Suppose you a high profile hostage worth of a million dollars in ransom. Your captors, who barged into your office and took you into their SUV before you blink your eyes with the agility of US Navy Seals, are driving you to this place with your eyes shrouded and your mouth gagged. Soon after you reached there, they would remove all the covering and blockages on you, and voila!
If you have not been to this place before, you would surely think you are hundreds of miles away from Addis in the middle of secret location extremely wild, on a fringe of a sea, where the calls of the wild are loud and clear. But, the reality is you are only 250 kilometers away at an exotic location southeast of the diplomatic capital of Africa, Addis Ababa. In addition to its short distance relative to wild nature, the place is only 3kms off the main asphalt road. The place is Langano.
The following impression of a European tourist who was the first time visitor to the place seems to share the point of the aforementioned narrative on Langano: “Considering Ethiopia is landlocked, having beach resorts at first glance may seem a bit odd. I really cannot praise enough this place,
the best accommodations I ever had in rural Ethiopia. The view of the “light brown” lake situated in southern central Ethiopia is phenomenal. Beautiful place to sit down and relax. A unique place of tranquility not that far from the capital, and a great place for bird watching as well.
There are several lodges with nicely
furnished bedrooms and squeaky clean bathrooms, and all towels provided.
Restaurants are very attractive and provide a great variety of western and
Ethiopian dishes. The lake area is surrounded by native trees and plants and
hundreds of birds. A highly recommended place for tourists who wish to
experience Ethiopia to the fullest. I would like to come again,” he said
Likewise, an old friend of mine, a pro-pen pusher has confided to me once saying: “whenever I feel drained out or my wings of imagination are limp and could not take me high enough, Langano is the place I would rush to. Whenever I go there, I enjoy everything it offers as if it would be my last time to do so.”
Langano is located on the East Shoa zone border to the neighboring Arsi zone, in Oromia State. It is situated roughly in the midway between the two major towns in the area, Zeway, and Hawassa. Zeway to Langano is about 40km and Bulbula is the last small town before reaching Langano. You will pass Bulbula and drive about 10km before leaving the main asphalt road and turn left [If coming from Addis direction] onto a 3 km dirt road that stretches up to your destination-Langano.
Langano is one of a series of eight major crater lakes scattered along the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The Rift Valley is a site of numerous natural hot springs & other water bodies whose chemical contents are highly valued for their therapeutic purposes. Langano is arguably the most popular Rift Valley Lake in Ethiopia. Unlike most of the Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes which are not fully exploited for touristic purposes, Langano is the most developed of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley lakes in touristic terms, largely because the unique nature of the lake waters which is soft brown colored seen in stark contrast against the blue backdrop of the Arsi Mountains soaring 4,000 metres high. The mineral-rich soil at the bottom of the lake is responsible for the copper color of Langano and fueled a belief that the water has special healing properties.
Although Lake Langano has such m i s t a k e n l y unappealing rusty tinge, it is one of the few African lakes to be declared b i l h a r z i a – f r e e and thus safe for swimming. This is because of the specific chemical composition and character of the water. The lake’s shores are lined with more than half a dozen resorts and eco-friendly Lodges that are well attended by Addis Ababa weekender crowds as well as international visitors seeking a rustic getaway or a wildlife fix. Thus the best time to visit Langano is during the weekdays, when its shores prove more tranquil and offer good bird watching and undisturbed and relaxed swimming.
As with much of the Rift Valley lakes, Langano is a great place of interest to bird enthusiasts as several bird species make their homes there. It is a place good for nature lovers as well as sports-persons and sun worshippers. Here you can water ski and sail, swim or bask in the blazing sun on the sloping sandy beach. On the western shores of Langano, the lakeside beaches are marginally better than the eastern ones.
Bordering the eastern shore of Lake Langano is East Langano Nature Reserve, a beautiful lakeside forest and home to a variety of birds and mammals, including warthogs, baboons, and the occasional hippo? The area is a delight to explore on foot or horseback.
The forest comprises mainly podo carpus and wild fig trees, full of Colobus Monkeys and over 300 species of birds, 7 of which are endemic to Ethiopia. Langano is also a destination for those interested in hiking as the lake is surrounded by mountains. Although not plentiful, Langano has enough fish resources. There are specific spots around the lake where one can fish and enjoy a beautiful view at the same time. Moreover, Langano is also the obvious base from which to explore the nearby Abijata-Shala Lakes National Park.
Here are the few words of an American tourist who shared his feeling about his recent visit to Ethiopian tourist spots including Langano: “Go to Kenya, Tanzania, if you want to follow forest paths furrowed deep by the feet of previous visitors. But Ethiopia, in every respect, remains that rare thing, a territory of diverse and little-seen wonders.”
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition 1 December 2019
BY SOLOMON WASSIHUN
