Two day weekend treks
With an overnight in the medieval forest of Menagesha Suba
Ride out over the Ethiopian Highlands above the small town of Holeta, through fields of teff, corn and barley. Stop to chat with peasants plowing and harvesting their crops and have a drink of tella –local brewed beer- or a munch of kollo –roasted barley grain: you’ll discover the passing of the seasons that govern people’s lives at the suitably slow pace of a horse. We’ll be spending the night in one of Ethiopia’s best kept secrets: the forest of Menagesha Suba.
The forest is part commercial plantation –dominated by Eucalyptus- but the core of the forest is made up of century old junipers. It’s Ethiopia’s medieval conservationist, the 15th century emperor Zara Jacob, alarmed at the deforestation of his realm, who planted its first saplings. The forest has an abundant wildlife with Giant African Forest Hog, Vervet Monkeys, baboon, leopards and Menelik bushbuck. It also boasts a diverse birdlife with several Ethiopian endemics.
We’ll spend the night here –getting up at the crack of dawn for those who’d like to spot some animals- before setting of over the ridge of an ancient volcano and setting our sights on the church of Menagesha Maryam, where we’ll have a picnic, before reaching the stables in the afternoon.
AVAILABILITY:
Available on demand or by program. Please contact us by email or phone.
RIDING LEVEL:
You should be comfortable walking and trotting and have the physical stamina to spend from five to six hours in the saddle.