Thursday, December 27, 2012

On The Road with Santarina



 Rustic Scene at Bishoftu

With the arrival of Santarina on a visit from Hong Kong, as well as all the shit that is going down at work, i need no excuse for a road – trip over the international celebration of Christmas - Christmas is celebrated on 7th January in Ethiopia.

We pack up my Kia with Christmas cake, Italian biscuits, cameras and clothes and head over to for a stop-over in Bishoftu staying at the simple but beautiful Viewpoint Lodge. We take a bottom chalet with a floor to ceiling window looking over Babagoya Lake. It’s bloody cold at night, but stunningly beautiful and we’re tempted to stay another night. However, our room is already booked out and we need to move on to our real destination – Lake Lugano.

 view from View Point Lodge
local farmer
strong local

 friendly local kids - indeed real friendly people

 bringing the crops in at sunset

Situated some 300kms on and into the Rift Valley, it lies off the main road to Awasa and just 30kms north of the Rasta capital, Sheshamane.It’s a twitchers’ paradise, although the lake is a murky brown. And attracts a wide variety of birds. There is no room at the in at our chosen lodge and we seek refuse at the very rundown and overpriced Lugano Lodge. Nonetheless it is real quiet and tranquil and happy to spend a second night there. 

 Acacia tree at sunset

 Santarina - a top quality road-tripper and most generous and giving guest

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