| |
There is a wide choice of other trekking or riding activities that take half a day or longer, just a selection of which are listed below. See also the section on the coffee caravan route. (This should have a link to the section.) Packed lunches are available from the lodge on request.
- Half day easy walk or mule ride to a selection of nearby villages to enjoy the scenery and visit some churches
- Half day – four hours – moderate walk to Chefa and Irara Valley, past the former French, Italian and British Diplomatic Missions, crossing open pastures and farmland before walking along the beautiful Chefa Valley to St Mary’s Church (1721). Return through the juniper groves and wild flowers of the fertile and sheltered Irara valley.
(75 Birr per group, including guide and mule driver. Each extra horse or mule, 20 Birr per person)
- Full day mule ride or walk – approximately six hours – to Mentiq, a Judeo-Christian monastery of historical significance. Weekdays only, as the monastery is closed on Saturdays and Sundays (In the section below, it said Mentiq is a two-day trip)
- Full day mule ride to Dens forest, one of the rare tropical forests remaining in the area. Some wild animals may be viewed
- An exciting and challenging excursion from Kundi village to the top of Mount Emmemhiret, with the chance of seeing gelada baboons and Ankober Serin along the way. This is full day programme for the serious trekker to one of the highest peaks in the area (3,500m). Own transport needed, to drive to Kundi for a six hour return journey to the mountain by mule or on foot
(150 Birr per group, including guide and mule driver. Each extra horse or mule, 30 Birr per person)
- Visit the ancient customs centre of Aliyo Amba by driving or walking (three and half hours) 14km downhill through beautiful countryside. The return journey should be in your own car or through arranging local transport, as the uphill route is very arduous. Tour the village with its interesting back streets, tea shops, silversmiths, weavers, local bars, camel caravans, nineteenth century customs centre and the ancient market place where mainly Christian highlanders and mainly Muslim lowlanders having been coming to trade for hundreds of years. This trip is particularly interesting on market days, which are Mondays and Thursdays, and the market is at its best between 10am and noon
- The village of Abdul Rassul, named after its Arab founder, contains a simple mosque that is reputedly the oldest in Ethiopia – 600 years old – as well as an ancient Islamic graveyard with monolithic stones and engraved Arabic inscriptions. The village was a centre for the slave trade and the school now stands on the grounds of the former slave market. It is fairly easy four hour return walk from Aliyo Amba through the warmer lowlands, dotted with farms growing coffee, papayas mangoes and sorghum, with spectacular views in all directions and several small streams with abundant birdlife. Transport is needed to get to Aliyo Amba and back.
(From 50 - 200 Birr per group for a guide)
<< Back to previous page |
|
