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About Us

Lydia Stranger was born in Ethiopia and is an English teacher as well as being the owner of Equus. Lydia works in Addis Ababa, and is an important behind-the-scenes fixer for Equus as well as being the marketing director of the company.

Born from a Guernsey family and decidedly mid-channel in his origins, Yves Stranger grew up in the south of France where he shepherded the family goats on horseback during his childhood. He has been living in Ethiopia for ten years and is Equus' technical advisor. Yves Stranger is the author of Ces Pas qui Trop Vite s'Effacent, about travelling in the Cévennes of the south of France.

Our main guide is Elias Negussie, who has been with Equus since the beginning and knows both the country and the horses very well. Meheret Tesfa-Michael is Equus's General Manager, about camp responsible for everything and everyone, from hot water bottles to grain for the horses.

HOW TO GET THERE

With your own vehicle (30 mns from Piassa / a little under 20 km)

See map of general route

Drive straight up from Piassa towards Giorghis Church and the equestrian statue of Emperor Menelik, then head towards the Semien Hotel and the Entoto Hills. This is the beginning of the 'Gojjam' or 'Debre Libanos, ' 'Blue Nile' or 'Bahar Dir' road. These are all one and the same thing! Very quickly, you'll be out of town and heading up through Eucalyptus forests to the top of the hills. There is a police checkpoint at the top, after which the road starts meandering down towards the open plains of Solulta. There is quite a lot of construction going on and you'll also pass a fuel depot and a huge satellite dish on your left. At this point, you will see the very large, and very blue, factory of the Oromia Steel Pipe Factory, K.U.S.O. After this landmark, drive about 2.5 kms more and after one last steep slope, and in the bend of the road as it shoots out straight to the left towards the small –but booming- town of Solulta, you'll see the dirt road (and the EQUUS sign in black and white on the right side of the road. There is also here a big blue sign which says 'Apple seedling farm, SNV'.) which will lead towards the stables (if your reach the water factory on the right side of the road; you've gone too far) (see map of local area) .

The dirt road is about 2 kms long and good, apart from one rough patch that is only a few hundred meters. Follow this dirt road across a little river, up through a village, then, turning right (you will see another EQUUS SIGN here), you leave the main dirt road and switch towards the right, where the road levels out and takes you straight to our gate at the end of the drive. Honk your horn and the guard will let you into our little paradise (See zoom in of local area) .

By public transport (1 hour from Piassa)

See map of general route

Not necessarily very challenging, if you have a good hang on Amharic… or sign language! Addis is generally very safe but do watch out for pickpockets and the like.

From Charles de Gaulle Square, at the top of Churchill Avenue, take a minibus towards 'Adisu Gabiya,' (the touts hang out of the doors, hollering out the destinations). This will take about ten minutes, and cost around two birr. Get out at the terminus and ask around for the minibus to Solulta. They leave from the same side of the road and nearby to the drop off from the 'Adisu Gabiya' minibus. The Solulta minibus should cost less than ten birr. Very quickly, you'll be out of town and heading up through Eucalyptus forests to the top of the hills. There is a police checkpoint at the top, after which the road starts meandering down towards the open plains of Solulta. There is quite a lot of construction going on and you'll also pass a fuel depot and a huge satellite dish on your left. At this point, you will see the very large, and very blue, factory of the Oromia Steel Pipe Factory, K.U.S.O. About 2.5 kms after this landmark, and after one last steep slope, and in the bend of the road as it shoots out straight to the left towards the small –but booming- town of Solulta, you'll see the dirt road (and the EQUUS sign in black and white on the right side of the road. There is also here a big blue sign which says 'Apple seedling farm, SNV'.) which will lead towards the stables (if your reach the water factory on the right side of the road; you've gone too far) (See map of local area) .

Just ask the attendant to 'stop' (in English) or, if in a linguistically adventurous mood, try 'Waraj!). The dirt road is about 2 kms long. Follow it across a little river, up through a village, then, turning right, you leave the main dirt road and switch towards the right (you will see another EQUUS SIGN here), where the road levels out and takes you straight to our gate at the end of the drive. Knock the door nice and hard and the guard will let you in to our little paradise (See zoom in of local area) .

Renting a vehicle

Fairly easy: your hotel will be able to help you with this. A round trip (including gas) to the stables with a standard city car, should not cost more than 600-800 birr. If you require assistance with this, don’t hesitate to call us.