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Ethiopia’s Wonchi Crater Lake is one of the planet’s Best Tourism Village

 

ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 02, 2021 - The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) granted a total of 44 villages from 32 countries across five world regions as the Best Tourism Villages in 2021 including Ethiopia's Wonchi Crater Lake which is located in Oromia region.

The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative was launched to advance the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, along with their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, and their local values and activities, including local gastronomy.

According to UNWTO, the villages were evaluated by an independent Advisory Board based on a set of criteria covering nine areas:
  1. Cultural and Natural Resources
  2. Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources
  3. Economic Sustainability
  4. Social Sustainability
  5. Environmental Sustainability
  6. Tourism Potential and Development and Value Chain Integration
  7. Governance and Prioritization of Tourism
  8. Infrastructure and Connectivity
  9. Health, Safety and Security

All of the 44 chosen villages scored a total of 80 or more points or more out of a possible 100.

  Tourism as a driver of rural development and inclusion

“Tourism can be a driver of social cohesion and inclusion by promoting a fairer distribution of benefits throughout the territory and empowering local communities,” says UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “This initiative recognizes those villages committed to making tourism a strong driver of their development and wellbeing”.

The Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative includes three pillars: 

  1. The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’: Recognizes villages which are an outstanding example of a rural tourism destination with recognized cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products and lifestyle and have a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects - economic, social and environmental.
  2. The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ Upgrade Programme: The Upgrade programme will benefit a number of villages that do not fully meet the criteria to receive the recognition. These villages will receive support from UNWTO and its Partners in improving elements of the areas identified as gaps in the evaluation process.
  3. The ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ Network: The Network will provide a space for exchanging experiences and good practices, learnings, and opportunities. It will include representatives of the villages recognized as the ‘Best Tourism Village by UNWTO’ , the villages participating in the Upgrade Programme, as well as experts, public and private sector partners engaged in the promotion of tourism for rural development.

A total 174 villages were proposed by 75 UNWTO Member States (each Member State could present a maximum of three villages) for the 2021 pilot initiative. Among which 44 were recognized as Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO. Another 20 villages will enter the Upgrade Programme of the Initiative. All 64 villages enter to make part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network.
The next edition will open in February 2022.

On November 26, prior to Wonchi Crater Lake selection, Lelise Dhuga, Commissioner of Oromia Tourism Commission, received the Pan African Change Makers of 2021 Award receiving special recognition of Leadership Excellence in Public Service and Tourism Development at the Pan African Humanitarian and Investment Summit held in Turkey.


 

Visit Wonchi Crater Lake [www.wenchi-crater-lake.com]

Wonchi is a highland area which located in South West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State in or 155 km west of Addis Ababa. The area is known for its beautiful mountainous landscape, used partly as farmland and partly covered by natural forest.

An old monastery with a church is situated on one of the lake islands. Other attractions included the hot mineral springs, waterfalls and dramatic valleys around the lake.

The People

Approximately 2,400 Oromo people live around the crater and their language is Afaan Oromo. Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion and has a strong influence on social and economic life, with twelve days every month regarded as holidays. 

Most households rely on agriculture as their main source of income. Around their homes people cultivate enset (false banana) and vegetables. Visitors can savor the local foods on offer, especially honey, Enset-kolo, or local drinks like Arake and beer.

Trekking at Wonchi

According to the Wonchi Eco Tourism Association, there are five different trails for trekking available at Wonchi.

Fincha trail
4 km (approximately 1.5 hours)
Walking or horse riding starts at Kala - 3,300m above sea level - on the rim of the crater and takes you down to the Lake and the Harbor passing beautiful views and waterfalls along the way, from where you take a boat to the small island of Deber, visiting the monastery and Kirkos church. A further boat trip is recommended to the dramatic Emogil viewpoint, where you can observe the beauty of the lake. 

Immogil trail
6.3 km (approximately 3 hours)
This trail to the hot spring valley takes one and a half hours, and one can observe and see the crystal clear water lying in the deep Crater Lake. In addition to this there are beautiful aquatic and terrestrial birds and mammals to watch. 
 
Umbi trail
6 km (approximately 3.5 hours)
The Umbi trail passes through the Kigebi village and ends at the Umbi viewpoint, where you can familiarize yourself with the indigenous forest and alpine vegetation, Tilika valley, and the old watermills. 
 
Bagoba-Abagalalcha trail
16 km (approximately 5 hours)
The Bagoba-Abagalalcha trail it is the longest trail at Wenchi, taking you along the rim of the lake on horseback and down to the valley on foot, and including an adventurous round trip through the Dawala hot springs and waterfall. On this trail you will see old watermills and the uniquely shaped deep natural basin and circular slopes, which are covered with alpine vegetation and trees. 
 
Boat trail
1 km (approximately 35 mins) 
A local boatman will take you across the lake by boat to the small monastery island from where you can observe the beauty of the lake and the Kirkos church. A further trip by boat will take you to the dramatic Immogil viewpoint. A 3 hour round trip through the Dawala hot spring valley is recommended. 
 
Where to stay?
 
According to the Wonchi Eco Tourism Association, there are hotels in both Ambo and Weliso, two nearby towns from Wonchi. The association's partner hotel, Abebech Metaferia, is located in Ambo,one and a half hours drive to the lake, and provides lunches for trips to the lake. At Weliso town, 40 minutes drive to and from the lake, you will also find the Negash Lodge Hotel, formerly a royal residence during Emperor Haileselassie. Reservations are recommended. The association also advises visitors to bring their own tent and camp by the shore of the lake or in the forest.

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