Babogaya Lake Viewpoint Lodge

The view and garden are lovely, and the shared space is really nice too. Big thanks to the manager. The staff seemed not to know how many of us were coming, though, so one bed wasn't made up and I had to ask for towels. We had trouble with the room on the veranda because its walls offered no soundproofing from the neighboring room. Breakfast was too small and basic for us. The coffee, steak, and pancake were good.

We had a great time here, and the place turned out even better than we expected. The views are fantastic, the rooms are great, and the lake is lovely for a swim. Everyone on staff was friendly, and the owner is a really nice guy. There are things they could improve, but the price is so low that I wouldn't expect too much. I'll definitely recommend it to friends.

A friend who'd worked in Ethiopia told me about this lodge. After a short conversation with Jan, the owner, I booked two nights. He also put me in touch with a great, friendly driver who got me from Addis reliably for a very reasonable price. The common area has a breathtaking view, and my room was spotless. The rooms and amenities matched what the website led me to expect, and the Wi-Fi worked well. It was easy to order drinks and food throughout the day. Jan and the rest of the staff were warm and helpful, which made the stay a pleasure. He can also help arrange trips to other lakes.

The lakefront spot has a lovely view of Mount Erer, and the staff took great care of us. The food choices are simple, but everything was very well prepared. With all the greenery, turtles, cats, rabbits, traditional wooden furniture, and house textiles, the lodge feels like a little paradise. The bathrooms are deliberately quite basic, so don't expect anything state of the art. If being close to the toilets matters more to you than the sensation of having your feet in the water, choose one of the upper rooms rather than a downhill cabin on stilts.