Welcome to Rob's Journeys Web Site

Ethiopia 2009

   

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

 

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Horse Riding

 

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.

 
3311517760331151883033115170563310685921                       For better view of a photo click on photo or HERE

 

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.

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Days Four to Six

Riding from Menagesha to Debra Libanos and camping near Chancho, Gorfo and Muketure along the way.

 

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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 Lammergeyer.

 
 
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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.

 
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Cultural

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.

 
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Day Twelve

Another flight took us to Gondar.  Here we visited the Castle compound, the Debre Birhan Selassie church and King Fasilidas Bath.

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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.

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Wildlife

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Bird List

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