Napier Trek - Big Gorge

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Down and up, Jita GorgeMon 24 Nov
Whatever I had been suffering from had passed thanks to Ciproxin; I seemed to have acquired a bonus of energy. When Solomon, our guide, returned from first researching this trek he was so enthusiastic that he promised that one day he would bring me. I remember him telling me there was one stage where it took the whole day just to cross a canyon. Today was it and I felt touched and delighted that we were finally here together. Even descending took us four hours to descend, the gorge getting ever hotter and airless. At the bottom we took 10 minutes to cool off in the Jita River before starting our long ascent.

We stopped for lunch readily despite the settlement being really unhealthy. Still hot, crowded with flies, the only "drinking" water was a muddy livestock riddled puddle of a spring, the picnic spot shady but dusty and rich in animal droppings.

Gelada baboons, Jita GorgeAs we climbed higher at least the breeze picked up and the air grew more refreshing. Just before the top we were treated to seeing a troop of Gelada baboons blustering through the bush as they reminded each other who was boss.

At the top we took photos of ourselves with the great gorge behind, and then walked the last 30 minutes onto the Delanta plain to our campsite near the village of Ketcho. We watched the sunset but it was cold and windy so we missed seeing if there was a new moon, it should be the end of Ramadan.


Napier Trek - Big Gorge

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