Ethiopia - Lalibela & the Simien Mountains

We have finally crossed the Sahara desert, but the next country we went to still to this day is the most surprising country not just in Africa but that anywhere in the world that I have visited. Ethiopia.

Now partly from the 80s and Band-Aid when you think of Ethiopia you think of starving children, dry arid landscapes, nothing could be further from the truth. Ethiopia is a vibrant beautiful friendly if very troubled country.

We took a chance and headed north into Ethiopia. There was three key areas we wanted to see in the north Lalibela, Aksum and the Simien mountains.

So we headed to Lalibela first to see the amazing churches that have been carved in the shapes of crosses down into solid granite rock and limestone.

I really wanted to add the peak in the Simien mountains, which is mount Rash Dashen to the list of peaks that I've climbed in Africa. The whole Simien mountain range is a national park, there's just nobody there which is one thing that makes it fantastic.

While in the Simien Mountains we were on a quest to see the Simien Ibex (a mountain goat of sorts), the Ethiopian or Simien Wolf, and the Gelada Baboons. Will we be successful?

Land Rover Africa Overland
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Twenty years ago my wife and I packed up our life in the UK and set off to drive overland in our Land Rover Defender with the aim of driving all the way to the Cape Town in South Africa, a journey which will take us from coast to coast along the length and breadth of Africa.

Because this journey was twenty years ago, there were no smartphones, no google maps, and no digital cameras. The photos taken on the journey were on transparencies, designed to be projected. I have taken photographs of some of those slides for the purpose of showing in this video.

Also watch:

Africa Overland Part 1: Driving from Scotland to Morocco

Overland Africa Part 2: Morocco Early Days

Africa Overland Part 3: Christmas in the Sahara Desert Ait Benhaddou, & a military convoy

Africa Overland Part 4: Mauritanian Minefields and Beach Drive

Africa Overland Part 5: Mali, Djenné and The Road of Hope

Africa Overland Part 6: Niger - Poorest Country in the World

Africa Overland Part 7: Chad - Risking it all in the Sahara Desert

Africa Overland Part 8: Sudan - Pyramids, History, Friendly People and More Pyramids

(This Video)
Africa Overland Part 9: Ethiopia - THE most surprising country

What else would you like to know about travelling overland? Leave a comment below and I look forward to hearing from you all.

For anyone planning an overland trip, especially one through Africa, please feel free to ask questions or just get in touch either by leaving a comment below or if you prefer a private conversation you can send me a DM on instagram, facebook or twitter.