Crater lakes, lakeside resorts and the Irreecha festival, about an hour from Addis Ababa on the expressway.
12 answers
Bishoftu stands on the edge of the Rift Valley, where volcanic explosions left a cluster of craters that later filled with water. The town is known by two names: Bishoftu, and Debre Zeit, an Amharic name meaning 'Mount of Olives', after the hill east of Jerusalem's Old City. Because of its lakes it is often called the 'City of Seven Lakes'.
In the twentieth century Bishoftu became closely tied to the capital. The Ethiopian Air Force moved here in 1946, and Emperor Haile Selassie built a palace called Fairfield, named after his wartime home in Bath, England. From the mid-twentieth century the crater lakes became a favourite escape for people from Addis Ababa, and today hotels and resorts sit on several of the crater rims.
Bishoftu is also an important place in Oromo culture. Each year, on the first Sunday after Meskel, hundreds of thousands of people gather at Lake Hora, known as Hora Harsadi, for Irreecha, a thanksgiving held as the rainy season ends. People carry freshly cut grass and flowers, dip them in the water and give thanks to Waaqa (God) for the blessings of the past year.
The largest of the crater lakes and the site of the yearly Irreecha festival, with water sports and good birdwatching.
The crater lake closest to the main road, with steep green walls and a couple of resorts on its rim looking straight down to the water.
A quiet, tree-lined crater lake that is especially calm at dawn and dusk.
The smallest of the lakes, with resorts on its northern shore that offer spa treatments, boating and other water activities.
A shallow seasonal lake where lesser flamingos, pelicans and other waterbirds gather.
Yes. Bishoftu and Debre Zeit are two names for the same town, about 40 to 50 km south-east of Addis Ababa.
Its volcanic crater lakes, lakeside resorts and the Irreecha thanksgiving festival held each year at Lake Hora.
On the first Sunday after Meskel, which usually falls in early October, at the end of the rainy season.
Is it safeNot at the moment. Wenchi (also spelled Wonchi) Crater Lake is about 150–155 km west of Addis Ababa, roughly two and a half to three and a half hours by road via Ambo or Woliso. As of 23 October 2026, official travel advice warns against travel to West and South West Shewa, the zones both roads cross. For a crater lake you can visit now, Bishoftu's lakes are about an hour from Addis on the expressway.
Updated Nov 2026 · 6 min
How longAdama, formerly Nazret, is about 90 km south-east of central Addis Ababa by road. On the Addis–Adama toll expressway the drive takes about 1 hour 15 minutes in light traffic, longer when leaving Addis at busy times. It is a warm, busy Rift Valley city, and the Sodere hot springs lie about 25 km beyond it. As of 23 October 2026, UK advice exempts the expressway itself, but US advice says not to travel to Oromia outside Bishoftu and Bale Mountains National Park, which includes Adama and Sodere.
Updated Nov 2026 · 6 min
Bole airportBishoftu International Airport is being built at Abusera, near Bishoftu (Debre Zeit), about 40–45 km south-east of Addis Ababa. Construction formally began on 10 January 2026, and Ethiopian Airlines' target for the first phase, with two runways and room for 60 million passengers a year, is 2030. As of October 2026 it is a building site: flights to Addis Ababa still use Bole International Airport.
Updated Nov 2026 · 6 min
EthiopiaBetween 16 and about 22 bird species live only in Ethiopia, depending on the checklist: the African Bird Club lists 16, and the Avibase-based list using Clements taxonomy has 20. Around 25 to 30 more are near-endemics shared mainly with Eritrea, such as the wattled ibis and thick-billed raven. Many are easy to see around Addis Ababa, in the Bale Mountains and along the Rift Valley lakes, but a few, like Stresemann's bushcrow and Prince Ruspoli's turaco, live only in southern areas where travel isn't advised right now.
Updated Oct 2026 · 7 min
EthiopiaLake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia, at roughly 3,000–3,700 km² depending on the season and the source, and it is the source of the Blue Nile. The largest lake in the Rift Valley is Abaya, at about 1,160 km², followed by Ziway, Chamo, Shala, Langano, Abijatta and Hawassa. Tana is in Amhara, where travel isn't advised right now, but the Rift Valley lakes, Hawassa and Bishoftu's crater lakes can be visited by car from Addis Ababa.
Updated Oct 2026 · 7 min
Is it safeThe easiest day trip from Addis Ababa right now is Bishoftu (Debre Zeit), a crater-lake resort town roughly 50 km south-east on the Addis–Adama expressway. Inside the city, Entoto, the National Museum, Unity Park and Merkato make good full-day outings, and Hawassa, on a Rift Valley lake to the south, is an easy trip of a night or two by the main road. Some classic day trips, such as Debre Libanos in North Shewa, are in areas where official advice currently warns against travel (checked 10 October 2026).
Updated Oct 2026 · 6 min
EthiopiaWith 10 days in Ethiopia right now, combine Addis Ababa, Bishoftu's crater lakes, the Rift Valley lakes, Hawassa and Arba Minch, then fly back to Addis from Arba Minch. With two weeks, slow the pace and add the Bale Mountains or more time by the lakes. The north, including Lalibela, Gondar and the Simien Mountains, isn't on the list this autumn because official advice warns against all travel to Amhara and Tigray (checked 10 October 2026).
Updated Oct 2026 · 6 min
EthiopiaA good 7-day Ethiopia itinerary right now is three nights in Addis Ababa, a night at Bishoftu's crater lakes about 50 km away, then a drive south past Lakes Ziway and Langano to Hawassa for two nights, and back to Addis for your flight. The north, including Lalibela, isn't on the list this autumn: official advice warns against all travel to Amhara, and Lalibela flights were suspended on 24 September 2026.
Updated Oct 2026 · 7 min
EthiopiaYes, for couples who want culture, food, coffee and lakes rather than a beach. Right now the best mix is a few nights in Addis Ababa for music and dinners, a lakeside resort and spa at Bishoftu, a resort on Lake Hawassa, and for more time, a lodge above the lakes at Arba Minch. The historic north, including Lalibela, isn't advised right now (checked 29 September 2026), and couples should know public displays of affection draw attention and same-sex relationships are illegal.
Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min
What to expectYes, Ethiopia can be a rewarding family trip if you keep it to Addis Ababa and the lakes to the south and plan for health and long drives. Children tend to enjoy Unity Park's zoo and the Science Museum in Addis, the crater lakes and water park at Bishoftu, and the monkeys, hippos and fish market at Hawassa. See a travel clinic early: yellow fever vaccine is recommended from 9 months, and malaria tablets are advised for areas below 2,500 m.
Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min
How longBishoftu (Debre Zeit) is about 45–52 km by road from Addis Ababa, depending on where you start. The toll expressway takes around 45–50 minutes in light traffic, but leaving Addis at busy times can add a lot more. The old road through Akaki and Dukem is about the same distance but usually slower. The expressway is the quicker, more predictable choice for most trips.
Updated Sept 2026 · 5 min
EthiopiaBishoftu, the town once called Debre Zeit, is about 47 km south-east of Addis Ababa and is known for its volcanic crater lakes, including Hora, Bishoftu, Babogaya and Kuriftu, plus the seasonal Cheleklaka wetland. People come for lakeside lunches, birdwatching, short walks and resort weekends, and for Irreecha, the Oromo thanksgiving festival at Lake Hora, set for Sunday 4 October 2026. As of 28 September 2026 Bishoftu is an exception to the do-not-travel warnings for Oromia, and the expressway corridor from Addis to Bishoftu stays open.
Updated Sept 2026 · 6 min
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