Monthly Archives: December 2011
Rafu
Rebecca had told me that of all the places she visited on her previous trip to the Bale Mountains, Rafu was her favourite spot. As our excruciatingly slow horses plodded forward and Rafu gradually loomed into view, I didn’t have … Continue reading
Best Laid Plans…
Funny thing about plans in Ethiopia. No matter how well laid, they always change. We crawled out of our tents and were met with a beautiful clear sky. The air was crisp and cold but finally felt dry! We hatched … Continue reading
12 Things We’ve Learned in Ethiopia
1. The best path is not always directly in front of you. 2. Water from a spring will give you an immediate brain freeze when trying to wash your hair. 3. There is no privacy in Ethiopia. No matter how … Continue reading
Stuck Again!
After a cold, damp night spent sleeping on the Sanetti Plateau (this was the first night my hot water bottle was stone cold in the AM) we awoke to the thrum of rain hitting our shelters. Rather than sit in … Continue reading
Wolf Catch and Release
One of the most immediate threats facing the Ethiopian wolf is disease, particularly rabies; three years ago a rabies outbreak killed 70% of the wolves in the Bale Mountains. The remaining animals were saved by an emergency injectable vaccination programme … Continue reading
Properly Stuck!
So we did mention the trouble securing a suitable car right… well, just as the trapping was about to begin our driver (#3) sheepishly pulled us aside and said he had to return to Addis. His insurance had expired and … Continue reading
How to Change a Tire in the Remote Mountains of Ethiopia
1. Notice the tire looks a bit low. 2. Find jack and tools in the box labeled ‘Live Ammunition’. 3. Kneel down to look for likely spot to place jack. 4. Yelp and jump back up when you realize you … Continue reading