Africa Amazingness!

December 4th, 2012

Wowzers! This past weekend was the best yet. On Friday the environment group- 16 of us got to go camping at Awash national park. We drove down into the Great Rift Valley through old lava fields and past a big lake for 5 hours to the north east into the Afar region. The lodge we stayed at was perched right over a huge waterfall- “Ethiopia’s Victoria Falls”. From cozy thatched huts perched on the edge we could see monkeys and crocodiles down in the river below. A trail led down to the river and at one point a few of us were standing about 50 feet away from a smallish crocodile!

The first evening there we went on a safari and spotted the beautiful Oryx- large antelope with long straight pointy antlers. We also saw warthogs with their little tails pointed high. Sunset was gorgeous in the classic African terrain- thorn bushes and Acacia trees. We drove to a spot where 3 tributaries joined the Awash River in a huge gorge the Grand Canyon of Ethiopia.   That night we had a campfire and stayed up late under the full moon. Luckily there were guards to protect us from any random baboon hyena that might wander into camp.

Waking up to crazy bird and monkey sounds I smiled knowing I was in Africa. Saturday morning we drove a long bumpy road into the Afar region spotting Dikdik (small antelope), warthogs and many cool birds including Toucans.  Our destination was an incredible oasis in the scrub- palm trees and grassy marshes. Walking for a little ways we came upon a fairy tale like hot springs. Turquoise blue deep pool lined with palm trees. The water was very hot but felt incredible. Probably the closest thing to a bath I will have while in Ethiopia. Some local tribe’s people came and watched us and they had beautiful facial markings. We weren’t allowed to take photos but I have one image burned in my mind of a young girl hiding in the grass wearing a bright red-orange scarf. Walking back I had fun geeking out looking at all the beautiful exotic birds.

Later that day we went on another excursion, this time to a long crack in the earth. This fault line ran for over a kilometer, was about 10 feet wide, and in some parts was bottomless. It was very eerie and super cool. Sometimes I could see bats flying deep down in crack. As the sun started setting we snuck up to a spot that was over a large cave and soon started seeing hyena’s coming out for the evening.  We silently watched about 20 hyenas come out of the cave and go out into the bush. Some were lactating females, small cubs, and large males. It was incredible, especially as the golden sun sank into the horizon. I was in awestruck bliss!

To top it off while we were eating dinner (super yummy fish) the local tribe’s people did a special dance for us. They sang songs and performed traditional dances. The men wore white cloth skirts and shawls, and the women wore the same white cloth and long beads. The women were sweetly shy as they sang beautiful songs. The tribe is doing this as an alternative way to earn money as their land gets more confined due to the park and grazing restrictions.

Sunday we drove back happy and tired. Along the way I saw endless straw houses, some camels and men working in the fields harvesting the wheat by hand. As I said it was an incredible weekend that filled me with excitement and awe in being here. It was a wonderful rejuvenation and experience. Yay to Ethiopia and Africa! One more week until swearing in and moving to Goba!

From now on my address is: Laresa Kerstetter, PO Box 340, Goba, Ethiopia. I would love any letters or packages (chocolate, fruit snacks, games, books, magazines…fun stuff and food!).

Also if anyone wants to call my phone number is (251) 9 22 530 489. I am 11 hours ahead of the west coast. Sending happy Ethiopian hugs to all! ~Laresa~