Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Southern Ethiopia Highlights
Barter for an inscribed calabash at a tribal market in the Lower Omo Val-
ley (
Click here
)
Get lost in labyrinthine Konso villages (
Click here
)
Stand still so you don't frighten away an Ethiopian wolf in Bale Mountains
National Park (
Click here
)
Imagine yourself in a fairytale forest while horse trekking from Dodola (
Don't rock the boat as you approach the reptilian residents of Lake
Chamo's crocodile market (
Click here
)
See how the people of Dorze (
Click here
)
weave their houses
Marvel at the strength of the men who work the black ooze in the House of
Salt (
Click here
)
Getting There & Away
Ethiopian Airlines
(
www.flyethiopian.com
)
connects Addis Ababa with Arba Minch.
Overland, there are three routes from Addis Ababa into southern Ethiopia. The Hosaina
Road, the shortest route to the Lower Omo Valley; the Shashemene Road, which follows
the Rift Valley for its first half; and the newly paved Asela Road which takes you direct to
the Bale Mountains.
There are also direct links from the western towns of Jimma (to Sodo) and Welkite (to
Hosaina; another road to Butajira is under construction) and from Kenya via Moyale and
Omorate. There's public transport available along all routes except through Omorate.
Getting Around
All three routes into the south are almost completely paved (the pavement ends in Jinka)
and in generally good condition, as are the Butajira-Ziway, Shashemene-Sodo, and
