Natural tourist attractions

• Blue Nile falls
It is locally known as "Tis Abay" meaning "water that smokes".
The Blue Nile falls is the most spectacular scene that the whole Nile system has to offer. The falls is 400 meters wide and sends water down more than 45 meters deep with a continuous spray of droplets that drench onlookers up to a kilometer away. The site is about 20kms away from Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara Regional State. It can be reached either by the local reed boats across the river or walking over the 17th century fortified stone bridge near the falls.
Ethiopian Airlines flies daily to Bahir Dar.

• Sof Omar Cave
Sof Omar is an extraordinarily breathtaking beauty found 540kms south-east of Addis Ababa in Bale Zone.
This spectacular place not far from the Bale Mountains, is also an important Islamic Shrine named after the saintly Sheik Sof Omar who took shelters in the cave centuries ago. In this dry and cool cavernous depth, nature has worked out a marvel of architecture. Soaring pillars of stone, which are twenty meters high and tall airy vaults standing on a balcony near the roof are some of the splendid features of the cave. And one could possibly enjoy another spectacular view of the Weib River rushing below the cave.
Activities are underway to register Sof Omare cave in the World Heritage list of the UNESCO.

Resort Areas

• Abaya and Chamo Lakes
These are the two southern most Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley lakes located near Arbaminch town, around which the Nechsar National Park and forty springs are found. Lake Abaya is the largest of all the Rift Valley Lakes. Lake Chamo, which is so marvelous, lies just south of Lake Abaya. Nech Sar National park lies between these two lakes. Both lakes accommodate several species of fish, including Nile perch, Tigerfish, hordes of hippoes and Nile crocodiles. A good place to view crocodiles is on the shore of Lake Chamo at a place popularly known as "Azzo gabaya", meaning crocodile market due to the presence of large crocodile population. Only few places on earth can match the allure of the setting.

• Bishangari Lodge
This is situated some 200kms south of Addis Ababa on the shore of Lake Langano. The lodge offers a range of eco tourism activities from horse riding to mountain biking, fishing and guide trekking into the forest. Nature lovers and hippo spotters will find this lodge to their likings.

• Lake Langano
It is an exotic resort located some 200kms south of Addis Ababa. It is one of the most popular beaches in the country. The outstretched lake view surrounded by a rocky promontory and a white beach, spotted with graceful acacia trees, adorn the place with serene beauty unmatched anywhere in the rift Valley. Lake Langano, being set against the undulating residual Arsi Mountains that rise to over 4000 Meters, breathtakingly attracts holiday makers to waterski, windsurf, sail, swim or bask in the blazing sun or stroll along the slopes of the sandy beaches.

• Sodere Resort Center
The resort, located some 120kms south of Addis Ababa, is a popular recreation center for most weekenders. It is an exotic center with standard swimming pools and hot spa bathing. Awash River, which flows through the resort area, is a domain of crocodiles, hippoes and several bird species. At Sodere, one could also climb up the hill nearby and enjoy seeing the spectacular land features of the countryside.

• Lake Tana
Lake Tana, a heart shaped inland water body of about 3600 sq.kms width. It lies to southwest of Africa's fourth highest peak, the Ras Dashen.
The lake consists of 30 islands of which 20 support several monasteries dating back to the 13th century. Some of these monasteries have ancient churches adorned with marvelous divine paintings and rich religious and royal bequests of unique interest.