Ethiopia Wildlife

Ethiopia lies at the northeastern corner of the African continent in the region known as the "Horn of Africa." The country is an intriguing blend of African and Eastern tribal civilizations, and a tangible aura of religious fervor makes it a vibrant and picturesque cultural crossroads. Not so well-known is the nation's incredible wealth of endemic wildlife, much of which is found in the photogenic highlands of the Simien and Bale mountains. Participants of this unique photo tour will discover the breathtaking beauty of Ethiopia's wild montane landscapes, the exotic and rare animals that dwell in these highlands and the iconic rock-hewn churches on the "Rooftop of Africa."

Every journey into these wilderness mountains is a photogenic wonder. The spectacular highlands of Simien Mountains National Park and Bale Mountains National Park are havens for endemic and endangered species such as Simien wolf (the rarest canid in the world), Walia ibex, gelada baboon, mountain nyala, Menelik's bushbuck, Bohor's reedbuck, lammergeyer and thick-billed raven. These verdant moorlands encompass the largest single area of afro alpine habitat in the world, forming "an island of mountains in a sea of lowlands."

At Simien Mountains National Park we are presented with some of the most dramatic scenery in Africa—great volcanic plugs formed 40 million years ago and eroded over the eons into fantastic crags, pinnacles and flat topped mountains—"the chess pieces of the Gods," as one writer aptly described them. This dramatic topography is a result of the erosion of basalt lavas nearly 10,000 feet thick. Fissures in the dense basalt were carved by countless floods that poured into them, creating "bottomless" gorges and incising an incredible array of jagged rock formations reminiscent of America's Grand Canyon. The Simiens are remarkable for being one of the few locations in Africa where snow falls regularly—and the animals and plants that live here are uniquely adapted to the chilly environment.

Amidst beautiful alpine meadows punctuated with giant lobelias and flowering "red hot pokers" (Kniphofia) we are surrounded by massive troops of extremely photogenic (and docile) gelada baboons and thrill to the head-butting battles of Walia ibex rams preparing for the breeding season. Spectacular lammergeyers course the sky against a breathtaking backdrop of high wilderness peaks.

We spend three days on the vast Sanetti Plateau—in the heart of the Bale Mountains—with its six volcanic cones, each attaining heights of more than 13,000 feet. The plateau is the last stronghold of Simien wolves—the total world population is roughly 550. Here we hope to photograph individuals and possibly adults with pups, shooting their interactions from within our vehicles. Some short hiking along the well-worn trails of local villagers will produce shots of mountain nyala. Our accommodations here are very basic, but they are the best available in this remote region and provide the most convenient access to these dramatic landscapes and fascinating wildlife.

Our itinerary also takes us into Ethiopia's magnificent rock-hewn churches at Lalibela. Now acknowledged as one of the wonders of the world, they were built at the end of the 12th century by King Lalibela of the Zaghwe dynasty. Each shrine is carved from a single rock—pillars, altars, graves, hermits' niches, stairways, roof and walls. All of the churches have remained in continuous use. Today, approximately 5,000 monks and priests live in the religious settlement, performing Ethiopian Christian ceremonies year-round. The myriad shapes of cliff, cave, cruciform windows and prayerful attendants offer powerful photographic compositions.

Ethiopia is one of the few African countries not colonized by European powers. The people are friendly, photogenic and justifiably proud of their ancient heritage—an exotic blend of African, Judaic and Egyptian influences. Their role has been unique and influential in the development of both Christian and Islamic religions, dating back more than 1,000 years.