As an animal lover is attending the annual great migration surely one of the highlights you can experience

As an animal lover is attending the annual great migration surely one of the highlights you can experience. This amazing natural spectacle takes place every year between the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania . Approximately one and a half million wildebeest attract continuous clockwise a round in search of fresh grass. They are exactly in the right place to take advantage of the rainy season. In their wake are still hundreds of thousands of zebra, Thomson and Grant gazelles. And of course the obvious predators as lions, cheetahs and leopards. Due to the changing climate every year becomes increasingly difficult to accurately predict migration. And the intention of the Government of Tanzania to build a road from east to west, across the reserve, the migration could potentially stop completely. Therefore, do not wait too long to visit this region.

 Great Migration 2

This picture was taken during a classic crossing of the Mara River. We had our vacation there specifically planned around it, but you must surely have some luck you're there on a day when the herds actually cross the river. The wildebeests have to continue to complete their migration and to benefit from the green grass on the other side of the river. Really do not want them because they know that there is great danger while crossing the river. Many wildebeest come here also killed. They are caught by crocodiles, drowning or being trampled by the rest of the herd. But their instinct urges them to go anyway to continue. Mother nature at its best!

Travel tip. Do you want this migration is also seen in the flesh? Inquire at local lodges in Kenya or Tanzania or is already known when the wildebeest will arrive about. It is not possible to predict whether you will actually experience a river crossing, but it should happen to identify the herds. And that alone is a great experience!

Ethiopia may not be the first African destination where you think ;-). I can also imagine. I honestly do not quite remember how we got there two years ago, but regret the trip I had certainly not by this particular country. Ethiopia is a really raw, undiscovered gem. Unfortunately we only have to do the North, but as a journey can combine with the South you seem to have quite a varied trip. However ansich travel costs as a backpacker in Ethiopia quite some time, so do not be fooled by that. We have finally done over three weeks on the following route:

Until Simien.
Just to start at the beginning: we flew with KLM, thick fine so. Return ticket with one refueling stop in Khartoum cost us € 550 per person. We landed in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The next morning we went straight to the bus to Bahir Dar on Lake Tana. Very well located village on an idyllic lake there with all kinds of islands. Great to acclimatize quiet. From Bahir Dar, we then continued by bus to Gondar; an old, almost European city. You'll find even a small castle which was not wrong about French countryside ;-). Gondar is the starting point for hikes in the Simien Mountains. You can arrange everything; guide, transportation, tent and so on.

 Route Ethiopia Simien

Simien Mountains.
For me the highlight of our trip through Ethiopia! The Simien Mountains. We have been here four days walked along with a super cute, local guide: Eshete. We are still in contact with it :-D. We saw fantastic scenery, endless landscapes and Galada baboon; a native species of monkey so only lives in Ethiopia. Crazy animals! You sleep on the way to a kind of makeshift campsites. Really basic, but very worth it!

 Route Ethiopia Lalibela

On the way to Lalibela.
After Simien we left via Gondar to Aksum; a city which is recommended in many travel guides, but for me is not really special. We then went on quickly towards the south, to the holy city of Lalibela. A very nice village with frenzied rock churches. Amazing how they can carve these churches centuries ago in which hitting rocks! Lalibela for us was also the base point for the next multi-day trek in the area. Eventually we by food poisoning after only three days to break down, but this was definitely worth it!

Addis.
From Lalibela we traveled back to Addis Ababa. We have 2 more days spent, which viewed things, little by refueled. And then there were three weeks so over! In three weeks you can already backpacking therefore only see a small part of Ethiopia. There were certainly plenty of places we want to tackle did it, but that the time was lacking. Just sometime back so 8-).