Southern Ethiopia Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Southern Ethiopia is the southern part of Ethiopia. Administratively, it comprising of most of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (also known simply as the SNNPR), as well as the southern parts of Oromia.

• 7.0538.4666671 Awasa – the capital of Sidama Region
• 6.0333337.552 Arba Minch
• 6.2537.5666673 Chencha
• 6.40833338.3083334 Dila
• 6.7538.4166675 Irgalem
• 5.34166737.4416676 Konso – a small town with ancient sculptures and fossil beds, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site
• 3.52739.0567 Moyale – a small town in the south on the Kenyan border
• 7.238.5833338 Shashemene - also known as Shashamane, known for its Rastafari community
• 7.06666737.1666679 Waka
• 6.85537.78083310 Wolaita Sodo - capital of South Ethiopia Regional State, on the north of Lake Abaya.
• 7.0166738.583311 Wondo Genet
• 8.01666738.33333312 Worabe
• 4.8833338.083313 Yabelo – a small town in the south
• 7.93333338.71666714 Ziway – a small city on the shores of a large lake

• 7.538.51 Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park
• 6.66666739.6666672 Bale Mountains National Park
• 4.9333336.86673 Chelbi Wildlife Reserve
• 4.56840.2554 Geraille National Park
• 5.37236.7255 Lower Valley of the Omo – a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its hominid fossils, a tourist attraction for its tribal cultures
• 5.6666736.16676 Mago National Park
• 6.41666737.2333337 Maze National Park
• 6.03333137.58338 Nech Sar National Park
• 635.8333339 Omo National Park
• 4.9166738.416710 Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary

The Ethiopian part of the Great Rift Valley cuts through Southern Ethiopia, creating a savannah landscape similar to what most people have in mind when they picture East Africa, but very different from most of Ethiopia. All along this valley are lakes (from north to south: Ziway, Langano, Abijatta, Shalla, Awasa, Abaya, Chamo) and national parks with wildlife.

To the east of the valley are the Bale Mountains, offering hiking opportunities less touristy than those at their northern equivalent.

Gamo-Gofa-Dawro is spoken in parts of Southern Ethiopia.

• 6.24738.2891 Gedeo Cultural Landscape. A UNESCO World Heritage Site south of the town of Dilla. It is composed of rock art sites and forests sacred to the Gedeo people. (updated Sep 2023)