Expedition to Ethiopia 2010 (North)

The virginity of Semien mountains with an extensive network of trails in 4000 m connecting pastoralist villages, where one can meet sheperds, too modest for their own good. The raged beauty of the Danakil desert and its inhabitants. The piety of priests keeping alive the 16 centuries old religious tradition in the historicaly unique cities of Axum and Lalibella. This will all impress a traveler couragous enough to cross the serpentine roads in the mountainous north of Ethiopia.

Tigray women on our way to Mekele Newly born lamb African buffalos Tigray village in the mountains Tigray women returning from the market Tigray houses built from local stones Unusually shaped mountain lakes Palace of Emperor Yohannes in Mekele (roof) Busy streets of Mekele, once capital city of Abyssinya Symetrically seated camels on the way to Dallol Daga, Gosia and our Afar hosts Ethiopian soldiers protecting us on the trip to acid lakes and our 'reserve' vehicle Afar man in typical dress in the Danakil desert Acid lakes in Dallol Sulfuric acid beauty Canadian research station in Dallol Wheat injera served in an Afar settlement near Handeda in the Danakil desert Afar women Market in Mekele Tigray sheperd Typical views on peaks in the Ethiopian highlands surrounded by the Ethiopian montane forests Countryside in the northwestern portion of the Ethiopian highlands (Tigray and Amhara Regions) Open air preaching in Lalibella near Bet Medhane Alem, the largest monolitic church, home to the Lalibela Cross Ethiopian woman in a traditional habesha gemis dress near Bete Golghota church in Lalibela - when women go to church, they cover their hair and pull the upper ends of their shawl up their shoulders. Traditional two-story round houses dominate the center of the mountainous site in Lalibela Bete Giyorgis, best preserved church in Lalibela A priest with a typical Lalibela cross Priest village in Lalibela, a live remnant of the 8-century long tradition Girl in a Lalibela street with wheat in the background A good restaurant in Lalibela Food in Ethiopia is traditionally composed of injera with differend kind of meat and vegetables On the way to Gondar, Cameroon, Yo and driver Take Stop near Nefas Meewcha in the Ethiopian highlands A 'teeth' peak of the Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands in the Amhara region Lost highway Streets of Gondar, a major city of the Amhara region in the northwestern part of Ethiopia Public transport in Gondar Hotel restaurant's salad in Gondar Stunning views on the local flora in the Semien mountains Semien mountains, high pastures Waterfalls in Semien mountains with potable water Geech, a village in the altitude of 4000 m, near the camp site in the Semien mountains Geech, a camp site in the Semien mountains in the altitude of 4000 m Gosia, Daga and Yo building tent one day trip from Geech to Chenek, two distant camp sites in the Semien mountains Cattle herders in the altitude of 4300 m Bwahit Ras Peak in the Semien mountains Shepperd girl selling souvenirs in the altitude of 4000 m (Semien mountains) Semien Mountains National Park with its massif of igneous basalts, deeply cut by forested gorges and sheer cliffs, some 1,500m high offers one of the most dramatic mountain landscapes in Africa Chillout on one of the peaks near Chenek Wonderful views near Chenek Chenek, a campsite in the Semien mountains in the altitude of 3680 m The 'Walia Ibex place' near Chenek View near Chenek in the altitude of 4000 m A herde of beautiful chestnut brown walias Fasting (vegetarian) meal from the local cooks in the Semien mountains Maybe could you make one more step back... :) A scout in the Semien Mountains National Park Yo's visionary look. What will be the future of the virgin Semien mountains and its endemic species (Ethiopian Wolf, Walia Ibex, Gelada Baboons)? An 'alpha male' from a group of the Gelada Baboons, typical inhabitants of the Semien mountains Road from Mekel to Bahir Dar, children selling Arake to our friend Geech Every expedition starts early morning with a beautiful African sunrise
We are part of Walia Ibex Association, Slovak NGO.
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