Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The western and northwestern areas of
Ethiopia host broad-leaved deciduous forests,
while tall and medium-sized trees and under-
storey shrubs of the moist evergreen forests
also occupy the west, as well as the nation's
southwest. Even further west are the lowland
semi-evergreen forests around Gambela. Vegetation there consists of semi-evergreen trees
and shrub species, as well as grasses.
ance and behaviour of Ethiopia's mammals. It's
usually available in Addis Ababa.
Covering much of the highlands and the
north, northwest, central and southern parts of
the country, is the dry evergreen montane
forest and grassland. This habitat is home to a
large number of endemic plants. Tree species
include various types of acacia, olive and eu-
phorbia. Africa's only rose, the
Rosa abyssin-
Where to Watch Birds in Ethiopia,
by Claire Spot-
tiswoode et al and published by Christopher Helm
Publishers, is a new guide to the 50 best birdwatch-
ing sites in Ethiopia.
ica,
is here.
Within the Afro-alpine vegetation habitat, you'll see the endemic giant lobelia
(Lobelia
rhynchopetalum),
an endemic species of globe thistle, as well as the so-called 'soft
thistle'. On the high plateaus at around 4000m are many varieties of gentian.
Look out for fig and tamarind trees along the
Baro River in the west, as well as along river
banks or
wadis
(seasonal rivers) in the high-
lands and the northwest.
The ox and plough has been in use in Ethiopia for
more than 3000 years. It didn't reach much of the
rest of sub-Saharan Africa until colonial times.
THE STRANGE CASE OF THE VANISHING
TURACO
In a remote patch in the deep south of Ethiopia lives one of the country's rarest, most beautiful and most enigmat-
ic birds - the Prince Ruspoli's turaco, first introduced to the world in the early 1890s. It was 'collected' by an
Italian prince (who gave his name to the bird) as he explored the dense juniper forests of southern Ethiopia.
Unfortunately, the intrepid prince failed to make a record of his find, and when he was killed shortly afterwards
near Lake Abaya following 'an encounter with an elephant', all hope of locating the species seemed to die with
him.
The turaco finally reappeared in the 1940s. Just three specimens were obtained, then the turaco disappeared
again. It wasn't until the early 1970s that the bird was rediscovered.
