Things to Do in Awasa

A large Rift Valley lake bordering the city centre. Fishermen mend nets on the shore and hippos surface near the promenade at dawn and dusk.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Walk the paved lakeside strip early morning before 7am to watch fish eagles hunt. Avoid swimming—bilharzia risk is real.

A quiet botanical garden with labelled indigenous trees, walking paths and a small pond. Used by biology students but open to the public.

🕐 Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm

💡 Wear sturdy shoes. The gravel paths get muddy after rain. Best in late afternoon when light filters through the canopy.

Natural thermal pools set in a forested hillside resort about 30 minutes by minibus. Managed by the agricultural college, safe and clean.

🕐 Daily 8am-6pm

💡 Entry costs 50 birr for locals, slightly more for foreigners. Take a towel and change of clothes. Minibuses from the main bus station cost 10 birr.

A sprawling daily market with spices, woven baskets, coffee beans and second-hand clothes. The spice section is a riot of colour and smells.

🕐 Daily 7am-6pm

💡 Try a cup of fresh coffee from a street vendor for 5 birr. Haggle gently—sellers are fair. Go before 10am to avoid crowds and heat.

A bustling open-air market where freshly caught tilapia and Nile perch are sold, cleaned and grilled. Watch the auction-style trading.

🕐 Daily 6am-noon, peak 7-9am

💡 Arrive by 8am for the catch. Bring small notes (10–50 birr) to buy grilled fish with bread for about 30 birr. Hold your camera discreetly.