Ethiopia’s Rift Valley lakes
A guide to the string of lakes south of Addis Ababa — Ziway, Langano, Abijatta-Shalla, Hawassa and the Arba Minch lakes.
South of Addis Ababa, the Great Rift Valley strings together a chain of lakes that make one of Ethiopia’s easiest and most rewarding escapes — a landscape of water, birdlife and acacia woodland, and a popular weekend break from the capital.
The lakes, north to south
- Lake Ziway (Batu) — the first you reach, dotted with islands and rich in waterbirds around its shallow shores.
- Lake Langano — the one you can safely swim in, its brown water free of the parasite found in many African lakes, with a scatter of lakeside resorts.
- Abijatta-Shalla National Park — twin lakes with hot springs and, when conditions suit, great flocks of flamingos.
- Lake Hawassa — the liveliest, with a lakeside city, a famous fish market and easy birdwatching.
- Abaya and Chamo, at Arba Minch — the southernmost, backed by Nechisar National Park and known for their crocodiles and hippos.
What to do
- Birdwatching — the lakes are among the best birding in the country, with pelicans, storks, kingfishers and flamingos.
- Boat trips to see hippos and crocodiles, especially on Lake Chamo.
- Swimming and unwinding at Langano, or the fish market and promenade at Hawassa.
Getting there
The main road south from Addis Ababa runs past the northern lakes within a few hours, with Hawassa a comfortable base for a weekend and Arba Minch further on for the southern pair. Browse places to stay in Hawassa and Arba Minch to build a Rift Valley trip.