From Awasa we headed to Dodola and then up into the Bale Mountains for four days of trekking. The trekking was not too hard (about 3 hours each day) but it allowed us to see some magnificent scenery and walk up and down the hills on our way to the next campsite.
Accommodation was basic yet comfortable. Most camps consisted of mud brick huts with a dining table and a homemade pot belly stove. Food/water was prepared on a small kerosene burner. We slept on bunk beds with many layers of blankets, which provided excellent bedding for the night and ensured we didn’t freeze to death when the temperature dropped during the evening.
Our final day involved a 23 km trek back to Dodola so we all used horses to get us home. It was a weird feeling to be riding a horse again after so many years, especially when the saddle is not strapped onto the horse (it is roughly connected around the neck and tail) and constantly moves about while you struggle to keep your balance! We had the option of riding on our own or being led by a guide. After struggling with the saddle I chickened out on riding solo and decided to have a guide lead me down the mountain tracks.
We made it back safely to Dodola, paid our guides and then limped off towards the bus station with a sore legs and bum.
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