Africa's Secrets group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Ethiopia.

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daniserralta Premium account Joined: Aug 02 Points: 11491 Posts: 124 Posted: 2002-10-31 20:52:00    Hi!! Someone visited Ethiopia?? How can you move arround inside ethiopia?? There are some kind of public transport? trains? buses? i must rent a 4X4 car?? Is it necessary visit Lalibela and Axxum?? One friend told me that at Axxum is where is supposed to be the famous lost Arch?? Wow!!! is it real?? Thanks. Dani! --- The journey is the reward. -- Tao saying Reply    Reply with quote    Contact daniserralta   wojtekd Premium account Joined: Oct 02 Points: 74900 Posts: 411 Posted: 2002-10-31 22:10:00    Hi Transportation: forget trains they operate only to the coast, you will have a choice of junk buses or small plains (if in a hurry but I always prefere to see country from the ground level). There is nothing else in the world like Lalibela churches so it is worth to go there (the only comparison I can find is cut-in-the rock Petra but it is different). Yes, they say that the arch is in Axum but even local priests can't see it so do not expect too much... In general: it is fascinating country... Good luck! Wojtek --- You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced... W.D. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wojtekd   daniserralta Premium account Joined: Aug 02 Points: 11491 Posts: 124 Posted: 2002-11-04 18:31:00    Hi Wojtek. Thanks for your answer. Really helpful. Well! So, there are buses running between the Ethiopian cities as Adis Abeba-Lalibela or Axum, Gonder, etc... right? That could be really interesting to do the round trip Adis Abebe-Lalibela-Axum-Gonder and go to Sudan from Gonder. What do you think about it? One more question. :) There are some kind of guesthouse, hostel or place to stay in Lalibela and Axum?? Yeah, you know!, Are Axum and Lalibela towns or just temples and churches in the middle of nowhere?? Thanks Wojtek! Dani! --- The journey is the reward. -- Tao saying Reply    Reply with quote    Contact daniserralta   wojtekd Premium account Joined: Oct 02 Points: 74900 Posts: 411 Posted: 2002-11-04 19:42:00    Hello Yes, both places has poor lodges (prices start from 2 USD per night). Just remebmer planing that roads are bad and buses are slow. AA to Lalibela can take 2 days, same Aksum to Gonder. If you have time it is worth to make side trips: from AA to the lakes in the Rift Valley (for wildlife) and from Gonder to Bahar Dar (for Lake Tana - highest in Africa with monasteries and Blue Nile Fall) Enjoy! Wojtek --- You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced... W.D. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wojtekd   daniserralta Premium account Joined: Aug 02 Points: 11491 Posts: 124 Posted: 2002-11-05 18:38:00    Hi Wojtek! Well, really good to know that i can find accomodation in Axum and Lalibela (And cheap as in Asia). But ... 2 days itinerary from AA to Lalibela!!!! What kind of buses they have in Ethiopia, Flinstones Buses??? AA-Lalibela is arround 600 kilometers that must be no more than 12-15 hours by bus!! Yeah could be a great idea visit the Blue Nile Fall. OH! do you think is easy to get the Sudan and Egiptian Visas in Adis Abeba?? Thanks again and again!! Dani! ;) --- The journey is the reward. -- Tao saying Reply    Reply with quote    Contact daniserralta   wojtekd Premium account Joined: Oct 02 Points: 74900 Posts: 411 Posted: 2002-11-05 19:21:00    Hello again! Do not be surprised by slow, junk buses and bumpy roads - this is subsaharan Africa. Regarding visas: it shouldn't be a problem to get egyptian one but to obtain visa for Sudan can take few days (say - 3) since they send telex to Khartoum and wait for answer... Yes, I did Gonder-Metema-Gedaref-Wadi Medani route. Bumpy roads, limited transportation = real african adventure... Good luck! Wojtek --- You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced... W.D. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wojtekd   daniserralta Premium account Joined: Aug 02 Points: 11491 Posts: 124 Posted: 2002-11-09 13:49:00    Well! Thanks again for your ever useful info. Yeah, probably i will take a flight from Nairobi to Addis Abeba someone told that it is one hour flight ... 4 days by road!!! -Do you know the price of this plane ticket aprox? ;) To do the Ethiopia exploration Addis-Lalibela-Axum-Gonder i hope find at Addis some other adventure-backpackers dispossed to rent a car to do it all. Maybe with some other people, rent a car, could be great, fun and not so expensive. Probably i will take the Sudan and Egypt Visas at Addis Abeba doesn´t matter how long it will take ... i will be looking for companions to rent the car!! The Ethiopian Visa could be done at the Addis Abeba arrival airport, right? yes, i think so. At the moment my doubts are about how to do and how long could take the Lusaka(Zambia)-Dodoma or Dar Es Salam (Tanzania) trip.¿?¿?¿? I think that there is a train doing it¿? but what about the Tanzanian Visa? well i will do it in Lusaka. The other doubt is how to go Gonder - Khartoum by land. ¿?¿? Well, as you say it could be a real african adventure. Will see. From Khartoum to Wadi Halfa (To cross to Egypt) i think there are a train or bus, it could be a great experience too. There is only one ferry on Tuesdays to cross to Aswan ... that´s what someone told me before. ¿?¿? What do you think about it? doable? not? How much could be my budget for a day at those countries?? i think 30 Euros per day will be enough. do you think it is realistic? Thanks again! Dani! --- The journey is the reward. -- Tao saying Reply    Reply with quote    Contact daniserralta   wojtekd Premium account Joined: Oct 02 Points: 74900 Posts: 411 Posted: 2002-11-12 07:24:00    Hello again Approx fare for NBOADD route you can find here: http://www.travelselect.com/us/econ-travel/index.html Yes, you can Ethiopian visa in the ADD airport... Yes, Zambia to DAR train is the best solution... Gonder-Khartoum must be done in stages: Gonder to border probably by truck, same from Galabat to Gedaref, forget regular buses... They will apear from Gedaref onward... Yes, 30 euro per day will be more then enough... Good luck! Wojtek --- You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced... W.D. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wojtekd   eliasberning Joined: Nov 02 Points: 4 Posts: 1 Posted: 2002-11-28 13:03:00    Hi Folks, I am going to Ethopia in february 2003 to work with an NGO. After that I would like to spend further time in the country. So, because I am not experienced in backpacking in Africa, I have some questions: Is it adviseable to travel by bus for foreigners? My budget is limited, so I'd prefer staying on the ground to flying. Has anyone gone to Simien Mountains National park? I would like to do some trekking, and as I am rather used to it I am not sure if I need a guide. What about general risks? I would be glad to receive an answer soon, Greetings Elias Reply    Reply with quote    Contact eliasberning   wojtekd Premium account Joined: Oct 02 Points: 74900 Posts: 411 Posted: 2002-11-30 12:18:00    Ok. checked that for you: Nairobi - Addis Abeba is 384 USD one way but only 299 USD round trip... So ist is better to buy round trip and to use only onward leg of the ticket. Ethiopia is relatively safe - no problem in the bus - just watch your bags... Yes, in Siemen it is better to take a guide - the paths are not marked and local people do not speak foreign languages... Happy jouney! Wojtek --- You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced... W.D. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact wojtekd   Page: 1 2