Ethiopia Part 4: Bahir Dar & Lake Tana
After churches and castles, it's time to relax
Lake Tana, as seen from the snaking footpath alongside it
More comfortable than the ride from Lalibela, a five-hour drive takes us to Bahir Dar, Amhara’s capital, which is situated south of Lake Tana. This green, somewhat more tropical destination is ideal for day trips. The lake’s monastery islands and the Blue Nile Falls, the waterfall from where the Nile River begins its 4,500-km journey to the Mediterranean Sea, shouldn’t be missed. We first head to the St George Church, which is hidden in the trees near the lakeshore, and boasts some glorious wall paintings.
A monk wears my Ray-Ban sunglasses
After the hustle and bustle of Addis Ababa and the cultural stopovers at Lalibela and Gondar, it’s nice to be in a town where there isn’t that much to do. After a small lunch in an unassuming bistro opposite the market, I go for a coffee at Wude, and top it off with a fresh fruit juice at Hani Juices. From there, it’s easy to access the pleasant two-km lakeshore footpath that is dotted with bars alongside the city’s small harbour.
Lake Tana is used for washing as well
Next to the harbour of the small city of Gondar, you will find young people chilling with a coffee or beer
As I reach the gates of the lush Lake Tana hotel, my phone starts buzzing. Apart from some sporadic signals during my trip, it’s the first time I have full-speed Internet access again. I take my phone, look at the long list of notifications and pocket it again while I look over the lake. Thanks to Ethiopia, I’m less hooked on my millennial lifestyle than before.
Ethiopian hills
Hoi! My name is Joost Bastmeijer, and I’m a Dutch freelance travel writer and photojournalist currently traveling through Africa. Check out my photos on Instagram at instagram.com/joostbastmeijer, or visit my website to see some more of my work: joostbastmeijer.com!
A flashback to Lalibela
Part 4 concludes my travel story about Ethiopia. If you have read all the other three stories (which you can find in my Ethiopia Guide), you can start planning your trip! If you’d like to learn more about the places I slept and what and where I have eaten, check out the ‘Where To Eat In Ethiopia’ and the ‘Where To Stay In Ethiopia’ posts. That last text also holds some handy information about getting around in capital city Addis Ababa.