Bishoftu (Debre Zeyit) - Day Trip » Venture Ethiopia - Tours and Travel

Bishoftu (Debre Zeyit) - Day Trip

Surrounded by volcanic crater lakes, Bishoftu is a lively town on the western edge of the Rift Valley.  With seven lakes in close proximity to the town, it certainly lives up to the meaning of its name: "place of water/lakes/springs". The best lake for birding is Lake Cheleleka - a shallow lake with a broad floodplain.

  • Admire the spectacular volcanic scenery of the crater lakes, formed when ground water came into contact with hot volcanic rock, creating pressurised steam and explosive results
  • Look out for birds including Knob-billed and Red-billed Ducks, Southern Pochard, African Pygmy-goose and White-backed Duck, as well as many migratory species
  • Explore the shores of Lake Hora on foot or by rowing boat

Bishoftu was a place close to the late Emperor Haile Selassie's heart.  He built a palace on the hill overlooking Lake Bishoftu, which he named "Fairfield" after the house where he lived in Bath, England, during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941.  It was reportedly his favourite retreat for weekends away from the hustle and bustle of Addis Ababa.

This is a day trip from Addis Ababa.  In the morning, you will meet with your driver and guide either at our office in the Itegue Taitu Hotel (Piassa) or at your hotel, by prior arrangement.  The journey to Bishoftu takes just over an hour, along the new expressway.  You'll then have the whole day to explore the town and lakes before returning to Addis Ababa in the late afternoon/evening.

Services Included

  • An experienced professional English-speaking local guide

  • Private vehicle transport from Addis Ababa and back

  • Lunch

  • Entrance fees

Services Not Included

  • Tips for staff

  • Miscellaneous expenses – alcoholic drinks, souvenirs etc.

Upcoming group tour dates:

If you are interested in this tour, we can arrange dates to suit you so please contact us.

 

Prices

A tour for 1 person costs 4,847 ETB (90 USD / 85 EUR / 75 GBP).

A tour for 2 people costs 2,540 ETB (47 USD / 44 EUR / 39 GBP) per person.

A tour for 3 or more people costs 1,771 ETB (33 USD / 31 EUR / 27 GBP) per person.

 

Please see the further details tab for information about services included.

A deposit is required upon booking.  For more details, please see our FAQ page, or read our full terms and conditions.