The Addis Ababa southern road leads you to Debre-Zeit, an exotic small town with spectacular crater lakes. Proceed to Lake Ziway,the first of the rift valley Lakes. Continue to Lake Langano for lunch. After lunch proceed to Lake Abijatta and Shala National Park for bird watching. Continuing your drive you'll arrive in Awassa where you will spend the night. Before starting your Journey back to Addis Ababa visit Lake Awassa and its fish market and observe different species of birds.

OMO, THE UNIQUE WILDERNESS
The Omo Valley is located in the remote south-west of Ethiopia. The area is rich in anthropological remains and archaeological findings. The Mago Park and the Omo National Park which are among the richest parks of the country are found in this region. The Omo valley is also home of mostly nomadic and semi-nomadic people like the Hamer, Borena, Nyangatom, Tsemay, Dasanech, Mursi and Karo who wander with their spears, head rests and cattle. There are more than a dozen different fascinating ethnic groups. Although most of them lead a simple pastoral life, they have rich traditions and colorful rituals. Their jewelry,
body paintings, scarification and hairstyles are unique and fascinating. Explore the wild South with one of our expedition tours.
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Bale
The Bale Mountains National Park is more than 4000 meters of an untouched beautiful world. This spectacular park is situated 400 kilometers from Addis Ababa; 150 Kilometers from Shashamane; 310 Kilometers from Nazareth; and 175 Kilometers from Awassa.

Bale Mountains National Park was created originally in 1971 as a protection to the then dwindling numbers of mountain Nyala.
It is 2470 square kilometers of alpine plateau, forest and woodland, and boasts the highest all-weather road in Africa, going over 4000 meters. The highest peak in southern Ethiopia, Tullu Deemtu at 4377 meters, is within the park.

There is a main road running through the length of the park, and a few other tracks. A most enjoyable and peaceful way to see the area is on horseback. Local ponies and saddles may be hired either for day trips around Dinsho or for more ambitious camping trips up in the mountains.

The highland plateaux is home to many endemic species. Bale Mountains National Park harbours sixteen of Ethiopia's 25 endemic bird species. There are over 200 species recorded for the park so far.

Sof Omar

Sof Omar, a tiny Muslim village in Bale, is the site of an amazing complex of natural caves, cut by the Weyb River as it finds its way into the nearby mountains. The settlement, which is a religious site, is named after a local Sheikh.

Visitors to Sof Omar make their way, armed with torches and official underground map, far into the bowels of the earth. Besides a subterranean stream, one can see an extraordinary number of arched portals, high eroded ceilings and deep echoing chambers.

Some 35 percent of the Ethiopian population is Muslim. Nearly half the population is Christian, belonging to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose 4th Century beginnings came long before Europe accepted Christianity. A further small percentage of the population adheres to traditional and other beliefs, including Judaism.
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The Lion

The great lion - the black lion is a representation one finds on all the past and present currencies of Ethiopia. It has a historic representation. Like in the Lion of Judah, countless numbers of Ethiopian stamps carry the head of a lion at one corner.
The Arat Kilo Obelisk Statue of Freedom has the emblem of the Lion of Judah at the top of it. The Addis-Djibouti railway station head office has the emblem of the lion at the center of the square.
There is a famous stone figure of a lion in the centre of the town, near the national theater.

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