A weekend in Hawassa

Hawassa

Evening arrival in Hawassa, capital of the Sidama region, located on the shores of Lake Awasa in the Great Rift Valley on the road connecting Addis Ababa and Nairobi in Kenya. Since its creation in 2020, Hawassa, seat of the regional government of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, offers an astonishing diversity of landscapes that herald those of the south of the country.

Overnight at Halie Resort

Hawassa

Activities around the charming city of Hawassa are legion. The international capital of Rastafarians, Shashemene, is just a stone’s throw away. Ethiopia represented the hope of Black Africa, as it was the only country that had not been colonized, the only independent African country. Rastafarianism appeared in Jamaica, and its objectives were the return of Black people to their native land in Africa, particularly Ethiopia. In 1930, Haile Selassie I was crowned and the ceremony was attended by representatives of European royal houses; in other words, he was ratified and recognized as king, in a context of colonialism and enslavement of Black peoples… Haile Selassie was called, before his coronation, Ras Tafari Mekonnen. It is from him that the Rastas took their name. Not far away, the hot springs of Wondo Genet, descending directly from the mountain, lost in lush vegetation, will give you a little taste of paradise. We will spend an afternoon of relaxation and leisure there. Back in Hawassa, an astonishing spectacle awaits you: the preparation for night fishing in the fish-rich waters of Lake Awasa.

Overnight at Halie Resort

Hawassa

In the early morning, you can see for yourself how successful this fishing was by going to the market set up on the shores of the lake when the fishermen return. However, know that you will not be the only ones eager for this kind of spectacle. Pelicans, marabou storks, herons, egrets, and all the winged and greedy creatures in the region gather on the banks every morning to scavenge the remains of this miraculous fishing.
The lakeside city of Hawassa, a pleasant resort town, offers walkers a considerable variety of walks around its lake or short cruises. It’s up to you to choose how you want to end this relaxing weekend.

Return in the afternoon to Addis Ababa