Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) – 8 days
Overview
Location: Axum/Gonder/ Addis Ababa
Ethiopia has many fascinating festivals, cultural and religious pilgrimages, and depending on your dates of travel, we can integrate one of these festivals into a longer itinerary, whether you are travelling around the historic sites in the north of the country, or an Omo or bird watching tour.
Timket – Ethiopian Epiphany
Timket commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. It is celebrated on January 19, or January 20 in a leap year. It is a 2 day affair.
Every Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a “tabot”, a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, or the stone on which was written the Ten Commandments – this is kept covered, inside the “Holy of Holies”, only accessible to the clergy.
The day before Timket the tabots are taken out from the nearby churches and carried to a place representing the baptism site – a pool, river, the tabot is covered by embroidered cloth and carried on the head by the priest. The procession of the tabots is accompanied by singing, drumming and chanting.
On the 19th early in the morning, the head of the churches bless the water and then sprinkle it over the people congregated there. The tabots remain in place for one or two days, before being returned to their churches, again with much chanting and drumming.
This itinerary takes in major sites on Ethiopia’s Historic Route, with Timket in Axum and a trip to the Simien Mountains. Gheralta Mountain churches. This is a summary, a detailed itinerary is available on request.
Day 1
Arrive Addis Ababa around and transfer to our hotel. After lunch city tour, Mount Entoto, the museums, etc.
Overnight: Addis Ababa
Day 2
Fly to Lalibela, tour the rock hewn churches in town.
Overnight: Lalibela
Day 3
Excursions to outlying churches.
Overnight: Lalibela.
Day 4
Fly to Axum. Afternoon see the pre-Timket festivities.
Overnight: Axum.
Day 5
The main Timket Festival.
Overnight: Axum.
Day 6
Drive to the Simien Mountains National Park (SMNP). Full day in the park, seeing Gelada Monkeys and Walia Ibex.
Overnight: Lodge in park.
Day 7
Early morning game drives, then return to Gondar.
Overnight፡ Gondar.
Day 8
Fly back to Addis Ababa, city visits, souvenir shopping, farewell dinner with cultural music and dancing. Transfer to the airport for flight
We can integrate the festival with visits to other places on the Historic Route, to the rock hewn churches of Gheralta, Danakil Depression, and/or other parts of the country, the Omo valley, bird watching, trekking and other activities.
