Da Sodo
Trip Start
Nov 15, 2006
1
178
228
Trip End
Jul 15, 2008
Sodo,
Ethiopia
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sodo, Ethiopia
On our arrival at the Baron Hotel in Addis we were approached by Iskander, a local who arranges four wheel drive trips out into the country. They are not package tours and you can pick the places you want to see. The cost just covers the driver and transportation but you have to pay for everything else. Iskander said he had a Belgium couple who wanted to go to Omo Valley in the south west and we could share the cost with them. We wanted to see more of Ethiopia before we left for Kenya and we weren't particular where we went. He had said the Belgiums were in the north and would arrive any day, but they never showed. Yesterday Matt, an Aussie; and Willim from Holland arrived at the hotel and they were game to leave immediately. So the four of us and our driver Illias drove out of Addis this morning heading south. The cost of the transportation is $120 per day split four ways
27-01
. We reached Sodo around 5 PM today. Illias drove us to a tourist hotel that cost about 150 birr per room. When we walked into the reception area we saw they already had the coffee ceremony stuff all set up for the tourists. But Matt and Willim weren't going for that, they are budget travelers and wanted something cheap. So Illias took us to the Wolayta Wubet for 40 Birr. It wasn't fancy but it had en suite sit-down toilet and a cold shower. We can tell we're going to save money traveling with Matt and Willim. A big plus for Matt and Willim is that the place has a big screen TV in the patio so they can watch the Africa Cup Series. We join them for a couple beers, which makes the game more interesting.January 28, 2008
Arba Minch
Apparently there was nothing to see in Soto, because we left there in the morning and drove to Arba Minch. Here we saw the Dorsey people with their houses that resemble elephants. Then we go to Lake Chamo to see the giant crocodiles and hippos. That was exciting. Tonight we are staying at the Halljeha Pension for 50 birr with en suite. It is the bus stop hotel in the fenced compound where the local buses spend the night. There's a restaurant down the street with a TV so the boys can keep up with the Africa Cup, so more beer and soccer.
