Meki

When planning your trip to Meki, it is worth taking the market schedule into account. A report published in March 2002 describes weekly markets on Mondays and Thursdays, as well as small daily markets. This means that fixed market days existed alongside small-scale trading every day. If you want to plan your visit around a market day, check the current schedule in advance: these details reflect the situation at the time.

Historic market days in Meki

The same report describes the Thursday market as having around 2,000 traders. Goods on offer included livestock, grain, vegetables, and everyday necessities. In the account, this scale sets Thursday apart from the small daily markets. The selection ranged from agricultural produce to everyday goods.

A trader’s account from 2014 describes Abishu: he bought chickens at the Thursday and Monday markets in Meki and supplied them to wholesalers in Addis Ababa, hotels and restaurants, as well as individuals and occasional customers. This perspective complements the information about market days by tracing the goods’ journey from purchase to different groups of buyers. At the same time, the account concerns one particular trader and his business.

Oromia: Natural and cultural heritage

In the wider destination of Oromia, the landscape of the Bale-Arsi Massif includes volcanic peaks and ridges, steep slopes, broad valleys, glacial lakes, lush forests, deep gorges, and numerous waterfalls. Above 3,000 meters above sea level, Bale Mountains National Park encompasses Africa’s largest area of afro-alpine habitat, as well as numerous glacial lakes, wetlands, and marshlands. The southern slopes of the Bale Mountains descend to Harenna Forest, where patches of cloud forest can be found. Harenna Forest is Ethiopia’s second-largest humid tropical forest.

The wildlife of the Bale-Arsi Massif is also part of the region’s natural heritage: mountain nyala and Bale monkeys are endemic there, and it is also home to the largest remaining population of the Ethiopian wolf. Dirre Sheik Hussein offers another facet of the region’s cultural heritage, with groups of buildings, monumental tombs, and courtyards representing early medieval Islamic architecture.

The caves of Holqa Sof Omar can be explored on foot. For the long, dark route, you will need flashlights or another source of light, as well as a map showing landmarks in the underground cave system. Check the current access conditions locally.

Bale Mountains National Park has a dry season from November to April. Clear skies and good wildlife-watching conditions are reported during this period, although conditions can vary from year to year. Visitors must register on arrival. Find out about current visitor procedures before your trip.

Accommodation options in Bale Mountains National Park include shared lodges, designated campsites within the park, and basic guesthouses in Dinsho. Availability can change; check your accommodation arrangements before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Gojo, Sululta, Shashamane, Dukem, Boke Tiko, Ziway, Laftu, K'ore.

For the wider travel guide: Oromia.