Bahar Dar
Best time to be there
There are two seasons: the dry season prevails from October through May; the wet season runs from June to September. Temperatures are determined by altitude, with highlands (including Addis Ababa) rarely exceeding 25º C. In the lowlands it can get considerably hotter exceeding 40ºC, while in the Danakil Depression it can approach 60ºC
Fly to
Addis Ababa
flying time
9 hours
time difference
GMT + 3 hours
Itineraries
Classic Ethiopia
Highlights - Boat trip on Lake Tana; Famous cave churches in Lalibela... Read more ...
Ethiopia Wildlife
Highlights - take a walk in the surrounding area to look for the endemic gelada baboon;Check out Lake Ziway famous for its birds... Read more ...
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Located on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, Bahar Dar is a sleepy lakeside town with wide avenues of palms and flowers. Bahar Dar's main attraction is the selection of Ethiopian Christian monasteries which are found on some 20 of Lake Tana's 37 islands.
Most of the Bahar Dar monasteries date from the 16th and 17th centuries and have changed little since their founding. They are simple huts decorated with colorful scenes from the Bible and lives of the saints.
The Zege Peninsula is home to the Ura Kidane Mihret and Bet Maryam monasteries. The former is one of the most-visited of the monasteries. The round building consists of three concentric circles, the innermost of which is the Holy of Holies containing the monastery's replica of the Ark. The walls are covered in bright paintings, many of which depict violent martyrdoms. Bet Maryam has an interesting museum/treasury.
Bahar Dar's other star attraction, the Blue Nile Falls, is about an hour's ride out of townThese falls are one of Africa's most spectacular as the river above the falls is 400 metres wide while beneath the falls it follows a much narrower course which is around 37 metres deep.
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Guest Testimonial
We appreciated knowing the travel specialist (Katie Sims) from the previous A&K holiday. The hotels in Grenada and Cordoba were excellent.
The Renfe trains from Grenada to Malaga were very impressive. On time, comfortable and fast. 
- JS, Wirral
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World Travel Awards
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A&K Philanthropy
Friends of Conservation (FOC)
Facilitate projects in the Greater Masai Mara Region with ongoing support from AKP, including Conservation Clubs in ten schools and Alternative Energy initiatives.
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