We've made it into Ethiopia and are currently in the largest town inthe south called Awassa.
We've really noticed the change as we crossedinto Ethiopia…as soon as you cross the border the people look much more Arabic and the coffee and tea suddenly became amazing.
The trip to get here through northern Kenya was pretty full on. From Nairobi we headed north towards the Samburu national park(unfortunately our last game drive). It wasn't a great day of travel for me as I was the last of the girls on the truck to have a 24 hour throwing up virus. The game drive was still quite spectacular eventhough I was only popping my head up for the highlights! We saw a baby elephant that they think was born that day and it was struggling toget to its feet it was so tiny.
The next day we headed on an arduous journey to Meskabit, a muddy outpost town in the middle of nowhere. We had our first truck bogging incident and all had to get out and dig out the truck and create some launch ramps out of thorn bushes. Steve of course was right in the action and consequently ended up covered in mud!
When we arrived late that day we checked into Jey Jey's hotel and the following day hired a guide to walk us up the local volcano crater and visit a local village. The next day it was then back in the truck forthe drive to Moyale, the border town. For some of this journey we had to hire armed guards to join our truck as it is apparently bandit territory. Nothing like two men in camo outfits holding assault rifles in the back of the truck. We didn't see any action though…and I'm starting to wonder if the $40 armed guards were actually the new way the bandits are focusing on raising revenues?
Anyway we crossed the border with no hassles and spent the morning all running around the border town in excitement once we had discovered the local coffee, tea and cakes! Mmmm! Sure beats the tomato sandwiches we have been surviving on. Although we're not sure about the local Ethipian staple called Injera. It's kind of like a giant spongy purple pancake thing that accompanies most dishes. It's sourand a bit odd to eat…a book I am reading likens it to eating a dirty dish cloth!
From there we headed north and spent a night at Yebello and then on to Lake Awassa which is where we are now. Heading out now to sample some local Ethiopian red wine…it comes in beer bottles and costs $2 per bottle…. Dangerous!
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