26th February to 8th March 2009

This etapa reveals all the rich culture and diversity of East Africa. For so long tainted by political turmoil and recurrent famine, the beauty and history that lies within Kenya´s Rift Valley, the Highlands of Ethopia and the Danakil Depression.

Nairobi is a hectic place to start your trip, but you can pause for a brief break at the Norfolk Hotel. A living relic from colonial times, its famous bar was used in the filming of €œOut of Africa€ and it is an oasis of calm amid the swirl of the rapidly changing times.

To the south of Nairobi lie two of the oldest national parks in Kenya. Amboseli is rightly famous for its huge populations of elephants and the famous snow capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen watching over the landscape in the distance. The Masai Mara Reserve is further west and the traditional home of the enigmatic Masai warriors. Here it is possible to visit local villages and watch the famous Masai Jumping Dancers as they leap high into the air. Kenya´s Indian Ocean coastline is little known but very beautiful and worth visiting if you have time, especially the tiny island of Lamu.
The central highlands of Kenya are dominated by the lakes and mountains of the Rift Valley. Lake Victoria on the western edge of the country is the third largest lake in the world and an extraordinary natural sight. The smaller Lake Nakuro is surrounded by Kenya´s famous tea and coffee plantations, creating beautiful green hillsides. Further north is Lake Turkana which leads you on and over the border into the highlands of Ethiopia. 

Ethiopia is incredibly diverse and rich in culture and history. The Queen of Sheba is believed to have come from the northern city of Aksum, the centre of power and civilisation for the great Aksumite Empire. You must not miss Lalibela where eleven stone churches have been carved, by hand, from the sheer faces of hard red rock. Some legends say the churches were built by Crusaders returning from the Holy Land, while Ethiopians believe they were created with the help of angels by King Lalibela over 1000 years ago. The most impressive of the churches is €œBet Giorgis€ The House of St George. All of the 11 churches are still used regularly and each has a resident priest who presides over the ancient treasures that they hold, including beautifully carved crosses and engraved bibles. Lalibela is also a popular pilgrimage site in Ethiopia and the celebration of Epiphany is a particularly colourful festival with processions through the town. Above Lalibela is the Asheton Maryam Monastery, carved into the rock on a desolate plateau, it holds a fascinating collection of paintings and relics.

There is much more to see within Ethiopia, including the Simien Mountains National Park where you might catch a glimpse of the Ethiopian Wolf. In the north lie the infamous Danakil Depression, home to the fearsome Afar Nomads and in the west is the €œCamelot of Africa€, a 17th century castle with dazzling murals in Gonder. Ethiopia is still very underdeveloped, the travelling here is very hard and you will find the route slow going, but always rewarding.