Saturday, 19 March - Thursday, 24 March 2011

Ethiopia

Time to catch up!

Larry & Sharon travelled from Awassa to Bale Mountains National Park on Saturday, 19 March

Sunday, 20 March - they went horse trekking in the Park. Seems that’s what the Park’s niche market is as well as lots of game & birding.
I thought the backsides will be fine - but apparently horses are harder on some anatomical parts than bikes…!


Facts as taken from http://www.realethiopia.com:
Bale Mountains National Park is an area of high altitude plateau that is broken by numerous spectacular volcanic plugs and peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and rushing mountain streams that descend into deep rocky gorges on their way to the lowlands below.
As you ascend into the mountains you will experience changes in the vegetation with altitude, from juniper forests to heather moorlands and alpine meadows, which at various times of year exhibit an abundance of colourful wildflowers.
Bale Mountains National Park is the largest area of Afro-Alpine habitat in the whole of the continent. It gives the visitor opportunities for unsurpassed mountain walking, horse trekking, scenic driving and the chances to view many of Ethiopia's endemic mammals, in particular the Mountain Nyala and Ethiopian Wolf, and birds, such as the Thick-billed Raven, Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged Goose, and Rouget's Rail.
The climate of the Bale Mountains, as is to be expected in a high altitude mountainous region, is characterized by a high rainfall and periods of damp cloudy weather, interspersed with periods of sparkling sunny weather with brilliant blue skies. The climatic year can be roughly divided into three seasons -the dry, early wet and wet seasons. The dry season is usually from November to February. Very little rain is experienced and temperatures on the clear sunny days may rise to as high as nearly 30? centigrade. Nights are star-filled, clear and cold, usually with heavy ground frosts. Temperatures may fall between minus 6? and minus 15? centigrade in the main peak area of the Park. This is the best period to visit the National Park, especially for walking and horse trekking in the high mountain area. The vegetation can get very dry in the dry season, and fires must then be very carefully tended.

Monday, 21 March - They left for Addis Ababa to apply for their Schengen Visas at the Swedish Embassy and on Tuesday morning they were waiting on pavement in a long line for their visas. As soon as they got their visas they will push on north: Lalibela, Lake Tana and on to Sudan.

I feel less worried about them when I “looked” at their accommodation. Extracted from http://www.wimshollandhouseaddis.nl:
Wim' s Holland House is the most sociable (Dutch) place in Addis Abeba. Wim' s Holland House is not only a sociable bar but offers much more, such as a restaurant/ pizzeria, campsite for overlanders (where he offers different services; from a hot shower till total car care, document accompaniment; carnet, visas etc.), washing clothes, broadband internet service and ofcourse Wim always can serve you with a Dutch shooter or a typical Dutch snack; bitterballen! Depending on the time there is even pea soup or herring! Wim' s visitors are varied. All ages and nationalities are welcome and are often represented!

Update for Larry & Sharon: - I had a lovely conversation with John Melchior from US and he & Loretta follow your travels and send lots of love & prayer!
Bagu decided to see what's on the otherside of the fence and got cut, visited the vet and he's fine. I think between Bagu, Cleo, Ginger S & Johan they do a good job looking after Ralph :-)