Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Away
The monastery is 4.2km off the Addis-Bahir Dar highway. Usually four minibuses run
daily from Addis Ababa to the monastery (Birr76, two hours).
Blue Nile Gorge
Around 200km from Addis Ababa, one of Ethiopia's most dramatic stretches of road be-
gins its serpentine descent to the bottom of the Blue Nile Gorge, 1km below. Here a pair
of bridges (photography prohibited), cross the river. A new Japanese suspension bridge
handles traffic while the Italian original is now used by shepherds. The gorge is less dra-
matic than the Grand Canyon, with which it's inevitably compared, but it's still spectacu-
lar in places. Unfortunately the beauty on the southern side is frequently marred by ce-
ment company quarries.
North to Bahir Dar
Across the gorge the landscape of rolling hills and long plains doesn't change, but the
Oromo people are replaced by the Amhara, who rarely wear shoes and the men rarely go
anywhere without their
dula
(wooden staff). The shortest route to Bahir Dar is via Mota,
but nobody uses this road because it's unsealed and in terrible condition.
Although it's not as dramatic as the crater lakes in southern Ethiopia,
Zengena Lake
(Birr20)
, with its perfectly circular shore, is still beautiful and the 3.4km track around it
makes a nice walk or drive. Plenty of birds and vervet monkeys live in the natural forest
blanketing the slope. A short trail at the parking area leads down to the shore where a boat
makes a good picnic shelter while it waits for permission from the nearby church to begin
giving trips on the water. You can camp (Birr25 plus Birr150 for two guards) and a lodge
is planned. The lake is signed, just 100m off the highway, 4km before Kosober (Injibara).
After Kosober you'll pass Gish Abay and Bikolo Abay, described on
Click here
.
Sleeping
For anyone who left Addis late or is choosing to mosey rather than motor up north, Debre
Markos and Finote Salem are the best spots to split the journey.
