May 152014
 

Attractions

Playful Gelda Baboons

Frequently Asked Questions

Fresh local breadFresh local bread

When is the best season to visit Guassa?

Guassa can be visited any time of the year although heavy rain can be expected from July-September.

The annual celebration in the Arbara Medhanalem Church is held on April 5th and Firkuta Kidane Mihret Monastery has its annual celebration on January 26th.

How many days should we stay?

The minimum recommended stay is two days, with one night in either Guassa Community Lodge or Mehal Meda. The Lodge makes an ideal base for day trippers, who want to take short excursions to the magnificent Guassa plateau and the surrounding villages. For hikers and mule riders, we recommend spending at least one night camping in the mountains, at one of our three wilderness camps. If you have enough time, then a four-day trek, staying at a different camp each night, makes for a wonderful adventure!

Do the guides speak foreign languages?

The guides speak reasonable English. As for other languages, they will try to communicate, however a basic knowledge of English is required.

How much experience is needed to ride the mules?

Many of our visitors have never ridden a mule before and return home very pleased with their newly acquired skills. It takes only minutes to learn the essentials!

Is it possible to see wild animals?

The Guassa Area boasts several spectacular flagship species, and sightings of many of these species, including the endemic gelada and the iconic Ethiopian wolf, are virtually guaranteed.

How soon do we have to make bookings?

The facilities and guides are extremely busy during the peak seasons of Christmas and Easter, so you should book as far ahead as possible. At all times booking is required at least a day in advance.

Where can we eat in Mehal Meda town?

There are many local restaurants in Mehal Meda offering the standard range of Ethiopian dishes at a very low price, and delicious fresh bread! Otherwise, come prepared to cook your own food at the Guassa Community Lodge or campsite.

Apart from the mountain trips, what else can we do there?

Day walks or excursions to nearby attractions are easy to arrange around Guassa Lodge itself, or trips into the Sefed Meda Valley where wildlife is abundant and easily seen in the grasslands and Afroalpine habitat. Mountain trekking can be combined with village visits.

Guassa Community Conservation Area

Guassa Community Conservation Area

menz trekking                layful Gelda Baboons

Giant LobeliaGiant Lobelia

Guassa Community Conservation Area is one of Ethiopia’s significant remaining examples of a high altitude Afroalpine ecosystem, and it has been the focus of a community-based natural resource management system known as “quero” for at least 400 years. This natural management system makes it one of the oldest known conservation areas in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Guassa Area covers some 100 km2 and is located 265km from Addis Ababa. It supports important plant species, including Guassa grass (Festuca), giant lobelia, Erica moorland, Helichrsyum and Alchemilla. This diverse habitat supports an apparently stable but threatened population of the Ethiopian wolf. Seven other endemic mammals and 13 endemic birds are found in the area. There are also large populations of geladas and other mammals including duiker, klipspringer, Abyssinian hare, common jackal, leopard, spotted hyena, civet and serval cat.

The Guassa plateau offers an unforgettable wilderness experience and it is the perfect spot for Afroalpine trekking, mule riding, traditional village visits and much more. Guassa is an ideal destination for a week-long trek, or as a one night stopover on the way along Ethiopia’s historic routes.

Menz Guassa trekking

Menz Guassa trekking

Menz Guassa trekking

Menz Guassa trekking Red fox

Menz Guassa trekking

Menz Guassa trekking

Menz Guassa trekking

Menz Guassa trekking

Menz Guassa trekking

Menz Guassa trekking

menz guassa trekking

menz guassa trekking

Guassa Community Conservation Area

Guassa Community Conservation Area

Guassa Community Conservation Area

The traditional Menz village

gcca1Menz Village

A visit to Guassa Community Conservation Area wouldn’t be complete without visiting a traditional Menz village. The village contains many stone compounds typical of the North Shoa region. These are architecturally interesting and very photogenic.

Menz village tours offer unique insights into the way of life of the local people, displaying their history, culture and finest handicrafts, such as wool rugs in natural browns and creams, and the traditional burnous and zietett woolen blankets. The village visit can be organized in combination with trekking activities and scenic drives across the plateau.

i am ethiopian

Guassa Community Conservation Area

Uses of the Ecosystem

Ecosystem service: Water, carbon, grazing (refuge), grass, fuel, medicinal plants

Guassa Grass

The Guassa Area is the source of 26 rivers and springs, which flow to the lower lying areas of Menz and Yifat, The lives of people and livestock as well as irrigation projects depend on these rivers. The Guassa plateau serves as the watershed catchment area for two major rivers: the Awash and the Abbye (Blue Nile).

The traditional management of the Guassa Area provides a highly prized natural resource – Festuca sp grass – to the community. The population of Menz considers the Guassa Area to be important for their livelihoods, and describe it as “Our cloth, bread and butter”. One of the main reasons for protecting the Guassa Area is for harvesting good quality Festuca grass, which is used for various purposes such as thatching, robes, farming and household implements. Another important use of the Festuca grass is its value as a marketable product that increases household income. The grass can be sold in distant markets in Debre Birhan and Addis Ababa. Festuca grass is also valuable as a marketable product for increasing household income. The grass can be sold in distant markets in Debre Birhan and Addis Ababa.

The Menz communities also depend on the Guassa Area as a source of fuel. The bushy vegetation occurring at high altitude is the only plant matter that can be used as fuel. Cherenfi (Euryops piniflius) is the most common shrub used as firewood in Menz. It is usually collected by uprooting it with using a small axe or by pulling it out of the ground by hand. Although it is not good at providing the required amount of energy and it produces lots of smoke, its abundance in the Guassa Area has made it the region’s most important firewood. Erica bush (Erica arboria) is an excellent firewood compared to Cherenfi, but little Erica is left in the Guassa area and those areas remaining are in constant use by the community. Erica is a usually collected in the rainy season as it burns quickly even when wet. Ameja (Hypericum revolutem) is another bush that can be used for fuel. Although it can grow to the height of a small tree, it never has the time to mature in the Guassa Area, so it is always found as a bushy thicket. Ameja is usually collected to make brooms or various household and construction materials, rather than firewood. All the firewood plant species collected in the Guassa area have a low calorific value and do not provide constant heat. Therefore a mixture of livestock dung (Kubet) and bushy vegetation is commonly used in Menz to generate longer lasting heat. This combination of fuels provides energy for cooking and, to a lesser extent, for heating houses in the cold months of the year.

In Menz, the Guassa Area is important grazing land, which provides a refuge for the livestock when private and cultivated fields become devoid of any grazing resource, particularly during drought. Most of the livestock that graze in the Guassa Area originates from the adjacent villages. During prolonged droughts, livestock from more distant villages also stays in the Guassa area in temporary pens to avoid long journeys from the homesteads on a daily basis.

 

Feb 242014
 
bale mountain niala

bale mountain niala

Tour code Ta/Bt/ 002
Tour Name – spe trekking bale Mountains
Mode of transport- surface
Duration 5 days 4 Nights
Day 01 Addis Ababa – Bale Mountains.
Morning after breakfast We will Drive from Addis to the Bale Mountains National Park. Arrive at the park headquarters in the afternoon, in time for a relaxed afternoon hike, possibly spotting two prevalent mammals that frequent the area: Menelik’s Bushbuck and the Mountain Nyala. Birds in this area include the Blue-Winged Goose, the Spot-Breasted Lapwing, the Abyssinian Long Claw, the Wattled Ibis, the Black-Headed Siskin, Rouget’s Rail, and numerous other species. Overnight camping
Day 02 Trek to Sodota.
Morning after break fast We will Trek through Dinsho and enter the National Park. Around Dinsho, the Mountain Nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck should be able to be seen. While trekking through the park, there will be a chance to see Ethiopian Wolves. Stop by Habera Waterfall for a nice break. Hiking will take 6-7 hours.Camping at Sodota.
Day 03 Trek to Wasama.
Morning after break fast We will Trek to Wasama through a beautiful landscape with spectacular views. Pass through Mararo Valley where the Lammergeyer and Veraux Eagles keep nests. There will also be a chance a seeing the Ethiopian Wolf and other species of birds. Around 5-6 hours of trekking.Camping at Wasama.
Day 04 Trek to Gebre Gurracha.
Morning after break fast We will Start the day by hiking up Mt. Wasama (4200m) and then continue down into the Worgona Valley. Falcons, raptors, and possibly the Ethiopian wolf will be visible. End the day at Lake Gebre Gurracha, meaning “black lake” in the Oromic language. Trekking will take 6-7 hours.Camping at Gebre Gurracha.
Day 05 Sanetti Plateau – Addis Ababa.
Morning after break fast We will Take a short trek from Gebre Gurracha up to the Sennati Plateau to meet vehicles. Return to Addis Ababa.

Mar 122013
 
9 Night and10 Days Trekking to Meket and Lalibela

Day 1: Arive Addis Ababa After breakfast Trek to intoto Mountain and visit the Museum and church.

Day 2: fly to Lalibela   from Lalibela Airport drive to boya over night at community lodge.

Day 3: from Boya trek to Ayenamba    over night at community lodge.

Day 4: from Ayenamba to Genete Maryam.

Day 5: Genete Maryam to Tadiwos Amba.

Day 6: Tadiwos Amba to Abune Josef.

Day 7: Abune Josef to Addi medehanialem.

Day 8: Addi medhanialem to Lalibela over night hotel.

Day 9: visit the church round Lalibela over night hotel.

Day 10: Fly buck to Addis Ababa. Diner in traditional restaurant  and  dispatcher.

Mar 122013
 

Below are samples , your actual itineraries can be worked out to fit your programme.

You can start your programme at any of the sites. Your decision will depend on where you are coming from, where you are going to after the community trekking, how you travel to the sites (public transport, hired vehicle or your own vehicle) and what time of day you can get to Meket. The below itinerary is taken from the Mequat Mariam site heading east and north towards Lalibela, but it can be reversed and sections from it can be walked.

Day 1: Filakit, is the administrative centre for Meket (woreda) district and it is here that you would travel to start your trek to Mequat Mariam Community site. You may have your guide with you if travelling from Lalibela, otherwise you will meet him here at the Save the Children office. You will probably want a quick lunch in one of the local ‘hotels’ – enjara and wot.

If you have a hired vehicle you should drive from Filakit to the church of Werkhaye Mariam, an old church dedicated to St Mary, tucked in a large Juniper wood, lying a few kilometers out of town. (You actually take a rough track from Geragera, the twin town lying below Filakit).

At Werkhaye villagers from Mequat Mariam will await you with a donkey to carry your bags. From here you trek across the plateau following well worn paths (often bolder strewn) through the agricultural landscape of the highlands. Little boys and girls watch their sheep,cattle, horses and donkeys. Older girls can be seen fetching water from springs along the way, and the men ploughing fields with oxen, engaging in harvesting activities or other agricultural work depending on the time of year and day of the month (on saints days it is forbidden to engage in many activities).

At the newly renovated church of Hanna Mequat, with acacia trees dotted around the church compound, you will get a glimpse of the escarpment edge that will be with you for much of the trip. Beyond the church you will join it and follow it round to the tukuls (thatched cottages) at Mequat Mariam. The total walk time is about 3 hours plus stops.

The staff – all members of the local villages – will meet you and serve snacks – perhaps a ‘Meket Pizza’ with tea or coffee, or perhaps you will be ready for a beer. As you enjoy this you can watch the birds soaring on the thermals – ravens, the odd vulture, perhaps a lammergeyer, and innumerable others. There is a shower, with water warmed by the sun – though do go a bit easy on the water. Don’t miss the sunset on the ‘rock bar’ with a sundowner drink.

The community will serve a good meal – simple western food – after dark in the dining tukul, and if you would like will prepare a traditional Ethiopian style coffee ceremony.

The community have built especially designed tukuls bedrooms – traditional style with thatched roof, and stone walls. However the beds are comfortable mattresses, with clean bed linen and blankets.

Day 2: A breakfast of either eggs or pancakes, with tea or coffee will get you ready for a good days walk. The walk from Mequat Mariam to Wajela winds along the escarpment for much of the way with staggering views of the river systems and farm land below. There is a good chance to see Gelada Baboon along these escarpments, and if you are lucky Rock Hyrax, even a Klipspringer.

After a few hours the Mequat community hand over to the Wajela community – a fresh donkey for the luggage. Here you can eat the simple picnic lunch, maybe with a soft drink carried by one of the community. Some of the route cuts across the plateau top and there are some short cuts if you want to reduce the walking, but if you feel fit much of the time you can follow the escarpment edge.

Towards the middle of the afternoon you will reach the church of Kura Anbessa Giyorgis, perched on the rock edge, with Olive (Olia Africanus) and other indigenous trees around. Kura means crow/raven and Anbessa Lion! If you meet one of the priests ask for an explanation of the name. It is possible to take another route and come across the carpet weavers, but there is not time to do this and the church.

After Kura Anbessa you cross the road and head north across the plateau to the Wajela site. Again a warm welcome and snacks will await you at Wajela with its cozy tukuls over looking a wooded escarpment. If you are early there is a 2 hour round trip to a church and cave structure below. You can also rinse off in the shower. Dinner as in Mequat is served in the dining tukul, sometime after sunset.

Day 3: Another good breakfast should prepare you another day’s walk, this time on the northern side of the escarpment. This time the midway point is the attractive church yard of Galla Dejen Giyorgis (another story behind the name!) In the afternoon you could drop down to a level below the escarpment to pass by the old church of Akat Abo and it lovely woodland. The land around is irrigated with local streams and there are crops year round. A little below Akat Abo, is a small rock church called Akat Markos. If your guide can find the priest this is worth the detour – if your legs are up to the climb down and up. Beyond is another rock church as yet unseen by the TESFA team – called Akat Medhane Alem! After climbing back up to the plateau you quickly come to Aterow Aragawi, the parish church of the Aterow community. Facing east looking over a gorge are four impressive tukuls – three bedrooms and a dining room, along with the toilet. Again snacks and drinks await, followed by dinner.

Aterow is the best Gelada Baboon spotting site, with quite sizable troops living on the cliffs that head down to the gorge.

Day 4: Aterow is close to the cross roads settlement of Gashena where the Lalibela road meets the east/west road connecting Bahir Dar and Gondar to Dessie, Weldiya and Mekele. However instead of heading for Gashena, there is a path that drops down to a waterfall above the gorge and follows quiet farm land dotted with numerous indigenous trees, until you meet the Lalibela road.

Here the route crosses the road down and then you climb up to the village and church of Timtimat Abo where you will meet the Yadukulay team.

It is a steeper descent to the church of Yadukalay Giyorgis church in a woodland with many Olive trees. A Yadukulay is a small forest dwelling animal that used to be abundant in the area. We are still trying to figure out what kind of animal it is. Yadukalay is the newest site, with its two story tukul, and panoramic views. Again much of the land benefits from micro irrigation and there are impressive escarpment on two sides and grand vistas on a third.

Once again you will be greeted with traditional Ethiopian hospitality, and provided simple but good food and accommodation. If you want to do some extra walking after you have had a cup of tea, you can explore down the valley further – at the head of the valley there is a waterfall – although we have only managed to see it from above so far!

Day 5: Yadukulay is a short walk (1-2 hours) from the village of Taja, from where you can either wait for a bus to Lalibela or if prearranged, meet a hired vehicle to take you the 50km back to Lalibela. Across the river just below Yadukulay is a lovely rock church called Yedoga Abo, carved into the cliff facing Yadukulay. It is perhaps an extra hour’s walk, but is a worthwhile detour.

Feb 262013
 
Argoba shonke village

Argoba shonke village

Argoba shonqea  village

shonqea village trek to ethiopia with balehagru trekking ethiopia

Argoba shonqea  village 2

shonqe village is one of the best old sit in ethiopia one of the interesting Argobe pupils live there .

 

Argoba shonqe village 6

Argoba shonqe village

 

 

Argobba is one of the woredas in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Because Argobba is not part of any Zone in the Amhara Region, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. This woreda is named for the Argobba people, whose homeland lies in this district. Argobba is bordered on the west by the Debub Wollo Zone, and on the east and south by theOromia Zone. Argobba was created mainly from Kalu woreda with smaller parts from Chefe Golana Dewerahmedo woreda. we will teak you there with balehageru trekking ethiopia

from shonke vilage

Feb 262013
 

 

Bale-Mountain

bale mountain

the bale  mountains, with  vast moorlands – the lower reaches covered with St. John’s wort- and their extensive heathland, virgin woodlands, pristine mountain streams and alpine climate remain an untouched and beautiful world. Rising to a height of more than 4,000 meters, the range borders Ethiopia’s southern highlands, whose highest peak, Mount Tullu Deemtu, stands at 4,377 meters. The establishment of the 2,400-square-kilometre Bale Mountains National Park was crucial to the survival of the mountain nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck and the Simien red fox. This fox is one of the most colorful members of the dog family and more abundant here than anywhere else in Ethiopia. All three endemic animals thrive in this environment, the nyala in particular often being seen in large numbers. The Bale Mountains offer some fine high-altitude horse and foot trekking, and the streams of the park – which become important rivers further downstream – are well-stocked with rainbow and brown trou

Feb 262013
 

 

Simein

Simein

simein mountain ethiopia

About simein mountain Ethiopia

range consists of several major plateau divided by large river valleys. The western plateau is bounded on the north and east by massive escarpment, many kilometers long and over 1,000 meters high in places and cut along its length by steep gorges. The views from the top of the escarpment look north over the vast plains towards Eritrea. At their foot are the remains of ancient hills now eroded into Three of Ethiopia’ endemic mammals are resident of the Simen mountain. the gelada baboon is the most common of these, with an estimated population of at least 7,000 often to be seen congregating .By contrast the Ethiopian wolf is very rare in the mountains, with a population of no more than 50 individuals concentrated mostly on the afro- alpine moorland on the upper slopes of Bwahit, Ras Dashen and Kidus Yared. The Walia Ibex whose range is now restricted entirely to the Simenes, was poached close to extinction in the 1960’s, when just 150 animals survived. The unique geological feature of semen is described by Rosita Forbes, who traveled there in 1920s. The most marvelous of all Abyssinian landscape opened before us; as we looked across the gorge clouded amethyst… A thousand years ago, when the old gods reigned in Ethiopia, they must have played chess with these stupendous crags, for we saw bishops miters cut in laps lazuli, castles with the ruby of approaching sunset on their turrets, an emerald night where the forest crept upon the rock, and far away a king, crowned with sapphire, and guarded by a row of pains. When the gods exchanged their gets, they turned the pieces of their chess board in to mountains. In Semen they stand enchanted till once again the world is pagan and the titans and the earth gods lean down from the monstrous could banks of wager a star or two on their sport.Gelada-Reproductive-Unit

Feb 252013
 

Distinctive features of Tigray are its rock-hewn churches. Similar in design to those of Lalibella, but many are considered to be older- perhaps  dating from the sixth century. Designs are partly inspired by classical architecture, they are often located at the top of cliffs or steep hills, for security.  For the adventurous -  Tigray’s ancient Debre Damo monastery is accessible by climbing a rope 25 meters up a sheer cliff.

Feb 252013
 
simein mountain with balehageru trekking

simein mountain with balehagerutrekking

The Simen range consists of several major plateau divided by large river valleys. The western plateau is bounded on the north and east by massive escarpment, many kilometers long and over 1,000 meters high in places and cut along its length by steep gorges. The views from the top of the escarpment look north over the vast plains towards Eritrea. At their foot are the remains of ancient hills now eroded into Three of Ethiopia’ endemic mammals are resident of the Simen mountain. the gelada baboon is the most common of these, with an estimated population of at least 7,000 often to be seen congregating .By contrast the Ethiopian wolf is very rare in the mountains, with a population of no more than 50 individuals concentrated mostly on the afro- alpine moorland on the upper slopes of Bwahit, Ras Dashen and Kidus Yared. The Walia Ibex whose range is now restricted entirely to the Simenes, was poached close to extinction in the 1960’s, when just 150 animals survived. The unique geological feature of semen is described by Rosita Forbes, who traveled there in 1920s. The most marvelous of all Abyssinian landscape opened before us; as we looked across the gorge clouded amethyst… A thousand years ago, when the old gods reigned in Ethiopia, they must have played chess with these stupendous crags, for we saw bishops miters cut in laps lazuli, castles with the ruby of approaching sunset on their turrets, an emerald night where the forest crept upon the rock, and far away a king, crowned with sapphire, and guarded by a row of pains. When the gods exchanged their gets, they turned the pieces of their chess board in to mountains. In Semen they stand enchanted till once again the world is pagan and the titans and the earth gods lean down from the monstrous could banks of wager a star or two on their sport.

Feb 252013
 

The Bale Mountains, with their vast moorlands – the lower reaches covered with St. John’s wort- and their extensive heathland, virgin woodlands, pristine mountain streams and alpine climate remain an untouched and beautiful world. Rising to a height of more than 4,000 meters, the range borders Ethiopia’s southern highlands, whose highest peak, Mount Tullu Deemtu, stands at 4,377 meters. The establishment of the 2,400-square-kilometre Bale Mountains National Park was crucial to the survival of the mountain nyala, Menelik’s bushbuck and the Simien red fox. This fox is one of the most colorful members of the dog family and more abundant here than anywhere else in Ethiopia. All three endemic animals thrive in this environment, the nyala in particular often being seen in large numbers. The Bale Mountains offer some fine high-altitude horse and foot trekking, and the streams of the park – which become important rivers further downstream – are well-stocked with rainbow and brown trout.

Bale-Mountain

Bale-Mountain