"Nature watcher's paradise?" Debre Zeyit by frenchderek

When I was last in Debre Zeyit (2003) it was a quiet, yet busy place. All the transport seemed to be horse-drawn. The town looks too dull to be worth any time, but you can easily acces one of the beauties of Ethiopia: the volcanic crater lakes

We chose to visit Lake Hora, at 06.00 - OK, it was early morning, but it was worth it. When we got there we saw the drivers of the horse-drawn vehicles washing and grooming for their animals - the men seemed to be in love with their horses, so much care and attention did they lavish on them.

But it was the bird-life that made the early rising worth-while. Birds of all colours, and sizes (water and land-based). I'm no bird-watcher, but my "twitcher" friend could hardly contain himself. There were even birds that he didn't know.

For me, the magic was in drinking-in the whole experience, which still seems as alive to me five years later.

I hope it hasn't changed.

Just some of the endemic wildlife of Ethiopia

This non-profit-making Trust aims to save old and historical buildings and areas of scenic beauty in Ethiopia - including the volcanic crater lakes and its wildlife.

The picture is taken from one of their cards (sold in aid of the Trust).

They would need a dozen such cards to show the vast extent of the scenic and wildlife variety of the country.