Black Elephant Adventure Tour

This is a unique trip to the least visited and accessible park in Ethiopia: the Omo National Park. A trip we have never attempted ourselves on a motorcycle. At the moment we have no idea of what is possible or not possible to do by bike; what kind of tracks there are inside the park or where the camping sites are located. We have made a tentative itinerary which we will be trying out as soon as we have some breathing time from work, but for sure before the date of the trip!!!! What will be available to see or do each day will also come out from our scouting trip and we will complete each day's activities with information and photos once we have them (and which you can check on our website). Tourism infrastructures are almost non-existent in the Park, therefore for accommodation we will rely almost exclusively on camping. In addition to make this tour even more challenging, it will take place during the rainy season. Rainfall inside the park is low and rides should be dry but you will still need to come prepared to do some riding on wet and muddy pavement/tracks at least until we reach the park.

This is a rare opportunity to combine an exceptional riding trip with a visit to 2 of the least explored and unspoilt corners of Africa!

This is one of the 6 tours we have scheduled throughout the year, in August. Definitive dates to be defined.

Price

From: EUR3 per person (16 days)

Price Includes

• Airport transfers
• Motorbike rental (KTM 640 LC4 Enduro, KTM 690 LC4 Enduro, KTM 525XC Desert Racing), bike insurance against 3rd party and theft
• Support car for luggage and passengers
• Expert Multi-lingual tour leader and mechanical support
• Double occupancy accommodation; camping fees and equipment
• Restoration (dinner for the 1st day, lunch for the last day; breakfast, lunch, dinner for every other day). Beverages and snacks not included
• Entry fees to parks and other sites and local guides
• Satellite phone for use in case of emergency, GPS and medical kit
• Luggage storage
• CD with photos of the trip and Individual tour T-shirt

Price Excludes

• • Bike fuel • Beverages and snacks • Personal items • Passport and visa fees • Laundry • Telephone calls • Room service • Travel insurance • Personal and Accident insurance and medical expenses • Emergency evacuation/Hospitalization • Flight tickets • Protective riding gear: helmet, riding suit, gloves, kidney belt, back protector, boots, earplugs, sunglasses (strongly advised) • Tips, souvenirs, photo fees and spending money

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Cultural evening in one of the best restaurants of Addis.
Overnight in Addis, Hilton Hotel

Day 2: Departure to Jimma (239 km asphalt, 116 km off-road) thought to be where the Arabica strain of coffee plant originates. The ride varies from lush forests, high elephant grass plains and more. Plenty of winding roads to haave fun in.
Overnight in Jima

Day 3: Departure to Mizan-Teferi at an altitude of 1,451 metres (229 km off-road). Visit the Bebeka forest coffee plantation where coffee grows under the shade of forest trees.
Overnight in Mizan-Teferi, Bebeka coffee plantation guesthouse

Day 4: Departure to Muwi
Overnight in Muwi (we've heard of the existence of a camping site).

Day 5: Today we will visit 3 villages from 3 tribes living in the Park: the village of Mursi and Kibich where we will camp (134 km off-road). If there is time we can make a return trip to the village of Bongoso (120 km off-road).
Camping in Kibich or the park's headquarters, 75km from Kibish where we're told there's a pleasant campsite on the Mui River.

Day 6: Departure to Kangata. We will visit some more villages and tribes: the Magodji, the Karo and the Kangata ( 110 km off-road).
Camping in Kangata

Day 7: Departure to Kibich through Lake Turkana (previously known as Lake Rudolph). Lake Turkana is a massive inland sea and the largest lake in the world, widely known as the Jade Sea, because of the remarkable, almost incandescent, colour of its waters. At 6,405 sq km is also the largest desert lake in the world. Visit to Omorate/Turkana villages Turkana (180 km off-road).
Camping in Kibich

Day 8: Departure to Maji situated at an altitude between 2,100 and 2,430 metres.
Camping in Maji

Day 9: Departure to Tepi which boasts the 2nd largest coffee plantation in Ethiopia (210 km off-road).
Overnight in Tepi

Day 10: Departure to Gambela home of the Anwak and Neur ethnic groups (284 km off-road).
Overnight in Gambela

Day 11: Visit the Gambela National Park originally created to protect the swamp habitat and wildlife. Many of the park's species are representative of neighbouring Sudan and not found elsewhere in Ethiopia such as the white-eared kob. The fauna of the region also includes Elephants, Buffaloes, Monkeys and Parrots (200 km off-road).
Overnight in Gambela

Day 12: Departure to Guidami riding through mountainous terrain (176 km off-road).
Overnight in Guidami (camping?)

Day 13: Departure to Mendi (170 km off-road).
Camping in Mendi

Day 14: Departure to Nekante (263 km off-road).
Overnight in Nekante

Day 15: Departure to Addis Ababa. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in one of the best restaurants of Addis. There are many good Restaurants, Bars, Discos, Jazz Live Music and Cultural Dance venues to offer if you want to extend your stay (322 km asphalt).
Overnight in Addis

Day 16: Flight Home

Skill level: 3+
Total distance: +/- 2,563 Km / 1,593 Miles