The seven lakes of the Rift Valley sit in a wide, fertile valley which runs between Addis Ababa and the Kenyan border. This is one of the best parts of Ethiopia for bird watching! Lakes Lagano, Abiata and Shala are perhaps the most popular of the seven - one lake is blue, one is silver and one is brown. Abiata and Shala form a designated national park, but this doesn't mean much in practice. Lake Abiata is shallow, with heaps of birds, while Lake Shala sits at the bottom of a 250m deep crater. Lagano is the only lake in Ethiopia which is bilharzia-free, so take a dip in it while you have the chance. You can also swim at the hot springs at Wondo Genet, south of the three lakes. Towards the Kenyan border, Lakes Abaya and Chamo are filled with wildlife, especially crocodiles.