2 Days Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes Tour from Addis Ababa
Overview
Enjoy the freedom of stopping at different viewpoints to enjoy the dramatic view of the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley by drive with a comfortable air conditioned Toyota Minivan, and learn from your professional experienced English speaking tour guide of the Ethiopian birdlife at the Rift Valley Lake of Ziway.
Meet local families and partake a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, and see the bird life of the lakes and wildlife of the Abiyatta Shalla Lakes National Park.
The tour also includes visiting the unique and still operational rock carved church of Adadi Mariam, Tiya Steles (a cemetery dating back to 12th – 14th Century AD and UNESCO World Heritage Site), and walking by Lake Ziway to spot a number of lowland water birds. The tour includes a total of 580 km drive in two days.
On Thursdays or Sundays, experience local culture at the colorful weekly held cultural market at Adadi town.
Meet local families and partake a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, and see the bird life of the lakes and wildlife of the Abiyatta Shalla Lakes National Park.
The tour also includes visiting the unique and still operational rock carved church of Adadi Mariam, Tiya Steles (a cemetery dating back to 12th – 14th Century AD and UNESCO World Heritage Site), and walking by Lake Ziway to spot a number of lowland water birds. The tour includes a total of 580 km drive in two days.
On Thursdays or Sundays, experience local culture at the colorful weekly held cultural market at Adadi town.
Inclusions
- Comfortable insured private Toyota Corolla (1 or 2 people) or Minivan with AC and seat belts
- Professional and experienced English speaking tour guide
- Bottled water in the vehicle
- Local family visits, Cultural Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, onsite tour guides, and park scouts
- Fuel surcharge
- Entry/Admission - Fish Market at Awassa Lake
- Entry/Admission - Lake Ziway
What to expect
Itinerary
Day 1: Addis Ababa – Adadi Maryam - Tiya World Heritage Site – Lake Ziway – Awassa
Stop At: Adadi Maryam, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Visit the ancient and still in service church of Adadi Mariam which is chiseled out of a single piece of rock in the 13th Century AD. Adadi Mariam rock church is believed to have been founded by King Lalibela who carved 11 more beautiful and elaborate rock churches in the Northern Ethiopia.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tiya World Heritage Site, Tiya Ethiopia
Following will be visiting the Steles of Tiya located 45 km away from Adadi Mariam rock church. 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).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Butajira, Butajira, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Lake Ziway, Ziway Ethiopia
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.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Awassa Lake – Abidjatta Shalla Lakes National Park – Lake Ziway – Addis Ababa
Stop At: Fish Market at Awassa Lake, Awassa Lake Bole square, Awasa 1000 Ethiopia
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).
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Abidjatta-Shalla National Park, Awasa Ethiopia
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.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Shashamane, Ethiopia
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bishoftu, Bishoftu, Oromiya Region
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.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 1: Addis Ababa – Adadi Maryam - Tiya World Heritage Site – Lake Ziway – Awassa
Stop At: Adadi Maryam, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Visit the ancient and still in service church of Adadi Mariam which is chiseled out of a single piece of rock in the 13th Century AD. Adadi Mariam rock church is believed to have been founded by King Lalibela who carved 11 more beautiful and elaborate rock churches in the Northern Ethiopia.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tiya World Heritage Site, Tiya Ethiopia
Following will be visiting the Steles of Tiya located 45 km away from Adadi Mariam rock church. 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).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Butajira, Butajira, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Lake Ziway, Ziway Ethiopia
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.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Awassa Lake – Abidjatta Shalla Lakes National Park – Lake Ziway – Addis Ababa
Stop At: Fish Market at Awassa Lake, Awassa Lake Bole square, Awasa 1000 Ethiopia
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).
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Abidjatta-Shalla National Park, Awasa Ethiopia
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.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Shashamane, Ethiopia
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bishoftu, Bishoftu, Oromiya Region
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.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- June to Mid September is the rainy season where the tour runs. Please be prepared accordingly.
- When visiting the rock church of Adadi Mariam, women are expected to be fully dressed and cover hairs.
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- We can help visitors book accommodations, if needed. Please contact us!
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Face masks provided for travelers
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
- All tour guides and drivers providing this tour are vaccinated for COVID-19.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
caroborchex
October 2019
Fueron dos días intensos, visitando el valle del rift.! No solo disfrutamos del paisaje sino que compartimos momentos inolvidables con su gente en sus moradas, mercados etc. Paseo altamente recomendable!!!!
Fueron dos días intensos, visitando el valle del rift.! No solo disfrutamos del paisaje sino que compartimos momentos inolvidables con su gente en sus moradas, mercados etc. Paseo altamente recomendable!!!!brino a
November 2019
The Merit Ethiopian Experience 2 day tour was fantastic, I only had a few days free in Ethiopia and Muluken was able to provide an unforgettable personal experience. Everything was as promised and went smoothly. Muluken is very pleasant, well informed and was able to provide me with much knowledg...
The Merit Ethiopian Experience 2 day tour was fantastic, I only had a few days free in Ethiopia and Muluken was able to provide an unforgettable personal experience. Everything was as promised and went smoothly. Muluken is very pleasant, well informed and was able to provide me with much knowledge about Ethiopian culture, history, economics and politics. From a number of suggestions, I chose a 2 day tour to the Rift Valley which, on day 1, included visits to the rock church of Adadi Mariam, a local market, the world heritage Steles of Tiya, staying the night at the excellent Haile Resort on the shore of Lake Awassa. The return to Addis Ababa featured a visit to local fish market, Abiyatta Shalla national park and lake Ziway. For me the highlights were sampling the local food at popular local restaurants, stopping at the homes of villagers, including a wonderful Rastafari experience, meeting people and seeing how they live. Muluken is always ready to engage with people and include you in the conversation.This gave me great insight into modern day Ethiopia, the wonderful diverse cultures and the challenges the country faces. The Merit Ethiopian Experience are very adaptable and tailored the tour to my schedule. Muluken’s network of friendly guides make the experience so much more rewarding. Muluken and his team are to be recommended for the excellent, informative and exciting tours.