Located about 72Km west of Turmi on the eastern bank of Omo River is mainly inhabited by the Dasanech people. The main cultural attractions are the Dasanech villages that lie outside of the town. From Omorate the village of Kolcho which is set in magnificent sand cliff is also accessible. The inhabitants of Kolcho, the […]

The last of the Rift Valley Lakes (in Ethiopia), formerly known as Lake Rudolf, is Lake Turkana. It is located southwest of the Omorate within the Ethiopian and Kenyan Rift Valley and is the largest permanent desert lake as well as the largest alkaline lake in the world. Despite the climate being hot and dry, […]

Situated within the trough of the Great Rift Valley, Mago National Park is just east of the Omo River at a distance of 790 Km from Addis and the park headquarter is 115Km from Murelle. The South Omo town of Jinka, a mere 34Km away from the park is a relatively good base from which […]

This National Park is situated in the GamoGofa zone, 460 Km from Addis Abeba and 85 Km south west of Wolaita Sodo. The park, covering an area of 220 square Km, lies at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level at its highest points and 900 meters above sea level on its lowest ones. […]

Like a chain of pearls, the lakes dot the Rift Valley, which stretches from Syria to Mozambique with a width of 50km. All of the lakes are full of fish like tilapia and Nile perch and, thus, attract many different bird species, creating a paradise for birdwatchers. They are also ideal for a real vacation […]

Here, many birds, such as great white pelicans, saddle bill, yellow bill, storks, and kingfishers can be seen. Hippos can also be seen. A boat can be rented to visit one or more of the islands with their monasteries. DebreTsion is the most famous. It is said that in the 9th century AD, the Ark […]

Lake Langano is the preferred place for weekenders from Addis Abeba. It is one of the few Rift Valley Lakes without the danger of bilharzia. The old growth forest on the eastside of the lake is a great place for nature lovers and birdwatchers. Several nice lodges such as Bishangari Eco Lodge and Sabana Lodge […]

On the opposite side of the main road, not far from Langano, is Abiata-Shalla National park. It consists of two lakes, Abiata and Shalla, which are located only three Km apart but, nevertheless, differ greatly in character. The national park is especially good for hiking, enjoying beautiful scenery, and watching water birds. It hosts ostriches […]

Located 200km south of Addis Abeba in Arsi Negelle Wereda, Oromia Regional State; it is comprised of two lakes (Abiata and Shalla). The park was established in 1970 for its many species of aquatic birds, particularly great white pelicans and greater and lesser flamingos. With two lakes hosting 400 bird species (half the total number […]

Shashemene- 250 km south of Addis Abeba is mainly a crossroads town. The north leading to Addis Abeba or Nazareth; the east leading to the Bale Mountains and Sof Omar Caves; the west to Sodo, Hosainna, and Arba Minch; and the south to Hawassa, Dilla, and Moyale. The town is also famous for being the […]

The Bale Mountains are Ethiopia’s best-kept secret. It has been estimated that the Bale Mountains are home to more locally endemic species of mammals than any other area of equivalent size on the planet. The Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) is located 400km southeast of Addis Abeba and 150km east of Shashemene on the road […]

(From Bale Mountains National Park BIRDING BOOKLET by Frankfurt Zoological Society) With a total length of over 1.5km, Sof-Omar is one of the longest underground cave systems in Africa. According to tradition Sof-Omar was the name of a Muslim holy man who lived in the area.The area is part of the Bale Lowlands and is […]

Wondo Genet is just about 20km southeast of Shashemene which is popular for its hot- spring resort. The resort was founded in 1970 by princess Tenagnework, the daughter of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Its beautiful landscape, hot springs, the dense green forest supporting Anubis baboon, monkeys and other species with forest birds makes the place […]

located south of Arbaminch road in Oromia and Southern Nations regional states is another attraction site easily accessed from Shashemene. Though originally established to protect the swaynes hartebeest, the open acacia woodland of the park is quite scenic, and some of the animals are fairly easily spotted. You can see Swayne’s hartebeest, bohor reedbuck, greater […]

Just 25 km south of Shashemene, it is the modern capital of Southern Nations Regional State and is situated on the shores of Lake Hawassa, one of the Rift Valley Lakes. In the morning, a big fish market is active here. Addis Abeba, Arba Minch, Bale Mountains National Park, and the Kenyan Border are all […]