5 Days 4 Nights
Ethiopia
10
1
Attributes
3900Feet
tropical wet and dry
Overview
Overview
Arba Minch Crocodile Ranch and Abaya Lake
The Arba Minch Crocodile Ranch hostsnumerous young crocodiles. It is the only crocodile Ranch in Ethiopia and established in 1976 near Lake Abaya.
It is located 6 km out of town towards the lake village Lante. The 2 kmroad to the farm paves through thick scrub and forest which is an attraction itself as plentiful birds and monkeys keeps it lively.
It is the same road which leads to the shore of the largest Ethiopian Rift Valley Lake – Abaya (1,160km2). The lake is red hued due to high loads of suspended sediments.Its southern shore is part of the Nech Sar National park and it is an interesting place for bird watching or observing crocodiles and hippos in their natural habitat.
Lake Chamo and The Crocodile Market
It is one of the seven chained Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes. It is a sanctuary of the large and native to Africa – Nile Crocodile. Lake Chamo is where numerous crocodiles sunbath on its stretched reed-lined sand flats and misleadingly dubbed as the crocodile market.
Its northern shore lies in the Nech Sar National Park and accessible to visitors via tranquil and at the same time spine-tingling boat ride– sailing on a pristine lake between the walls of the Rift Valley, crocodiles and hippopotamus. it is inevitable not to be in awe of brave fishermen fishing on a small wooded raft. Lake Chamo and Lake Abaya have considerable fish population, thus Arba Minch is known for its Fish gastronomy.
The surrounding is teamed with birds – Great white pelican, Flamingo, African fish eagle, Goliath heron and African marsh harrier, to name a few. Lake Chamo’s stunning backdrops are braced by the Guge Mountain in its east and the Amaro Mountains in its west, that brands it as Photographer’s heaven.
NechSar Plains
It is the eastern part of the Nech Sar National Park. It isthe best area for inland game viewing. Its wideand seamlessly endless golden white grass is where the Burchell’s Zebra with an estimated population of 300 lives. It is where with silent observant Grant’s Gazelle and bit of luck Swayne’s hartebeest can be spotted.
Around the highland, acacia - related birds like Starling or Sparrow weavers can be seen. The plainsare popular forgrassland birds such as the secretary bird or the Abyssinian ground hornbill. Most likely it involves overnight camping on the plains to spot the endemic Nech Sar Nightjar.
The plains can be visited in two different ways. The first one is from the park entrance byroad. It requires sturdy 4WD and a good driver as the terrain which crosses Ye Egzer Dildy (the bridge of God) is rough. The second alternativeis by boat. It takes crossing the Chamo Lake and hiking in the park for about 2 hours. The warm weather condition and rough ground demands lots of water, sunscreen, hat and good hiking shoes.
Konso Village
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011, the Konso Cultural Landscape is named after its agriculturist inhabitants, who have molded their 230km2 homelands of semi-arid hills into productive agricultural land. A striking feature of Konso is the ancient hilltop paleta (terrace and walled villages) – strange hobbit-warrens towered over by generation poles felled from a sacred forest, and studded with curvaceous thatched community houses. The Konso are also renowned for their waka grave-markers, anthropomorphic hardwood statues carved to mimic the deceased, and for their communally constructed reservoirs.
A visit to Dorze village and night stay at Lake Langano
Before setting out to Addis Ababa, a drive to hilltop to Dorze Village is highlight of the trip. At 35 km northwest of Arbamench high up in the Guge Mountain found Dorze Village. The elevation gives a spectacular view over Arbamench and the two Rift Valley lakes. The Dorze people are well known for their huge hut, indigenous terracing and weaving. Particularly Chencha, 8 km northwest of Dorze, is renowned for their best
