The Blue Nile Falls was one of the first places we visited in Ethiopia once we had left the Capital Addis Ababa. We had taken the short flight to Bahir Dah which formed the first stop on our tour of the Northern Circuit of Ethiopia – (See the itinerary here).

Staying at the beautiful Tana Hotel on the banks of Lake Tana we made the short drive out ( approximately an hour) to the Falls for an afternoon excursion.

Lake Tana is reputed to be the source of the Blue Nile which flows some 800 Kms through Ethiopia and on until it reaches Khartoum where it joins with the White Nile (originating in Uganda) and together the two rivers combine to form the Nile which flows on through Sudan and Egypt.

The Blue Nile Falls are situated about 40Km downstream (South) of Lake Tana. In 2003 a Hydro-electric plant was constructed which has diminished the falls some what. However when we visited the falls at the end of the rainy season (June to September) and the rains had been good the falls where spectacular. Known Locally as Tis Issat or smoking waters, it lived up to its name and we weren’t disappointed.

After you purchase a ticket, it is a good walk through to the actual falls themselves. You first cross a beautiful stone bridge and there are various locals around some herding livestock to drink at the river, others selling curios and souvenirs. We had our own guide with us so we weren’t unduly bothered by the locals trying to “help” us and were able to make our way along the narrow well trodden track. When we approached the falls themselves we were lucky enough to have the view to ourselves.

It was an easy trip out from Bahir Dah and definitely well worth a visit. If you are heading to the Northern parts of Ethiopia definitely include it in your itinerary if you can.