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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Ethiopia Feb 2020 independent budget (1 Viewer)

Yes, if it exists!

I've sent a message via the link Jo mentions, though I can't find anything on Google.

Hi Richard,

I have done further extensive research.

Like you, I am unable to find the " Top View" hotel on Google, or any hotel in Debre Libanos with the word " View" in the name. I did find a photograph of the Top View Hotel, from 2013, which seems mainly a picture of a canopy type tower,but no information about the hotel. The ground agents may be able to shed much more light.....

It seems that a lot of tour companies covering visiting the Geladas , do so by a day tour from Addis. The ground agent that Mark ( MRAK) travelled through returned to Addis on the same day.

The Trip Advisor reviews paint a dire picture of the Ethio German Hotel, re staying there. As I said up thread, no running water, incidents of food poisoning, no ability to shower, very dusty rooms , uncomfortable beds , dirty bed linen. Jo's posting suggests it is no longer open. If it is, it only seems good to stop for a bottled drink there.

I haven't been able to ascertain much about the behaviour patterns of the geladas. I realise that one can't dictate how animals behave. If they are only around the hotels at 10am , the timing seems too tight.

Looking at alternatives- is it possible to switch the trip itinerary order, so that the geladas are done at the end of the trip ? This would allow a stay in Lemi the night before, then getting to the Jemma escarpment for Dawn for the francolins and then going on to Debre Libanos for the geladas and the birds around that area ? This would avoid back tracking from Lemi, back to the geladas, which logitistically seems problematical.

Of course if the geladas are around Debre Libanos for most of the day or later in the day, rather than just at c 10 am, then the problem is averted and birding en route to DL, with stops in the Sultata plains, as planned in our itinerary, is practical and achievable .

Another alternative would be to stay the night before departing on the main tour in Addis. This would then allow an earlier departure from Addis, the next day, if one needs to be at the geladas by 10am. This may well impact on flights taken though.

Just some suggestions .....

Best regards, Carol
 
Hi Richard,

I have done further extensive research.

Like you, I am unable to find the " Top View" hotel on Google, or any hotel in Debre Libanos with the word " View" in the name. I did find a photograph of the Top View Hotel, from 2013, which seems mainly a picture of a canopy type tower,but no information about the hotel. The ground agents may be able to shed much more light.....

It seems that a lot of tour companies covering visiting the Geladas , do so by a day tour from Addis. The ground agent that Mark ( MRAK) travelled through returned to Addis on the same day.

The Trip Advisor reviews paint a dire picture of the Ethio German Hotel, re staying there. As I said up thread, no running water, incidents of food poisoning, no ability to shower, very dusty rooms , uncomfortable beds , dirty bed linen. Jo's posting suggests it is no longer open. If it is, it only seems good to stop for a bottled drink there.

I haven't been able to ascertain much about the behaviour patterns of the geladas. I realise that one can't dictate how animals behave. If they are only around the hotels at 10am , the timing seems too tight.

Looking at alternatives- is it possible to switch the trip itinerary order, so that the geladas are done at the end of the trip ? This would allow a stay in Lemi the night before, then getting to the Jemma escarpment for Dawn for the francolins and then going on to Debre Libanos for the geladas and the birds around that area ? This would avoid back tracking from Lemi, back to the geladas, which logitistically seems problematical.

Of course if the geladas are around Debre Libanos for most of the day or later in the day, rather than just at c 10 am, then the problem is averted and birding en route to DL, with stops in the Sultata plains, as planned in our itinerary, is practical and achievable .

Another alternative would be to stay the night before departing on the main tour in Addis. This would then allow an earlier departure from Addis, the next day, if one needs to be at the geladas by 10am. This may well impact on flights taken though.

Just some suggestions .....

Best regards, Carol

In 2016 I saw two groups of Gelada in the early afternoon close to said hotel. They did not seem to be in any hurry to leave. There were also Gelada in the hills above the Debre Libanos monastery, but I don't think you can easily get there.
 
Are you planning to go to the best known Ankober Serin (endemic) site NE of Debre Birhan? 9°49'13.0"N 39°44'01.2"E This is the only site we saw this bird, and also where we had a large troupe of Gelada, very close. Didn't see Gelada at Debre Libanos.
Mark
 
Thanks Richard, I appreciate your chasing up the ground agents. I agree it would be beneficial to book flights soon but am wary of doing this before we get back the quotes. Are we still looking at the three of us and a single vehicle now? I leave for Borneo on Friday week.
 
Had word from the ground agents last night.

They say the situation in the Yabello region is not safe at the moment, but could be different by February. I've asked for further clarification and about how extensive the no-go area is currently.

This would, if still the case, mean re-designing the southern section. It would also put paid to the Bushcrow, though all other endems should remain gettable.

I've pm'ed Daniel, (see post 37) who is going in November, to ask if he's heard what the situation is there.

Thoughts?

Richard
 
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I'd put the Bush Crow as the best bird in Ethiopia. Yabello is Yabello, how safe is not safe? Wouldn't it be worth checking other ground agents to see if they share the same opinion, or whether it is this agent possibly using this as justification to not go so far south for whatever reason? Regardless, is there reason to suppose that security is going to improve significantly by February? I would doubt much change.
 
Yes, Jos, all that occurred to me. I'll do some digging. I really would like to do the Yabello area, for many birds, especially the Bushcrow.

PS. Daniel replied: he's no further info. - but his trip doesn't include the region
 
Well it sounds like you need more information Richard. In any of your research have you had any quotes in from more specialist providers where Yabello was included and were any concerns raised then?

I do note that Birdquest continue to include Yabello on their 2019/2020 tours. Whether the situation on the ground as opposed to on their website is different I have no idea.

In any case if the operator(s) you have chasen to work with are unwilling to take us there then it sounds like it's a bit of a non-starter and we could be back to square one looking for a more cooperative ground agent.

My personal view is that if it is genuinely unsafe to go, we should drop it from the itinerary.

I leave for Borneo on Friday, back on the weekend of the 19th Oct!

All the best

Jo
 
I've just emailed another tour operator to ask their opinion of the area. I can't see anything to suggest unrest/unsafe travel there.

Incidentally the cost of my chosen flight has dropped a little lately.

That's a long trip, Jo. Enjoy it.
 
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