5 - Sonna - Mekarebya (Travesera Simien)

Recorded with Garmin Etrex 30

Video of the trip Inhabitants. Ethiopia

Simple day that serves as a rest after the long previous route. However, this stage begins with a drop of more than a thousand meters of unevenness that can cause some knees to suffer. No difficulty or have any step exposed.

The most problematic at this stage is the water for the camp. In Mekarebya the only water intake is unhealthy, even drinking water with a horrible taste. It is advisable to collect water in the pools or in the river that crosses before reaching Mekarebya.

The descent of 1200 meters of altitude begins. In this descent you can still see Geladas. The views remind us at times to the Picos de Europa salvao that here the cliffs are twice as big. From the 4000 of the Imetgogo to the 2000 in which is the river to which it is lowered

On the descent, in addition to the views, we find the rose of Abyssinia, a flower similar to the rockrose that looks a lot and is supposed to be endemic. All the way down we make it through forest until we reach the river.

At the end of the descent you reach the river. Here we stop to take a bath and we take the opportunity to wash clothes and wash ourselves, the water is freezing but after 4 days we appreciate being able to bathe. In the area the people of the town congregate to clean themselves and to wash their things and, taking advantage of the step of the few tourists, to sell crafts.

After bathing and eating, the route continues. In this last part the valley opens and we walk among teff crops, the flour they use to make the injera. In front we have the Awaza peaks, towards which we are heading. We meet children working the field who shout "farenji" and come to shake hands.
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Between crops you reach Mekarebia. The first thing we find is a school and then loose houses, they are all made of wood and it is one of the largest villages that we have met. We camp at the end of the town and, obviously, we are the attraction for the town.

Here the problem is the water, the only water that there is the catch of a puddle through which passes the cattle. We make it drinkable with twice as many pills as are necessary but the appearance and taste is disgusting, impossible to drink, remember to take water from the river that crosses before reaching Mekarebya.

The afternoon in the camp is a mental short circuit, you will hardly get bored being the attraction of the town

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