Ankober - where Emperor Menelik lived

Hanna and Jaco were here to visit their family. We already promised them a nice long weekend outing, as we now that Jaco loves to get out (and watch birds, be in the open air) while Hanna prefers to be with her family, the one time per 2 year that she visits here.

We went to Ankober, as we also liked to 'discover'that place and it is good to share new experiences together- which we have done so many times with them already - and not only that fabulous visit to Meike in Hawaii. The good and bad times really!

Ankobar (the  ancient capital of Shoa/Ethiopia) is the old seat of Emperor Menelik, grandfather of Haile Selassie, in the long line of Solomitic kings (descending from Solomon and the queen of Sheba, who came from Ethiopia according to legend). On top of the mountain, where once the palace stood, is now a beautiful lodge, in a sophisticated local style. It’s actually built by one of the members of Rob’s rotary, one of the more wealthier Ethiopians who worked in Geneve. He has invested in improving the village of Ankober, built de lodge also to provide employment for the population, and paid for a new orthodox church.

 The location is  about  3 hours on a very good asphalted road to the north east of AA, arriving in ……… From there 3 hours on a dirt road to the South East, where you get higher and higher up in the mountains- still in use for  agriculture.  So that’s what we did. In Debre Berhan we had  lunch in a very European style restaurant, in the garden  under parasols. Halfway the dirt road we had to stop (according to our bird guide book “where to watch birds in Ethiopia”) but didn’t see that one special bird that supposedly occurs there. A bit further near a cliff we saw some nice birds – but more interesting were the little boys and girls that came rushing to the car. Luckily I had taken lots of small hotel soap packets to distribute, and pens, just enough really!

 When we arrived the view was phenomenous. We had to park the car at the bottom of the 200 or so steps leading up to the lodge. As it is in the mountains, about 3000 m, we had to go slowly and were quite behind breath when we arrived. Ethiopian bearers climbed to the top with our luggage as easily as mountain goats.  





We got two cottages next to each other, with a veranda, from where we watched the sunset. Beautiful, and relaxing!

 The next morning was a sunny day and we walked with a guide the grand tour,  around the rock really, though the agrarian landscape looking for birds. We all love walking and it was really like you would go to Switzerland for a walk. Beautiful views and here of course lots of interesting new  birds and  flowers.

Here's a blue Rock Trush (NL: lijster). Robert and I saw the same species in uzbekistan but there almost bright blue.

And the Blue winged goose

And we saw all the different chats together, the white winged chat, the mocking cliff chat, Rupell's black chat...and many other birds. 












When we came back Rob had his afternoon nap, Hanna went for a traditional coffee, buna, and Jaco and I would come as soon as possible... butthere was a team from the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (TV) that wanted to interview us, with the lodge in the background.

On my question what it was meant for they answered  ”promotion of their cultural heritage”. So we should be positive about Ankobar as the old Emperors' palace site. 

We both said that we were here for the birds.. but that was the wrong answer...So we discussed briefly the topics and then I was interviewed first. After that it was Jaco's turn. He talked a lot about the birds and showed the bird book in front of the camera, so all Ethiopia now knows where to go for birds. Inspiring and educational! 

There is much more to tell, but these are the highlights!