Rift Valley Lakes – 3 Days

Day 1: Addis Ababa – Zeway

The tour starts with a morning drive of around 3 hours, out of Addis Ababa and south through the green Rift Valley to the lakeside town of Ziway.  After lunch, you’ll look for birds near the shoreline marshes, before taking a cruise around the nesting grounds of Tulu Simbero, which means Bird Island in the local Oromifa language. You may also see local fishermen at work on traditional reed boats.  You’ll then head to Debre Sina (Mount Sinai), and take a short walk to the monastery to discover the island’s history and view ancient relics and parchments. Afterwards, your guide will show you a cave system on the island that has served as a home to secret hermits, refugees, and villagers’ valuables.  Hiking through the island’s rare natural forest also offers excellent bird watching.  After leaving Debre Sina, you will then visit Wamecha, a community protected forest on the mainland, where you an take a short hike to the top of the mountain, which offers scenic views of the lake and surrounding areas.  Villagers used to use this spot to call to the people inhabiting Gelila and Debre Sina Islands.  Finally, you will return to a comfortable hotel in Ziway, where you’ll spend the night.

Day 2: Zeway – Hawassa

Leaving Ziway, the tour continues south through the rift valley to Abiyata-Shala National Park.  Here, you’ll get a guided tour of the park and see how the local residents live.  In the late afternoon, the tour continues to Hawassa, where you will spend the night after a lakeside stroll to see the sunset.

Day 3: Hawassa – Addis Abeba

In the morning, you’ll see Hawassa’s famous fish market and take a boat on the lake where hippos sightings are common, before starting the return journey to Addis Ababa.  The afternoon will include stops to see the mysterious stellae of Tiya, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the prehistoric site of Melka Kunture, where a new museum tells the story of the Rift Valley’s long history.