2-Days Lake Ziway and Lake Langano Nature and Culture Tour

This is 2 days nature and culture private tour from Addis Ababa. With this tour experience the cultural lifestyle of locals and explore the nature of the Rift Valley Lakes of Ethiopia. Discover the Abidjatta-Shalla Lakes National Park wildlife with a professional tour guide. Identify Ethiopian birds by walking by the Rift Valley LAke of Ziway.

Admire the superb view of the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley. Learn the history of erecting gravestones at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Steles of Tiya. Take time to swim, water sports, bird watching and sunset at Lake Langano. Feel like a local at a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony and admire the view of the scenic Lake Bishoftu.

Tour includes private vehicle equipped with air conditioning and seat belts, fuel (gasoline), professional knowledgeable tour guide, local family visits, bottled water and local snacks in the car, Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, hotel pickup and drop off.

Itinerary

Day 1: ADDIS ABABA – STELES OF TIYA – BUTAJIRA – LAKE ZIWAY – LAKE LANGANO

Stop At: Tiya World Heritage Site, Tiya Ethiopia
Meet your tour guide. Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Steles of Tiya. On the way to Tiya, stop at a couple of viewpoints to enjoy the great scenery of the Rift Valley and to cross the bridge of the Awash River by waking. At the Steles of Tiya, spend half an hour to visit 40 huge stone grave markers decorated with carvings and erected in the 14th Century AD in honor of local warriors.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Lake Ziway, Ziway Ethiopia
After lunch at Butajira, hear 80 km more to Lake Langano via Ziway. Around Ziway, visit the villages of the Oromo people, interact with locals and learn their cultural way of life.

Walk by the sides of Lake Ziway to spot a number of bird species including Great White Pelicans, Yellow Billed Storks, Marabou Storks, African Fish Eagles, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, etc

Finally, after tea break at Haile Resort Ziway, drive to Lake Langano for overnight.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Butajira, Butajira, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
On the way from the Steles of Tiya to Butajira, stop at viewpoints to enjoy great views of the Ethiopian part of the Great East African Rift Valley. You will also visit a local village of the Silte people for cultural experience and to learn how to bake Enjera or Injera (Ethiopian Bread).
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Langano, Langano, Oromiya Region
Take a walk by Lake Langano admiring the beautiful sunset, watching different birds and if interested, enjoy swimming.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: LAKE LANGANO – ABIDJATTA-SHALLA LAKES NP – LAKE BISHOFTU – ADDIS ABABA

Stop At: Abidjatta-Shalla National Park, Awasa Ethiopia
Enjoy swimming and water sports in the morning. And meet your guide at 10:00 AM to drive for 20 minutes to the Abidjatta-Shalla Lakes National Park to discover the wildlife including seeing warthogs, gazelle, black backed jackal, ostriches, baboons, etc

If you are visiting between September and December, you would see flocks of the migratory lesser and greater Flamingoes. Stop also at a natural hot springs locals use for health purposes and boil eggs/corn sometimes. The outlook to get the beautiful view of the twin lakes of Abidjatta and Shalla is worth stopping at.

Then, drive back to Addis Ababa on the new Express Toll Road with a stop at the manmade Lake of Koka to spot other bird species. Final stop would be at the Crater Lake of Bishoftu (Debre Ziet) for the wonderful view of the lake from the rim. Here, you will also attend a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony.

Finally, drive back to Addis Ababa.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Langano, Langano, Oromiya Region
In the morning, enjoy swimming in the fresh water Lake of Langano. Langano Lake is safe for swimming as it is free from Bilharziasis. Spot different birds like Sparrow Weaver, Giant Kingfisher, Stripped Kingfisher, Red-fronted Barbet, Great White Pelicans, etc, If interested, take a horseback ride and enjoy water sports on Lake Langano.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Bishoftu, Bishoftu, Oromiya Region
Appreciate the scenic beauty of Lake Bishoftu - one of the five crater lakes of around Bishoftu (Debre Ziet). Lake Bishoftu is the deepest lake in the vicinity and the second deepest lake in Ethiopia with 85 meters depth.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Mojo, Mojo, Oromiya Region
Stop at one of the villages of the Oromo people around Mojo town to have a deeper experience of the life styles of locals and to take part in a traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. As Ethiopia is the birth place of Coffee, it is a great experience to participate in a cultural tradition of the Coffee Ceremony.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.