Blue Nile Falls

The Blue Nile Falls

Bahir Dar Tours

The perfect holiday in Bahir Dar

We'll take you to see exquisite artwork in island monasteries, marvel at the Blue Nile Falls and visit the vibrant market of this lakeside town.

The most Westerly of the towns on Ethiopia’s Historical Circuit, Bahir Dar acts as a natural start or end point to trips through the North of the country. It is one of the largest towns outside of Addis Ababa, acting as the capital of the Amhara Region and is home to one of the county’s most pre-eminent Universities. This all ties together to make it one of the more modern cities in Ethiopia, with excellent flight connections to Addis Ababa and the other towns frequently visited on an Ethiopia Historical Circuit holiday, as well as being a 4-hour gentle drive from Gondar. The town is found on the Southern shore of Lake Tana, so retains a cool and pleasant climate throughout the year.

From a historical perspective, the main attraction of visiting Bahir Dar is the chance to visit the Lake Tana island monasteries, 20 of which are dotted around the lake shore. Architecturally they don’t compare to the churches of Lalibela or castles of Gondar, but they are home to some beautiful murals and it is fascinating to see how much of a key role the monasteries play in the lives of the surrounding villages. Access to the monasteries is by boat, which is a lovely way to explore in itself and offers superb views across the lake back towards town.

Slightly further afield, around 40kms from Bahir Dar, are the Blue Nile Falls where the eponymous river crashes 45 metres over the precipice to create a beautiful spectacle when the river is flowing heavily. In recent years a hydroelectric programme has somewhat limited the amount of water that flows over the falls, but it remains an impressive sight. There is no set schedule as to when water is held back for the power station, so our advice is always to speak to your guide who will find out the daily conditions of the river and you can make a decision as to whether you visit or not.

As one of the more ‘major’ towns in Ethiopia, Bahir Dar is home to a better infrastructure than most and, as such, has more luxurious places to stay than other towns in the North of the country. This is a good place to spend a few additional days for visitors looking to enjoy a little rest and relaxation at the end of the trip. Kuriftu Resort & Spa is a particularly good choice with good food, a lovely swimming pool area overlooking the lake and an excellent spa with a varied range of treatments on offer.

Our favourite Bahir Dar hotels and lodges

Best Places to Stay in Bahir Dar

lodge
Kuriftu Resort And Spa Outdoor Dining

Kuriftu Resort and Spa

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Africa
Stylish lakeside lodge with spacious rooms and 4 poster beds
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Alistair

Alistair

Managing Director
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Elizabeth Spells

I have just returned from the most amazing trip to Tanzania, booked with Far & Wild. Everything went so smoothly from the first time I spoke with them. The planning was great, the itinerary was perfect for us, and the lodges were amazing. We spent 10 nights with an amazing guide, travelling through Northern Tanzania and even got to see the migration, which was a lifetime ambition of mine. This wasn't our first safari, so we were nervous as to how it would compare, but it was spot on. We're particularly grateful that she suggested a private 'bush lunch' in the Ngorongoro Crater as the public picnic spot was very busy! I will certainly be using them again to book our next trip....we're thinking of a relaxing beach stay next time to get over the excitement of safari!

July, 2024
Orla Rhodes

Just back from another amazing F&W organised trip to Namibia with the family (8 adults). Having been there before, Alistair tailored our trip to include our favourite locations and added a new one for us, Okonjima Plains camp, which we loved.The quality of accommodation and guiding, activities, food and drinks was exceptional throughout. Although not inexpensive I felt it was good value for the level of luxury we had. Kwessi Dunes, Shipwreck lodge, Ongava, Okonjima with pit stops Windhoek (city tour recommended ), Swakopmund (Sandwich Harbour and Walvis Bay tour) and Grootberg lodge (best sundowner drive )

June, 2024
Arnhild Schia

We had a wonderful trip to São Tomé and Príncipe - a small island nation in the Gulf of Guinea with paradise (almost empty) beaches and jungle forest. It was all well organised by Far and Wild and we stayed at Omali lodge at Sao Tome, then on Roca Sundy, and Sunday Praia at Principe - a great combination of different types of resorts/hotels. Omali is close to Sao Tome town with its colonial buildings, markets, hustle and bustle. Roca Sunday gives an old plantation experience and Sundy Praia a luxury beach experience. Very friendly (from time to time a bit slow) service, great fresh food, specifically if you like fish/seafood, vegetables and fruits (almost all sourced locally). Nice temperature between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius, nice swimming conditions. We really recommend this for those who want to experience a pristine destination with few other tourists and friendly and welcoming people. The islands also feel (and I believe are) very safe. At Principe, there are no dangerous animals, snakes or whatever, and it was great to be able to hike in the jungle without being very conscious of where to put your hands and feet. Go before everyone else does!

July, 2024
Henri Papenfus

Back home again, basking in the joys of a superb safari. Every aspect you arranged for us, including linking up with Mack Air and Wild Horizons locally to transport us. The choice of camps, Camp Hwange in Zimbabwe and Muchenenje Safari Lodge in Botswana, was spot on and exactly what we had hoped for - ideally situated, comfortable, in good surroundings, and with excellent wildlife on the doorstep and throughout the wider country. The service staff in each looked after us very well, catering was excellent, and the game guides were professional, knowledgeable and helpful. The weather was, as usual for that part of the world, also good at the time of our visit. Blue skies and stunning sunsets. Warm but not too hot during the day, although quite cold at sunrise when viewing game. The viewing started. You made us happy, and we recommend you to similar safari enthusiasts with confidence.

June, 2024
AC

Far and Wild went above and beyond to make sure my trip to Zambia was special. I would definitely recommend them and their services to anyone wanting to travel to Africa.

May, 2024
Tiny

Lovely holiday at the amazing Almanara on Galu beach, a beach like no other. Far and Wild excelled themselves from beginning to end of our holiday in beautiful Kenya.... What a country!,

April, 2024
Stodge

Wow! These guys are amazing. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Friendly AND efficient! Sorted out our trip (last minute and lots of different family member needs, sorry!) in record time and everything worked like clockwork. Trip of a lifetime to the Masai Mara. Will be back (and use F&W again!)!

March, 2024
Fiona C

It was a dreamy holiday on the Kenyan Coast - Far and Wild, their efficiency and professionalism allowed us to relax and be the happiest family alive !! We cannot fault them, their care and understanding of what we wanted from a holiday ensured we had the most memorable trip. We will be booking with them again for sure!

March, 2024

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