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Africa: North to South, Part 4

Africa: North to South, Part 4: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania

Simon and Jennifer
2006-04-26 10:27:46

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Ethiopia

From one surprising country to another, Ethiopia was nothing like we expected. We suspect that many authors and screen writers take inspiration from here,not only because of the beauty to be found, but from the names. For example we arrived in the city of Gondor, complete with castle, and foreigners to the country are known as "Forengi", with inflated Forengi prices being brandished everywhere (see any parallels with the rich obsessed Forengi race in Star Treck? Well perhaps you would if you saw the way tourists act in other countries.)

Another country steeped in history, favourite sites include the 10 churches hewn straight out of rock at Lalibela, the story goes that the churches were built overnight with the help of Angels, they are certainly a miraculous sight however they were made. Also on Lake Tana a number of islands can be visited with remnants of monasteries and some existing monasteries Nearby are the Blue Nile Falls, spectacular even though much of the water is now used to produce electricity and never makes it to the falls. Not to be forgotten are the Simien Mountains, home to Africa's fourth tallest mountain Mount Rashdashen, unfortunately to get there you have to climb more than one similarly tall peak! The scenery inn the Simien mountains is however spectacular, and if you're lucky you will catch a glimpse as we did of the Simien Fox and the Mountain Ibex unique to this area, as well as the ever present baboons!

The Italian influence is everywhere in Ethiopia, and even though the roads may leave a lot to desire, and the infrastructure in general you can always be assured there will be a coffee machine providing rich coffee. Of course should you be invited for coffee in Ethiopia you are more likely to be there for hours as you watch the beans being roasted, ground, incense burned, and coffee brewed before finally being treated to numerous small cups of rich aromatic and well sweetened ...