Ethiophia
I spent 50 unforgettable days in Ethiopia, a journey that took me across some of the most dramatic landscapes and cultures on the African continent.
My adventure began in Awash National Park, where wildlife and open savannah set the tone for what was to come. From there, I traveled to Lake Bajati, where I photographed flamingos at sunset,
their pink reflections glowing against the evening light.
In Bale National Park, I undertook a demanding 10-day mountain foot trail, covering a total distance of 126 kilometers at high altitude. Walking day after day through remote alpine landscapes was both physically challenging and deeply rewarding.
One of the most intense experiences was Erta Ale, where I slept on the rim of the crater, witnessing the raw power of the Earth’s active lava lake. From there, I descended into the Danakil Depression,
crossing the surreal salt plains, one of the hottest and most extreme environments on the planet.
Cultural and historical highlights followed: the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the powerful history of Tigray, and the majestic landscapes surrounding the Blue Nile.
In the Omo Valley, I focused on cultural photography, spending time with six different tribes. A particularly moving moment was witnessing the bull-jumping ritual of the Hamer tribe,
a powerful expression of tradition, identity, and community.
My journey concluded in the Simien Mountains, where I stayed for eight days. For three days in a row, I was surrounded by the incredible gelada baboons, observing and
photographing them at close range in their dramatic mountain habitat.
Throughout this entire journey, I was accompanied by a wonderful and deeply committed guide, Wegderes, whose knowledge, dedication, and passion made this experience not only possible,
but truly exceptional.
Ethiopia revealed itself to me as a land of extremes, beauty, resilience, and profound humanity — a journey that will stay with me forever.
A selection of 80 images on this page documents part of this photographic journey.
ETH001 - Augur Buzzard
ETH002 - Lake Awassa at sunset
ETH003 - During morning at sunrise
ETH004 - Landscape in the brume while starting the mountain walk at Bale NP
ETH005 - On the road in Bale NP
ETH006 - The enigmatic Ethiopian wolf in Bale NP
ETH007 - foggy morning Bale NP
ETH008 - Bale NP at morning
ETH009 - During the trekking in Bale NP the raft lave rocks
ETH010 - Giant lobelias at an altitude of 4000 m in Bale NP
ETH011 - Our hotel at Bale NP
ETH012 - The Saneti Plateau-Bale NP
ETH013 - Bohor redbuck, Bale mountains national park
ETH014 -Close- up encounter with the Bale Monkey at the Harenna Forest Bale Mountains
ETH015 - image of The Mountain Nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni) in this case a female. This endangered antelope is endemic to the Ethiopian highlands
ETH016 - Male of the mountain nyala
ETH017 - Beautiful pause
ETH018 -
ETH019 - Beautiful Male Bohor Redbuck deer
ETH020 - White-cheeked turaco
ETH021 - White-cheeked turaco balancing
ETH022 - Black and red broadbill in contrast with the broad branch of a tree
ETH023 -Harwood's Spurfowl
ETH024 - Paradise fly-catcher
ETH025 -Egyptian vulture in flight , frequently seen bird
ETH026 - Tree sightings at high altitude
ETH027 - Moss sightings at high altitude , always interesting how nature transforms at altitude
ETH028 -Bizar landscape at the Konso area
ETH029 - Part of the salt planes at Danakill depression
ETH030 -Area between the salt lake and Danakil depression
ETH031 - Strange patterns at the salt planes
ETH032 - Enterance of the Salt planes
ETH033 - People start at 5 am the hard labor to avoid high temperatures who could easily raise above 50 ° celsius during the day
ETH034 - The long journey starts once the salt is sized in to blocks of about 30 kg
ETH035 -Caravans of camels transport salt from Dallol’s salt pans toward Mekele, enduring grueling multi-day journeys across lava fields and salt flats. Battling extreme heat, each camel makes only about three round trips per season, traversing up to hundreds of kilometers before reaching destination
ETH036 - Contrast with the red algae and the upcoming convoy
ETH037 - Although a long way to cover , the smile is present on the face of the people
ETH038 - The Danakil Depression—one of the harshest and most dangerous places on Earth. The year previous to my visit five tourists had been killed there. A permit was required and had four armed soldiers as guides, I was allowed only two hours in this extreme but amazing landscape.
ETH039 - Not only one of the hottest( when I was there temp went to 54° celsius. it is also one of the lowest places on earth 125 m below sea level
ETH040 - The remarkable colors of the salt minerals
ETH041 - Beautiful winding shapes
ETH042 - Detail of the salt layers , as if it were corals
ETH043 - A symphony of colors
ETH044 - Bizarre rocky landscape with petrified salt layers at the edge of the Lake Karum, Danakil Valley, Ethiopia
ETH045 - Caves of Sof Omar
ETH046 - On the walk to Erta Ale lots of camels feed on the fertile grounds
ETH047 - The love play of camels
ETH048 - Active Erta Ale
ETH049 - Before I went to sleep on the rim of the crater , still some photography to be made
ETH050 - Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake, source of the Blue Nile, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, celebrated for its rich ecology, culture, history, and iconic Great White Pelicans.
ETH051 - Hamadyras baboon male
ETH052 - On the walk with her clinging baby
ETH053 - In full ornate
ETH054 - Male hamadryas on the way to their sleeping places high in the mountains near Awash NP
ETH055 - Group of waterbuck in front of a nice backdrop in awash NP
ETH056 - From a photographic point of view, the Blue Nile Waterfalls offer dramatic motion, misty atmosphere, and powerful contrasts—rushing white water against dark basalt cliffs, framed by rainbows, lush greenery, and ever-changing light that makes each shot dynamic and timeless.
ETH057 - The falls of the Blue Nile from short distance and other angle
ETH058 - In the Simien Mountains, ravens soar effortlessly above cliffs, their dark silhouettes contrasting against vast skies—adding drama and contrast
ETH059 - Lammergeier in it's flight over the Simien Mountains
ETH060 - Waiting to be fed with the bones of slaughtered lambs at the lodge of Simien mountains
ETH061 - At early morning, gelada baboons bask in the first rays of the sun, warming themselves against the backdrop of an immense, awe-inspiring landscape.
ETH062 - Baby Gelada or bleeding hart baboon peeping out the body's of grooming parents
ETH063 - A dominant male surrounded by his family at dawn nearby the protective mountains
ETH064 - Expressions of a innocent
ETH065 - Two juvenile gelada baboons, brimming with youthful energy and testosterone, play-fight intensely as they test strength and establish dominance.
ETH066 - Profile of a female baboon against light
ETH067 - Mother gelada teaching her youngster while selecting grasses
ETH068 - A grieving mother gelada baboon carries her lifeless infant for days, a quiet and powerful expression of loss, revealing the deep emotional bonds and mourning behavior within the species.
ETH069 - Display of dominance
ETH070 - On the chase, he displays remarkable agility—swift, focused, and perfectly adapted to the rugged terrain.
ETH071 - The confrontation approaches as two males size each other up, tension building while they test strength
ETH072 - The clash begins, raw power and instinct collide in a sudden burst of intensity
ETH073 - Fights between male gelada baboons often begin under the influence of females, as rivalry and competition for dominance and mating rights intensify.
ETH074 - At evening, a male retreats to the mountain rim, seeking safety and vigilance against lurking predators.
ETH075 - isolated with her baby on the return to the rims of the mountains
ETH 076 - I am thirsty
ETH077 - ibex moves gracefully through the high grasses of the Simien Mountains, blending agility and alertness amid the rugged, windswept terrain
ETH078 - Foraging together, these ibexes ascend to higher elevations in the evening, moving as a cautious, coordinated group across the rugged slopes
ETH079 - Gelada baboons are moving in great numbers feeding on grasses
ETH080 - Flower of Kniphofia Foliosa at the slopes of Simien Mountains