Lake Tana, source of the Nile

To get to the lake we had to cross one of the arms of the Great Rift Valley. We crossed a large high plateau and then down several hairpins to get to river level. One of the hairpins disappearing into the clouds in the valley.

Looking out across the rift with the Nile in the background, centre of the photo.

Then we stopped at Bahir Dar, the largest town on the lake and took a boat to go and see some monasteries.

Entrance to one of the monasteries.

Inside the church were some colourful paintings, The structure was over a thousand years old but the painting are only a few hundred.

A detail of one of the windows.

One of the paintings that is usually covered to preserve the colours.

All the surfaces were covered with paintings.

And then on to another island, one of many in the lake and most seem to have a monastery. This is on another island, built at the same time but in a completely different design. octagonal and built of stone.

Inside, half of the covered area was reserved for the congregation.

The Adam and Eve story depicted on one of the murals.

And after the churches, it was time to get back to Bahir Dar and we passed some hippos where the Nile left the lake.