Lake Langano & Abijatta-Shalla National Park

Lake Langano, merely a short three-hour drive south of Addis Ababa, emerges as an ideal birding spot for those with limited time.

Lake Langano, merely a short three-hour drive south of Addis Ababa, emerges as an ideal birding spot for those with limited time. Part of the Rift Valley Lakes cascading southward through Ethiopia into Kenya, it offers a glimpse of avian treasures like Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, White-rumped Babbler, Hemprich’s Hornbill, White-bellied Go-away-bird, and the Northern White-faced Owl, among others.

Adjacent to Lake Langano lies the remarkable Abijatta-Shalla National Park, a significant ornithological site boasting a diverse landscape of wetlands, scrublands, and woodlands that accommodate over 300 bird species. Lake Abijatta, within this park, hosts impressive congregations of Greater and Lesser Flamingos, their pink hues shimmering on the horizon. Additionally, witnessing Tawny Eagles preying on the flamingo population adds an exhilarating dimension to the birder’s experience, making it a truly thrilling spectacle.