Scenes from Ethiopia

A photographic record of a trek through the dramatic Simien Mountains (the Roof of Africa) with its fascinating Bleeding Heart Gelada's, soaring Lammergeyer's ( the Bone Eaters) and the spectacular Walia Ibex. One of the two finest erosional mountain ranges on Earth with 3,000' cliff faces and gorges. In the midst of the mountains lie tiny pocket handkerchief sized fields as the local eke out a living from the most unpromising surroundings. On to perhaps the most astonishing unsung architectural achievement in the world; the churches of Lalibela hewed from the solid rock with entire churches and connecting tunnels and roadways all carved below ground level. No one knows quite how these buildings were constructed. Aksum where The Ark of the Covenant has resided having been given to Menelik the son of the Queen of Sheba by Solomon and where ever since the devout Orthodox Christians of the Tewahedo Church (membership cf 40 to 50 million) . The Lakes, home the astonishingly beautiful "painted Churches, Wendo Genet the forested uplands of the South. Gondar and its bizarre faux medieval castles. Above all the gentle, spiritual and elegant Ethiopians. The oldest of the old churches separating from Rome and the Eastern Orthodox in A.D 451. Without doubt the most fascinating both historically and scenically of all sub Saharan Africa.