TESFA are working with local communities in Meket to develop accommodation camps for tourists and trekking services for guests along an escarpment just south of Lalibela.

Mequat Mariam

The original community that TESFA started work with is Mequat Mariam, a remote parish based around the church of St.Mary's of Mequat. The tukuls (thatched round cottages) are set on a promontory of the Meket plateau with staggering views to the west and south. A small troop of Gelada Baboon patrol the escarpment, and a troop of Vervet monkeys sometime come up for a visit. Recently Lammergeyer have been seen soaring over the site.

Accommodation consists of a large tukul divided into two bedrooms, each with a double and single bed. A second smaller bedroom tukul will be finished soon providing a further two beds. There is also a large dining tukul, an eco-toilet and a shower. Mequat Mariam boasts a 'rock

bar', a smooth sheltered ledge that is warmed by the afternoon sun and invites guests to sit with a sundown drink a watch the golden glow at the end of the day turn red as the sun sets over Mount Guna.

The second community TESFA worked with (starting in 2003) is Wajela. This quiet village sits just below the plateau top on a fertile ledge. The spot chosen for the tukul camp overlooks an intriguing cave complex and the old church of Werketa Mariam set amongst Juniper (a large indigenous pine tree) woodland. Wajela also boats an old acacia wood, besides which they have built a small church.

The accommodation consists of three cosy bedroom tukuls. There is a dining tukul with a small verandah, an eco-toilet and a shower (although water is a bit scarce so check with your guide).

Wajela

Aterow

In 2006 the community at Aterow finalised their tukuls, and have since had a steady stream of guests. The site chosen for the tukul camp overlooks a gentle valley that comes from the plateau top and then below the site drops into a dramatic gorge. The river in the valley takes the plunge and although the resulting falls are not visible from the camp they can be reach by taking the short steep way down into the valley below.

The accommodation consists of three sleeping tukuls, all quite roomy. There is also one large dining tukul, and an eco-toilet. This is a great place to see Gelada Baboon, who come up from the cliffs and gorge below. Three lamergeyers were also seen here soaring above the gentle valley below.

The latest community that TESFA is working with is that of Yadukulay, set on a small twin peaked hill in a valley just off the escarpment. It is near the village of Taja, about 50km south of Lalibela.

The land around is irrigated from streams coming off the escarpment, and the community very eager to receive the first guests. Yadukulay site received its first visitors in June 2007. Trekkers visiting here will need to be prepared for a climb up to the Aterow site (or harder down from it). But the walk is a very enjoyable and quite short so you can take it easy.

Yadukulay

A further site is likely to be developed during the course of the 2007/8 season on the Meket escarpment.

See the map on the transport page