Must-see attractions in Southern Ethiopia

  • Kibish

    Southern Ethiopia

    The main settlement in this area is the colourful village of Kibish. Set in a bowl in the forested hills, it is a fascinating place populated by the…

  • Bale Mountains National Park

    Southern Ethiopia

    More than any other park in Ethiopia, this national park is known for its wildlife, but it’s a very beautiful place, too. As you approach from Dodola,…

  • Lake Awasa

    Southern Ethiopia

    With its mountainous backdrop, Lake Awasa is a lovely sight. You could easily spend a few pleasant hours strolling the lakeshore trail at the end of town,…

  • Fish Market

    Southern Ethiopia

    Lake Awasa’s fishermen head out in their little wooden boats in the afternoon and return the next morning laden with tilapia and catfish. The men are…

  • Omo National Park

    Southern Ethiopia

    Omo National Park has long been one of the most remote parks in Ethiopia and travelling here can be incredibly tough – but never less than fascinating…

  • Plains zebra (Equus burchellii), Nechisar National Park.

    Nechisar Plain

    Southern Ethiopia

    The main wildlife-watching circuit crosses the Bridge of God to the park’s namesake savannah, but the road is so atrocious that many tour companies prefer…

  • Sof Omar Cave

    Southern Ethiopia

    Around 100km east of Robe, the fast-flowing Web River runs through a deep gorge and then cuts straight through a limestone hill. Though underground for…

  • Abiata-Shala Lakes National Park

    Southern Ethiopia

    West of Lake Langano lie the twin lakes of Abiata and Shala, which form part of the national park. Identical twins these lakes are not: Shala’s 410-sq-km…

  • Hayzo

    Southern Ethiopia

    Hayzo is one of the few Southern Nations’ villages that has succeeded in turning the influx of tourists into a positive experience for all concerned. You…

  • Senkelle Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary

    Southern Ethiopia

    Senkelle was established to protect Ethiopia’s endemic Swayne’s hartebeest, and though the population of around 700 is a far cry from the huge herds of…

  • Mago National Park

    Southern Ethiopia

    Although by Ethiopian standards wildlife is fairly abundant in this dramatically beautiful 2162-sq-km park, there’s no chance of an East African-safari…

  • Crocodile Market

    Southern Ethiopia

    Where the Kulfo River empties into Lake Chamo you’ll find oodles of crocodiles sunning themselves. Both the size of the congregation and the size of the…

  • Rastafarian Community

    Southern Ethiopia

    Shashemene’s Rastafarian community, known locally as Jamaica, straddles the main road just north of town. It’s readily distinguished by its tri-coloured…

  • Lake Chew Bet

    Southern Ethiopia

    This bizarre crater lake is about 800m across and 600m below the crater rim – it is so dark in colour that it looks like an oil slick amid the ruddy rocks…

  • Konso Museum

    Southern Ethiopia

    High above the town, this venture provides a very brief introduction to Konso culture, but it’s the excellent collection of totemistic waga that makes it…

  • Nechisar National Park

    Southern Ethiopia

    Spanning the narrow yet mountainous ‘Bridge of God’ that separates Lakes Chamo and Abaya, Nechisar National Park ranks among the most scenic national…

  • Sodo Museum

    Southern Ethiopia

    If you’re not in a rush, visit this low-key museum. It has various objects on display in the big round hall – the metal and brick exterior covers a…

  • Melka Kunture

    Southern Ethiopia

    An hour from Addis, just over the Awash River, is the Melka Kunture prehistoric site, where many stone tools and fossils, dating back 1.8 million years,…

  • Tiya Stelae Field

    Southern Ethiopia

    The World Heritage–listed Tiya Stelae Field is an important stelae cluster at the south end of Tiya village, about 35km after the turn-off to Adadi. Tiya…

  • Forty Springs

    Southern Ethiopia

    Arba Minch, which is Amharic for ‘Forty Springs’, is named after the innumerable little springs that bubble up right at the base of the ridge below the…

  • Amora Gedel Park

    Southern Ethiopia

    These lovely grounds west of the fish market provide a green haven for nature lovers and are also popular with newlyweds. You'll see plenty of vervet and…

  • Tuto Fela

    Southern Ethiopia

    If you're serious about archaeology, this megalithic site is well worth the detour. It features 267 (or so they say) densely packed stelae that are…

  • Market

    Southern Ethiopia

    Jinka’s famous Saturday market, the largest in the region, sits 300m northwest of the roundabout. It attracts a variety of ethnic groups including Ari,…

  • Wondo Genet

    Southern Ethiopia

    The name of this hot springs resort 16km southeast of Shashemene translates as ‘Green Heaven’, which was more applicable before the hills were cleared of…

  • Adadi Maryam

    Southern Ethiopia

    Ethiopia’s southernmost rock-hewn church, Adadi Maryam is believed to date from the 12th or 13th century. It's fairly crude in comparison with its…

  • Tutiti

    Southern Ethiopia

    A definite must-see for history or archaeology buffs, the Tutiti stelae field comprises nearly 1500 tapered stones that are up to 7.5m tall (though few…

  • Banana Art Gallery

    Southern Ethiopia

    This place is the home-cum-workshop-cum-museum of Haile Selassie medals and memorabilia of Ras Hailu Tefari (Bandy), originally from St Vincent in the…

  • Dokatu Market

    Southern Ethiopia

    Perched on a ridge 2km west of Konso, this atmopheric market proffers grand views over the Rift Valley. For sale, you’ll find women’s traditional skirts,…

  • Lake Hare Sheitan

    Southern Ethiopia

    Lake Hare Sheitan (Devil’s Lake), about 9km south of Butajira, is an incredibly photogenic circular crater lake with the rim soaring perhaps 150m above…

  • Sidamo Monument

    Southern Ethiopia

    Awasa's most prominent landmark, this cylindrical monument lies on a large roundabout east of the main avenue. It is said to represent the leaf of the…

  • Konso Cultural Centre

    Southern Ethiopia

    Though more a local resource centre than tourist attraction, there’s a pottery display (ask staff to unlock the rooms) and occasional special exhibitions…

  • South-Omo Museum & Research Centre

    Southern Ethiopia

    Perched on a hill northeast of town (look for the green roof), this museum hosts an interesting exhibition on the region's cultures. There’s also a…

  • Arfaide

    Southern Ethiopia

    Usually a stop on the way to the Lower Omo Valley, Arfaide, 20km out of town along the Jinka road, has a large collection of old waga that were recovered…

  • Home of Chief Kalla Gezahegn

    Southern Ethiopia

    Chief Kalla Gezahegn is one of the nine Konso clan chiefs. A former civil engineer in Addis Ababa, he speaks fluent English and welcomes (paying) visitors…

  • Chencha Market

    Southern Ethiopia

    The village of Chencha, 8km further up the road from Hayzo, has a vibrant market on Tuesday and Saturday.

  • Museum

    Southern Ethiopia

    This modest museum has information on the natural history of Bale Mountains National Park.

  • Mosque

    Southern Ethiopia

    Awasa's largest mosque and an important local landmark.

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