The “other” Timkat on the shores of Lake Ziway

The celebration of the Epiphany with Timkat in Ethiopia is not exclusive to the north of the country. On this trip, we suggest travelling with our guide, a Spanish resident in Gondar, who will help us experience a genuine celebration first hand in Ziway, on the shores of the lake in the south of the country.

We will complete the trip with a tour of the most emblematic places in the southern part of Ethiopia and visiting some markets.

Trip highlight

The Timkat
The feast of Epiphany, the Ethiopian calendar’s greatest spectacle, in Ziway, with the added advantage of few foreign visitors.

The Omo Valley
A full range of ethnic groups: Mursi, Hamar, Karo and Konso on the river’s east bank; Dassanech on the west. The differences, distinctive features and similarities of peoples living in balance with their surroundings.

Why the Timkat in Ziway?

We will travel with our guide, a Spaniard living in Gondar with extensive academic and tourism experience, who will help us experience a an authentic celebration beside Lake Ziway, giving the festival a special character.

Epiphany, the Ethiopian calendar’s biggest festival, in Ziway, with few other visitors.

During Timkat, the host towns multiply their population with the arrival of visitors – both local and foreign – the few hotels are fully booked and services are overwhelmed at this time. The huge influx of visitors can have drawbacks:

The city’s supplies often cannot meet the extra demand during Timkat: water and power cuts are common, even in hotels.

The dining rooms of hotels and restaurants are overflowing with customers and long waits for service are common; at this time, it also becomes clear that the difficulty in getting supplies such remote parts of the country, so it is not unusual for products that are normally available to run out.

The celebration of the Timkat Epiphany is not exclusive to the north of Ethiopia. Accompanied by our Spanish guide, who lives in Gondar, loves the country and specialises in Ethiopian history, we will broaden our perspective and gain a deeper understanding of its monuments and ancient traditions, discovering the “other” Timkat on the shores of Lake Ziway.

Despite everything, the distinctive character, colour and spirit of the Ethiopian people make up for every inconvenience for the interested traveller.

Itinerary of the trip to Ethiopia

Travel price

Departure dates and prices

Prices valid for departures from Barcelona based on flights from Turkish Airlines. Check supplements for departures from other points or with other airlines.