If you're looking for an active day out, the Wenchi Crater Lake and its surroundings make an excellent choice. The extinct volcano, which reaches a height of 3386m, is famed for its beautiful scenery and there are plenty of options to explore by foot, boat and horse. In addition, the project is administered by the Wenchi Eco-Tourism Association, so you can be sure that local communities are benefiting from your visit.
- Admire the stunning scenery of this massive volcanic crater and lake
- Explore the many trails by foot or on horseback
- Discover hot springs, waterfalls, villages and watermills along the way
- Take a boat trip to the ancient island monastery of Wenchi Chirkos
The Wenchi Eco-Tourism Association (WETA) is a local, community-centred initiative which promotes sustainable ecotourism. Its mission is to improve the livelihoods of local people by promoting ecotourism development through the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources.
Approximately 2,400 Oromifa-speaking Oromo people live in the crater. Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion and has a strong influence on social and economic life. Most households rely on agriculture as their main source of income and cultivate enset (false banana) and vegetables. Visitors can savor the local foods on offer, especially honey, Enset-kolo, or local drinks like Arake and beer.
The area offers a range of different trekking opportunities, from 1-16km, which can be undertaken either by foot or on horseback, as well as the opportunity to take a boat trip on the lake.
Fincha trail: 4 km (approximately 1.5 hours)
Walking or horse riding starts at Kala – 3300m above sea level – on the rim of the crater and takes you down to the Lake and the Harbor, passing beautiful views and waterfalls along the way. From there, you take a boat to the small island of Deber, visiting the monastery and Kirkos church. A further boat trip is recommended to the dramatic Emogil viewpoint, where you can observe the beauty of the lake.
Immogil trail: 6.3 km (approximately 3 hours)
This trail to the hot spring valley gives excellent views of the crystal clear water lying in the deep Crater Lake. In addition, there are beautiful aquatic and terrestrial birds and mammals to watch.
Umbi trail: 6 km (approximately 3.5 hours)
The Umbi trail passes through the Kigebi village and ends at the Umbi viewpoint, where you can familiarise yourself with the indigenous forest and alpine vegetation, Tilika valley, and the old watermills.
Bagoba-Abagalalcha trail: 16 km (approximately 5 hours)
The Bagoba-Abagalalcha trail it is the longest trail at Wenchi, taking you along the rim of the lake on horseback and down to the valley on foot, and including an adventurous round trip through the Dawala hot springs and waterfall. On this trail you will see old watermills and the uniquely shaped deep natural basin and circular slopes, which are covered with alpine vegetation and trees.
Boat trail: 1 km (approximately 35 mins)
A local boatman will take you across the lake by boat to the small monastery island from where you can observe the beauty of the lake and the Kirkos church. A further trip by boat will take you to the dramatic Immogil viewpoint. A 3 hour round trip through the Dawala hot spring valley is recommended.
For full details including FAQs, see http://www.wenchi-crater-lake.com.
This is a day trip from Addis Ababa. Early in the morning, you will meet with your driver and guide either at our office in the Itegue Taitu Hotel (near the Piaza) or at your hotel, by prior arrangement. The journey to Wenchi takes around three hours, including stops along the way to enjoy the scenery. You'll then spend the day exploring lake and its surrounds by boat, foot, or on horseback, before returning to Addis Ababa in the late afternoon/evening.
Services Included
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An experienced professional English-speaking local guide
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Private vehicle transport from Addis Ababa and back
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Lunch
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Entrance fees, including horse-riding and boat fees
Services Not Included
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Tips for staff
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Miscellaneous expenses – alcoholic drinks, souvenirs etc.
Upcoming group tour dates:
If you are interested in this tour, we can arrange dates to suit you so please contact us.
Prices
A tour for 1 person costs 7,202 ETB (134 USD / 126 EUR / 111 GBP).
A tour for 2 people costs 4,147 ETB (77 USD / 73 EUR / 64 GBP) per person.
A tour for 3 or more people costs 3,128 ETB (58 USD / 55 EUR / 48 GBP) per person.
Please see the further details tab for information about services included.
A deposit is required upon booking. For more details, please see our FAQ page, or read our full terms and conditions.
