walking up Engaresero river, lake Natron.

 

a few rivers hit lake Natron from the escarpments. One is called Engaresero and runs near the village of the same name. This river starts in a dark gorge, in a natural amphitheater of nearly 400m high. The water is literally squeezed out of the rocks from many crevices. Quite stunning. We didn’t go there this time but I’ll post soon some pictures of a previous trip. We only went to visit a few falls this time.

here is the river at the mouth of the gorge, those cliffs are 600m high dwarfing any human.

 

Raphael our guide showed us the way. Is a guide really useful here…? Not really as initially it is just a river to follow up, there is no way to get lost. But I like this guy from previous pleasant trips. He knows the best rocky crossings and also acted as a carrier for camera gear. Karine has never been wadding in a little wild river(even less fully clothed) and is not used to climb wet rocks. So carrying a camera bag was risky.

 

 

here is my little mountain goat at work, but as she says, “petit cabri’ sounds better in French.

 

 

here is the first waterfall. Nothing big but hey, this was a Monday morning, how often do you happen to bump into waterfalls when you’re stuck in traffic jams? ;-)

 

 

        

it could be cool to backtrack the waterfall up across those rocks and trees. The pattern must be interesting.

 

and quickly after that first waterfall, 2 more bends in the river and here is the second one, a bit taller. Here is the ‘cabri’ discovering that the water is even colder here than near the river mouth.

 

but what a reward! That’s what I call a real shower with high pressure. Those who live in Arusha know what I mean. Further than this, the trip really require a guide as more serious climbing and twisted paths are the norm. I remember a dead tree being used as a bridge.

I had taken my Rolleiflex with me, just for the sport of it. A bit risky with all that water, I know and I’d rather lose my digital Nikon D200 than the Rollei. I’ll have to wait to get the 6x6 cm color slides developed in Belgium.

Comments

[Karine]

here is petit cabri. yep, it was very cold. and yes, I had lots of fun climbing on the rocks. will I do it again? yes, if Raphael carries my bag....