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Bahir Dar

Here you’ll find travel reports about Bahir Dar. Discover travel destinations in Ethiopia of travelers writing a travel blog on FindPenguins.

6 travelers at this place:

  • Tom et Mo au soleilTom et Momo au soleil
    Day79

    Au bord du Lac Tana, le Nil Bleu

     January 23 in Ethiopia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Notre première virée hors de la capitale sera aux abords du Lac Tana, 10h de bus au nord-ouest d'Addis, dans la région Amhara.

    Nous prenons donc le bus de bon matin direction la ville de Bahar Dar. Nous passons un super trajet en compagnie d'éthiopiens attentionnés et nous faisons la connaissance d'une famille avec leur petit Menelik. Avec lui nous avons le droit à un cours particulier des animaux de la ferme en langue Amharique, ce qui nous permet maintenant de nous la raconter à chaque fois que nous croisons des animaux !

    Plusieurs surprises nous attendent le long du trajet. Tout d'abord nous croisons de charmants petits villages constitués de Tukuls (huttes rondes traditionnelles en toit de chaume) et d'habitations ressemblent à de petites maisonnettes fabriquées en eucalyptus et recouvertes d'un toit en acier. Toutes sont très bien construites et entretenues. Les éthiopiens au bord des routes se font de plus en plus nombreux au fur et à mesure que le jour se lève.
    Enfin, au milieu du trajet, au détour d'un virage, nous plongeons dans la Vallée du Grand Rift, immense canyon parcourant tout l'est du continent... grandiose, vertigineux, nous sommes scotchés à la fenêtre.

    Arrivés à Bahar Dar, ça grouille de monde, ça klaxonne, ça sent le café, ça vend et achète de tout... ville bouillonnante aux abords du paisible Lac Tana. Ce lac est la source du Nil Bleu, l'un des deux principaux affluents du Nil.

    Nous profitons de ces quelques jours pour nous balader aux abords du lac et aller voir les chutes du Nil Bleu. Après 1h30 de tappe-cul en minibus local, et une belle balade dans la campagne, nous voilà devant ces cascades. Elles sont magnifiques mais ont perdu de leur grandeur, et cela pour deux raisons : nous sommes en saison sèche, et le débit à été fortement réduit du fait de la construction d'un barrage hydraulique en amont... électricité ou eau pour l'agriculture ? Malheureusement il faut choisir... constat encore plus dur lorsque l'on s'aperçoit au retour, dans la nuit, que beaucoup de villages voisins n'ont pas l'électricité...

    Le Lac Tana, un premier pas vers la découverte de la "vraie" Ethiopie, avec ses gens adorables mais parfois insistants, sa population jeune mais pauvre, son développement progressif mais encore trop partiel, et tant d'autres paradoxes.    Read more

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  • Vee LEast Africa
    Day11

    I Ate in Bahir Dar

     January 12, 2016 in Ethiopia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Apparently writting about my fears and short comings has taken it’s power away! I woke up this morning (around 4am of course, jet-lag hasn’t improved) feeling the effects of not eating; hands shaking, legs wobbly, not feeling top shape. But I was determined. We had planned for a 3-4 day hike in a couple days and I was determined to get my issues under control before then.

    So I got up. I had a left over pastry for yesterday, kind of a mini banana bread or something, that I was determined to finish! Well believe it or not folks, I had about 4/5 of it and it felt like I was such a champ! Nothing could stop me! I took a super cold shower without even being fazed by it. We went out around 8am hoping to hitch a ride with a tour to monasteries on Lake Tana. I actually felt energized, the monasteries were beautiful and I could actually appreciate it. I had fascinating conversations with other tourist and actually managed to socialize without wanting to curl up into a corner. I was actually more talkative then Jack today! Unstoppable. Incredible what food will do for you. With my new found confidence we had a late lunch and I ate 2 pieces of pizza. I’m on cloud 9!

    Bahir Dar has been beautiful. The monasteries showed some very particular cultural practises – shoes off before entering, they were circular with an inner circle only the priests could enter. The people are so proud of their culture. We were invited to have a cup of coffee – the beens coming from the island, roasted locally.

    Of course the usual ‘tourist trap’ issues like we were told the boat ride to the peninsula where we would see the first ministry was 45 minutes, it took 1hr10. We were promised food at the first stop because Jack hadn’t had a chance to have breakfast yet, and there were bananas only (keeping in mind we left at 9am and returned at 230pm). Still one great experience, and just being on a boat, and the water, so relaxing.

    Once back in town we took a walk along the shore of the lake. The nature was incredible and the bird watching was nuts! I know, sounds lame, but it’s always been something that I enjoyed, and colours and sounds of different birds. We stumbled upon a brand new church. We even walked far enough for the locals to finally start saying hi to us genuinely and not just to get something out of us.

    Today was a great day. The beginning of a great trip.    Read more

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  • Ballern TourEthiopian Research Trip
    Day44

    Lake Tana!

     October 29, 2015 in Ethiopia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Nach einigen kuhlen Tagen in addis sind wir nun gen Norden gezogen um neue Gefilde zu erkunden! Die Busfahrt war der Horror, aber es gab ne super Aussicht! Zwischendrin wurde geklettert und getrunken, "wenn ich du wäre" gespielt (das kopftuch uns der Glitzer Hut) , jazz gehört, ein wenig die Stadt erkundet und neue Leute kennen gelernt. Morgen geht es dann auf den See und die Inseln anschauen, dann übermorgen an die Nilfälle!Read more

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  • Vee LEast Africa
    Day11

    Thoughts by Jack in Bahir Dar

     January 12, 2016 in Ethiopia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    I know ya’ll were hoping for Vee’s inspiring words and funny posts, but I have thoughts too! A little different from hers…
    As aforementioned, we landed in Nairobi only to leave the very next morning for the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. I was a little surprised, (almost disappointed!) by how smooth both airports went. I was expecting chaos: It was not. Landing, getting the visas, finding a ride, finding washrooms: all was underwhelming. I came on this trip wanting to be challenged both personally and in my preconceptions of Africa: I know this isn’t just a World Vision ad of a starving child 24/7! Still, I viewed Africa as some “final frontier” for backpackers and independent travellers; there’s hardly any hostels and it’s expensive. Yet in our short time here I’ve realized that it’s like any other travel. You don’t understand the language, some people are super helpful, others less, but everybody needs to eat and sleep so you find those things easily. On the bus ride to Bahir Dar, I watched out the window among the blasting music of our bus to a landscape of yellow fields then red canyons and greens trees, dusty brown villages, blue skies and thin cattle with no sign of modern machinery. I had flashbacks of the trees near Aljoun in Jordan, the villages near San Carlos in Nicaragua, the children begging in Delhi and so forth. I felt at home like I often do when I’m lost. This isn’t the final frontier in any way, it’s just needs to be explored and I’m beyond excited to do so. I’m also, I won’t lie, excited for Vee to eat her first real meal. All in due time…till then, let’s go have fun!
    ps. In case I dulled you into a fake sense of comfort, none of the toilets haver their seats or toilet paper for that matter. Just so you know!
    Edit: Vee has eaten! I repeat, she has successfully had both an orange and pizza! *the crowd cheers* End of edit.    Read more

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You might also know this place by the following names:

Bahir Dar, Bahar Dar, ባሕር-ዳር, بحر دار, Μπαχρ-Νταρ, Baher Dar, בהר דר, BJR, ბაჰრ-დარი, 바히르다르, Bahyr Dar, Бахр-Дар, Бахир Дар, 巴赫達爾

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