Lakeside City · Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
Hawassa
On the shore of Lake Hawassa, about 275 km south of Addis Ababa, Hawassa is a green, easy-going city and a natural stop between the capital and the south.
- Best Time
- Year-round
- Suggested Stay
- 1 to 2 days
- Altitude
- 1,708 m
- Region
- Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
Why We Go
A relaxed lakeside city in the Rift Valley, known for its morning fish market.
Hawassa lies on the eastern shore of Lake Hawassa, a freshwater lake in the Great Rift Valley. Its tree-lined avenues and lakeside promenade make it one of the most pleasant cities in southern Ethiopia.
The city is best known for its fish market, where fishermen bring in their catch at dawn while marabou storks wait for scraps. The lake is also home to hippos and a rich variety of water birds.
Hawassa is a convenient overnight stop on journeys between Addis Ababa, Arba Minch and the Omo Valley, and a base for the hot springs of Wondo Genet and the coffee lands of Sidama.
Highlights
- The early-morning fish market on the lakeshore
- Marabou storks, pelicans and kingfishers along the water
- Boat trips on Lake Hawassa to look for hippos
- Sunset views over the lake from Tabor Hill
Journeys Including Hawassa
Routes that pass through here
More in Southern Ethiopia & Omo Valley
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