Looking for the source: Visiting the Blue Nile Falls

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The Blue Nile Falls in Ethiopia may not be able to take on their larger neighbors, but to follow the traces of famous explorers is still a nice day

The Blue Nile Falls - or Tis Abay on Amharisch, which means "big smoke" - is a somewhat bad relationship with the famous waterfalls that can be found in Listicles. It's not Angel, Iguazu, Victoria or Niagara, but the 42 m high Blue Nile Falls still offer a dramatic spectacle.

earlier shine

Originally, the Blue Nil meandered away from Lake Tana before he fell violently over the side of a 400 m (1,312 feet) wide gorge into a gorge below. Unfortunately, due to hydropower projects upstream, the waterfall is only a shadow of its earlier form.

alt = “Nowadays either a two or sometimes a thirty waterfall remains”> Atlas & Boots Nowadays either a two- or sometimes a thorough waterfall left

Nowadays either a two-sagging waterfall falls into the basin below. The impact throws fog and rainbows before it continues downstream towards Khartum in Sudan, where the blue finally flows into the white Nil.

a worthy daily tip

We went on a day trip from Bahir 30 km away and went along the footpath, which leads to the first bridge that spans the blue Nil: the Portuguese bridge from the 17th century. From here the path increases through small villages and hamlets to a number of viewpoints.

We visited on a Saturday - market day - which meant that we went on the way to trade in goods, food and cattle against a flood of locals. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it made navigating a little more difficult on the rocky footpath!

We continued over a suspension bridge that spans the narrow river Alata, and went down to the foot of the waterfalls. The water was in a medium current, but still an unforgettable sight. We stood in the middle of the rushing rapids and enjoyed the cooling fog.

Shortly afterwards we finished the round, meandered up again and around the waterfalls before we crossed the river with a small motorboat to return to the entrance and our waiting car. The entire hike was about 5 km long and took about 1.5 to 2 hours with several stops to take pictures and watch.

legend has it ...

The legend of the Blue Nile Falls is probably the most important reason for a visit. For those interested in history (like me), it is of great charm to step into the footsteps of the masterful embellisher James Bruce. Bruce claimed to have discovered the waterfalls and called the Blue Nile the only source of the mighty Nile.

1768 Bruce arrived in Alexandria, Egypt to discover the source of the Nile, of which he believed that he rises in Ethiopia. Two years and a attack by Malaria later Bruce stumbled across the waterfalls in 1770, where he promptly claimed to have discovered the source of the Nile - a secret that researchers had escaped for centuries.

alt = "Blue Nile Falls Ethiopia from above"> Atlas & Boots The source of the Nile escaped researchers for centuries

as Bruce knew very well, he was beaten about 150 years earlier by a Spanish Jesuits, Pedro Páez, to his "discovery". In addition, the Blue Nile Falls only result in the Blue Nile, one of the two large tributaries of the Nile. The other tributary, the White Nile, is considered the source area and the main source of the actual Nile.

It took three years for Bruce to return to Cairo before finally arriving in Great Britain in 1774. A few years later, in 1790, Bruce published his multi -volume report Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile. At that time it was mocked because of its sensational claims and stories. It was therefore surprising that later explorers confirmed that much of what Bruce transcribed contained considerable geographical accuracy.

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Bruce described the waterfalls of the blue Nile as "a great sight that the age, together with the greatest length of human life, would not erase or wipe out my memory".

Today this may seem exaggerated, but what is missing from the waterfall in the current, he makes up for the legend. A hike to its base is worth the effort, if only to step into the footsteps of those looking for the source.

Blue Nile Falls: The essentials

was: Visit to the Blue Nile Falls, 30 km from Bahir Dar in Ethiopia.

Where: We stayed in the Rahnile Hotel, a clean and comfortable business hotel in the city center. Our room was flawless and had an excellent shower (with strong water pressure and water that stayed hot!).

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The hotel is not on Lake Tana like some of the more expensive outfits in the city, but it offers a good price-performance ratio. The WLAN is generally reliable and the local breakfast is super tasty. The employees are helpful and always ready with a smile and helped us organize our excursions. All in all, Rahnil is a solid choice to explore Bahir and beyond.

When: The best time to visit the waterfalls of the Blue Nils in Ethiopia is August and September when the current is strongest.

From about January to March, the current is weak and offers little spectacle. Unfortunately, this time falls into the best travel time for Ethiopia: October to March, when the temperatures are most comfortable, the precipitation in most parts of the country are the lowest and a clear blue sky is almost guaranteed.

like: We booked our Blue Nile Falls Tour at the (rather overzealous) tour operator in the Rahnile Hotel. Don't worry about asking about him; He will find you. Do not accept the first offered price. We acted for two half -day tours on 2,300 ETB (83 USD) for two people: the first to the Blue Nile Falls, the second to the island monasteries. Note that additional costs have been incurred at both locations. In the case of the Blue Nile Falls, these were the following in ETB:

  • 400 per group for a guide
  • 50 per person entrance fee for the Blue Nile Falls
  • 20 per person for a short boat trip
  • 50 fee for a video camera

We reached Bahir Dar with a public coaster bus from Gondar: 100 ETB ($ 4) per person. Advertisers at the bus stop are very aggressive, so they are prepared to ward off them. Avoid sitting at the back of the bus. We had five people on four seats (six people if you count the baby!). Note that we get into the bus at 9 a.m. and take off at 10.15 a.m. while we were waiting for the bus to be full.

You can organize a private transfer via your hotel, but note that there is no official taxi service, so that you are delivered to the local dealers.

domestic flights are the fastest way to travel to Ethiopia (check the latest routes here). It is much cheaper to book flights in an Ethiopian Airlines office in the country. Be sure to state whether you have flown internationally with you because you are entitled to a significant discount.

Addis Ababa is the most important international airport in the country. Book international flights via skyscanner.net.

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LONELY PLANET ETHIOPIA is a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take less busy roads. If you prefer to travel on a tour, we recommend G Adventures and their Ethiopia tours in small groups.

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