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Turkish Airways - Photo Credits: Silvano Greco
We are in Ethiopia but unfortunately the time has come to go home, we have made a wonderful journey through history, culture and nature; a different Africa, in many respects, to what we are used to, but still fascinating and intriguing.
At 8:00 pm we arrived at the Bole international airport of Addis Abeba, we have already been several times at this airport, but always in transit to other African destinations, we never left from here doing all the procedures.
Ethiopia on the road - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We are at Lake Langano in Ethiopia, this was the last night of this exciting journey and we couldn't spend it in a better place.
We have breakfast and then we leave in the direction of Addis Abeba, but first we make a stop at Lake Ziway, the Northernmost lake of the Ethiopian Rift Valley, it is also the lake with the largest surface: 430 sq km.
Lake Ziway is one of the best places for birdwatching in the Rift Valley Lakes area.
Lake Langano - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
This morning, after visiting the Hawassa fishermen's market,we left toeards Lake Langano, but made a stop at the Abijatta-Shalla National Park; this part of Ethiopia is less traveled by travelers, who usually go from Addis Abeba to Arbaminch, but in our opinion it deserves to be given a few days as it is very relaxing and the nature here is really fascinating.
We arrived at Lake Langano in the early afternoon, our lodge, the Hara Langano Eco Resort, is located directly on the shore of the lake; the landscape is very beautiful and fascinating.
Hawassa lake - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Tonight we slept at Lake Hawassa, in Ethiopia, this morning we visited the Hawassa fish market and it was a very interesting and true experience; the market is located directly on the shore of Lake Hawassa and the freshly caught fish is cleaned and prepared to be consumed, it cannot be fresher than this!
After visiting the Hawassa fish market, or Awassa, we returned to the hotel to take our luggage and the picnic lunches we ordered for today; since the latter were not yet ready we went for a walk in the garden while we waited.
Hawassa: Fish market - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
This morning we woke up at our hotel, the Haile Resort, located on the shores of Lake Hawassa, or Awassa, one of the Rift Valley lakes in Ethiopia; we have breakfast and leave immediately leaving our bags in the room.
Senkele Swayne Hartebeest Sanctuary - Photo Credits: Silvano Greco
We are in Ethiopia, at Arbaminch, and today we are leaving to head North.
Around Arbaminch we visited a Konso village and climbed 2700 meters to get to know the Dorze and to celebrate the Meskel with them, we also visited the Nech Sar National Park; they were all wonderful experiences and we are very happy to have done them, but now it is time to leave.
Meskel - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
Today we are in the land of the Dorze, in Ethiopia, today it is a special day, in Ethiopia they celebrate the Meskel, one of the most important Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Christian holidays of the year that commemorates the discovery of the Holy Cross in the 4th century.
This holiday is celebrated in Addis Abeba in Meskel Square, but in every town or village this ceremony is repeated and many Ethiopians return to their country of origin to celebrate it with their relatives.
Ethiopia: Coffee ceremony - Photo Credits: Silvano Greco
We are in Ethiopia and today we went to visit a Dorze town, we visited the compound of a very hospitable family and then we saw the Meskel celebration, it was very interesting and, at times, exciting.
But during our stay at the Dorze family's house we witnessed another ceremony: the coffee ceremony.
Preparing coffee in Ethiopia takes a long time and it is a real ritual that is celebrated every time there is a guest to whom they want to show how welcome he is.
Dorze village - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We are in Ethiopia, since a few days we are at Arbaminch to explore the surroundings; in recent days we have visited a Konso village and the Nachsar National Park, but today we will go to discover the Dorze, their villages and their culture, and we will also participate with them in the Meskel celebration.
Konso village - Photo Credits: Romina Facchi
We are at Arbaminch, Ethiopia, in the last few days we visited the Omo Valley and it was an experience nothing short of spectacular.
Now we find ourselves a little further North but also in these lands live some very interesting populations to meet: today we had the pleasure of meeting the Konso.