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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bishoftu Crater Lakes: The Easiest Weekend Escape From Addis Ababa
Bishoftu's crater lakes are about 47 km from Addis Ababa. Which lake to see first, day trip or overnight, where to stay and what the travel advice says.
Bishoftu's crater lakes are one of the easiest escapes from Addis Ababa. The town sits about 47 km southeast of the capital, and on the Addis Ababa to Adama Expressway the drive takes about 45 minutes in free-flowing traffic, with most published guides allowing around an hour. That makes it a comfortable day trip or a one-night break.
For a first visit, start at Lake Hora. It is about 2 km from the town centre, it is the town's oldest known lake resort, with boats and good birdlife, and it is where Oromo families gather for Irreecha each year. If you have time for a second lake, walk the rim above Lake Bishoftu, the deepest of the group.
This guide covers how far each lake is, what you can do at each one, where to stay, and what the current UK travel advice says about the road.
How far Bishoftu is from Addis Ababa
The distance depends on where in Addis you start. Wikipedia gives Bishoftu as 47.9 km southeast of Addis Ababa, and Oromia Tourism, the regional government's tourism site, gives about 47 km. We checked two common start points on OpenStreetMap routing on 24 October 2026:
| From | Distance to central Bishoftu | Time in free-flowing traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Meskel Square, central Addis Ababa | 50 km | About 48 minutes |
| Bole International Airport area | 45 km | About 44 minutes |
Those times assume no traffic, which is rarely true leaving Addis at a busy hour. Budget an hour each way and treat anything faster as a bonus. The usual route is the Addis Ababa to Adama Expressway, which matters for the travel advice covered below.
Bishoftu was formerly called Debre Zeyit, and you will still see both names on maps, menus and bus boards. It sits at around 1,850 to 1,920 metres depending on the source. The town is also the main base of the Ethiopian Air Force.
Which lake to visit first
Lake Hora is the easiest first stop, and the one we would pick if you only have a morning.
- It is close: about 2 km from the town centre, according to Oromia Tourism.
- It has the most to do. Oromia Tourism describes it as the oldest lake resort in Bishoftu, known for water sports and scenery, with fishing and birdwatching.
- Its bird list is the longest of the in-town lakes: cormorants, ducks, geese, herons, kingfishers, darters and storks.
- Lake Hora, also written Hora Arsedi, Harsadi or Harsade, is one of the sacred lakes of Irreecha, the Oromo thanksgiving festival held at the start of October.
If you add a second lake, make it Lake Bishoftu, for the view rather than the shoreline. Its steep rocky walls drop to the water, and it reads as a crater in a way the gentler lakes do not.
The crater lakes at a glance
Bishoftu's lakes fill old volcanic craters in and around the town. Sources count them differently. Wikipedia lists five, including the seasonal Lake Cheleklaka. The Oromia Tourism describes seven, adding two outlying lakes. Local spellings vary too, so do not be surprised if a sign or map uses a different version of the name.
| Lake | Depth | What it is known for | Where it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Hora (Hora Arsedi) | 37 m maximum | Boats, water sports, birds, the Irreecha site | About 2 km from the town centre |
| Lake Bishoftu | 85 m maximum, probably the deepest of the group | Steep rocky walls, views from the rim | About 1 km south of the town centre, by our measurement |
| Lake Babogaya | Deeper than Hora, no figure given | Fishing for tilapia, ducks and geese | Northeast of Hora, on a rough, dusty road |
| Lake Kuriftu | No figure given | The Kuriftu resort | Close to Babogaya |
| Lake Cheleklaka | Seasonal | Aquatic birds | Not given in our sources |
| Lake Kilole | No figure given | Waterfowl, African fish eagles, cormorants, Egyptian geese | About 12 km northeast of town, the farthest |
| Lake Magarisa | No figure given | Quiet green water below the hills | About 9 km southwest of town, behind the Air Force base |
Depths and descriptions are from Oromia Tourism's crater lakes page, read on 24 October 2026. The page carries no publication date.
Lake Hora
The best all-rounder, with boats, water sports, fishing and the longest bird list of the in-town lakes. It is also a sacred site. If you visit around Irreecha, read our guide to attending Irreecha at Lake Hora first, because the lake belongs to the festival that day, not to sightseeing.
Lake Bishoftu
The deepest lake in the group, at 85 metres. The Oromia Tourism names the Bishoftu Afaf Hotel and Dream Land Resort as good viewing spots over the crater. Come here for the rim view and a coffee rather than for a walk along the water.
Lake Babogaya
Nearly the same size as Hora but much deeper. The approach road is rough and dusty, which keeps it quieter. Ducks and geese are common, and the lake holds tilapia.
Lake Kuriftu
Best known for the resort on its shore. Kuriftu Resorts and Spa, founded in 2002, has its main resort in Bishoftu, and a 72,000 square metre water park opened nearby in August 2019. If you want a resort stay with a lake view, this is the lake for it.
What to do at the lakes, and where to stay
Bishoftu works best as a slow day: a boat or a walk at one lake, lunch with a view at another, and coffee somewhere on a crater rim. The table sets out what each lake is set up for, based on the sources above.
| If you want | Go to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A boat on the water | Lake Hora | The oldest lakeside resort in town, with water sports |
| Birdwatching | Lake Hora, then Kilole if you have a full day | Kilole is about 12 km out on a harder road |
| A crater view | Lake Bishoftu | Rim viewpoints at the Bishoftu Afaf Hotel and Dream Land Resort |
| Fishing | Lake Hora or Lake Babogaya | Babogaya holds tilapia |
| A resort stay | Lake Kuriftu | Kuriftu Resorts and Spa, with a water park nearby |
| Quiet | Lake Babogaya or Lake Magarisa | Fewer visitors, rougher access |
We have not given room rates or entry fees, because we could not find a dated, published source for them. Ask the resort, or ask us to quote a stay as part of your trip.
Day trip or weekend
Bishoftu is close enough for a day trip. The reason to stay a night is the light, not the distance.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says: "Avoid driving after dark anywhere outside Addis Ababa." Bishoftu is outside Addis. On a day trip that means leaving the lakes in time to reach the city before dark, which cuts the afternoon short. Staying one night lets you see two or three lakes without watching the clock, and have the first hour at the water before day visitors arrive from the capital.
A simple overnight plan looks like this:
- Drive from Addis Ababa, arriving mid-morning.
- Spend the late morning at Lake Hora, by boat or on foot.
- Have lunch at a rim-side table above Lake Bishoftu.
- In the afternoon, check in at the resort on Lake Kuriftu, or stay in town above Lake Bishoftu.
- Next morning, take an early walk or visit a second lake, then head back to Addis Ababa well before dark.
What the UK travel advice says about Bishoftu
The FCDO updated its Ethiopia advice on 21 October 2026. It advises against all but essential travel to "all of East Shewa zone except the Addis Ababa to Adama Expressway and 10km either side of the expressway between Addis Ababa and Bishoftu and the Addis Ababa to Hawassa Expressway".
Bishoftu is in East Shewa zone, so the exception is what matters. We measured each of the main lakes against the expressway on OpenStreetMap on 24 October 2026. This is our measurement, not a statement by the FCDO.
| Lake | Distance to the nearest point of the expressway |
|---|---|
| Lake Kuriftu | 0.8 km |
| Lake Babogaya | 0.9 km |
| Lake Hora | 2.2 km |
| Lake Bishoftu | 3.8 km |
All four sit well inside the 10 km corridor. We have not measured the outlying lakes, Kilole and Magarisa, so check where they fall against the advice before you go.
Two other lines from the same advice are worth knowing for this trip. The FCDO notes "a number of recent kidnappings in Amhara and Oromia, especially within the Adama special zone south of Addis Ababa". Adama is the next city along the expressway beyond Bishoftu, so if you plan to continue there, read the full advice first. It also says "Fuel availability is currently limited across Ethiopia, with long queues and shortages at petrol stations reported nationwide."
Advice changes quickly. Read the FCDO Ethiopia travel advice on the day you travel, and check what your travel insurance covers.
Getting there: self-drive or with a driver
The route is short and mostly expressway, so this is one of the few trips out of Addis Ababa where self-drive is a reasonable choice for a confident driver. Our self-drive car rental starts from $50 per day, and Bishoftu is one of the paved routes the page names as a good fit. Every self-drive car is handed over with a full tank and returned full, which helps given the FCDO's note on fuel queues.
Two things to know before you take the wheel:
- Getting out of Addis is the hard part. The city traffic is heavier and less predictable than the expressway. Our guide to driving in Addis Ababa covers the roundabouts and the unwritten rules.
- Do not rely on GPS alone. The FCDO notes that "GPS signal is unreliable within Addis Ababa and nearby areas." Know your exit before you set off.
If you would rather watch the lakes than the road, a car with a driver starts from $60 per day, with an English-speaking driver included. It also means someone else is handling the timing of the drive back.
If Bishoftu leaves you wanting a bigger crater, Wonchi Crater Lake to the west of Addis has hiking, horseback riding and hot springs.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Bishoftu from Addis Ababa?
About 47 km southeast of the capital. From central Addis Ababa it is about 50 km by road and about 48 minutes in free-flowing traffic on OpenStreetMap routing. Allow an hour each way for real traffic.
Which Bishoftu crater lake is best for a first visit?
Lake Hora. It is about 2 km from the town centre, has boats, water sports and good birdlife, and is the site of the Irreecha festival. Add Lake Bishoftu for the crater view if you have time.
Can you visit the Bishoftu crater lakes as a day trip?
Yes. The drive is about an hour each way. The FCDO advises avoiding driving after dark anywhere outside Addis Ababa, so plan to leave the lakes in time to reach the city before dark, or stay one night.
What does the UK travel advice say about Bishoftu?
As of 21 October 2026, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to East Shewa zone, except the Addis Ababa to Adama Expressway and 10 km either side of it between Addis Ababa and Bishoftu. By our measurement, the four main lakes are between 0.8 and 3.8 km from the expressway. Check the current advice before you travel.
How deep is Lake Bishoftu?
85 metres at its deepest, according to Oromia Tourism, which makes it probably the deepest of the lakes around the town. Lake Hora reaches 37 metres.
Can I drive to Bishoftu myself?
Yes, if you are a confident driver. The usual route is the expressway. Our self-drive rental starts from $50 per day, and a car with a driver from $60 per day.
Plan your Bishoftu break
Bishoftu rewards a slow pace: one lake by boat, one from the rim, and enough time to drive back before dark. Tell us your dates, how many of you are travelling, and whether you want to drive yourself or be driven. You will have a reply within two hours and a detailed itinerary with a quote within 24 hours. Send us your plans, or go straight to self-drive or a car with a driver.
Feature photograph: Lake Bishoftu by Nina R from Africa, CC BY 2.0. Lake Hora photograph by mjr74, CC BY-SA 3.0.