Bishoftu Lakes and Day Trips from Addis Ababa

Before you plan: an armed conflict is under way in Ethiopia. Federal forces and Tigray-aligned groups began fighting again on 23 September 2026, Ethiopian Airlines stopped flying to Tigray, and drones were reported over military sites in Addis Ababa on 1 October. The British FCDO tells travellers not to go to Tigray, Amhara or Gambela, or to parts of Oromia, Afar and other regions. It gives no warning against Addis Ababa itself, but it flags a high terrorism threat, security checkpoints, and crime around Meskel Square, Bole and Entoto. The US rating is Level 3, Reconsider Travel, at the time of writing. Check gov.uk travel advice for Ethiopia and travel.state.gov before booking and again before departure. Only one day trip is covered below.

The choice of day trips from Addis Ababa is narrow at present. Much of the countryside around the capital is covered by FCDO warnings, so one corridor is the only day out recommended here, and a few heritage sites are mentioned with heavy caveats.

The one covered trip: Bishoftu

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to East Shewa, but it carves out the Addis-Adama Expressway, the land 10 kilometres either side of the Addis-Bishoftu stretch, and the A7 to Hawassa. Bishoftu, also known as Debre Zeit, lies on that exempted stretch. Sources put the distance at 48 to 62 kilometres, which is about 1 to 1.5 hours by car. An exemption is not a guarantee of safety, so read the FCDO regional risks page on the day you travel.

The town is ringed by crater lakes. Hora is the one with watersports, plenty of birds and a yearly festival. Bishoftu, Bishoftu Guda and Kuriftu are also named, and Chelekleka holds water only in some seasons. Kuriftu Resort & Spa Bishoftu stands by a lake and has a water park reported to have opened in February 2020. No day-pass price is published, so ask the resort and confirm the water park is open.

How to do it sensibly:

  • Go and return by the expressway and finish before dark.
  • Do not continue to Adama, Awash or the A1, where the FCDO flags attacks on vehicles.
  • Book a driver through your hotel, as the FCDO advises against blue-and-white taxis.
  • Tell your hotel your plan, and carry a charged phone with an offline map, because GPS can fail.

To compare guided options, search Bishoftu day trips on GetYourGuide .

Heritage sites to ask about first

A handful of places lie south and west of the city. Menagesha Suba forest is about 40 kilometres out and has been protected since the middle of the 15th century. Tiya, Adadi Mariam and Melka Kunture are roughly 50 to 85 kilometres south along the Butajira road, and Tiya is a UNESCO site. Wenchi crater lake lies some 155 kilometres to the west. None is on the FCDO lists, but the security picture around each is unclear, and some of those roads pass areas where the FCDO notes unrest. Check the advisory, talk to a licensed operator, and decide only then. No itinerary or booking link is given for these.

Places that are not day trips

Debre Libanos, the Blue Nile Falls and the towns of the north are not day trips, and the FCDO advises against travel to them.

Before you leave

Drink water and go slowly on your first day, since altitude affects some visitors. Birr trade at about 160 to 165 to the US dollar in October 2026, and small notes are handy. Protests and strikes can start without notice and cut mobile and internet service.

Read more: the multi-day trips page , or the family outings page .