Sodere Hot Springs

Sodere sits on a bend of the Awash in the Rift valley lowlands, where hot mineral water rises and has been developed since the imperial period into a resort of swimming pools, private baths and a hotel under mature acacia, fig and palm. It is a domestic destination rather than an international one: families come out from Adama and Addis Ababa for the day, and the pools are busy at weekends and public holidays. Vervet monkeys and baboons move through the grounds and along the river, and crocodiles live in the Awash below, which is why swimming is confined to the pools. The infrastructure dates largely from the 1960s and 1970s and shows it. It is a straightforward stop on the road southeast.

What you actually see

• Thermal pools - hot mineral water in open and private baths.
• River setting - the Awash running below the shaded grounds.
• Monkeys and baboons - troops moving through the resort trees.
• Mature shade trees - acacia, fig and palm over the pools.

When to go

October to March for comfortable weather; the Rift lowlands are hot year round and severe from March to May. Weekends and holidays bring heavy crowds; weekdays are quiet.

Honest expectations

Facilities are dated and maintenance is uneven. Pools get very busy and water clarity varies. Do not swim in the river: crocodiles are present. Monkeys steal food and belongings. The resort is functional rather than attractive.

Nearby

Adama lies northwest; Awash National Park is east.