Africa Safari Blog

Rhiannon Batten enjoys the panoramic vistas and the hospitality of the people of this ancient land

HAVING spent a sticky afternoon winding our way behind donkeys laden with luggage through rocky fields and green pastures, our small group reached the village of Mequat Mariam just as the sun brushed the horizon. After clambering over pentagon-notched basalt rocks, we sat on the edge of huge drop-off looking out over what one of the group described as “the Grand Canyon without the tourists”

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Want to be 7 years younger? Go to Ethiopia!
Want all your preconceptions of desert & famine be modified? Go to Ethiopia!
Want to experience your feeling of belonging by getting in touch with the origin of man? Go to Ethiopia!

I was lucky enough to recently have the opportunity to visit this fascinating country on an educational trip. I arrived late at night in Addis Ababa, the 3rd highest capital city above sea level in the world. Sitting at 2300m above sea level, I was pleasantly surprised that oxygen was not required & I could smoke with freedom (yes, I intend to quit). After a friendly greeting we were whisked to our hotel, where I was treated to the wonders of locally brewed beer. After being shocked by the discovery of the next morning’s departure time… 4am… I limited myself to one beer, and slept soundly.

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