When it comes to traveling in Ethiopia, the weather can vary from hour to hour during the rainy season. But like I always say when it comes to traveling on short trips, you take what it gives you. We embarked on this hiking trip near the village of Kebey, hoping by the afternoon the fog would burn off. Needless to say, that never happened. If you keep an open mind and see the adventure in what you're doing, the weather doesn't matter. Mindset is everything! Sure I missed out on some spectacular views, but it was a great experience either way.
1-2: While we were waiting for our local guide, these two groups of kids came to greet us. This is another one of those times I regret not buying a big bag of candy before setting out. I did hand a few Birr to the eldest one of each group and had my guide tell them to share it.
3: On our way we passed these kids tending to their cows. They carry large plastic bags to protect themselves from the rain, and simple sticks to control their cows. The locals in the area were all very friendly and eager to greet me.
4: We also passed these gentlemen riding their donkeys returning from the nearby village. More than likely the donkeys were laden with firewood or a harvest to sell in the village, and they are now returning home with their profits.
5: This acacia bush has some massive thorns. They are about the size of toothpicks. Despite this, some animals such as giraffes have no issue running their tongue across them. They are sharp enough to draw blood if you prick your finger on them.
6: I found this local wildflower with dewdrops, it's almost erotic looking if you know what I mean. Maybe I should mark this blog NSFW!
7: And when we finally got to the cliff with the amazing views, this is what we were greeted with. Despite relaxing in this spot for a few hours, this was the best shot I could get of the valley below. Apparently there was a river down there somewhere too.
8: I was able to get a slightly better shot of the valley behind us opposite the cliff. You can at least get a sense of how beautiful and lush this area is.
9: A warden lived very close by and came to greet us with some home brewed beer. It was very thick, and came in a dirty glass, but alcohol kills everything right? I am always apprehensive about consuming local food and beverages in these situations. My system isn't used to the local pathogens, but everything turned out alright.
10: We also ran into a troop of geladas, which are an indigenous monkey of Ethiopia related to baboons. I thought this one had fabulous hair.
Thanks for dropping by! I hope that you enjoyed my travel photos and commentary, and will return for more travel content in the future.
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