ETHIOPIA

Location - North East Africa; Capital - Addis Ababa; Population - 78 million; Currency - Ethiopia Birr MORE ETHIOPIA

Three buses from Lalibela and we arrived at Bahir Dar, in December 2006.

10 Ethiopian Birr

An aerial view of Bahir Dar and Lake Tana (when flying from Addis to Axum)

The streets of Bahir Dar

The grounds of the Ghion Hotel in Bahir Dar

Injera is a local food made from the cereal tef - tear a strip off and wrap it around the various sauces.
Looks disgusting, but it's pretty good, honest!

Boats on the waters of Lake Tana, Bahir Dar

The Blue Nile flows from Lake Tana - Bahir Dar

Lake Tana

A tankwa loaded with firewood from the opposite side of Lake Tana, heads back to Bahir Dar

A bird's eye view of Kibran Gebriel monastery and Lake Tana on the flight from Addis to Axum

13th century Kibran Gebriel monastery, Lake Tana

Looking south from Kibran Gebriel, Lake Tana

A tankwa, the papyrus made canoe, stands upright on Kibran Gebriel island, Lake Tana

16th century Ura Kidane Mihret church on Lake Tana's Zege peninsula

18th/19th century murals on the walls of Ura Kidane Mihret church, Lake Tana

The dropping off point for Ura Kidane Mihret church, Lake Tana

Scenery on the way from Bahir Dar to the Blue Nile Falls

The 17th century Portuguese built Adam Dildi bridge, Blue Nile Falls

The trail to the Blue Nile Falls

Countryside near the Blue Nile Falls

The Blue Nile Falls, or Tis Abay (Smoke of the Nile), plunge 45 metres

I was told not to expect much, as the Blue Nile Falls have shrunk dramatically due to a hydroelectric plant in operation close by, but I was still impressed. It's worth going to.

Grazing cattle amble past the Blue Nile Falls

My YouTube video

Beautiful greenery surrounds the Blue Nile Falls

Enjoying a beer at the Tana Hotel, overlooking Lake Tana, Bahir Dar

Sunset over Lake Tana, as seen from the Tana Hotel, Bahir Dar

The source of the Nile is about 2kms from Bahir Dar.
I'd argue the source should be the longest tributary feeding Lake Tana (as with the White Nile, traced to Rwanda) but maybe it's not as attractive..

A hazy look at the Blue Nile Gorge, on a long drive from Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa

Traditional music and dance at a hotel in Addis Ababa

We took a tour of Awash, making a stop at Bishoftu, aka Debre Zeyit. This is Lake Hora

A beautiful view of Lake Hora, Bishoftu

Also at Bishoftu is the appropriately named Lake Bishoftu

Fantelle volcano rises above Lake Beseka, just outside Awash National Park

Lake Beseka, near Awash National Park

An oryx stands before the Fantelle volcano, Awash National Park

The Park is an ideal way to break up a drive from Addis to Harar in the east - more about the park here

The Awash river flows through the Awash gorge - Awash National Park

A crocodile warms itself up in Awash National Park

It's a pleasant surprise to come across the Awash Falls - Awash National Park

Awash Falls - Awash National Park

Resting at the Buffet d'Aouache Hotel in Awash Saba, about 10kms from the national park's main entrance

Medhane Alem church in Feres Mergala square, Harar old town

The Christian market lies outside Harar old town's Showa Gate

Harar's old town dates to the 16th century

Sewing machinists in Harar old town

Hanging around the butchers' market in Harar old town

It's unlikely the French poet Arthur Rimbaud actually lived at the 100-year-old Rimbaud's House, but it's an impressive building - Harar old town

Harar is a predominantly Muslim city, and is said to be the fourth holiest city of Islam

There are disputed statements that Haile Selassie lived in this house, in Harar's old town.
He was born in Ejersa Goro, 25kms from Harar

Harar is famous in Ethiopia for its coffee. Here the beans are being grounded - Harar old town

Harar's hyenas wander the streets near Tewodros Hotel. 'Hyena men' feed the animals in a tradition that has lasted for at least 50 years

Selling natural wooden toothbrushes in Harar market

Taking a rickshaw through the streets of Dire Dawa, looking for the bus company that will take us to Djibouti

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LINKS

www.tourismethiopia.org

www.ethiopia-tourism.com

www.ethiopiatravel.com

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