ETHIOPIA: Northern Operations Africa 2016

[sierraone]

Can't wait until the reports and pics start coming in!!!

 

[edward]

best of luck,whats the politics of the country?

 

[Wheels]

best of luck,whats the politics of the country?

A little right of Obama.

Especially since Ethiopia extends further east than Kenya.

 

[Hank2211]

With the snow sticking to the ground this morning, I'll bet you are ready to go.

The weather is indeed shite.

I am going out of town for a week tomorrow on business, so I've been getting even more ready than I would otherwise. I've got the gear spread out on a spare bed, filled in a couple of missing items (a silent rain-proof jacket), and decided which boots to take. Got all my prescriptions filled, including one for altitude called Acetazolamide that my doctor came up with. I hadn't heard of it, but since we could be above 9,000 feet for some days, he thought it might be worthwhile.

I've moved some money around - you can only bring US$ 3,000 into Ethiopia. My Ph says not to worry - they never check - but as I mentioned, I try to minimize contact with authority in Africa. That means abiding by these sorts of laws. I am told that there will be 15 people to look after me in the two mountain camps I will be staying in. I expect I will be well looked after. Seems like a lot of people, but that's one of the good things hunting does for local people. Jobs and the opportunity for a tip.

Still have a few things to tend to, but it is getting close.

Getting ready is a big part of the fun.

 

[Hank2211]

A few more things. Taking @rinehart0050 advice, I bought the nifty external hard drive and wireless use station he described. They won't ship to Canada but I had it sent to my daughter, who is in NYC, and will be seeing her tomorrow, so that's all good.

best of luck,whats the politics of the country?

Well, the politics are a bit of everything, I think. Ethiopia had one of the longest lasting monarchies in the world until it was overthrown by communists, who were in turn overthrown some time ago. More recently, it has had issues with Somalia and islamist rebels (Al Shabaab is based in Somalia), and they've had issues with Eritrea ever since it split off from Ethiopia in a war (you could argue that it had no business being part of Ethiopia, but that goes back farther I need to). The US Government, as well as out own in Canada, recommends against any travel to the border regions. It also borders South Sudan and Sudan, both of which are complete basket cases, with the President of the latter being accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court.

The entire country is presently under a state of emergency, declared by the Government last week, as a result of unrest by various ethic groups throughout the country. They seem to be tightening the state of emergency every day.

So, overall, just another day in Africa. what's not to like?

 

[BRICKBURN]

...................
So, overall, just another day in Africa. what's not to like?

If you see the PH's running for the last seat on the plane one day, you know what to do.

 

[edward]

i had heard they had some problems,thought it might be over.

 

[johnnyblues]

Fabulous hunt forthcoming I believe. Mtn Nyala are beautiful. Good luck.

 

[rinehart0050]

they've had issues with Eritrea ever since it split off from Ethiopia in a war (you could argue that it had no business being part of Ethiopia, but that goes back farther I need to).

If you're interested in diving a bit deeper into the whole Eritrean/Ethiopian situation, I found this book to be an interesting read:
I didn't do it for you: How the world betrayed a small African nation by Michela Wrong
https://www.amazon.com/Didnt-Do-You...6837032&sr=8-1&keywords=i+didnt+do+it+for+you

Its written from the Eritrean perspective... so read it with a grain of salt, they're not angels in this whole situation either. I did find it interesting to discover that the US set up a listening station in Eritrea. Due to weird bounce of radio signals off the atmosphere, they were able to pick up all kinds of Russian radio communications from this random African country.

 

[Hank2211]

If you're interested in diving a bit deeper into the whole Eritrean/Ethiopian situation, I found this book to be an interesting read:
I didn't do it for you: How the world betrayed a small African nation by Michela Wrong
https://www.amazon.com/Didnt-Do-You...6837032&sr=8-1&keywords=i+didnt+do+it+for+you

Its written from the Eritrean perspective... so read it with a grain of salt, they're not angels in this whole situation either. I did find it interesting to discover that the US set up a listening station in Eritrea. Due to weird bounce of radio signals off the atmosphere, they were able to pick up all kinds of Russian radio communications from this random African country.

No love lost between these two countries.

If you're applying for an Ethiopian visa, there is a special application form for anyone who is Eritrean, or a citizen of Eritrea, and a special process you have to go through. They advise it will take more time and there is no guarantee a visa will be issued.

Like many places in Africa, this is one where you keep your opinions on the local politics to yourself.

 

[siml]

Hank, that is one helleva trip, wish you all the success. Always wise to keep politics to yourself in Africa, you never know who's going to be in charge tomorrow.

 

[sierraone]

The weather is indeed shite.

I am going out of town for a week tomorrow on business, so I've been getting even more ready than I would otherwise. I've got the gear spread out on a spare bed, filled in a couple of missing items (a silent rain-proof jacket), and decided which boots to take. Got all my prescriptions filled, including one for altitude called Acetazolamide that my doctor came up with. I hadn't heard of it, but since we could be above 9,000 feet for some days, he thought it might be worthwhile.

I've moved some money around - you can only bring US$ 3,000 into Ethiopia. My Ph says not to worry - they never check - but as I mentioned, I try to minimize contact with authority in Africa. That means abiding by these sorts of laws. I am told that there will be 15 people to look after me in the two mountain camps I will be staying in. I expect I will be well looked after. Seems like a lot of people, but that's one of the good things hunting does for local people. Jobs and the opportunity for a tip.

Still have a few things to tend to, but it is getting close.

Getting ready is a big part of the fun.

Trying to minimize contact with authority in Africa may be the most appropriate of all your planning!

 

[Hank2211]

Time for an update before I go.

First, the state of emergency continues in Ethiopia, and one of the steps the Government has taken is apparently to kill the internet to avoid social media being used to cause problems. How they do that, I have no idea. But it's prompted me to rent a sat phone for the month, just in case. Need to pick that up tomorrow.

Lesson: Aways have a way to communicate. Keeps the wife a bit happier.

Second, the firearms permit has been issued, and I have asked for, and received, a letter confirming that. Last time I went to Africa the ticket agent at the airport looked in a book, which told him I needed a permit from South Africa. Without it, he wasn't going to check my guns. I managed to convince him that it would be issued on arrival. An email from AfricaSky helped.

Lesson: Always travel with an email from wherever you're going confirming you either have a permit or one will be issued.

Third, the gong show continues. I've been having some difficult with the combination on my unsafe for a while now. Too I decided to take the gun out today. Sometimes the safe opens on the first try (mechanical combination), sometimes it takes two or three. Today, it wouldn't open at all. After thirty or so tries, I asked my wife, who was much calmer, to try. No luck. So I made the call to a local locksmith. Very friendly guy - and a hunter - came out after a few hours. He watched me try the combination - no luck - and then tried it himself. No luck. He then tried a third time, and presto, the safe opened. He told me he tried one number off of each of the numbers I'd given him. Apparently, the tumblers had shifted a bit. Not uncommon he says, but need tightening up. So a half hour and a new combination later, I have a safe I can open. Which is nice.

Lesson: Don't leave everything to the last minute. In fact, don't leave anything to the last minute.

I have three days of solid meetings and work, and then off for the hunt.

 

[BRICKBURN]

You just made me like my safe a whole lot better. It uses a key.

 

[Hank2211]

You just made me like my safe a whole lot better. It uses a key.

Tell me you've never lost a key?! Always keep a spare in a safe place, like the safe.

 

[rinehart0050]

Safe issues are always concerning. I have a canon safe with an electric lock. One day, went to open it and I smelled electrical burning and then the lock started to smoke.

Initially it was looking like I was going to have to spend $600-$1000 to get a locksmith to open it (one of the downsides of living 90 minutes from the closest locksmith). Then I called canon and they reminded me of their lifetime warranty, overnighted me everything I needed to fix and replace the lock and said the would cover the cost of the locksmith if I ended up needing one- which I did not luckily.

 

[rinehart0050]

Best of luck and stay safe over there !

 

[Hank2211]

Safe issues are always concerning. I have a canon safe with an electric lock. One day, went to open it and I smelled electrical burning and then the lock started to smoke.

Initially it was looking like I was going to have to spend $600-$1000 to get a locksmith to open it (one of the downsides of living 90 minutes from the closest locksmith). Then I called canon and they reminded me of their lifetime warranty, overnighted me everything I needed to fix and replace the lock and said the would cover the cost of the locksmith if I ended up needing one- which I did not luckily.

Mine is a Remington, which is a Liberty, and it's about 10 years old. Locksmith says they need to tightened up every few years.

Lucky to live so far from an urban area!

 

[cpr0312]

Best of luck, only a few days left! We will all be pulling for you and looking forward to the report

 

[Pheroze]

I am really in awe of your sense of adventure! Have a safe trip! Looking forward to the pictures and the report.