Leaving the usual route
Driving to Gambella National Park in Southwest Ethiopia, we had often noticed a small sign just outside the town of Metu which advertises the Sor waterfall. With Gambella firmly in our sights, we have never detoured down little, rough dirt track to see what the Sor waterfall was all about. Waterfalls are always fun, but surely it couldn’t be that spectacular?
David and I and our good friend Ketema were pleasantly surprised on our latest journey into the Yayu biosphere reserve. With more time on our hands to explore and the destination NOT being Gambella, we headed down the little dirt road to see what awaited at the end.
Off on an adventure
The road wound through small farming communities neatly tucked away in the forest. As usual, curious children ran out to the road to wave at our passing vehicle. The track surprised us – not bumpy at all. About 15 kilometres from the main road, it passed a final small village. After that, the track descended into thicker Afromontane forest. This section of road took a little negotiating. It had rained the night before and the vehicle was slipping from side to side in the thick red mud. Eventually, we were able to pull up in a clearing, From there, our guide took us the last 500 metres on foot. We were clearly heading through the thick forest to a river below and slipped our way down the not-so-gentle gradient to the valley floor.
Discovering Sor
What greeted us was something that wouldn’t go amiss in any Indiana Jones movie. The waterfall was huge and sent up clouds of spray into the surrounding forest. When approached from below, the river plunging over the wide precipice was an incredible sight. Later, we discovered Sor was equally impressive when viewed from the top! A stunning spot to bring a picnic and spend the day.
With many more fantastic waterfalls hidden in the biosphere reserves of Southwest Ethiopia, this is definitely a place for seeking out hidden wonders. For the adventurous, there is always something new in this remarkable country.
Check out some of the fantastic areas to explore in Ethiopia on the link below.