Sidama

Hawassa, also spelled Awassa, is the capital of Ethiopia's Sidama Region and a lively lakeside city on the shores of Lake Hawassa in the Great Rift Valley. It combines a relaxed regional atmosphere with the energy of a growing commercial and university town.

Founded as a small settlement in the 1950s and later shaped by Emperor Haile Selassie's development plans, Hawassa became the capital of the newly formed Sidama Region in 2020. Its landmarks include the striking St. Gabriel Church, Tabor Hill, and the shoreline promenade overlooking Lake Hawassa.

The lakefront is the city's natural focal point, with the Amora Gedel fish market offering a daily look at local fishing, birds, and the lake's resident hippos. Visitors also explore lakeside resorts, the nearby Hawassa University campus, and Sidama coffee country, which extends into the surrounding highlands.

Hawassa has grown into an important business and industrial centre, anchored by the Hawassa Industrial Park and its textile and garment manufacturing. The city hosts conferences, trade events, and university activities, while its cafés, fresh fish restaurants, and local markets reflect both Sidama and wider Ethiopian traditions.

For travellers, Hawassa works as both a relaxed stop between Addis Ababa and southern Ethiopia and a destination in its own right, offering easy access to lakeside scenery, regional coffee culture, and growing business opportunities.