Babogaya Lake Viewpoint Lodge

Mr. Yan and his staff were exceptional. The lodge is eco friendly and rejuvenating. I will be back again.

Fantastic location, great room with an amazing view. Jan was very accommodating and kind.

We had a wonderful stay in Babagoya Viewpoint Lodge. It was a lovely few days away from the hustle and bustle of Addis Ababa. The resort has fabulous animals around - Six large tortoises roam around, rabbits you can feed, and so much fascinating birdlife (Jan can tell you more about the birds around the lake). Our room was a sort of treehouse which was very fun and had a stunning view of the lake when you wake up in the morning. All the staff were extremely friendly and accommodating, and it was very easy for us to arrange trips nearby through the lodge - we went to Green Crater Lake by bajaj (tuk-tuk) with a driver from the lodge. The food was good, and the reception area was a great place to relax and take in the views. I would recommend Babagoya Viewpoint Lodge to anyone wanting something with more of a homemade feel than a hotel, hidden away in the trees around the beautiful Bishoftu Guda lake.

Staff are not helpful . Manager is not on station and he never pick up the phone .

The stay was not so good, as the facilities offered were not there, there was no wi fi, boats were broken. no bar etc. The price charged was also very high.

The setting is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is right on the lake and is completely unbelievable. The rooms themselves were interesting. It was mud hut which was actually quite quaint and kind of fun. The concern was the bathroom. It was not clean and did not work very well. There was no toilet paper and we had to ask several times for that. It showed internet access when we booked it but that was only available in the eating area, not in the rooms. Overall it was fun but be aware of what you are getting into, especially in regards to the bathroom facilities. They were also not going to let us leave because they said we had not paid for it, although we had pre-paid. We finally got that resolved but it took a few minutes.

While the accommodation is a little basic, the location and the helpfulness of the staff make this a wonderful place to stay near Addis Ababa. The price is very reasonable and the food freshly cooked, with a variety of Ethiopian and international dishes. Jan and his family go out of their way to make your stay memorable. I am a keen birdwatcher and Jan personally took me out at no cost, showing me the best sites so I could go again on my own later. Unless you are looking for luxury this is a real find.

This place was amazing. A delightful blend of Ethiopian culture and Mediterranean esthetic. The food on the menu was delicious every time, whether it was spaghetti or shiro. The hotel owner and his staff were always available to bring you to the market or recommend good sight-seeing. Waking up in the morning to a flock of cormorants roosting near your treehouse is once in a lifetime, and even the 106 steps down the terraced yard is worth it to take a canoe trip on the lake. This place is well worth the hour drive from addis and we will certainly come again when we are next in Ethiopia!

Nice, restful location. Birders paradise but the beds were so uncomfortable that did not sleep well

Fabulous weekend...so much fun staying in a treehouse room, kayaks and bikes available, delicious pancakes!!

Lovely location, flowers, birds, animals, beautiful views.

First things first, pay attention to the name of the property - it's a LODGE... not a RESORT. If you need a butler and 5-star amenities, then keep searching. But if you want to become one with nature, then this might be the place for you. Upon arrival, just walk in and pick the hut/room you want. There are two types; the ones near the entrance that have a shower & toilet... and the ones down the walkway closer to the lake, which don't have a toilet. Also, if you want to order a meal, they won't deliver it down by the lake. All beds have mosquito nets. Early one morning, I did take advantage of the kayaking opportunity. I paddled out to the middle of the lake and just took it all in... breathtaking views, various bird calls, and the peace & quiet that you will not find in Addis Ababa. The meals were delicious... and if you receive an invitation to partake in the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, then take it. I highly recommend the pizza (huge) and the fish. They will also escort you into town for a shopping excursion. Although Wi-Fi is advertised, connectivity is sporadic due to the hotpoint belonging to the resort across the lake. Also, one night I had to bathe via a bucket of warm water. No big deal... after all, it is a lodge. Overall, I highly recommend this place to anybody who wants to get away from it all, and doesn't mind "roughing it". The owners/staff were courteous & helpful. I only stayed for two nights... but three or four would be ideal as well.

Great place to stay 1 1/2 hrs outside Addis Ababa Quirky huts near water side, with exceptional views recommended.

We absolutely loved our stay here! Amazing view, gorgeous bungalows, really nice friendly owner and staff and delicious food.

Owner/host welcomed our arrival and made us feel like family. Treehouse was amazing during thunderstorms and the sounds of birds and nature. Food was superb throughout our visit. Staff seemed genuinely pleased to accommodate and, like the owner, went well out of their way to enhance our stay. In 24 hrs I felt I'd made lifelong friends, unlike any other stay during our 2 1/2 week trip. Highly recommended! Free use of kayaks and bicycles.

Very scenic setting and most important of all after the hustle and bustle of Addis very quiet. Basic rooms but for the price they are more than adequate. Some updating is required but the rooms are still acceptable. The food was also very nice and very reasonably priced.

Me and my wife had an awesome stay that unfortunately ended all too soon. We can strongly recommend this place to anyone. They even helped us to rent a motorbike from the town by coming with us and helping over the languagebarrier. BIG thanks to Sarah, Yeremiah and everyone else. We will definately come back !!

Hotel med fin beliggenhed, alle nødvendigheder er til rådighed på stedet, værelserne meget rustik udformning og øko-venligt simpelt indrettet. Flot beliggende med udsigt ned over søen. I regntiden kan det godt være en udfordring, da terrassen er eneste værested, med rindende vand fra taget. Køkkenet er udmærket, igen med det simple i fokus. Er der strømsvigt, og det er der tit, især i regntiden, skal man ikke have stramme tidsplaner, de holder ikke på hotellet i almindelighed, og i Ethiopien i særdeleshed.

Die Lodge liegt 60 km südlich von Addis Abbaba und ist mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln sehr gut erreichbar. Zu einem günstigen Tarif wird auch ein Abholservice von Addis (z.B. Flughafen) organisiert. Der Personal allgemein ist sehr hilfbereit und kompetent. Der Besitzer, ein Belgier gibt Auskunft über viele Destinationen in ganz Äthiopien und hilft bei der Reiseplanung. Die Anlage selbst ist unter ökologischen Gesichtspunkten mit einfachen und möglichst regional verfügbaren Mitteln in die Höhenstufen des Abhangs integriert. Die einzelnen Bungalows bieten durch Glasfronten ausgezeichnete Sicht auf den See und die Vogelwelt, bei manchen ist beim Ein- und Ausstieg Geschicklichkeit gefordert. Die Terrasse ist geschmackvoll mit regionalen und konfortablen Möbeln ausgestattet und bietet auch eine herrlichen Ausblick. An Freizeitangeboten sind Fahrräder, Kanus und ein Tischtennistisch verfügbar, das Wasser des Sees ist billharziosefrei.

piękne położenie nad jeziorem, miła obsługa i dobra kuchnia. Przyrodniczo bardzo fajnie - ale warunki dość proste:wspólna łazienka i WC dla części pomieszczeń motelowych, w pokojach z łazienką toalety spłukiwane z ręcznie napełnianego zbiornika. Fajnie, ale dla niewymagających.Zasadniczy problem to BRAK łączności z internetem. Dotyczy to nie tylko tego hotelu, ale całej okolicy. Gospodarze bardzo mili, atmosfera domowego luzu.