Halala Kella Eco Lodge

Those paved paths, edged with natural stone and local grass, wind through grounds that are still being developed. The whole place felt clean and uncluttered, with vines, bushes and flowers adding to it. No nearby traffic interrupts the quiet, just birds calling out. We came by the route from Finfinne through Wolaita Sodo and crossed the lake by motorboat. The resort is only one kilometer from the opposite shore. You can also get there from Finfinne by way of Jimma and Chida town. It’s about 500 km southwest of the capital. The lodge sits high in a green forest above the artificial lake formed by the Gibe III Hydroelectric Dam reservoir. Hills roll around it, and the views from the highest point stretch across the lush landscape. From our villa we could see the valley and faraway mountains. There are benches and chairs behind some rooms where you can sit outside among the trees and flowers, especially lovely at night. Halala Kella is part of the 'Dine for Ethiopia' initiative to encourage greenery and tourism across the country. Its name comes from the Dawuro kings who ruled from the 16th to 18th centuries. They built walls and dug ditches for defense, known as the great walls of Dawuro or kati halala keela. The resort has two presidential suites, King Abba Jiffar and King Halala, which are cozy and unusual, and share a lovely swimming pool. There are also 18 villas, each with a private veranda. Rooms have en-suite facilities and complimentary toiletries, LCD flat-screen TVs, tea and coffee facilities, fans, and good linen and towels. Deluxe Twin/Large Double rooms have garden views, a seating area, digital safe and mini-fridge, and can be set up with two singles or combined into a large double bed. Each villa has a Google Voice Assistant (Nest Hub) for voice-controlled help. We found three restaurants, Sun Set, Main, and Sun Rise, along with a convention center, museum, gazebo garden, amphitheater, meeting hall and plenty of outdoor seating. The restaurants serve local and international food. Staff were polite and friendly, and the manager was willing to arrange a dish even if it wasn't on the menu. There are gyms, spas, pools, cycling options and playground equipment too. It's a striking destination in the Dawuro Zone of Ethiopia's South West Regional State.