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Monastery Crawl On Lake Tana

By on 16. April 2011 in Ethiopia
Bet Maryam Monastery, Lake Tana, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Bet Maryam Monastery, Lake Tana, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

These 16th and 17th century monasteries do not look like anything we expect a monastery to look like. First of all, they are circular building. Straw maps shield the walkway that circles the very church. The top of the roof is adorned with a heavy iron cross, often decorated with ostrich eggs. The inside of these monasteries are decorated with the most spectacular colorful wall paintings, telling the story of the bible and many more legends. Continue Reading →

Ancient Monasteries Saying Farewell To The Blue Nile

By on 16. April 2011 in Ethiopia
Bet Maryam Monastery, Lake Tana, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Bet Maryam Monastery, Lake Tana, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

The picturesque town of Bahir Dar is the gateway to over 40 ancient monasteries that dot the shores and islands of Lake Tana. It is also the source of the Blue Nile, which fascinated ancient Egyptians and modern day explorers alike. Even 21st century tourists are still drawn in by the romanticizing tales and exotic flair. Continue Reading →

Ethiopia: Danakil Depression – A Selection Of 26 Pictures

By on 10. January 2011 in Africa – Photos, Ethiopia, Ethiopia – Photos

Crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

An expedition of 6 days through the hottest spot on this planet – The lava lake of Erta Ale, one of the most active volcanoes on this planet; Dallol, a landscape of multi-colored hot springs and bizarre formations reminding of a coral reef; Endless caravans soundlessly leaving the village of Hamed Ale at the crack of dawn and trotting back late afternoon loaded with salt; The salt mine near Lake Asal and the very harsh working conditions of the Afars and Tigrians; Lake Asal’s vast salt plain with its surrounding rock formation – Here you find a selection of 26 pictures from Ethiopia (Danakil Depression) Continue Reading →

Two Excellent But Very Different Tour Operators In Ethiopia

By on 7. January 2011 in Ethiopia
Our Group...

Our Group…

A few places and highlights in Ethiopia are difficult or time consuming to be travelled independently. This is definitely true for the Omo Valley and the Danakil Depression, both areas we visited over Christmas 2010. To get around the Omo Valley would have taken us several weeks travelling on the infrequent public busses. The Danakil simply cannot be visited without a tour operator, unless you have the survival skills of a local Afar and know how to extract the permits from local policemen. Continue Reading →

6 Days In The Danakil Depression

By on 7. January 2011 in Ethiopia
Crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

Crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

We had actually never heard of the Danakil Depression before we started reading the Lonely Planet, the Bradt Guide and the Thorn Tree Forum on Ethiopia. Either there was very little information (one single page in the Lonely Planet) or a focus on how expensive and difficult it was to travel there. The latter category was simply tempting us and off we went to the hottest place on earth. And believe us, it term is not some kind of marketing slogan! Continue Reading →

Awash National Park

By on 7. January 2011 in Ethiopia
Soemmerring's Gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii; formerly Gazella soemmerringii), Awash National Park, Ethiopia

Soemmerring’s Gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii; formerly Gazella soemmerringii), Awash National Park, Ethiopia

Awash National Park is about midway between Addis Abeba and the edge of the Danakil Depression. That is why most tour operators stop here and so add an attraction to their Danakil itinerary. To be honest, there is not much to see: a few monkeys, crocodiles and if you are lucky one long horned animal. Continue Reading →

Lake Afdera On Ethiopia’s Best Road

By on 6. January 2011 in Ethiopia
Public bus, near the Awash National Park, Ethiopia

Public bus, near the Awash National Park, Ethiopia

Our senses sharpened after a while and we identified Afdera as what it is. A shantytown that exists for one reason only: to host the many businesses and migrant workers that flocked here recently to earn money in the salt industry. Lake Afdera is the second largest lake with salt water in the Afar region. Continue Reading →

Sleeping On Top Of The Volcano

By on 6. January 2011 in Ethiopia
At dusk, crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

At dusk, crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

The camp on the edge of the crater consists of a few simple huts made from piled up stones. We crawled into the most remote hut to be away from the Afar guides talking the night away while chain-smoking. At sunrise the view of the crater itself was much less impressive than during the night: a bit of smoke coming from a hole in the crater floor. Continue Reading →

Looking At The Gate To Hell

By on 6. January 2011 in Ethiopia
Crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

Crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

In November 2010, the lava lake rose so high that it flooded large parts of the outer crater floor. It was actually still unusually high when we peeked into the noisily bubbling lava lake in January 2011. It might sound hard to believe, but we were quite exhausted from climbing the 650 meters to the rim of the caldron. And we had now to do so more climbing! An Afar guide took us down to the floor of the large outer crater. Continue Reading →

Like A Cyclop’s Eye High In The Sky…

By on 5. January 2011 in Ethiopia
At night, crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

At night, crater of the most active volcano in Africa with a permanent lava lake, Erta Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

Getting out of the sun was all we wanted when we arrived at the little base camp at the foot of Erta Ale. So we hid in small shelters made from piled up stones. Only around 06:00 pm did the temperature allow the start of our slow ascent. This time, we were accompanied by four additional armed Afar scouts, their Kalashnikov casually slung around their shoulders. But their mood was foul, we figured it must have had something to do with the argument we watched in the village. All we carried was a bottle of water, the camel hauled the little we needed, lots of water and our camping beds. Continue Reading →