The Rift Valley and the Cultural Mosaic of the South

Southern Ethiopia showcases a landscape of contrasting beauty, where misty highland meadows and dense escarpment forests transition into the dramatic kilometer-deep chasm of the Great Rift Valley. The acacia-draped valley floor features stunning lakes teeming with diverse birdlife. This ethnically diverse region includes communities in modern urban centers like Hawassa and Arba Minch, as well as the ancient walled settlements of the Konso Cultural Landscape, the culturally rich South Omo, the Borena people, and the Dorze villages, among others.