2 Days Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes Tour from Addis Ababa

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Addis Ababa – Adadi Maryam - Tiya World Heritage Site – Lake Ziway – Awassa
4 stops
1
Tiya World Heritage Site
Take a guided tour visit the incredible stone grave markers at Tiya. The Steles of Tiya is one of Ethiopia’s sites listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here you will visit beautiful carved stone grave markers erected between the 12th and 14th Century AD in honor of important local heroes (warriors).
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
2
Stop at a couple of outlooks for the picturesque scenery of the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley. You will also visit one of the villages of the local people of Silte for cultural experience.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
3
Spot Ethiopian Lowland water birds by walking by the shores of the Rift Valley Lake of Ziway to see families of hippos (if lucky) and a number of birds such as Great white pelicans, Marabou Storks, African Fish Eagle, Sacred Ibis, Hammer Kops, etc Finally, drive 115 km south to the Rift Valley Lake of Awassa. If the weather is good, enjoy the beautiful sun set over the lake.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
4
Melka Kunture
Visit Melka Kunture archaeological site to learn about humanity's evolutionary story. Set by the Awash River, visit Melka Kunture’s Museum to step back 1.8 million years. Discover stone tools from Homo erectus, witness fossilized footprints, & visit an open-air 800,000 years old butchery site.
40 minutes • Admission ticket not included
Day 2
Awassa Lake – Abidjatta Shalla Lakes National Park – Lake Ziway – Addis Ababa
4 stops
5
After breakfast head to Amora Gedel found by the shores of Lake Awassa. It is where locals come to have breakfast of fresh catch Tilapia fish and spot a number of birds gathered looking for leftover fish. Here you will see the rare Colobus Monkey (Black and White Monkey).
2 hours • Admission ticket included
6
Then, head north to the Abiyatta Shalla Lakes National Park with a stop at Shashemene to visit the Jamaican Rastafarian Community. At Abiyatta Shalla Lakes NP walk for half an hour to see Ostriches, Gazelles, Warthogs, and different lowland bird species. If the weather is good (September – June), continue driving farther to visit the Natural Hot Spring waters where locals use the waters to get healed from skin diseases.
3 hours • Admission ticket not included
7
Visit to visit the Jamaican Rastafarian Community at Shashemene town for about 1 hour. Learn about the backgrounds of the Rastafarianism beliefs and how they are connected with Emperor Haile Sillassie I.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
8
Stop at one of the crater lakes of Bishoftu (Debre Ziet) which is notable for its scenic beauty. You will also visit a village of the Oromo people to attend a traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony with locals.
1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• June to Mid September is the rainy season where the tour runs. Please be prepared accordingly.

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