Ethiopia

In 2012 travelled to the country of Ethiopia on the north east coast of Africa. This trip predates the establishment of this Blog but highlights of the trip are displayed here to gain experience in blog creation and for testing purposes.

The Ethiopian highlands; home to the Gelada baboons.

 

View of the Simien Mountains in the distance.

 

Further view of the spectacular Simien Mountains.

 

The spectacular Awash Falls, Southeastern Ethiopia.

Accompanying guard for the hike through the Simien Mountains.

 

A child from the highlands of Ethiopia.

 

Hiking guide Iggy taking a rest from gringo visitiors.

Volcanic plugs on the road to Gondor.

 

Blue Nile falls (Tis Isat) at the source of the Blue Nile, Lake Tana and the local soccer team.

 

Tis Isat Falls, the "Niagara Falls" of Ethiopia

Local iconography in the monasteries along Lake Tana. Villagers collecting water from Lake Tana.

 

Local Ethiopian art depicting religious themes.

The rock hewn churches of Lalibela

The monumental stelae of Aksum

The supposed resting place of the real Ark of the Covenant, Aksum.

Further view of the rock hewn churches of Lalibela.

Approaching sunset on the Ethiopian savannah.

More religious art, monastries near Lake Tana.

Further views of the Siminen Mountains, the guide Iggy and local villager.

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Ethiopia 2012

In 2012 travelled to the country of Ethiopia on the north east coast of Africa. This trip predates the establishment of this Blog but highlights of the trip are displayed here to gain experience in blog creation and for testing purposes.

The Ethiopian highlands; home to the Gelada baboons.

View of the Simien Mountains in the distance.

Trip to Ethiopia

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Namibia and Botswana

Few photographs were taken on this trip, especially of wildlife, as binoculars took over as the primary mode of viewing the country.

Camp site at Moremi, considered to be Botswana's most beautiful and well stocked game park.

 

Bogged down in the area approaching the Okavango Delta.

 

The camp cook

 

A stop in the Etosha game park for lunch.

On the Skeleton Coast is the Cape Cross Seal Colony. Home to approximately 80,000 to 100, 000 cape fur seals this is a major breeding ground for the species.

 

The town of Swakopmund is located on the Skeleton Coast. The town has a sizable population of people of german descent and is a popular tourist and holiday destination in Namibia. The town is famous for its half timbered houses and colonial-era buildings.

 

 

Damaraland has over 1,000 rock shelters exhibiting 45,000 examples of the rock art of the Khoisan people.

 

The Welwitschia plant is only seen on the gravel plains of the northern Namib desert. They are able to survive the harsh conditions due to a long tap root (over 3 metre). Despite its complicated appearance the plant has only two long intertwining leaves. They are some of the oldest plants in the world surviving for 1,000 to 2,000 years. The leaves contain compounds that make them unpalatable to grazing animials.

 

The Baobab and Dragon Trees are commonly sighted.

 

A group photograph at the Tropic of Capricorn, Namibia.

 

Sesriem Canyon has been carved by the Tsauchab River through 15 million year deposits of sand and rock. Approximately 1 km in length and 30 metre deep it provides a spectacular hiking trail shaded by the sun.

 

The Namib Desert, one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world.

 

Salt pan, Namib desert

 

The tour guide Thulani with the dunes of the Namib desert in the background.

 

Watching the sun rise from one of the highest dunes in the Namib

 

Spectacular dunes in the Namib.

 

Animals seen at Etosha game reserve include zebra, antelope, elephant and cheeta.

 

The view of the Okavango Delta from the air. The Okavango river is the third largest river in Africa and the delta covers approximately 16,000 sq km.

 

Boating in the delta is an excellent opportunity for bird watching.

 

The Bushman of the Kalahari

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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