Located approximately 150 kilometres west of Addis Ababa is Mount Venchi (3,387 metres), a perfect spot for two to three days of travel near Addis Ababa. (See: OUR TOURS, Short Trips)
Mount Venchi is an extinct volcano whose cone shaped crater is now a large, quiet, picturesque lake. Even the journey to the crater’s rim is worthwhile. Villages of clay huts line the gravel road and colourful fields stretch like rugs over the hillsides, even on the steepest slopes. Once at the crater itself, many tour options are available. A particularly beautiful route is one which leads through the village directly below the lake. A boat is available which leads to a small island with a church and further on to a peninsula, which stretches far into the lake. A walk then leads along the water’s edge through fertile green landscapes into a beautiful, idyllic valley. From here you can continue on horseback for the rest of the way. Large boulders and lush, green slopes border the edge of the valley where a small creek trickles along. Waterfalls and an old mill no longer in use are found along the way. The valley is also known for its hot springs which feed the soil and small water pools. You will often come across locals bathing in the water, which is thought to have healing properties. The end of the walk brings you to a steep ascent back to the crater’s rim, which is also possible to cross on horseback.
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Meals & Accommodation: Mount Venchi is on the gravel road that connects Ambo with Weliso. It is advised to stay in either Ambo or Weliso. The most comfortable option is the Negash Lodge in Weliso where traditional Tukults are built in the style of dwellings of various regions of Ethiopia. A good restaurant is also available, as well as several bars and a small swimming pool. In Ambo, a hotel of a lower standard is available that was once state-owned but was privatized a few years ago. An on-site restaurant is also available here and directly opposite the hotel is a swimming pool fed from the water of a hot spring.
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