The Rift Valley lakes tour is one of Ethiopia's most rewarding and accessible wildlife itineraries. Stretching for over 600 kilometres through the country's heartland, the Ethiopian segment of the Great Rift Valley contains a chain of lakes among them Ziway, Langano, Abiata, Shalla, Awassa, Abijata, Chamo, and Turkana each with its own character, wildlife community, and visual atmosphere. Together they form one of Africa's most important bird migration corridors and a landscape of genuine natural splendour.
Lake Ziway: Waterbirds and Hippos
Lake Ziway is the northernmost of the main Rift Valley lakes and the one most easily combined with an Addis Ababa departure. The lake's shallow waters and fringing papyrus attract an impressive community of waterbirds African Fish Eagle, Great White Pelican, African Darter, and numerous heron and egret species. The islands in the lake hold significant colonies of pelicans and marabou stork. Hippos can be seen in the shallows and at the lake edge, particularly in the early morning.
Lakes Abiata and Shalla: The Flamingo Lakes
The Abiata Shalla Lakes National Park encompasses two very different water bodies side by side. Lake Abiata is a shallow, alkaline lake whose dense algal blooms attract vast flocks of Lesser Flamingos sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands creating one of Africa's great wildlife spectacles when conditions are right. Lake Shalla, immediately adjacent, is a deep, hot spring fed crater lake of extraordinary blue colour and geological drama. Pelican colonies nest on its islands.
- Best for flamingos: November through February, when flocks are at maximum concentration
- Hot springs: Natural hot springs at the lake shore are accessible and worth visiting
- Wildlife: Grant's Gazelle, Greater Kudu, and Beisa Oryx can be seen in the acacia scrub around the lakes
Lake Awassa: Ethiopia's Friendliest Fishery
Lake Awassa, adjacent to the city of the same name, offers a unique and intimate wildlife experience right on the edge of an urban area. The fish market at Awassa is one of the most extraordinary in Africa Marabou Storks, Fish Eagles, Hammerkops, and Pied Kingfishers compete with the fishermen for the daily catch, converging to dramatic effect within metres of the market stalls. A morning at the fish market followed by a boat trip on the lake is one of the most memorable wildlife experiences in the Rift Valley.
Lake Chamo: Crocodiles and the "Marine Monster"
In the far south, near the town of Arba Minch, Lake Chamo is famous for one of Africa's largest Nile crocodile populations. The aptly named "Crocodile Market" a sandbank near the northern shore where dozens of crocodiles bask together is reached by boat and offers spectacular photography opportunities. Hippos are also plentiful in the southern part of the lake, and African Fish Eagles call constantly from the lakeside trees.
The Rift Valley lakes combine naturally with the Omo Valley and the Bale Mountains in a comprehensive southern Ethiopia tour that can be tailored from 7 to 14 days depending on your interests. For visitors interested primarily in wildlife, a focused Rift Valley circuit starting from Addis Ababa is also possible in 4 to 5 days. Contact our team at Yama Ethiopia Tours to design your ideal Rift Valley lakes itinerary.
Spread the story