Explore the emerging tourism landscape of Ethiopia with Big Five Tours & Expeditions’ new Historic Routes of Ethiopia tour. During the 10-day journey, travelers will get to know Addis Ababa, the country’s capital and largest city. The city tour includes the Ethnographical Museum and its exhibitions of local crafts and the National Museum, where the world-famous skeleton of pre-historic Lucy resides. Traveling onward, the tour departs on a cruise of Lake Tana, the root of the Blue Nile. There’s a visit to the round, 14^th-century, grass-roofed churches decorated with resplendent murals on the Zeghi Peninsula, and a tour of Axum’s cathedral of St. Mary Zion — believed by many to be the location of the Ark of the Covenant.

Need a few more churches? In Lalibela, frequently referred to as New Jerusalem, participants can see churches hewn from rock dating from the 7^th to 13^th centuries. For wildlife lovers, the tour also routes through Simien Mountains National Park, home to black-headed siskin, thick-billed ravens, bleeding-heart baboons, lion monkeys, rock hyrax and rare Simien wolves. Prices begin at $750 per person per day, based on double occupancy. What’s included: hotel lodging and meals as detailed in the itinerary, hotel taxes and fees, park entrance fees, English-speaking guides, all ground transfers in air-conditioned vehicles and Big Five’s 24 Hour White Glove Service guest assistance. Departures (with a minimum of two persons) are through Dec. 15, 2018. Participants also receive a one-year membership to the non-profit One More Generation, which includes adoption of an endangered species.