Church of the Trinity, Addis Ababa
Priests, Church of the Trinity
Adam & Eve, stained glass, Church of the Trinity
Moses & the Ten Commandments, Church of the Trinity
Birth of Christ, Church of the Trinity
Gabre Sellassie explains the influence of Derg occupation on the Church
Poinsettia, Church of the Trinity, Addis Ababa
Arriving at Gondar Airport
Loading the bus, Gondar Airport
Flame Flower, Gondar Airport
Gohar Hotel - from the sun terrace
View of Gondar from the terrace, Gohar Hotel
More views of the city ...
No arguments about that ...
Debre Birhan Selassie Church, Gondar
Detail, Debre Birhan Selassie Church
Roof/ceiling detail, Debre Birhan Selassie Church
Tower in perimeter wall, Debre Birhan Selassie Church
Detail, tree bark
Archway, grounds of Debre Birhan Selassie Church
Debre Birhan Selassie Church
Wow ... big worm !!!
Poinsettias in the castle grounds, Gondar
Detail, poinsetia
Fasil's Bathhouse, Gondar
Roots covering perimeter wall, Fasil's Bath
Reconstruction work ongoing
Day 3. Early morning Gondar, from Gohar Hotel
More early morning views
Locals on the road to Debark. Taken from the bus.
Very green countryside enroute to Debark. From the bus.
Stunning photo-stop, enroute to Debark
... ditto ...
.. and again ..
.. but Carolyn is not that impressed ...
Welcome indeed ...!
At last we start the trek. Leaving Debark.
Not much call for footy in these parts ...
Making lots of new friends ...
An early stop to admire the views
River crossing - the first of many !
Colourful wild flowers
"Onion skin" rocks typical of the area
Day 4. Expansive early-morning views
Walking with Geladas
Ellie keeps pace with the pack
Catching a few rays ...
Geladas are obviously not worried by Farenjis ...
... even the scary ones !
Tree heather
Shif - a real Cool dude !
... and here it is ...
Steve records the scene in the valley bottom
Moss and lichen on a tree trunk
A first encounter with red-hot pokers
Abundant wild flowers
Thick-billed raven
More red-hot pokers growing wild
Jeremy
Giant lobelia at Geech
Resident of Geech
Day 5. Our shower (right) and water supply at Geech Camp
Looking back to Geech Camp
Giant lobelia
Steve enjoying a water-stop
Heading up to Imet Gogo (3926 m)
Looking up to the summit of Imetgogo
Muller surveys the scenery
Detail, dead giant lobelia trunk
Fairly typical pattern of erosion
Washing out to dry
Sunset above Geech camp
Shif contemplates the wonder of it all
Day 6. Geech Camp
The "hospital mule", Desta
Another thick-billed raven
Local lads - just hanging around ...
Pauline contemplates ...
Please be careful on the way down ...
James checking the route down
Gelada male, Chennek
Day 7. Chennek Camp
Our local crew - plus one !
Distinctly barren as we head up to Bwahit, the second-highest peak in Ethiopia
Taking a break
Still cold and barren as the cloud descends
Muller
Group photo on Bwahit, 4430 m.
Walia ibex herd
Carolyn admires the view
Descending the steep valley. Lunch-stop.
Eleanor checks if Jeremy has any luch left
Handing out left-over luch to the local children
Carolyn at the lunch-stop
Approaching Chiro Leba
House, Chero Leba
Leaving the village, heading down to the river
Aloe veras
Candelabra euphorbia
An opportunity to cool the old feet. Mershea River
Natural (?) dry stone wall on the ascent to Ambiko
The last charge up to Ambiko
Day 8. An early start to climb Ras Dejen.
Julian and Carolyn prepare themselves for a trek in the dark
Sunrise at last
The dry-stone wall, en-route to Ras Dejen
Almost there now ...
One last scramble ...
Suzie and Pauline exchange tales of past beaus ...
Pauline reaches the summit of Ras Dejen (4550 m)
Barren, cold and misty. View from the summit
Carolyn and Steve. Ras Dejen summit.
Steve, Suzie, Shif and Carolyn
Group photo, summit of Ras Dejen.
Muller with AK47
Orphans, Ras Dejen
A scramble down from the summit
Almost back to camp. Crops and flowers.
"Welcome, Welcome !!" The crew greet us on our return to camp.
Day 9. Leaving Ambiko in the early morning sun.
Heading back down to the river from Ambiko. Making way for fully-laden haystacks.
Morning of the long shadows.
Pauline
We were over there yesterday !
Crops and cultivation on a big scale. Rudimentary school in the foreground.
The recently re-located village of Arquaziye.
Partially-constructed house, Arquaziye
Coffee-making ceremony. Roasting the beans.
Grinding the coffee beans
Musician, Arquaziye
Washing the coffee beans.
Another partially-completed building.
Pouring the coffee.
Approaching Sona Camp
Sunset, Sona Camp
Day 10. Early. Steve waits for sunrise.
... as does David.
Slowly the sun spreads over the landscape
Geramium, Sona Camp
The sun begins to rise
Sona Camp, breakfast time
Lammergeyer
Wallo - the latrine man. Ready for action !
Heading down from Sona Camp
So many flowers. Impatiens
Taking a break. Nega and Desta
French marigolds growing wild
A tricky river-crossing ...
.. tackled with lady-like elegance
Shif strikes a tough deal for the local handicrafts
Relaxing by the river
Ken
It must be warmer down here - palm trees.
Fields of tef
Mekarebya Camp
The sun goes down on Mekarebya Camp
Day 11. Early morning camp
Local cool dude, Mekarebya
Schoolgirls, Mekarebya school
Skills required for an effective teacher ...
... and for an exemplary student.
Biology class
Flags flying over Mekarebya school
Well come to the school ...
Pauline and Jeremy - school inspectors ?
Yet another river crossing ... form an orderly queue !
What's that coming over the hill ? Is it a monster ??
The lagoon - a great place to stop for lunch ...
... and a swim-stop
Local cattle cooling in the river
Doctor d***head at your service !
Carolyn enjoying a long, cold one
A cool oasis in the heat of the afternoon
Gorgeous light as the sun goes down
After dinner, the party begins. Steve shakes his shoulders ...
... while Carolyn does the Funky Chicken ...
... laying an egg !!
Shif shows how it should be done
The sun finally disappears behind the mountains at Mulit Camp
Day 12. The last morning, Mulit Camp.
Spectacular shaft ... of golden light !
Local children, Mulit Camp. Pen? Birr? Plastic?? ....
The great clothing lottery begins
Heading down to Adiarkai
Day 13. Emperor Tewodros II, Gondar Airport
Leaving Gondar, internal flight back to Addis
View from plane, en-route to Addis
Ministry of Water resources, Addis Ababa
Preparing to land at Addis
Street scenes, Addis
Sevastopol, Emperor Tewodros's canon
More Addis street scenes
Reminiscing over a couple of beers, Addis