Awasa

I dedicated a year to myself, traveling and exploring Ethiopia and Northeast India (the Seven Sisters). During the year, your tips and many others accompanied me in times of distress, and during hours with no source of information. With great appreciation, I wanted to share a few things I learned myself. Enjoy reading.

3 hours from Addis (you can book Selam Bus/ Sky Bus) and an hour and a half at most from Shashemene. We reached Awassa from Shashemene by taxi (around 40-50 Birr). You go to the central bus station of Shashemene and from there a taxi to Awassa. On the way back we took a Sky Bus to Addis Ababa (150 Birr). On the first day in Awassa we went to the Sky Bus office and booked a ticket for 3 days later.

Accommodation:

We stayed at Circle of Life hotel (cycle of life) for 150 Birr. The hotel is right on the lake, it has a really cool and inviting yard. There are private rooms with a small balcony and private shower and toilet (250 Birr) and there are other rooms with shared toilets and showers (150 Birr).

Culinary:

Recommended dish – simply fish. And everywhere. Fish street food, fish restaurants, fish tibs, fish in injera, fish in dabo.

At the fish market there is amazing fish soup!!! Go for it. On the other hand, the buna (coffee) we drank at the market won the title – the worst buna in Ethiopia (from there it only got better).

Recommended stay duration: 1 day.

Delicious fish soup :)

My experience:

After resting at Ras Lulumba in Shashemene, we arrived in Awassa swollen with expectations. Arrogant as we were, we got off the bus, and marched straight to the Sky Bus office to book a bus ticket for 3 days later, without knowing what there is to do in this town for 3 days. Until now, this confidence that tells us that 'everywhere everything works itself out' played in our favor, so we decided that 3 days in Awassa would be cool. Less cool. Between boredom and boredom, we realized that the solution is simply to get drunk.

Yes, there is a beautiful lake, giant birds, good food. All of this sums up to one day. Furthermore – you'll find that in Bahir Dar. In Bahir Dar there are additions of nightlife and attractions (waterfalls for example) around the city. In Awassa there is a lake. Sometimes also some nice people.

Because we arrived in the non-touristy season, we also didn't meet many people who would relieve our boredom as we expected.

In Ethiopia, alcohol is cheap. And you know what the result of boredom and alcohol is. The second day in Awassa was all beer. In the evening wine. And shots before bed. The third day was all hangover. And fish.

The fourth day was all a ride to Addis Ababa. We woke up in the morning (in Ethiopia they don't understand that as long as it's dark it's still night...) got on Sky Bus's magic bus and reached Addis. Another night at Wutma Hotel.

Okay, I was harsh on Awassa, I admit. It really is a beautiful city with cool people, a tourist city for a change and full of local tourism. I would have been happy had I reduced my Awassa experience to one day (in which I would include the beer, wine, and bed-time shots). If you don't intend to reach Bahir Dar, Awassa is a great substitute.