Botanical surprises in Ethiopia.
My biggest surprise that I have found in the plant kingdom of Ethiopia is Pyrenacantha malvifoli. In plain language it is called "monkey chair". What surprised me was not so much the plant itself, but the number of them in one area. Imagine such fat "potatoes" growing around on the ground all around you as far as the eye can see. And that "potato" can reach up to 1.5 m in diameter! I know 2 places where these specific plants grow. Of course, you will not find them in the entire territory of Ethiopia :)
The types of vegetation in Ethiopia are very diverse, from Afro-alpine to desert vegetation. There are many plant species, and the number of higher plants exceeds 7000 species, of which approx. 12% are probably endemic. Although no one has yet fully studied it, the field of work here is truly vast.
There are more than 30 different species of acacias alone. They are the most common trees throughout Ethiopia and are mostly recognized by their umbrella-shaped crown.
Did you know that Ethiopia is the original and only natural home of the wild Coffea arabica, widely recognized as the source of the world's most consumed and best coffee (the other species, C. canephora, native to Central and West Africa, is used to produce lower quality coffee). Ethiopia is also the 5 largest producer of coffee in the world, with coffee accounting for 34% of the country's export earnings and supporting 15 million smallholder farmers.
Ethiopia is a primary gene center for field crops such as nougat (Guizotia abyssinica ), teff ( Eragrostis tef), and Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata). In addition, field crops such as barley, sorghum, durum wheat, millet, field beans, flax, sesame seeds, safflower seeds, chickpeas, lentils, and fenugreek have a wide genetic diversity in Ethiopia.
In addition, about 80% of the Ethiopian population depends on traditional medicine for health care, and more than 95% of traditional medicine preparations in Ethiopia are made from herbal remedies. One of the popular medicinal plants is Aloe. And there are about 46 species of it there. Many of them are endemic to Ethiopia and many are also on the verge of extinction.
What else is interesting growing here? Oh yes! - in the mountains you can find Lobelia rhynchopetalum (giant lobelia - the only lobelia growing so high in the mountains and does not look like lobelia at all), Ensete ventricosum (Abyssinian banana - used for food and for other family needs. How? Let's go, you'll see!), Caralluma speciosa (large ground cover - succulent, survives in extreme drought and can also be eaten in times of hunger), Adenium obesum (Ethiopian desert rose - the so-called caudex plant, a plant with a big trunk where water accumulates, blooms with beautiful red-pink flowers), Echidnopsis urceolata (gemstone plant - also a succulent, which is coveted by all succulent collectors)....
The list could go on and on, because the diversity of plants makes Ethiopia a true paradise for botanists and nature lovers.
What's new. Here and there.
My reflections on the development of tourism industry in Ethiopia.
I am truly sorry that soon there will be nowhere to take travelers, there won't be even a small part of the true world that was left. Ethiopia follows the path of Europe, America - the path of destruction. And there is no going back.
Recently, I posted a post on FB about which I received interesting comments, and as a result, I want to talk more about this topic. Usually, I'm looking at my travels and what I experienced there (not only in Ethiopia) positively and I try to show to others the beautiful, nice, inspiring things from it. But, this does't mean that there is no a "black side". Observing the development of tourism since 2008, there is a feeling that this industry is rapidly sliding down, instead of flourishing and growing up, as one would expect. Of course, there is not just one reason for this. There is a whole set - a domestic politics (under which lies foreign politic), corruption, economy and above all - EDUCATION.
A little of my feelings and emotions, so you can better understand - I don't know about others, but I don't like going to the volcano on a path where there is a thick layer of plastic bottles along the sides. Yes, our groups (others have also been seen) take bags and collect this waste, bring it to the camp and put it in a metal container ... but - that container will never be taken out, because there was no such option for this project. They have thought about how to install the container, but how to take it out regularly (or at all) remains still is an open question. A beautiful asphalt road has been built (a huge investment for the development of tourism) almost to the volcano itself, but what can I see at the end? Garbage around the volcano? And here maybe I support the high price for the opportunity to visit Danakil depression - it separates people who can get here and who can't. But does that exclude "pollutants" from the list? Probably not. Money does not always come together with brains.
And this is only 1 example on this topic. Next - tourists do't travel because they are afraid of the political situation. The unrests are only in one corner of the country, but it has consequences all over the country. There are few tourists, but prices triple and even more. Instead of lowering prices and attracting tourists in a crisis, prices are raised and there are even fewer tourists now.
If this has not deterred you and you have gone to Ethiopia, then what you see when you go a little off the "tourist paths" makes you run quickly to your fine hotel, because there is nothing pleasing there - when they see "white", the locals have 2 thoughts, either you are a bag of money or humanitarian aid has arrived. And I understand them - education is as it is (isn't), all domestic problems (war, drought, lack of water, inflation, etc.) drive people to despair. It is sad to see people exhausted from work, dead cattle and snotty children looking at you with pleading eyes. What can a traveler see here? What tourism development? Guides mainly have only one idea - how to get a bigger tip. There is no understanding of how to teach fellow human beings (including tourists) not to pollute nature, no one has explained to that local child that he should not run after a white person and shout: "money, money!" and have no to throw stones if you don't get anything. All this is the work of local tourist offices. But nothing. However, I have to pay for all kinds of permits, for signatures, for stamps on them, for guards, cooks, guides, for hand feeders and bag carriers, etc. at every step.
If you are brave enough and go to the tribes, then again it's a circus - everyone is placed in a "row" impersonally posing. Also asking for the same money from an ordinary curious wanderer as from a professional photographer who then earns money with his pictures and videos. The logic is where? There is no. I want to see simply how they live, that they exist at all. To the theater I can go in Europe. Cheaper.
And another question, why do I, as a white person, have to pay double for everything? Because I have that skin color? Hmmm...
But despite all this, I will continue to go there and show for my people the beautiful and unique that is still left. I'll put on rose-colored glasses.