Ethiopia - Horse Trek Bale Mtns

I arrived in Addis last Monday night and very early Tuesday morning I was on a bus south to Dodola to arrange a short horse trek in the Bale Mountains. Wednesday morning I started a 3 day/2 night horse trek with an older British lady and our guide Hussein. It is a very interesting terrain and it was a great trip. We got up to around 3,500m elevation and the nights were quite cold. A big change from the very hot Ethiopian day. Because most of the country is so high (~2,000m), I'm finding it is very dry and the sun is powerful. Nights are very cool and pleasant. It is amazing how different this country is from the one I visited in East Africa, not only climate but also the culture. They have a very strong national identity and very unique culture. I guess the benefits of being the only African country not to be colonialized.


I know a few people who can appreciate this: Ethiopian street foosball







The primary mode of transport in Dodola and much of the poorer rural areas







This is a typical landscape, flat and dry








Bringing firewood to market








The hut keeper and his kids











The highest point we reached was around 3,500m elevation








Hugicho Mountain








A typical mountain dwelling











My horse on day three. Each day we had different horses. This one was the most energetic of the three

After the three days when we returned to Dodola we were encountered with a dust storm which didn't stop the local kids from playing soccer