Home » Ethiopia » Overlanding across Afica in our Land Rover Defender: Ethiopia

30th august - 3rd october

Overlanding across Afica in our Land Rover Defender: Ethiopia

Andy Lees
2006-05-14 18:15:24

Displayed times (last time: )

slaughtering of bulls. the hillside was littered with their carcasses. we stopped by one of these unfortunate beasts believing it to be dead, only for it to rear up unsteadily on its front legs, a gaping hole where there should have been a neck, its head swinging from the spine; clearly in its last throes of life, but taking its time - five, ten, maybe fifteen minutes. we quickly back-tracked, jumping over the channels of rainwater mixed with blood, not breathing in the stench of slaughter that was in the air. on the hillside behind us we could hear the crowd cheering, screaming and briefly running clear as more zombie cattle lept up from the blood-stained mud. at this point we decided we had seen enough and returned to arba minch.

arba minch - 27th september

the afternoon's entertainment was much more pleasing to the eye. a cultural dance festival was taking place at the football stadium. different ethnic groups from the region had been brought together to perform. for many, this was the first time they had performed in front of an audience and what was even more incredulous, was that these tribes are normally warring over cattle and women. the day passed by peacefully as we watched performance after performance. the audience enjoyed the simulated battles, hunts and particularly the procreation which brought cheers from the crowd. we felt privileged to be there, particularly as we were allowed into the stage area and were in close proximity to the different tribes.

as the afternoon went on, the infamous mursi who at the beginning of the afternoon had been shielded from view slowly made their way closer and closer to esther and ari until they surrounded them. the tribes were becomingly increasingly interested in the few westerners that were there. when the performance ended, some of the performers came past and shook our hands and asked for their photo to be taken with the faranji (white person). under normal ...