Ethiopia > On the way to Lake Langano

"How was your night?" asks the waitress behind the breakfast buffet. I am warmly welcomed in the restaurant. I order an omelet and take a seat on the outdoor terrace. From here, I have a beautiful view of the nature park and the two lakes around Arba Minch. It almost feels as if I’m already on my way home today. Of course, that’s not the case. Today, I’m traveling to Lake Langano, one of the lakes in the Rift Valley south of Addis Ababa. I will stay at the lake for two nights—a place to simply do nothing at all or to enjoy Lake Langano. To get to Lake Langano, I take the same road back as far as Awasa.

Ethiopia - The street scene in the town of Sodo

Along the way, I pause briefly in Sodo. I skip the coffee and instead take half an hour to walk into the little town. I pass by small shops. A blacksmith is busy making jewelry over a fire. I see several modern clothing stores. I try to buy a bottle of Coke, but several stalls don’t sell it. When I finally find a place that does, the deposit for the bottle turns out to be more expensive than the Coke itself. I drink it on the spot. By bus, I continue on towards Shashemene. This town lies at the crossroads of major roads. Before heading north from here, I stop for lunch. It’s almost two o’clock. While I wait for my soup with salad, dark clouds gather. I quickly move to a table inside. Outside, a heavy downpour bursts loose. When I drive on toward Lake Langano, I see large puddles everywhere on the road. The huge amount of water cannot be drained away. After about an hour of driving, Jonas takes the turnoff to the Langano Vacation Club resort. The first impression is good: a nice central area with a restaurant, bar, shops, a swimming pool, and a view of Lake Langano. But when I reach my cabin, it’s disappointing. The small, musty room looks neglected. I get the impression I am the first guest this season. The expectation that this would be the best accommodation of the trip isn’t being met. The cabin in Arba Minch was far better. Still, it’s nice to sit at the bar by the pool and order a beer.