The best hotels Ethiopia

A lodge attracts many birdwatchers who come to observe the wide variety of birds on the Didessa River where it is located. The eponymous nature reserve (despite the hotel's name) is actually located 100 km south of Nekemt, and covers 1,300 ^km2. A protected forest, also crossed by the Didessa River, rich in wildlife (elephants, buffalo, hippos, baboons and gazelles). Visit the reserve from the lodge. Possibility of camping.

One of the chicest Lewi hotels in Awassa. It offers luxurious rooms with all mod cons, decorated in a kitschy style but with a private terrace facing the lake, and air-conditioning in the more expensive rooms. The main driveway leading to the lake crosses a beautiful exotic garden where monkeys come to play. There are also bungalows isolated in the vegetation. The area is popular with wealthy Ethiopian families, who often come here to celebrate weddings. Large swimming pool, sauna and spa (extra charge), bar and restaurant. Boat excursions, Wifi.

Located next to Mountain View, this red-brick lodge offers a dozen fresh, spacious and bright rooms. Extremely well-maintained, they are well-equipped (quality bedding, attractive decor, telephone, mini-fridge, hot water...) and some have a terrace with a panoramic view, which is their main asset. The owner is a former guide who knows the area inside out and can give you some tips on how to visit it. The restaurant is very good, and the staff quite professional. Wifi.

Jimma lacked good, up-to-date hotels to accommodate business travelers to the regions, but especially tourists wanting to visit this very remote part of Ethiopia, teeming with incredible tribes. Awetu Grand Hotel opened a few years ago, and is now one of the city's most comfortable hotels. Modern, clean and affordable. Rooms are pretty and cozy, with brand-new private bathrooms with hot water, some with balconies. We only regret the lack of air-conditioning in the heat. Bar and wi-fi.

Located in Kazanchis, this hotel in a large glass building impresses right from the entrance hall. It has a hundred or so really attractive rooms, some of them not very large, with beautiful mahogany furniture and very firm mattresses. Decorated with modern paintings, a real effort has been made in terms of style. Some are too dark, others have bright bay windows. Its strong point is the top-of-the-range service and spa (gym, hammam and sauna). Excellent buffet breakfast, Wi-Fi and airport shuttle.

The Konso Korebta Lodge is a hotel located in Konso. It is located on the Jinka road, close to the Konso Museum and Konso Hill. The hotel offers intermediate-style rooms and a restaurant. Activities for children are also available. Arba Mintch airport is around 80 km from the hotel. Popular nearby attractions include El Sod, just 6 minutes from the hotel, and the village of Mursi, 20 minutes away.

This is Lalibela's first true luxury hotel, whose main asset is an elegant swimming pool with a wooden deck (the only one in town) and a complete spa for relaxation (hammam, sauna and massages). A little out of the way, it guarantees unruffled calm and space, a guarantee of tranquillity. The bungalows, set on a hillside, guarantee privacy for everyone. Air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, king-size beds, waxed concrete floors, luxury bathrooms, sophisticated restaurant... Le Mezena is all about luxury at reasonable prices. Don't forget to book.

Now the city's newest hotel, having been inaugurated in 2018, Illu Star offers pretty, comfortable rooms with en suite bathrooms featuring hot water, TV, WiFi, comfortable bedding, all at really modest prices. No need to look elsewhere for better comfort or value for money. What's more, the hotel not only boasts a lively restaurant, but also a spa and gym. Unexpected and really nice for a stopover in this remote, little-visited region.

This hotel, housed in a recent pale-blue building, is located in the heart of the town of Nekemt. It's one of the best addresses in town, with a certain standing right from the entrance. The service is excellent, the staff friendly and the restaurant serves good Ethiopian cuisine, including typical Wallaga dishes. Coffee ceremony in the hotel's superb lobby. Rooms with private bathrooms and hot water are cosy, spotlessly clean and super-affordable for a European wallet. Great comfort.

A small, unpretentious, rustic address, with 15 mosquito-screened rooms furnished in the local style and arranged around a courtyard with mango trees. Cleanliness is good, and the shared or private bathrooms (depending on the room chosen) are very pleasant because they are fairly modern, even if they use cold water. Strengths: its excellent restaurant serving traditional Ethiopian cuisine, an amazing WiFi network, a friendly welcome and low prices compared with other, more expensive Jinka addresses that don't offer better services.

The latest local guesthouse in Jinka offers rooms that are fairly recent and therefore potentially better kept and cleaner than its neighbors. Locally furnished, they are relatively reasonable for the price and compared to what the town has to offer, with private bathroom and hot water, Wifi, what more could you ask for? A generator provides welcome permanent electricity (but avoid the room next door because of the noise). No restaurant, but it's central and close to good places to eat.

One of Shashemene's newest hotels. It offers low-cost rooms, furnished locally but with private bathrooms with hot water and acceptable comfort, especially for the price. Cleanliness is good, as is breakfast, but the beds are a little hard. The main attraction is the lovely garden, with tall palm trees, monkeys and birds as visitors. Loud music in the bar in the evening, frequented by locals, good atmosphere. Wifi.

This group of 8 community huts is run by a family in Rira (6 km before the lodge). Authentic, cut off from the rest of the world, these bamboo huts with 3 or 4 beds are very rudimentary, given the extreme living conditions in the mountains. There is a sanitary block with cold water, but no electricity. Cleanliness is questionable, as in all village huts, so take a comforter or meat bag if you have one. Meals on request in advance, for supplies. Breakfast with homemade bread and local honey.

We've been eagerly awaiting the construction of a new small, unpretentious hotel "à la Chinafrique", like those that exist all over the country. Now it's here. Siko Mendo is a very recent two-storey building, the best option in the region for staying at the foot of the Bale massif on a budget without sacrificing comfort. There are 30 modern, cosy rooms, relatively inexpensive compared with mountain lodges, with private bathrooms and hot water. There's also a good Ethiopian vegetarian restaurant on site.

Another good option is a very recent business-oriented hotel 300 m from the lake, offering spacious rooms at affordable prices, with attractive floors and very well equipped (WiFi, TV, telephone, private bathroom). The more expensive rooms have bay windows and balconies overlooking greenery and the lake. The hotel may be a little older than its rivals and not quite as close to the lake, but it's still an excellent option for busy weekends, for example.

This new building is the best hotel in town. It offers rooms at reasonable prices, given the services included (comfortable, spotless rooms, private bathroom with hot water, WiFi, breakfast...). The restaurant is also a great value. There's also a cash dispenser in the lobby. There's no point in trying the small guesthouses for a handful of birr for much more spartan comfort and cleanliness.

Haile Resort, which opened in 2018, is the large luxury hotel complex that has been missing from this town, a landmark stopover for tourists on the road to Konso and the Omo Valley. This 107-room complex unfolds in three wings above the town and facing the forest. Magnificent views from the rooms and the chic bar-restaurant with its tree-lined outdoor terrace. Swimming pool, spa with hammam, sauna, massage, rooms with state-of-the-art equipment, television, air conditioning, high-performance WiFi, family units or with lounge... It's all here.

This small local guesthouse is acceptable for small budgets, with rudimentary but adequate rooms for a one or two-night stay, satisfactory service and friendly staff. However, we recommend that you opt for the garden-side rooms, which are more pleasant than the noisy street-side ones. They are well equipped (bathroom with hot water, clean, comfortable bedding). Its main assets: a very pleasant restaurant with a garden terrace, and good Wifi.

Dessié's latest hotel is a six-storey building offering excellent value for money in terms of clean, modern rooms with TV, WiFi, desk and en-suite bathrooms with hot water. The hotel's glitz and glamour may make you smile, but the rooms are very comfortable and this is the best hotel in town. The restaurant on the second floor is also worth a visit, and although the service is sometimes sketchy, the food is very good. And the manager is always on hand.

This hotel, located on the north edge of town along the main road in a modern four-storey building, is a good alternative to Dessié's expensive hotels and rustic guesthouses, all at reasonable prices. Rooms are fairly modern, clean, comfortable and bright, with tiled floors, individual bathrooms with hot water, plasma-screen TV, WiFi and telephone. The on-site restaurant serves pizzas, burgers and classic Ethiopian dishes. Good reception and parking.