Eastern Ethiopia - Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somaliland - page 358

Debre Zeyit

Sights

1 Hora Recreation Center A1

Sleeping

2 Asham Africa B3

3 Bishoftu Afaf Hotel A4

4 Dreamland Garden Restaurant B3

Eating

Dreamland Garden Restaurant (see 4)

5 Farmer's House A4

Restaurant (see 1)

Lake Hora
Less developed than Lake Bishoftu, though probably not for much longer, Lake Hora lies
just north of the town centre and has some outstanding birdlife . The Hora Recreation
Centre Offline map Google map (admission Birr4; 6am-7.30pm) can get a bit noisy at
weekends, but it's easy enough to escape the crowds: just follow the footpath around the
lake as it winds through the forested slopes of the crater. A circumnavigation of the lake
takes around 1½ hours. Theft is a real concern, so take a guide (price negotiable) from the
restaurant Offline map Google map (mains Birr20-35) . Or, savour the scenery from a row-
boat.
On the first Sunday following Meskel, the Oromo people celebrate Irecha here. Thanks
are given to Waka (One God) and good fortune sought for the upcoming planting season.
Devotees gather around an ancient fig tree to smear perfume, butter and katickala (a dis-
tilled alcohol) on the trunk and share ceremonial meals.

LAKE

Other Lakes
If you feel lake-addicted after Bishoftu and Hora, follow the road to the north past the De-
fence Engineering College and Agriculture Research Centre until you reach a fork marked
by a painted 'Galilee Center' sign. Continue straight to Lake Babogaya (formerly named

LAKE