Ethiopia Revealed Legendary Land of Churches and Mountains

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

Ethiopia Revealed legendary land of churches and mountains

October 23 to November 8, 2013

a program of the stanford alumni association STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Ethiopia is both breathtaking and extraordinary, a country perched on a high plateau in a region known as the Horn of Africa. Its independence and regional role in Africa extend over a period of more than 2,000 years. A country of surprising contrasts, it has maintained its autonomy and its cultural, religious and artistic traditions. Ethiopia is home to an indigenous Christian Church centered in Lalibela where remarkable churches have been hand-carved out of solid red volcanic rock. Its rich religious and social history is matched by amazing natural wonders such as the Tis Isat Falls and the Simien Mountains. We are fortunate to have Professor Joel Samoff, an African studies expert, leading the way. His knowledge of the area’s history and his experience in advising international agencies and African NGOs on development and education provide the perfect educational focus for this journey.

Brett S. Thompson, ’83, Director, Stanford Travel/Study Highlights WATCH the Blue Nile EXPLORE the amazing VISIT the Church of plummet over a 130-foot- rock-hewn churches of St. Mary of Zion in Axum, high wall at Tis Isat Falls Lalibela, carved below believed by the Ethiopian near the river’s headwaters ground from the red lava Orthodox Church to at Lake Tana. soil in the 13th century. contain the Ark of the Covenant. R e d Axum S e SUDAN a SIMIEN NATIONAL PARK Gondar

Lake Tana Lalibela DJIBOUTI Bahr Dar

E THIOPIA e N Blu ile Addis Harar Ababa

with modern paintings and mo- Monday & Tuesday, Itinerary saics. Explore the Mercato, the October 28 & 29 capital’s biggest shopping area, HARAR / BAHR DAR / LAKE TANA Wednesday & Thursday, where grain, spices, clothes, October 23 & 24 Fly to Addis Ababa and connect ironware and baskets are sold. DEPART U.S. / ADDIS with our flight to Bahr Dar, a Enjoy a welcome reception and ABABA, ETHIOPIA town located at the southern Depart the U.S. on an overnight dinner at our hotel this evening. SHERATON ADDIS HOTEL (B,L,D) shore of Lake Tana, the largest flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s lake in Ethiopia and the source largest city and third-highest Saturday, October 26 of the Blue Nile. This area is the capital in the world at an eleva- ADDIS ABABA / traditional home of the Christian tion of 8,000 feet above sea HARAR Amhara people, who make level. Upon arrival on Thursday, This morning, fly to Dire Dawa up approximately 30 percent transfer to our hotel and check and continue by bus to Harar, of Ethiopia’s population. Enjoy in. This afternoon, enjoy a brief enjoying spectacular views of an excursion to Tis Isat (“Blue orientation tour that includes a the Great Rift Valley plains en Nile”) Falls, where the Blue Nile visit to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, route. This afternoon explore plunges over a 130-foot-high the country’s largest Orthodox the walled medieval town of rock face. Learn about the church. SHERATON ADDIS HOTEL Harar, the spiritual heart of the Woito people who live by the (10/24: D) large Muslim community in lake and visit with one of their Ethiopia. Its 90 mosques are lakeside communities. Back Friday, October 25 ADDIS ABABA said to form the world’s largest in Bahr Dar, wander through concentration of mosques. the local market, known for Here, tall office buildings, ele- RAS HOTEL (B,L,D) gant villas and marble theaters its wood products and basket KURIFTU RESORT AND SPA vie for our attention alongside weavings. Sunday, October 27 (B,L,D—both days) traditional homes formed of HARAR “wattle and daub,” a 6,000-year- Explore Harar’s Christian and Wednesday, October 30 old building method in which lat- Muslim markets where colorfully LAKE TANA / GONDAR tices of wooden strips are held dressed Harari women stroll During a boat cruise around together with clay, sand, animal through the streets in red, pur- Lake Tana, discover the area’s dung and straw. Visit the Nation- ple or black dresses and bright historic churches and island al Museum to view a replica of orange shawls, balancing heavy monasteries, including Ura the 3.5-million-year-old skull of bundles of cloth or baskets on Kidane Mehret with its color- Lucy, whose remains, discov- their heads. This afternoon visit ful frescoes of biblical scenes. ered in 1974, forced a complete a gegar, a typical Harari home, After a picnic lunch onboard, rethinking of human evolution. and admire antiquities at the disembark and drive to Gondar. Continue to St. George’s Cathe- Government Museum. TAYE HOTEL (B,L,D) dral, an elegant domed church RAS HOTEL (B,L,D) R e d Axum S e SUDAN a SIMIEN NATIONAL PARK Gondar

Lake Tana Lalibela DJIBOUTI Bahr Dar

E THIOPIA e N Blu ile Addis Harar Ababa

Thursday, October 31 nated the vital crossroads of the world, and Bet Golgolta with GONDAR Africa and Asia for almost 1,000 seven life-sized reliefs of saints Founded in 1635 by Emperor years. During our two days carved into its walls. The west- Fasilidas, Gondar is home to here, visit the Church of St. ern churches were excavated Moorish- and Portuguese-style Mary of Zion, where according from a vertical rock face and castles and imperial buildings to legend, the Ark of the Cov- carved into existing caves or that are some of Ethiopia’s most enant resides. View the city’s cracks in the rocks. Explore Bet fascinating sights. Visit the Roy- famous obelisks and mono- Emmanuel, considered by art al Enclosure, where high stone lithic stelae, and tour the Axum historians to be the finest and walls surround five castles and Museum with its fine display of most precisely worked church a complex of connecting tun- inscribed tablets. Explore the in Lalibela, and Bet Giorgis, nels and raised walkways, and remains of King Kaleb’s Palace carved in the shape of a sym- Fasilidas’ castle, a mid-17th- and the ruined city of Yeha and metrical cruciform tower. MOUN- century melange of Portuguese, its Temple of the Moon, thought TAIN VIEW HOTEL (B,L,D—both days) Axumite and Indian influences. to be over 2,500 years old. TAYE HOTEL (B,L,D) CONSULAR INTERNATIONAL HOTEL Wednesday, November 6 (B,L,D—both days) LALIBELA / Friday, November 1 ADDIS ABABA GONDAR / SIMIEN Monday & Tuesday, Fly to Addis Ababa and enjoy MOUNTAINS November 4 & 5 an afternoon at leisure before Depart in the early morning for AXUM / LALIBELA our farewell reception and dinner. the spectacular Simien Moun- Fly to Lalibela, set among SHERATON ADDIS HOTEL (B,L,D) tains, whose highest peak wild, craggy mountains and stands at 15,157 feet. Simien vast rocky escarpments in Thursday & Friday, Mountains National Park is home the mountains of Lasta at an November 7 & 8 ADDIS ABABA / U.S. to a large variety of wildlife, in- altitude of 7,000 feet. The 12th- cluding the Gelada baboon and century king, Lalibela, gathered Visit Addis Ababa University, the Simien fox. Spend the night together the world’s greatest which is housed in Emperor in Ethiopia’s first eco-lodge. craftsmen and artisans to carve Haile Selassie’s former palace. SIMIEN MOUNTAIN LODGE (B,L,D) a number of churches that he Tour the Institute of Ethiopian claimed to see in a visionary Studies library and museum Saturday & Sunday, dream. Spend two full days ex- and the Ethnological Museum. November 2 & 3 ploring these spiritual wonders, Explore the craft and silver SIMIEN MOUNTAINS / shops of Churchill Street before AXUM carved below ground level and connected by a tangled maze dinner on our own. Late Thurs- Continue our journery north to day evening, depart on flights Ethiopia’s oldest city. Axum was of tunnels and passages. In the eastern cluster of churches, visit to the U.S., arriving on Friday. the capital of the far-reaching SHERATON ADDIS HOTEL—Dayrooms Axumite Kingdom, which domi- Bet Medhane Alem, the largest on 11/7 (11/7: B,L) monolithic rock-hewn church in Trip Information Dates Air Arrangements October 23 to November 8, 2013 (17 days) International and U.S. domestic airfare is not included in the program cost. Round-trip, econo- Size my-class airfare on a combination of Lufthansa Limited to 34 participants and Ethiopian Airways from San Francisco to Addis Ababa is approximately $1,900 as of Cost* November 2012 and is subject to change with- $8,695 per person, double occupancy out notice. $9,995 per person, single occupancy *Association nonmembers add $200 per person What to Expect We consider this to be a physically demanding, Included strenuous program, suitable only for travelers in 14 nights of best-available hotel accommoda- excellent health and with greater-than-average tions, plus use of individual dayrooms in Addis stamina as well as enthusiasm for adventurous Ababa on 11/7 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches and travel experiences. Ethiopia’s tourism industry 14 dinners Welcome and farewell receptions outside the major cities is still developing, thus Bottled water on all excursions Gratuities to patience with local services and standards will porters, guides and drivers for all group activities greatly improve your enjoyment of the trip. Daily All tours and excursions as described in the activities may involve several miles of walking, itinerary All transfers and baggage handling often on uneven paths and rocky terrain. Our between the airport and our group hotel in Addis journey from Gondar to the Simien Mountains Ababa Internal flights and coach transfers and on to Axum requires two six-hour drives by within Ethiopia Minimal medical, accident and motorcoach. Roads may be winding, bumpy evacuation insurance Educational program and unpaved due to poor repair, and travel may with lecture series and pre-departure materials, be slow. Accommodations used throughout including recommended reading list, a selected our program are the best-available, but may not book, map and travel information Services meet some travelers’ expectations of cleanliness of our professional tour manager to assist you and comfort. Travelers should be prepared throughout the program to handle their own luggage in those airports where porters are not permitted. In many ways, Not Included the challenges of this program are part of the International and U.S. domestic airfare Pass- learning experience. We expect that participants port and visa fees Immunization costs Meals will be a self-selecting group whose interest and beverages other than those specified as in the places we visit outweighs the need for included Independent and private transfers creature comforts. We welcome travelers 15 Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insur- years of age and older on this program. ance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as internet access, telephone and fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services Pavlovsk Palace

bet giorgis, lalibela Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment offered in this brochure includes losses or additional expenses due A $1,000-per-person deposit is special benefits if you postmark your to delay or changes in air or other required to hold space for this insurance payment within a specified services, sickness, weather, strike, program. Complete and return the window: 15 days of the date listed war, quarantine, force majeure or attached reservation form or place on the confirmation letter for the other causes beyond our control. your deposit online. Final payment Waiver of Pre-existing Conditions and All such losses or expenses will is due 120 days prior to departure. coverage for Financial Insolvency; have to be borne by the passenger As a condition of participation, all 21 days for the Cancel for Any as tour rates provide arrangements confirmed participants are required Reason benefit. only for the time stated. We reserve to sign a Release of Liability. the right to make such alterations Eligibility to this published itinerary as may Cancellations & Refunds We encourage membership in the be deemed necessary. The right is Deposits and any payments are Alumni Association as the program reserved to cancel any program prior refundable, less a $500-per-person cost for nonmembers is $200 more to departure in which case the entire cancellation fee, until 120 days prior than the members’ price. Parents payment will be refunded without to departure. After that date, refunds and their children under 21 may further obligation on our part. The can be made only if the program is travel on one membership. For right is also reserved to decline to sold out and your place(s) can be more information or to purchase a accept or retain any person as a resold, in which case a $1,000-per- membership, visit alumni.stanford/ member of the program. No refund person cancellation fee will apply. goto/membership or call (650) will be made for an unused portion We recommend trip-cancellation 725-0692. of any tour unless arrangements insurance; applications will be sent are made in sufficient time to avoid to you. Responsibility penalties. Baggage is carried at the The Stanford Alumni Association, owner’s risk entirely. The airlines Insurance Stanford University and our operators concerned are not to be held Stanford Travel/Study provides all act only as agents for the passenger responsible for any act, omission or travelers who are U.S. or Canadian with respect to transportation and event during the time that passengers citizens with minimal medical, exercise every care possible in are not onboard their plane or accident and evacuation coverage doing so. However, we can assume conveyance. Neither the Alumni under our group-travel insurance no liability for injury, damage, loss, Association, Stanford University nor policy. Our group policy is intended accident, delay or irregularity in our operators accept liability for any to provide minimal levels of protec- connection with the service of any carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred tion while you are traveling on this automobile, motorcoach, launch by the purchase of a nonrefundable program. We strongly recommend or any other conveyance used in ticket in connection with the tour. that you subscribe to optional carrying out this program or for the Program price is based on rates baggage and trip-cancellation acts or defaults of any company or in effect in November 2012 and is insurance. A brochure offering such person engaged in conveying the subject to change without notice to insurance will be mailed with your passenger or in carrying out the reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, confirmation about one week after arrangements of the program. We tariffs or fuel charges. we receive your deposit. The product cannot accept any responsibility for California Seller of Travel Program Registration #2048 523-50

Tel (650) 725-1093 FAX (650) 725-8675 Email [email protected] © COPYRIGHT 2012 STANFORD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed on recycled, FSC-certified paper in the U.S. photos by gary krosin. Faculty Leader JOEL SAMOFF is an internationally respected educator and researcher who combines a scholar’s critical approach with extensive experience in international development. His lifelong fascination with how people in diverse settings organize themselves to transform their communities has taken him across the African continent to work with local communities and senior officials. Over the course of three decades, he has worked regularly with international agencies and NGOs involved in African education. Joel currently chairs the International Advisory Council of the University of the Free State of South Africa.

“Professor Samoff “Perched in the horn of Africa,” he notes, “Ethiopia has played a prominent role in Africa’s development over more than two was tremendous. millennia, from having Axum as a regional power prior to the He has great Christian era to being the contemporary headquarters of the African Union.” During our program, Professor Samoff will knowledge about discuss Ethiopia’s role as a regional leader, its unique mix of orthodox Christianity and Muslim influences, its transition history and poli- from imperialism to independence and the country’s current tics, and I learned development challenges. a lot about a — Consulting professor and former director, Center for African Studies, Stanford University developing — Recipient, Stanford School of Education Award for Excellence in Teaching and University of Michigan African nation.” Distinguished Service Award Richard A. Klein, — BA, history, Antioch College; MA and PhD, political ’52, JD ’55, science, University of Wisconsin Tanzania Family — Honorary doctorate, University of Pretoria, South Africa Adventure, 2010

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“The academic underpinnings of these trips cannot be matched. My travel with Stanford brings me a fuller understanding of the world.” Diane Wara, ’64, Silk Road Suitcase Seminar, 2011

STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY

tis isat falls