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- Lake Abijatta — the flamingo carpets: A shallow soda lake that lights up with thousands of pink flamingos at low tide. It’s the classic birding image here — huge, noisy flocks, lots of wading birds and great close-up photo chances if you’re patient.
- Lake Shalla — deep crater lake and hot springs: A dramatic, deep-blue crater lake with steep rims and a few hot springs bubbling on the shore. It feels quieter and more rugged than Abijatta; there are sometimes small boat trips and excellent spots for a slow afternoon of watching light and reflections. (Personal favorite — the contrast of blue water and cliffs is hard to beat.)
- Birdwatching mosaic: Beyond flamingos you’ll see pelicans, cormorants, herons, storks, ibises and a riot of other waterbirds and waders. The diversity across the two
- Lake Abijatta — the flamingo carpets: A shallow soda lake that lights up with thousands of pink flamingos at low tide. It’s the classic birding image here — huge, noisy flocks, lots of wading birds and great close-up photo chances if you’re patient.
- Lake Shalla — deep crater lake and hot springs: A dramatic, deep-blue crater lake with steep rims and a few hot springs bubbling on the shore. It feels quieter and more rugged than Abijatta; there are sometimes small boat trips and excellent spots for a slow afternoon of watching light and reflections. (Personal favorite — the contrast of blue water and cliffs is hard to beat.)
- Birdwatching mosaic: Beyond flamingos you’ll see pelicans, cormorants, herons, storks, ibises and a riot of other waterbirds and waders. The diversity across the two lakes makes the park one of Ethiopia’s best quick birding stops.
- Salt flats and traditional salt harvesting: Around Lake Abijatta you’ll find white salt pans and local salt collectors at work. The patterns and textures are strangely beautiful — great for dramatic photos and for seeing a local livelihood up close.
- Rift Valley escarpment viewpoints and short hikes: A few easy trails and lookouts give sweeping views of the lakes sunk into the Rift Valley. Sunrise and sunset here throw incredible color across the water and the escarpment — perfect for short, satisfying hikes.
- Acacia woodland and small wildlife: The dry woodlands between the lakes host baboons, small antelopes and a variety of reptiles and insects. It’s not big-cat territory, but the quieter wildlife encounters are charming and easy to find on a slow walk.
- Golden-hour photography and reflections: Whether you’re into landscapes or birds, the low light around dawn and dusk turns the soda-lake surfaces into reflective canvases — flamingos, salt pans and cliffs all get an extra layer of drama at those times.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.