Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting There & Around
Transport runs regularly to Shashemene (Birr28, 1½ hours), Butajira (Birr15, one hour)
and Addis Ababa (Birr46, three hours). For Lake Langano you may have to pay the full
Shashemene fare, even in a minibus. For Nazret, take a minibus to Mojo (Birr27, one
hour) first.
Shared
bajaj (auto-rickshaws)
run up and down the highway, but to the jetty you'll
have to charter for Birr10.
If you make arrangements the day before, you may be able to ride the early morning
boat that takes locals to Tullu Gudo, but for sure you won't pay the local price.
Lake Langano
Lake Langano resembles a giant puddle of milky English tea set against the blue curtain
of the Arsi Mountains. The water may be brown and unappealing, but it's one of the few
Ethiopian lakes to be declared bilharzia-free and thus safe for
swimming
. And, like all the
Rift Valley lakes, the
birdwatching
is good.
Our best advice: avoid the weekends, when every man and his ghetto blaster make the
180km trip from Addis Ababa.
Sleeping & Eating
Accommodation and dining options around Lake Langano are limited to large, expensive
lodges. The following rates are for weekdays (Sunday through Thursday); weekend prices
are up to 30% higher.
A new place is set to replace the old Bekele Mola Hotel, which had a great setting near
the entrance to Abiata-Shala Lakes National Park, but nobody there could give us any de-
tails.
Sabana Beach Resort $$$
(
LODGE
0461-191180;
www.sabanalangano.com
;
s/d incl breakfast US$59/71;
)
Occupying an elevated position with impressive views over the lake, Sabana sets the
standard for Langano. Unlike most places in Ethiopia, the quality of the workmanship
shows and the 25 cottages are as good as they are lovely. The pavilion-like restaurant has
picture windows and the landscaped gardens may provide the best birding on the western
