ETHIOPIA: Simien Mountains National Park, The Roof Of Africa

Simien Mountains National Park is one of the national parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Semien (North) Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, its territory covers the Semien Mountains and includes Ras Dashan, the highest point in Ethiopia. It is home to a number of endangered species, including the Ethiopian wolf and the walia ibex, a wild goat found nowhere else in the world.

The gelada baboon and the caracal, a cat, also occur within the Simien Mountains. More than 50 species of birds inhabit the park, including the impressive bearded vulture, or lammergeier, with its 10 foot (3 m) wingspan.

The Simien Mountains National Park in Northern Ethiopia is an exotic setting with unique wildlife and breath-taking views on a landscape shaped by nature and traditional agriculture. The natural beauties of this region have always filled visitors from Ethiopia and abroad with awe.

Gentle highland ridges at altitudes above 3600 meters above sea level (m asl), covered with grasses, isolated trees (Erica &bored) and the bizarre Giant Lobelia (Lobelia rhynchopetalum) are found on the high plateau that ends abruptly at 1000- to 2000-m deep escarpments.

The park is crossed by an unpaved road which runs from Debarq, where the administrative headquarters of the park is located, east through a number of villages to the Buahit Pass (4,200 m), where the road turns south to end at Mekane Berhan, 10 kilometers beyond the park boundary.

The park was established in 1969, having been set up by Clive Nicol, who wrote about his experiences in From the Roof of Africa .

The margins of this high plateau consist of precipitous cliffs and deep, canyon-style gorges. In some places, the escarpment forms small elevations that offer splendid natal lookout points. The spectacular views from the observation points at Gidir Got and lmet Gogo in the center of the Park offer unparalleled panoramas along the high plateau and down to the lowland areas. Given the right meteorological conditions, views reaching up to a hundred kilometers over the valleys and the terraces of the Tekeze lowland basin are no exception.

Geologically speaking, the entire highlands of the Simien mountains consist of dark Trapp basalt and bright, soft turf. They alternate and constitute a massive complex that is more than 3000 m thick. This complex was formed by volcanic eruptions in the Tertiary Oligocene-Miocene Age some 20-30 million years ago; ever since, it has been going through processes of uplifting and erosion.

The Shimien region has been inhabited and cultivated for at least 2,000 years. Today, it is surrounded by a cultural district called Aksum, and over 100 hand-carved stone pillars are found. Lalibela and Gonder still have 15th century churches and palaces.

Initially, erosion began to reveal that the clearing began at the gentle slope of the highland valley but later expanded to a steep slope. The Shimien area is located at the crossroads of ancient trading routes and records the characteristics of various areas in the 18th and 19th centuries.

It was one of the first sites to be made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (1978). However, due to serious population declines of some of its characteristic native species, in 1996 it was also added to the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Over millions of years, due to the large erosion of the Ethiopian plateau, serrated mountain peaks, deep valleys, and 1,500 meters of sheer cliffs have been created, making it one of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

The heritage area is on the western side of the Semien Mountains and is 120 km away from the Gondar province of Begemder in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. The Shimien area is rich in perforated basalt, and serves as an ideal catchment basin. Water is reserved by the Mayshasha River, which runs through the two rainy days and the national park from north to south. As a result, national parks are abundant with wildlife and plants.

The main attraction of the Simien Moumains National Park is its biosphere: the steep cliffs and the cool climate at the altitude of the Erica tree line (3600 to 4000 m ash) have created conditions that are appropriate for the survival of an ibex species (Capra ibex wee) endemic to the Simien Mountains. Despite the severe restriction of their habitat over the last centuries, several hundred animals have survived up to the present.

Apart from the Walya ibex, many other animal species are found in the Park, for example the endemic Simien fox or Ethiopian wolf (Canis .071817,51-3 simony’s), several birds of prey, the endemic Gelada baboon ( Theropithecusgelada), the Klippspringer (Oreotragus omotragus), and the bush buck (liagelphus scriptus). The rareness of these species formed the backbone of the concept for conservation of the area, which led to the establishment of the Simien Mountains National Park in 1969, and its listing as a World Heritage Site in 1918.

The vegetation is mixed with african alpine forests, wilderness forests and alpine vegetation. High altitude areas include montane savannah and tree heath (Erica arborea), giant lobelia (Lobelia rhynchopetalum), yellow primrose (Primula verticillata), everlastings (Helichrysum spp.), A lady's mantle (alchemilla), and a moss (mosses, Grimmiaceae). Lichen covers the trees of the alpine area.

The ridges and canyons have scattered meadows, forests and bushes. At one time, the St. John's wort (Hypericum spp.) Forests grew from 3,000 m to 3,800 m above sea level, but now it is almost gone. The exact number is not known.

Also, The park is home to rare species such as gelada baboon (Theropithecus gelada), Ethiopian wolf (also called Simen fox, Canis simensis), Walia ibex (Capra walie).

Inhabits on the slope of the northern slope of massif are mostly native to the Semien Mountains, and most of them are found in the park. The Ethiopian wolf is endemic to Ethiopia and other mammals include hamadryas baboon, colobus monkey, leopard, caracal, wild cat, spotted hyena and jackal. There are also large herbivores, such as bushbuck, common duiker, and klipspringer.

The 400 species of birds include lammergeyer, Verreaux's eagle, kestrels, vultures, lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus), African buzzard (augur buzzard) and thick-billed raven. A total of 21 species of mammals, 3 species of endemic species, 63 species of birds and 7 species of endemic species are recorded.

The human population living in the area adds to the distinctiveness of this special natural environment. The traditional lifestyle of the rural population and their survival in a rather harsh climate and with scarce natural resources make for the most striking impressions a visitor will have when trekking in the Park and its surrounding rural area.

It was established as a national park in 1969 and is protected under the National Reserve Act. Current heritage requires effective management. The number of management staff should be increased and education should be strengthened. The management of national parks effectively protects the representative species of parks and works closely with local residents to reduce the pressure on park resources by expanding arable land, overfishing livestock, and overcapacity of natural resources. Due to global climate change, pressure on heritage sites is growing.

Sufficient financial support is needed for park management and livelihood alternative development of local residents. It is necessary to prepare, implement, review and monitor the management plan, to revise and expand the boundary of the park, and to participate fully in the local residents. Local cooperation is particularly important to prevent sustainable use of national park resources and to develop sustainable livelihoods. Adequate financial support for resettlement of inhabitants in the heritage area and the introduction of effective livestock management are essential to reduce the severe stress on wildlife.

In order to maintain excellent universal values, environmental education and training programs of residents living in and out of the heritage are needed as well as obtaining the cooperation and support of local residents in heritage management.


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ETHIOPIA: Tourism Transformation Council To Increase Tourist Inflow

The ever increasing Ethiopian airlines destinations, high standards of tourist facilities and public-private partnership towards tourism development have augmented tourist influx and also improved the city's capacity to host international conferences.

Speaking at 3rd Addis Ababa City Administration Tourism Transformation Council regular conference, City Mayor Driba Kumma called on private organizations and international well-known travel agents to work closely with the city administration towards organizing a large number of international conferences, exhibitions and tourist attraction events.

The Mayor added public-private partnership will be formed aimed at facilitating, leading and motivating the sector with a coordinated system.

Before three years, the Council was set up to develop and establish tourist destinations in the city with a view to attracting many more tourists to the city.

According to Driba, the Entoto and surrounding tourist development project to be built on 4,200 hectare is among the projects towards promoting tourism in the city.

For his part, Addis Ababa Tourism Bureau Head Gebretsadik Hagos underlined the need for collecting huge tourism revenue through active public involvement in the sector.

The City Tourism Transformation Council has been playing indispensable role in upholding the sector in a coordinated manner.

According to him, the number of people engaged in culture and tourism sector has exceeded to 29,000 in one year time and the sector has also created 130,000 jobs in the city.

Moreover, the city earns over 41 million Birr from tourism annually, he said, adding that currently the city has over 110 standard hotels.

Entoto and surrounding tourist development project office General Director Dr. Hiyab Gebretsadik said that the investment project that encompasses vast integrated touristic services like cultural centre, museum, over 55 lodges, 500 meters length tower, athletics training centre, small facilities hotels as well as Ethiopian ecological green parks, herbivores and carnivorous zoo, among others, estimated to be 4.8 billion Birr.

Upon completion, the project would play a great role in building the city's image.

Currently, the project office is inviting potential stakeholders and local communities to participate and contribute their share to the finalization of the project, he said.

He underline that local and cultural construction art, reflecting the manifestations of Ethiopian nation, nationalities and environmentally friendly site development are the core activities to be undertaken in the project.

He further said that the landscape of the site is favourable to tourism investment and huge tourist attraction.

According to the Bureau, some 782,000 tourists visited the city and 1.9 billion USD secured in the past fiscal year. It said the tourist inflow and the revenue from the sector has shown remarkable progress.

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines Routes 2017

Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it will move up the start date of its Addis Ababa-Chengdu service. Originally scheduled for June 6, this route will now launch on May 22 using a Boeing 787-8 three times a week.

Chengdu is the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province with its history dating back to at least the 4th century BC. At that time, it was the capital for the Shu Kingdom. Artifacts from that dynasty can be seen at the Jinsha Site Museum.

The city is also home to the world-famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a conservation center where visitors can view endangered giant pandas in a natural habitat.

Addis Ababa, is the sprawling Ethiopian capital bordering the Great Rift Valley. It’s National Museum exhibits Ethiopian art, traditional crafts, and prehistoric fossils, and includes replicas of the famous early hominid, “Lucy.”

Ethiopian is a Star Alliance member.

Ethiopian Airlines has added an Addis Ababa-Frankfurt route to its schedule, which will go into effect on June 1, delayed from the originally scheduled March 26 start date. The route will be operated on an Airbus A350.

Most service for the period March 26 – May 31 will be operated by 777-200LR, with some dates operated by a 787-8.

On its Addis Ababa-Mumba route, the airline has changed its plans for the Airbus A350-900XWB, as this aircraft will now see more destinations added to its schedule. For the added departure, an A350 will fly on one of the 2 daily flights.

Over the next six months, Ethiopian Airlines will add seven new destinations in what will make 2017 probably a record year of new cities served out of Addis Ababa.

From the beginning of February to the end of June will Ethiopian launch new services to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Antananarivo (Madagascar), Conakry (Guinea), Oslo (Norway), Chengdu (China), Jakarta (Indonesia) and Singapore (Singapore). With the

addition of these stations, Ethiopian will have service from Addis Ababa to 98 different international cities across the world.

Said Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of the airline group: ‘Africa’s share of the Global Aviation is the smallest which is only around 3%. As the largest airline group in the continent, we are highly concerned on the low base of air connectivity in the continent and we are setting record expansion to enable Africans enjoy safe, reliable and economical air connectivity both within the continent and between the continent and the rest of the world.

Looking beyond the current economic slowdown especially in the oil export dependent economies of Africa, we firmly believe that the continent will become the magnet for foreign direct investment, trade and tourism, which are the engines of air travel growth and in turn efficient air connectivity also drives socio economic development and we are happy to contribute our share in the 21st Century African Transformation’.

In 2016 Ethiopian Airlines did launch flights to Moroni (Comoros), Windhoek (Namibia) and Newark (United States) as well as adding three more cities in Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Airlines is getting ever closer to reaching 100 worldwide destinations, when on the 28th of March this year Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, will become the carrier’s 95th destination.

Initially will the world’s largest island, located in the Indian Ocean, be served three times a week with a Boeing B737-800NG, leaving Addis Ababa every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and returning directly to the Ethiopian capital.

Said Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, earlier today when making the announcement: ‘Ethiopian, as a flagship carrier of Africa, is pleased to add Madagascar to its wide route network. Having started serving Africa seven decades ago with our motto “Bringing Africa Closer”, we are now continually enhancing our services and working to “Connect Africa to the World”. As air connectivity is an essential cause and driver of a nation’s socio-economic integration, our new service will certainly contribute for a growing business and bilateral cooperation with other sisterly African cities. Moreover, travelers from Madagascar will be seamlessly connected with Ethiopian ever-expanding network across five continents. I would like to thank all who made this route possible‘.

Connectivity to Madagascar and for flights from Antananarivo via Addis Ababa into the global network is said to be extensive offering early onward flights both ways.

Ethiopian Airlines will in February commence flights from Addis Ababa to Conakry, serving the Guinean capital initially five times a week. As announced in November last year will Ethiopian return to Conakry after some absence and use a Boeing B787 for the flights which will launch on the 01st of next month. From Conakry will Ethiopian be able to offer onward flights into the region through ASKY, a partner airline which is part owned by Ethiopian and assisted with management support.

No sooner had Ethiopian Airlines announced flights to Singapore is the next South East Asian destination set for launch in 2017.

Effective 02nd of June next year will Ethiopian Airlines commence thrice a week services to the Indonesian capital, with a stop in Bangkok each way.

The Boeing B787 Dreamliner used will offer a two class configuration of Business and Economy and leave Addis Ababa every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, returning from Jakarta the next morning to Addis.

Said the airline’s CEO Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam: ‘As the fastest growing airline in Africa, Ethiopian is pleased to offer the opportunity to business people as well as tourists to explore Jakarta’s potential both for investment and leisure. This move will further increase our presence in Asia, connecting Africa to the Asia region and in turn strengthening the tourism and trade ties between the peoples of Africa and Asia. Moreover, pilgrims and the West African community residing in Indonesia will be enjoying hassle-free connections to Ethiopian’s vast African network via its hub at Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines is working very hard to connect Africa with the major trading centers of the world and Jakarta, Indonesia is one of them‘.

Ethiopian Airlines will launch nonstop flights from Addis Ababa to Singapore, one of the South East’s most important commercial, financial and even aviation hubs, on June 2, 2017.

The flights will be operated with a two class Boeing B787 Dreamliner and leave Addis Ababa every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, returning to Ethiopia the following day.

Both departure from ADD and return to ADD are timed to open up the almost entire African network of Ethiopian Airlines with connections into Eastern, Western, Central and Southern Africa.

The airline’s CEO, Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam said when making the announcement: ‘In our continuous effort of connecting the continent of Africa with its major trading partner around the world through direct services and with the youngest fleet of modern airplanes, we are glad that we are able to offer a direct and non-stop services to the Lion City, Singapore, a global aviation center and a preferred gateway to Asia and Australia.

Our direct and non stop flights will serve the growing traffic between Africa and Singapore, giving the best possible connectivity options to passengers traveling between most points in Asia and Africa, in partnership with fellow Star member, Singapore Airlines.

Moreover, our customers can now enjoy the ultimate travel experience on board Ethiopian Dreamliner; unparalleled comfort with less noise, biggest windows in the sky, higher ceiling, unique lighting and higher humidity.

Ethiopian flights to Singapore will also greatly contribute to the strengthening of trade, investment, and tourism ties between a booming Africa and a highly developed, innovative, and business-friendly Singapore.

Ethiopian Airlines, the erstwhile Pan African carrier, serves 50 destinations across the continent and continues expanding both in Africa as well as across the world.

Ethiopian Airlines, has just confirmed that it will start four weekly flights to Victoria Falls – the site of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The airline will use its latest Boeing 737-800 New Generation with Sky Interior on the new route.

Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, said when making the announcement: ‘It is a continuation of our efforts to achieve the goal of connecting Africa to the world, by adding multiple points in Africa and serving air connectivity needs of the continent.

Tourist travelers and vacationers from major cities in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa will enjoy hassle-free connections to Victoria Falls via our strategic hub at Addis Ababa.

Looking forward, we shall continue to expand our network in Africa to better promote and facilitate growth in the business and tourism sectors, as clearly outlined in our fifteen years growth strategy, Vision 2025’.

Ethiopian Airlines, by far the fastest growing airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that it will commence scheduled five weekly flights to Oslo, Norway via Stockholm with the ultra – modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner effective March 26, 2017.

Oslo is the capital, most populous city and governmental center in Norway, a hub to the Norwegian trade, banking, industry, and shipping.

Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, remarked: “With Africa’s economic boom and its growing trade, investment, business and tourism ties with Europe in general and Norway in particular, Ethiopian is pleased to provide the essential air connectivity that will serve as the engine for the continued growth of these relations.

In addition to serving the growing travel needs between Oslo and Africa, we will be able to offer efficient connections between Africa and Central/Eastern Europe in cooperation with our Star Alliance partners.

The inclusion of Oslo in the Ethiopian network is part of Ethiopian Vision 2025 of connecting Africa with the major world economic and financial hubs. I would like to thank all who worked hard towards making this route possible.”

Ethiopian will be deploying the most modern aircraft in the world on this flight, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which not only offers unparalleled on-board comfort to passengers, but is also the world’s most environmentally friendly aircraft with its lower fuel usage and noise emissions.

Ethiopian’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner is configured with 24 business class and 246 economy seats, all of which are equipped with on-demand video monitors featuring a variety of entertainment options.

KENYA: Donkeys To Become Extinct In Africa, Large Exports To China For Traditional Medicine

While other African countries are banning the export of donkey skins, Kenya is doing a brisk trade in the commodity so sought after in China.

Gelatin from the skins is used in traditional Chinese medicine ejiao. So far, five countries in the world, four of them in Africa, have barred sales of donkey products out of concern that demand from Asia will quickly outstrip local supply.

Kenya, home to more than 1.8 million donkeys, vital as beasts of burden, doesn’t appear to be worried about that.

Last year officials approved a $3 million donkey abattoir run by two Chinese entrepreneurs in Baringo county, northwest of Nairobi.

It was the country’s second donkey slaughterhouse, after another built in Naivasha the year before. Today, it processes about 600 donkeys a day, from suppliers in Kenya as well as Tanzania.

Over the last two years, a global trade in donkey skins has emerged as ejiao has become popular among middle-class Chinese who prize it as an anti-aging agent, an aphrodisiac, a cure for insomnia or poor circulation, among other health benefits.

At least 1.8 million donkey hides are traded a year, according to a report last month from the Donkey Sanctuary, a British nonprofit.

China’s own donkey population has more than halved since the 1990s, which has increased global demand—estimated at 4 million skins a year, according to the group.

Other African countries are getting into the hide business—ejiao can sell for up to $360 per kg in China.

Ethiopia, with the continent’s largest donkey population of 7.4 million, has built two large-scale, Chinese-owned slaughterhouses.

Cases of illegal “bush slaughter,” where the animals are usually stolen, have been reported in Tanzania, Egypt, and South Africa and beyond.

Gelatin produced from donkey hide is a key ingredient of one of China's favorite traditional remedies, known as ejiao, which is used to treat a range of ailments from colds to insomnia.

But as the rising power shifts towards advanced industry and away from traditional agriculture, donkeys are in decline. State statistics show the population has fallen from 11 million to six million over the last 20 years.

China is now increasingly looking to Africa to boost its stocks, and imports donkeys from countries across the continent. But flourishing trade has hit several roadblocks.

The donkey trade in Africa threatens to raise prices of an animal that is crucial to the survival of many families, especially in rural areas.

In Burkina Faso, one of two countries to ban exports last year, the cost of a donkey went up to £108 from £60 between 2014 and 2016, according to the Donkey Sanctuary.

It’s estimated that one donkey can support a family of six, according to Brooke, an equine welfare charity that spoke out last year against the growing abuse and theft of donkeys for export to China.

Niger recently became the latest African state to ban exports of donkeys, following a surge in sales to China.

Government officials reported that 80,000 animals had been sold in the first 9 months of 2016, compared with 27,000 in 2015, and warned that the donkey population would be "decimated" on current trends.

In August, Burkina Faso took the same step, after 45,000 donkeys were slaughtered in six months from a total population of 1.4 million.

In both cases, the value of donkeys soared and the fledgling industry delivered a valuable stream of foreign currency. But growth came at a cost.

In Kenya, where drought in several areas is expected to worsen, the situation is even more precarious for donkeys.

Working donkeys are vital to people’s livelihoods here—they carry water and food for families, fuel and building materials.

They help people earn the money they use to put food on the table and children in school, said Dil Peeling, head of animal welfare and sustainability at Brooke.

Beyond the severe damage to donkey populations, the new industry caused environmental and economic problems.

The spread of abattoirs generated a backlash. In the Burkinabe village of Balole, local farmers reportedly attacked and closed a slaughterhouse in protest at blood and offal leaking into their water supplies.

The donkey boom also attracted farmers from other livestock trades, which suffered as a result, and were also affected by inflation.

"In Niger and Burkina Faso the rising value of donkey hide and meat created inflationary impact in other sectors," says Dr. Emmanuel Igbinoba. "The price of other animals rose because of the donkey, not because there was demand for this animal, which caused imbalance in the economy."

The exporting countries suffered from a lack of regulation, according to Eric Olander, co-founder of the China Africa Project and host of the China in Africa podcast.

Just as with other livestock, raw materials and other natural resources, the scale of the demand from China is often so large that it can rapidly overwhelm the supply of any single resource, he says.

Governments that trade with China have an obligation to their people to regulate trade so it does not deplete any single resource to the point where it imposes burdens on their own people.

China's huge appetite for donkeys does create opportunities that exporters can benefit from with careful planning, says Igbinoba.

There is steady demand for the gelatin, he says. If African countries can regulate well, with high standard abattoirs, and train people how to rear these animals, the donkey can be an important source of income.

Burkina has announced plans to regulate donkey sales, but will face competition from continental rivals willing to pick up the trade.

Major economies such as Kenya and South Africa are scaling up their facilities to meet Chinese demand, and a black market is also flourishing across the continent.

Chinese demand is expected to increase with a growing consumer class willing to spend on luxury goods such as ejiao.
The challenge for suppliers is to ensure the trade is a blessing rather than a curse.