Lake Shala Lake

Lake Shala is a saline lake in the Ethiopian Rift Valley, located within Abijatta-Shalla National Park in Oromia. It is notable as part of a pair of lakes in the national park and for its geothermal shoreline features.

The lake’s saline waters and local hot springs create habitat used by waterbirds and other wildlife, and the park is managed for both conservation and tourism. Visitor access is organized from park facilities and often combined with trips to neighboring lakes within the park.

Historically the lake has been part of Rift Valley lake systems shaped by tectonic and volcanic activity. Its shoreline and springs reflect active geothermal influences in the region.

Lake Shala lies within the Rift Valley landscape of southern-central Ethiopia, surrounded by arid plains and volcanic landforms and accessed from regional towns via park roads.

• National park protection: Located within Abijatta-Shalla National Park, the lake is part of a protected complex of Rift Valley lakes with geothermal features and birdlife.
• Saline with geothermal activity: The lake is saline and contains hot springs and shoreline features that influence local ecology.

Drive: Access via road from Addis Ababa and the major Rift Valley towns; many tours combine Lake Shala with other nearby lakes in the central-southern Rift.

• Bring a guide to reach the most photogenic caldera shores-access tracks can be steep and fragile.
• Wear sturdy footwear; the lake's rim has hot, sulphurous springs in places and volcanic scoria underfoot.
• Combine Lake Shala with a visit to the Rift Valley lakes (Abijatta, Langano) for diverse landscapes.