2 Days Trip to the Rift Valley Lakes of Ethiopia
Two Days/One Night private tour from Addis Ababa to the Rift Valley Lakes of Southern Ethiopia by drive with private vehicle
Enjoy visiting Ethiopia’s stunning Rift Valley in a private 2-day tour from Addis Ababa. Explore five scenic lakes, meet local communities, enjoy wildlife encounters, and experience authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This guided journey combines nature, culture, and history for travelers who want to see Ethiopia beyond the city.
☛ Explore Rift Valley's five lakes (south of Addis Ababa),
☛ Visit the Tiya Steles UNESCO Site,
☛ Discover wildlife of Abiyatta Shalla Lakes National Park,
☛ Meet with Jamaican Rastafarians at Shashemene,
☛ Experience what it's like to live at the Fish Market of Lake Awassa (Hawassa), and
☛ Enjoy private boat excursion at Ziway Lake
Everything with our 2-Days guided nature and culture tour from Addis Ababa
For booking or detailed information about this two days tour from Addis Ababa, click the image below and contact us on WhatsApp.
TOUR OVERVIEW
This tour is designed and operated by Muluken Girma, a licensed local tour guide with over 15 years of experience leading private cultural and nature tours across Ethiopia.
Duration – Two Days/One Night
Means of Transport – Private Vehicle and Boat on Lake Ziway
Total Distance Covered – 575 km (about 357 miles)
Places to visit and things to do in 2-days tour to Rift Valley
✿ Melka Kunture Prehistoric Site - Know more about ancient human beings. Learn how we the modern humans evolved. Visit four small tukul hut museums. See an open-air archaeological (excavation) site which is about 800,000 years old.
✿ UNESCO SITE of Steles of Tiya – learn the culture of erecting gravestones. Visit the cemetery of Tiya (12 – 14th Century AD). Speculate what the symbols and carvings on the steles signify.
✿ Local village visit and cultural experience – meet locals at their house. Learn (practice) how to bake Enjera (the Ethiopian pancake), and join them on a traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony.
✿ Stop at best outlooks to enjoy picturesque view of the Great East African Rift Valley. This two days tour to the Rift Valley includes viewing the scenery of the Rift Valley at selected viewpoints. You'll learn the geological backgrounds of the Rift Valley from your tour guide.
✿ Boat ride on Lake Ziway to spot a number of water birds and see families of hippos
✿ Fish Market of Lake Awassa – Experience how people of Awassa (Hawassa) have breakfast of fresh catch fish. Try tasty Fish soup, see Vervet Monkeys and Colobus Monkeys, and spot a number of birds
✿ Meet members of the Jamaican Rastafarian Community at Shashemene town. Better understand about their belief – Rastafarianism
✿ See five of the seven Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes
“Highly professional, comfortable and safe trip!”
Muluken organized a two-day trip to the Rift Valley for me in Ethiopia, seamlessly combining culture and nature. He was highly professional in all our interactions, and the booking process was straightforward.
His extensive knowledge and ability to handle any situation with ease and grace were truly impressive. Travelling alone, I felt completely comfortable and safe throughout the trip. I cannot recommend his services highly enough.
Review by Anca Egan on Google by Anca Egan on Nov 25, 2024
Road map of places to visit during the two days trip to Rift Valley Lakes with start and end at Addis Ababa
Day 1 – Addis Ababa – UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiya – Boat Trip on Ziway Lake – Shashemene – Awassa (Hawassa)
Day 2 - Awassa (Hawassa) – Abiyatta-Shalla Lakes National Park – Langano Lake – Ziway – Bishoftu (Debre Ziet) – Addis Ababa
Highlights of this 2-days tour from Addis Ababa
- Learn early human history at Melka Kunture Prehistoric Site
- Explore five Rift Valley lakes including Ziway and Langano
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiya
- Meet the Rastafarian community in Shashemene
- Discover wildlife in Abiyatta-Shalla National Park
- Experience local life at Lake Awassa Fish Market
With this two-day nature tour, see baboons, warthogs, gazelles, ostriches, hippos, and Vervet monkeys. Watch birds like Storks, Ibis, Plovers, Stilts, Fish Eagles, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, etc.
Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours creates the ETHIOpERIENCE you need to visit the rift valley of southern Ethiopia.
Day by Day Itinerary of the 2 Days Private Tour of Rift Valley from Addis Ababa
Day 1 – Addis Ababa – Steles of Tiya - Awassa (Hawassa)
Kick off the first day of your unforgettable two days tour from Addis Ababa as we head 275 km south into the beautiful Great East African Rift Valley. This private overnight excursion blends ancient history, rich culture, and stunning wildlife.
Key Highlights of Day 1
The UNESCO Steles of Tiya: Our first major stop on this 2 days excursion near Addis Ababa is the ancient grave site of Tiya. Here, you will see 40 magnificent, large stone monuments erected between the 12th and 14th centuries AD to honor local warriors.
Cultural Village Visits: Drive through the countryside and visit the traditional villages of the Silte and Gurage people. In a Gurage village, you will see how locals prepare *Kotcho*—a traditional bread made from the root of the Enset (False Banana) tree.
Rift Valley Views & Boat Trip: Stop at breathtaking viewpoints overlooking the Ethiopian section of the Great East African Rift Valley. Afterward, enjoy a private 1-hour boat trip on Lake Ziway to spot incredible water birds like the African Spoonbill, Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana, and Sacred Ibis.
Shashemene Rastafarian Community: Visit the unique Jamaican Rastafarian community at their church in Shashemene. Learn about their history and why they regard Emperor Haile Selassie I (born Ras Tafari) as their Messiah.
Evening & Overnight:
We finish the first day of our private tour from Addis Ababa in Awassa, one of Ethiopia's most vibrant regional capitals. Enjoy a spectacular lakeside sunset (weather permitting).
Overnight: Haile Resort Hotel, Awassa
Day 2 – Awassa – Shashemene – Abiyatta Shalla Lakes National Park – Addis Ababa
On the second day of your 2 days tour from Addis Ababa, we dive deeper into local wildlife and dramatic volcanic landscapes before heading back to the capital.
Key Highlights of the Second Day
Awassa Fish Market at Amora Gedel: Start your morning with a guided walk along the scenic shores of Lake Awassa. Visiting this bustling morning market is one of the top cultural experiences this two days tour from Addis Ababa offers. Meet locals from the Sidama tribe, watch water birds hunt for leftovers, and spot rare Black and White Colobus Monkeys in the trees.
Abiyatta-Shalla Lakes National Park: Head north for a 30-minute guided nature walk to see ostriches, gazelles, and warthogs. We will drive up to a stunning viewpoint to witness the magnificent twin lakes of Abiyatta and Shalla. Lake Shalla is the deepest lake in Ethiopia and a major breeding ground for seasonal flamingos.
Natural Hot Springs: Weather and road conditions permitting, we will visit local natural hot springs by Lake Shalla, famous for their healing mineral waters.
Lake Langano & Return Drive: Enjoy a relaxing lunch stop by the shores of Lake Langano. Afterward, we take the smooth, modern expressway for a comfortable drive back to Addis Ababa.
Tour Customization & Flexibility
Note: This private tour from Addis Ababa to the Rift Valley is fully adaptable. We can easily extend the duration or add extra stops to match your interests.
Want less driving? You can customize this trip to drive one way to Awassa and fly back to Addis Ababa on a quick Ethiopian Airlines domestic flight.
Read more about fascinating attractions to discover from Addis Ababa in two days
Please, contact us for prices, details, and booking!
Addis Ababa to Rift Valley Tour – Questions and Answers
What Is the Ethiopian Rift Valley and Why Should You Visit?
The Ethiopian Rift Valley is a stunning geological wonder that slices diagonally through Ethiopia. This low-lying strip of land separates the Western and Southeastern Highlands of Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Rift forms part of the colossal Great East African Rift Valley, a 6,000 km-long fracture in the Earth’s crust stretching from northern Syria to Mozambique. Simply, the Rift Valley is a giant crack in the Earth's surface. It represents the latest stage in the break-up of an ancient supercontinent called Gondwana.
The Ethiopian Rift Valley is probably the most exciting and significant geological feature in Ethiopia. Visiting the Rift Valley means stepping into a living story of Earth’s evolution. The Ethiopian Rift is also blessed with breathtaking landscapes, unique ecosystems, and vibrant cultural experiences awaiting every traveler.
Contact Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours to explore the Rift Valley in two days private tour from Addis Ababa.
What is the relationship between Rastafarians and Ethiopia?
Rastafarians revere the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I as a god. Why? Rastafarians considered the coronation of Haile Selassie I (formerly Ras Tafari) as Emperor of Ethiopia in 1931 as a fulfillment of Marcus Garvey’s 1920 prophecy.
“Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be your Redeemer” preached Garvey a decade before Emperor Haile Selassie I came to power. For Rastafarians, Shashemene is home - the Promised Land.
With this two days guided trip from Addis Ababa, visit a Rastafarian Community at Shashemene and learn their beliefs.
What is Fichee-Chambalaalla? What Can You Expect from the Sidama New Year Celebration in Hawassa?
If you’re planning to visit Awassa (Hawassa) in March, you might be fortunate enough to witness the Sidama people’s New Year celebration—Fichee-Chambalaalla.
The cultural festival of Fichee-Chambalaalla (ፊቼ ጫምባላላ) takes place in Hawassa (Awassa), the regional capital of the Sidama people in Ethiopia. During the event, you can savor buurisame, the traditional Sidama dish made from False Banana and milk. Participate in communal rites as elders offer blessings, admire vibrant traditional attire, and enjoy captivating performances of Sidama dances.
Fichee-Chambalaalla, a UNESCO an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is a unique and enriching experience. Contact Merit Tours to immerse yourself in this remarkable cultural event in the Rift Valley city of Hawassa.
NOTE: The annual date for Fichee-Chambalaalla is not fixed. Local experts specializing in celestial readings determine the most suitable day for the Sidama New Year Festival.
How to extend this 2-days trip? What other interesting sites (attractions) to visit in the Rift Valley?
If you have a day or two available to extend this rift valley tour of 2-days, consider the following places of visits.
Wondo Genet (Wendo Genet)
Wondo Genet, also known as ‘Wondo’ in short, is 18 km west of Shashemene. Wondo Genet is famous for its natural hot spring waters. The natural hot springs are popular by locals for its medicinal powers.
Wondo Genet is also a site of one of the few natural (indigenous) forests left in East Africa. This natural forest is best attraction for naturalists and bird watchers. You will spot a number of birds including mountain buzzards, spotted creeper, Abyssinian woodpecker, yellow fronted parrot, banded barbet, Ethiopian oriole, etc.
You can extend your two days tour to the rift-valley in visiting Wondo Genet. You’ll have a leisure time at Wondo Genet taking bath in the natural hot springs and swimming. The swimming pool of the Wabe Shebelle Resort is filled with waters from the natural thermal springs.
Take short walks in the compound of the Wabe Shebelle Resort compound to see Anubis Baboons, Colobus Monkeys (Black and White Monkeys) and Grivet Monkeys. The Wabe Shebelle Resort was founded by Emperor Haile Sellassie I as a royal family resort.
If you have time, visit a local house of Jamaican Rastafarians near Wondo Genet.
If you visited the Rift Valley of South Ethiopia with Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours, please click the following link to share your experience on TripAdvisor.
Or, share your Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours story on Trustpilot.
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