Bahir Dar - Dinsdag

Ethiopië

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Hoogste punt: Ras Dashen (4 620 m bo seespieël)

Laagste punt: Denakil (120 m onder seespieël)

Bevolking: 73 053 286 (skatting 2005)

Bevolkingsdigtheid: 65 persone per vk. kilometer

Vandag is ‘n rusdag in Bahir Dar vir my. Dis nie ‘n rusdag omdat ek moeg is nie, maar omdat ek nou fyn moet beplan om deur Soedan te kom.

Ek het slegs 14 dae tyd om deur Soedan, die grootste land op die Afrikakontinent, te ry. ‘n Mens kan nie per pad Egipte toe ry nie. Mens kan tot by Wadi Halfa ry en vandaar moet mens per veerboot oor die Aswanmeer na Egipte, Aswan, toe gaan. Die veerboot vaar slegs een keer per week, op Woensdae, van Wadi Halfa na Aswan toe.

Voor Wadi Halfa lê 400 km Nubiese (deel van die Sahara) woestyn, baie sand en blykbaar ‘n besonderse natuurskoon.

Ek kan dus vroegstens Vrydag in Soedan in, Sondag en Maandag in Khartoem bly, en Dinsdag vanaf Khartoem vertrek op die 800km lange rit Wadi Halfa toe. Vanaf Woensdag tot die Dinsdag daarop is dit die sandgedeelte, en dan op die Woensdag die veerboot.

Loop iets êrens skeef, verpas mens die veerboot, en word jy ‘n onwettige immigrant in Soedan omdat die visum se 14 dae verstryk het.

Dit is dus die rede hoekom ek al weer ‘n rusdag het. Woensdag het ek weer ‘n rydag, en Donderdag weer af.

Die Tanameer is die grootste meer op die Ethiopiese Hoogland en is op sy langste 85 km en beslaan ‘n oppervlakte van 3 600 vk. km. Op die foto is ‘n papirusboot op die Tanameer. Dit is ‘n oeroue manier van vervoer op die Nyl en dateer na die Bybelse tyd terug.

Terug na my fiets: Afstand tot nou gery: 6 993.8 km

Liters verbruik: 305.695

Gemiddeld: 22.88 km / liter

Die hoë gemiddeld is net daaraan toe te skryf dat ‘n mens hier nie vinnig kan ry nie.

Groete vanaf die Tanameer!

Ethiopia

Did you know?

Highest point: Ras Dashen (4 620 m above sea level)

Lowest point: Denakil (120 m below sea level)

Population: 73 053 286 (2005 estimate)

Population density: 65 persons per sq. kilometer

Today is a rest day in Bahir Dar. It is not because I am tired but because getting through Sudan within 14 days and catching the ferry to Aswan is a play with time and distances.

My visa for Sudan, the largest country on the African continent, is valid only for 14 days. One cannot cross into Egypt by motor vehicle; one has to use the ferry from Wadi Halfa to Aswan. That ferry leaves only once a week, on a Wednesday.

To get to Wadi Halfa, which is about 800 km north of Khartoum one has to cross the Nubian (part of the Sahara) desert. The last 400 km is going to be tough, sand, but spectacular. My plan is to enter Sudan on Friday, spend Sunday and Monday in Khartoum, and leave on the desert crossing on Tuesday. That should give me enough time to get to Wadi Halfa the next Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday the ferry leaves.

That doesn’t leave much room for an error. Should anything happen one is going to miss the ferry and by doing so one is going to become an illegal immigrant in Sudan as the visa is going to expire.

That is the reason why I am sitting and waiting in Bahir Dar. On Wednesday I am riding again, and on Thursday it is … a rest day again!

Lake Tana is the largest lake on the Ethiopian Highlands. Its length is about 85 km and it covers an area of about 3 600 sq. km. On the photograph one can see a papyrus boat, one of the oldest means of transport on the Nile. It dates back to Biblical times.

Back to my bike: Distance traveled up until now: 6 993.8 km

Liters used: 305.695

Average: 22.88 km / liter

The high average is only because one cannot travel fast here.

Regards from Lake Tana!