Tour description
The Nearest Afro alpine vegetation from Addis
Duration: 5 days/4 nights
Tour Code: AT015
Transportation: Ground transportation
Tour Highlight
This voyage leads to Gussa Community Conservation Area to visit the endemic Gelada Baboon and Ethiopian Wolf.
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa
Day 2: Drive to Gussa Community Conservation Area (280 km) northeast by road
Day 3: Start Trek 5:00 – 6:00 hours Regreg to Atse Wiha
Day 4: Trek 4:00 – 5:00 hours Atse Wiha to Cheguarit
Day 5: Trek to meet your Vehicle get back to Addis
Tour Detail
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa
Arrive in Addis and transfer to hotel optional city tour based on your choose. Overnight Hotel
Day 2: Drive to Gussa Community Conservation Area northeast (280 km)
After getting entrance ticket, take a short trek to the nearby mountaintop; this idyllic spot offers genuinely stunning views over the Guassa plateau and the chance to spot the Ethiopian wolf. Along the trail, your guide will describe the natural surroundings as well as the local history and conservation efforts. You will end back at Regreg, where you’ll be briefed about the upcoming treks.
Day 3: Start Trek 5:00 – 6:00 hours Regreg to Atse Wiha
After an early breakfast, trek on foot or mule back for around five to six hours from Regreg to Atse Wiha Camping ground, walking through an Afroalpine meadow to “Lobelia Valley”, which is filled with thousands of these giant plants. The trail then winds its way into the moorland where visitors will experience the enormous highland flora as well as an impressive array of animal life including the endemic gelada and Ethiopian wolf.
Have a picnic lunch in the majestic surroundings, and keep an eye out for a rare and the graceful bird of prey - the lammergeyer, or bearded vulture. This raptor, considered the lord of the high plateau, can often be seen soaring in searching of food. In the late afternoon, the mules are sent back to their base and you’ll set up camp at Atse Wiha.
Day 4: Trek 4:00 – 5:00 hours Atse Wiha to Cheguarit
This scenic trail to Cheguarit Meda (four to five hours) offers splendid views of the untouched juniper forest of yegana, now become rare in Ethiopia. These trails offer a variety of interesting attractions including endemic bird species and wildlife and scenic overlooks down to the lowlands.
Before the final ascent towards the camp, discover a cluster of stone houses in the traditional Menz village at Tebab. The Menz people are famous for their two storey stone huts with thatched roofs, and their woven wool rugs and traditional blankets are considered to be some of Ethiopia’s finest weaving work. Before returning to camp, you’ll sip coffee with villagers. The evening will be most memorable as everyone gathers around a campfire to attend a traditional Menz dance ceremony!
Day 5: Trek to meet your Vehicle get back to Addis
Enjoy a short trek to the main road, where there will be a vehicle waiting for you to drive back to Addis Ababa.
