and culturally diverse and rich societies of all times. This is an experience of a lifetime!

Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour offers authentic cultural travel experiences with outstanding service.

For more information on travel to Ethiopia with Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour please visit: www.DinkneshEthiopiaTour.com

IT’S TIME TO REDISCOVER THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT of traveling off the beaten path. In Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean: A Guide to 50 Extraordinary Adventures for the Seasoned Traveler, expert guides Don Mankin and Shannon Stowell offer both an inspiring collection of personal, often unique, experiences and practical how-to, detailing some of the world’s best trips. In-depth narratives convey the rich allure of 26 destinations with lively anecdotes and specialized information, while concise descriptions highlight an additional 26 amazing trips, selected in a survey by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) as top choices for people over 40.

The possibilities include sea kayaking in the Sea of Cortez, hiking Peru’s Inca Trail, and cycling the hills of Tuscany. Travelers with more spirit than stamina can visit the jungle tribes of Papua New Guinea, tour Scotland’s rugged Outer Hebrides, or cruise down the Mekong River in Laos. Backed by expert credentials, Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean delivers inspiration, information, and fantastic ideas to put adventure-hungry boomers back on the road.


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	Dinknesh Home Ethiopia 2008 Programs Overview Classic Historical Route Itinerary - 12 Days, Flying Classic Historical Route Itinerary - 14 Days, Driving Ethiopia Grand Tour - 19 Days, Driving Ethiopia Cultural Expedition - 14 Days, Driving Expedition to Erta Ale and Danakil Ethiopia: Experience Ethiopia with Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour Ethiopia is a country that we like to say offers a “three in one” African experience… more uniquely than many other African destinations, Ethiopia offers travelers unique experiences in History, Culture and Nature. History: There are several ancient monasteries and Rock-Hewn churches (the most famous at Lalibela, which is also considered to be the “Eighth Wonder of the World”) as well as eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Click here for more information on these World Heritage Sights. For more information on Lalibela click here. Culture: With close to 70 million people, Ethiopia hosts about 80 different tribal groups, all of which speak different languages and have their own cultural codes. The Ethiopians love to celebrate, whether important events in their history, major landmarks in the religious calendar or simply special family days. At these celebrations best clothes are worn, food and drink are plentiful, musicians play and people dance and sing. The major Ethiopian Orthodox festivals that represent the people at their most colorful and festive. Meskal is a two-day festival at the end of September celebrating the Finding of the True Cross. Bonfires are lit and singing and dancing take place around them, while the priests don their full ceremonial regalia. Timkat usually falls on the January 19, 12 days after Christmas according to the Julian calendar. Festivities take place the day before as well as the day after. The festival is celebrated throughout the Ethiopian highlands in Orthodox Christian strongholds, but nowhere is it quite as spectacular as in Lalibela, an isolated mountain town in the arid north of the country. It is a colorful three-day festival celebrating Epiphany and it is marked by the procession of the tabots (the replicas of the Ark of the Covenant, the original of which is said to be in the chapel at Axum) around the towns, draped in heavy embroidered materials. Further south is the Omo Valley with its popular ethnic treasures. This is where about 50% of Ethiopia's ethnic groups live: the Konso with their terraced agriculture and rituals; the Mursi with their clay lip plates and barbarian life style; the Hamer with their bull-jumping ceremony (click here for more info on the Bull Jumping), which young men must experience in order to qualify for adulthood; and the Karo with their body painting and adornment. Here unusual traditions such as dance, music and rituals from birth to marriage and burial are still observed in their genuine and original forms. Nature: Massive erosion over the years on the Ethiopian plateau and Simien National Park has created one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, with jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys and sharp precipices dropping some 1,500 m. The park is home to some extremely rare animals such as the Gelada baboon, the Simien fox and the Walia ibex, a goat found nowhere else in the world. Southwards, the Rift Valley system is another wondrous region where many other attractions are sited. The six or seven Rift Valley crater lakes are home to a large number of bird and marine life. They are also a paradise for nature and water lovers. National parks with their exotic birds, animals and plant life add to the beauty of the Rift Valley region. Beautiful landscapes and natural features are the most enjoyable components of the system. Salt lakes, active volcano sites and caravan routes still number among Ethiopia's great attractions in the Rift Valley. Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour is one of Ethiopia’s premier tour operators. The word “Dinknesh” actually is the Ethiopian name for “Lucy” (directly translated to “you are special”), or scientifically called Australopithecus Afarensis the first known hominine. This is the most spectacular discovery of the Awash Valley in Ethiopia’s Afar region, which came in 1974, when 52 fragments of a skeleton enabled the famous “Lucy” to be reconstructed. The weather in Ethiopia is pleasant year round, with temperatures in most parts of the country averaging around 20°C (68°F) no matter what season it is. The rainy season is from mid-June to the end of September. What’s more, in Ethiopia you can experience the Millennium yet again! Due to a different calendar, Ethiopia is living the year 1998 right now, which means they will have a Millennium experience all over again in a few years! Ethiopia and the rest of the Christian world had celebrated the 1st millennium together 1,005 years ago. This was because both were using the same calendar – the Julian calendar. But in 1582 A.D., the rest of the Christian world as a whole stopped using this calendar (made various amendments) and began using the revised Gregorian calendar except Ethiopia. The present calendar is thus seven years and eight months a head of the Julian calendar. Imagine then traveling to Ethiopia to celebrate a second millennium in one of the world’s most historically and culturally diverse and rich societies of all times. This is an experience of a lifetime! Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour offers authentic cultural travel experiences with outstanding service. For more information on travel to Ethiopia with Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour please visit: www.DinkneshEthiopiaTour.com IT’S TIME TO REDISCOVER THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT of traveling off the beaten path. In Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean: A Guide to 50 Extraordinary Adventures for the Seasoned Traveler, expert guides Don Mankin and Shannon Stowell offer both an inspiring collection of personal, often unique, experiences and practical how-to, detailing some of the world’s best trips. In-depth narratives convey the rich allure of 26 destinations with lively anecdotes and specialized information, while concise descriptions highlight an additional 26 amazing trips, selected in a survey by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) as top choices for people over 40. The possibilities include sea kayaking in the Sea of Cortez, hiking Peru’s Inca Trail, and cycling the hills of Tuscany. Travelers with more spirit than stamina can visit the jungle tribes of Papua New Guinea, tour Scotland’s rugged Outer Hebrides, or cruise down the Mekong River in Laos. Backed by expert credentials, Riding the Hulahula to the Arctic Ocean delivers inspiration, information, and fantastic ideas to put adventure-hungry boomers back on the road.
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