Aregash Lodge

Owned and run by a Greek-Ethiopian family who have had the land for over half a century, Aregash Lodge is ideal for those wanting to take a couple of days’ break during or after a busy tour. Aregash Lodge is next to a small forested gorge in a verdant, sub-tropical garden setting. Simply unwind and forget about the pressures of modern-day life: there is no television or radio, only the sights and sounds of nature.

10 comfortable Sidama-styled tukul rooms have been built using bamboo and thatch. Each has one or two bedrooms, an en-suite bathroom and a spacious sitting area. The food is excellent (extensive menu, large selection for vegetarians and those who require gluten-free meals) and the staff are very welcoming. The lodge is on a coffee estate, so guests can sample some of Ethiopia’s best coffee during a traditional coffee ceremony, which can at times be quite surreal as one of the staff calls wild hyenas to come up from the gorge and he feeds scraps of meat to them (you will be sure to hear the hyenas laughing at night).

The nearby forest is home to a vast array of flora and fauna. Aregash Lodge can arrange a variety of excursions including guided treks, horse riding, mountain biking and visits to sacred sites and historical caves.