Ethiopia
Ethiopia became one of our most intense journeys: the Simien Mountains, encounters in the Omo Valley and Addis Ababa’s contrasts mixed with theft, illness…
Our three and a half weeks in Ethiopia became a journey of extraordinary contrasts. From the markets and modern shopping centres of Addis Ababa, we flew to Gondar and set out trekking in the Simien Mountains. The scenery was magnificent, but the journey took a dramatic turn when we were robbed while sleeping in our tent. The following days revolved around the police, hospital visits, illness and bureaucracy that was difficult to navigate. In the south, we continued towards the Omo Valley and visited communities including the Banna, Mursi and Hamer peoples. The long, dusty roads and encounters with very different ways of life left a strong impression and gave us much to reflect on. Ethiopia was not an easy journey, but that is precisely why it remains so vivid in our memories: a beautiful, challenging and complex country where warm human encounters, poverty, nature and unexpected events constantly stood side by side.