Seeing stripes

---

An hour after I was supposed to have been collected, I was still sitting on a rock outside Textiles. The sunrise was impressive and birds began to sing their morning chorus. Still I waited.

Eventually, the promised 4-wheel drive arrived, with not only Michael (a random German tourist Clare had met in a shop and introduced to me to share the costs of going to Nechisar National Park) but an American couple, working in Addis, an Ethiopian living in Germany and his friend from Addis, in Arba Minch on holiday. Crowded, but cheap! Our guide, Kapo - who is mentioned by name in the Lonely Planet - sat in the back.

Driving into Nechisar National Park, the first climb gives amazing views of the lake before dropping down onto savannah - and the first sightings of zebra. They are brown and white, rather than the expected black and white and are truly special. This was a real “I’m in Africa!” moment.

Almost as impressive as seeing the zebra, was seeing Grant’s gazelle and a pair of Abyssinian Ground Hornbills. We stopped by a river on the way back, where there were so many butterflies; it was like being in a dream!

After lunch in Arba Minch, and a stop at the Bekele Molla Hotel for a drink, we headed to Lake Chamo, to see hippos and crocodiles. The trip was perfect - hippos, crocs, and lots of birds (including White Pelicans) and ended as the sun was setting!

---

Photos

Nechisar National Park
Me with zebras!

Lake Chamo
Our guide and the boatman.

Comments

[Yvonne]

Arba Minch
Heading out to Ethiopia next week - I'll be working at Arba Minch. Loved your lake photo.