Shashemene

Shashemene Safari Trips & Tours

Take a break from a busy itinerary with a few days of R&R in Shashemene, a town surrounded by nature.

If you’ve found yourself madly rushing around Ethiopia, squeezing in all the sights, the unassuming Shashemene is a quaint spot for some downtime. The bubbling pools of Wondo Genet are ideal for getting a little taste of local life (and enjoying a good soak). The landscape has no shortage of pretty attractions either including Lake Langano, the most popular of the country’s Great Rift Valley lakes, so there are several sandy bays to throw down a beach towel. It’s safe to swim in (despite its unfortunate, rusty tinge!) and there are plenty of water-sports on offer too. Alongside the plentiful natural attractions, Shashemene has become known for their fascinating Rastafarian communities who live in the locally-coined Jamaica (or northern Shashemene). The landscape is also really rather wonderful and you’ll spot Colobus monkeys bouncing around the fig trees and a variety of birds, particularly in the East Langano Nature Reserve on the eastern edge. A tip from us? For ultimate peace and tranquillity, visit during the week to avoid the hip and trendy urbanites who often decamp to the shores for the weekend.