Spanning the narrow yet mountainous ‘Bridge of God’ that separates Lakes Chamo and Abaya, Nechisar National Park ranks among the most scenic national parks in East Africa. Although only 514 sq km, it contains diverse habitats ranging from wide-open savannah and acacia woodland to thick bush and sections of riparian forest. It’s the scenery that makes Nechisar special, but there’s still wildlife left, despite the government’s refusal to tackle the rampant land encroachment and poaching.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
9.03 MILES
The main wildlife-watching circuit crosses the Bridge of God to the park’s namesake savannah, but the road is so atrocious that many tour companies prefer…
12.18 MILES
Hayzo is one of the few Southern Nations’ villages that has succeeded in turning the influx of tourists into a positive experience for all concerned. You…
6.44 MILES
Where the Kulfo River empties into Lake Chamo you’ll find oodles of crocodiles sunning themselves. Both the size of the congregation and the size of the…
1.31 MILES
Arba Minch, which is Amharic for ‘Forty Springs’, is named after the innumerable little springs that bubble up right at the base of the ridge below the…
9.29 MILES
Divided by the lyrical ‘Bridge of God’ from Lake Chamo, beautiful Abaya is Ethiopia’s second-largest lake. Its peculiar reddish-brown waters are a result…
10.18 MILES
Lake Chamo supports a very large population of crocodiles and, unlike neighbouring Lake Abaya, the waters are not rusty in colour.
1.85 MILES
Walking between the masses of crocs in their concrete tanks at this government-run facility is more humdrum than it sounds, except during feeding, which…
15.75 MILES
The village of Chencha, 8km further up the road from Hayzo, has a vibrant market on Tuesday and Saturday.
Nearby Southern Ethiopia attractions
1.31 MILES
Arba Minch, which is Amharic for ‘Forty Springs’, is named after the innumerable little springs that bubble up right at the base of the ridge below the…
1.85 MILES
Walking between the masses of crocs in their concrete tanks at this government-run facility is more humdrum than it sounds, except during feeding, which…
6.44 MILES
Where the Kulfo River empties into Lake Chamo you’ll find oodles of crocodiles sunning themselves. Both the size of the congregation and the size of the…
9.03 MILES
The main wildlife-watching circuit crosses the Bridge of God to the park’s namesake savannah, but the road is so atrocious that many tour companies prefer…
9.29 MILES
Divided by the lyrical ‘Bridge of God’ from Lake Chamo, beautiful Abaya is Ethiopia’s second-largest lake. Its peculiar reddish-brown waters are a result…
10.18 MILES
Lake Chamo supports a very large population of crocodiles and, unlike neighbouring Lake Abaya, the waters are not rusty in colour.
12.18 MILES
Hayzo is one of the few Southern Nations’ villages that has succeeded in turning the influx of tourists into a positive experience for all concerned. You…
15.75 MILES
The village of Chencha, 8km further up the road from Hayzo, has a vibrant market on Tuesday and Saturday.