Chamo Lake
Chamo Lake
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
149 reviews
Excellent
61
Very good
61
Average
24
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Blue Sapphire Ethiopia Tours
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia519 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
Chamo lake is one of the most deepest lake in arbaminch and colorful and very good for you to have a boat trip with different kinds of birds around the lake. When you get there you can arrange boat trip just go to see us Asocatiotion next weekend.
Written March 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yihun S
Arba Minch, Ethiopia17 contributions
May 2018 • Business
boat trip to the lake is one of amazing experience i have had.In the the i got the chance see huge amounts of crocodiles and hippos fight each other. i hope i will comeback and enjoy there again.ended
Written July 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Celisjohn
Duffel, Belgium67 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
NIce organised tours, wich propably is included in your trip. Otherwise everyone can arrange it for you.
Written October 29, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shalvia
Warsaw, Poland70 contributions
Feb 2020
Nice relaxing trip, consider it as half day, on the way you could spot monkey. Be cautious, dony wash your hands in the lake, full of crocodiles,,,
Written June 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tarig K
Milton Keynes, UK30 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
This is an amazing lake if you like wildlife. There are lots of birds, hippos and crocodiles to see. The crocodile market is a must see, you will see dozens of crocodiles sunbathing in one location where you can get as close as a few meters.
Hippos are more difficult to spot.
Make sure you hire a safe boat and wear life jackets.
Hippos are more difficult to spot.
Make sure you hire a safe boat and wear life jackets.
Written August 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therapina
Limassol City, Cyprus613 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
Our boat trip on Lake Chamo to see the hippos and the crocodiles was a great diversion from our many hours of travelling on the road in the car. The driver picked up the boatman with his jerrycan of fuel in town and then off we went down the hill (with hornbills perched on the wall on the side of the road) to the National Park below. You motor out onto the lake, passing the beautiful pelicans, and soon see the hippos floating about, before reaching a spit of land on which the crocodiles laze. The beauty of this trip is that you see the animals in the wild and that's what makes it worthwhile rather than in some zoo-like attraction. It's also a haven for birds. We were there and back in under two hours. You now pay for entry to the park, the boatman and the ride as well as for parking which our driver wasn't accustomed to.
Written March 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Asamenew Shimeles
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia48 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
I founded, myself in the middle of giant crocodiles, but were at least 'harmless' for hours. We all enjoyed the trip - boat trip to the crocodile 'market', great white pelicans, hippos, and many others.
Written February 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Osman A
14 contributions
Oct 2015
Located 8kms South of Arbaminch, Chamo Lake is one of the 7 Rift Valley lakes in Ethiopia and one of the two lakes (the other being Abaya Lake) bordering Arbaminch town which is the navigable one for locals/tourist boat trip and fishing by the locals.
Pointers:
- The standard 2 - 2.5 hours boat trips for trips allows one to see the largest of Nile Crocodiles, Pelicans, Hippos
and a variety of bird-life as well. Also to be seen is what is usually referred to the 'Crocodile Market', not actually
a market but a shallow location by the North side of the lake where a crowd of Nile Crocodiles can be seen.
- Optional tour is also available where in addition to the above activities, one can have an extended boat trip to the
Northern shores of the lake where 1-2 hours walk in Nech Sar Park can be arranged with the boat operators'
association. This types of extended activities start off at 8:30am in the morning, ending at about 3:00pm. Lunch
boxes will have to be in hand for such long activities.
- Local tourism regulations require tourists to first pay Park Entrance fees as the Lake is considered as part of the
National Park. Payment location is in the headquarters of Nech Sar National Park, located roughly 2kms gravel
road inwards from Sikela section. Current rate is 90Birr per person.
- Once you have your Park payment done, you will have to go to one of the two local boat operators associations,
both of which are located by the second roundabout (at the exit point to Konso and the Lower Omo Valley).
Their pricing is defined by the group size, categorized as 1-5 / 6-10 / 10+ persons. A local guide will also be
required at the rate of 150Birr per group.
- Recommended boat trip time is in the mornings starting off from 8:00am. Afternoon boat trips usually encounter
waves on the lake, making it harder to access some locations.
Pointers:
- The standard 2 - 2.5 hours boat trips for trips allows one to see the largest of Nile Crocodiles, Pelicans, Hippos
and a variety of bird-life as well. Also to be seen is what is usually referred to the 'Crocodile Market', not actually
a market but a shallow location by the North side of the lake where a crowd of Nile Crocodiles can be seen.
- Optional tour is also available where in addition to the above activities, one can have an extended boat trip to the
Northern shores of the lake where 1-2 hours walk in Nech Sar Park can be arranged with the boat operators'
association. This types of extended activities start off at 8:30am in the morning, ending at about 3:00pm. Lunch
boxes will have to be in hand for such long activities.
- Local tourism regulations require tourists to first pay Park Entrance fees as the Lake is considered as part of the
National Park. Payment location is in the headquarters of Nech Sar National Park, located roughly 2kms gravel
road inwards from Sikela section. Current rate is 90Birr per person.
- Once you have your Park payment done, you will have to go to one of the two local boat operators associations,
both of which are located by the second roundabout (at the exit point to Konso and the Lower Omo Valley).
Their pricing is defined by the group size, categorized as 1-5 / 6-10 / 10+ persons. A local guide will also be
required at the rate of 150Birr per group.
- Recommended boat trip time is in the mornings starting off from 8:00am. Afternoon boat trips usually encounter
waves on the lake, making it harder to access some locations.
Written April 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
john h
Dublin, Ireland68 contributions
Mar 2016 • Family
The boat is fine. It is hot. The boatman is knowledgeable and it is safe. You do have lifebelts. Hippos impressive. Go beyond crocodile island and you will need armed security by law
Written March 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ocycleschick
Weedsport, NY1,274 contributions
Jan 2020
Treat yourself to a relaxing boat ride on Lake Chamo! We saw hippos, crocs, monitor lizards, monkeys and all sorts of birds! It was a great thing to do in the morning!
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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