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Ethiopia January 31st to February 14th 2009 This trip is split into two parts. Firstly a horse riding trip from just outside Addis Ababa to Debra Libanos followed by a journey to Bahir Dar, to see Lake Tana and the Blue Nile falls, Gonder and an intended visit to the rock churches of Lalibela. Due to flight problems Lalibela was never reached and it was necessary to return to Addis Ababa by road.
To access the relevant section click either on a) Horse Riding or b) Cultural or c) Wildlife or d) Bird List
For the original Flikr page please link to Ethiopia 2009.
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Day One
A tour of Addis Ababa visiting the Ethnological museum and a typical merchants house where we were welcomed for coffee and kolo, roasted grains.
Days Two and Three
A ride from Menagesha, the location of the stables, up to the forest of Suba. Our return ride enabled us to visit a church situated on the side of an extinct volcano.
Days Four to Six
Riding from Menagesha to Debra Libanos and camping near Chancho, Gorfo and Muketure along the way.
Day Seven
An early arrival at Debre Libanos gave us a chance to visit the new church built by Emperor Haile Selassie and to see the Gelada Baboons on the edge of the deep ravine. Our accommodation for the night was also on the edge of the gorge and we were able to view many birds including the Lammergeier.
Days Eight to Ten
The journey back to Menagesha took us again through open farm land with some interesting streams and waterfalls. We stayed in Ilukora and Chancho on the way.
Day Eleven
A flight took us from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar. We visited Ura Kidane Mihret monastery on the edge of Lake Tana and made a visit to the Blue Nile falls at Tisissat.
Day Twelve
Another flight took us to Gondar. Here we visited the Castle compound, the Debre Birhan Selassie church and King Fasilidas Bath.
Days Thirteen and Fourteen
These were spent mostly at the airport waiting for a flight to Addis Ababa. Finally we decided to drive back to Bahir Dar on the way to Addis Ababa.
Day Fifteen
A drive taking most of the day enabled us to reach the airport in Addis Ababa in time for our flights home.
Little Grebe
Yellow-billed Egret
Cattle Egret
Greater Flamingo
African Sacred Ibis
Wattled Ibis
Black Stork
Blue-winged Goose
Egyptian Goose
Yellow-billed Duck
Black Kite
Yellow-billed Kite
Osprey
Ruppell's Griffon Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Lammergeier
Crested Francolin
Common Crane
Spot-breasted Lapwing
Spur-winged Lapwing
Black-winged Stilt
Common Greenshank
White-collared Pigeon
Speckled Pigeon
Yellow-fronted Parrot
White-bellied Go-away-bird
Hammerkop
Pied Kingfisher
European Roller
Northern re-billed Hornbill
Mosque Swallow
Yellow Wagtail
Groundscraper Thrush
Northern Wheatear
African Paradise Flycatcher
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Common Fiscal
Shining Sunbird
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Abysinian Lovebird
Augur Buzzard
Double-toothed Barbet
Fan-tailed Raven
Pelican
Cormorant
Cliff Chat
Pied Crow
Black-billed Woodhoopoe
Hemprich's Hornbill
Carmine Bee-eater
Abyssinian Slaty Flycatcher