2024 Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples` Region Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in September)

Yabello Borana Ethiopia

Yabello - Borana The Borana people are part of the Oromo which are the largest ethnic group of Ethiopia. The Borana are pastoralist who travel long distances with their cattle and camels in search for scarce food in an arid environment. Their appearance is much more 'African' in the way that the women are dressed in the colorful cloths found at many other areas in Africa. Yabello is the largest town in the Ethiopian Borana area, they are also found in northern Kenya. It is a good base to explore the area and the Saturday market is well worth a visit. The Borana Lodge, in a beautiful setting in the bush (acacia) savanna, is the best place to stay in the area. Additional accommodation is available in Yabello. El Sod Salt lake El Sod in southern EthiopiaThe crater lake El Sod is know as Chew Bet in Amharic language, which translates as 'salt house' For centuries Borana people harvest salt from the lake for human and animal consumption The latter distributed in a wide area including northern Kenya to keep the cattle healthy. The lake is situated in a beautiful setting and offers a short but strenuous hike along the same path the donkeys take to bring out the salt. Singing Wells Singing Well of the Borana people in southern EthiopiaThe Borana people live in a semi arid area where water is scarce. To supply their cattle (and themselves) with this precious liquid when there is no surface water, they dug wells by hand up to 30 meters deep. These wells made it possible for the Borana people to survive for centuries under harsh conditions. It is an impressive sight to see a well operating. Man and woman form an human chain down in the well passing buckets between them to bring up the water. Meanwhile there is a loud chorus of singing to keep the rhythm going. Animals waiting for their turn to drink. Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary The Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary was created to protect a small population of the endemic Swayne's hartebeest. Other species inhabiting the sanctuary, mostly covered by acacia savanna, are Burchell's zebra, greater and lesser kudu, gerenuk, Grant's gazelle and Guenther's dik-dik. The sanctuary is of particular interest for birders, two endemic species are limited to a small area around Yabello: Stresemann's bushcrow and the white-tailed swallow. #ethiopia #mamaru #mamaruendris #mamaruethiopiantours #yabelo #borona