Africa’s Great Rift Valley, besides the Highlands and the Danakil Depression, is the defining geographical feature of Ethiopia, the result of tectonic plate activity. It starts at the Red Sea, continues through the Danakil Depression, divides the Highlands, runs through Southern Ethiopia into Kenya and on south to Mozambique. Its two defining features within Ethiopia are its chain of eight huge lakes south of Addis Ababa, and the drinkable and ever-present wine produced from its fertile soils. The lakes were formed mainly during the latest Ice Age.

The main lakes, going N to S, are Ziway, Langano, Abijatta, Shalla, Hawassa, Abaya and Chamo – the last two the main features of the Nech Sar National Park. Only the briefest summary of the birdlife associated with the lakes is possible here – enough to say that for keen birdwatchers it’s reason enough to visit the country and see nothing else. Tens of thousands of flamingos can be seen at the right season on Abijatta and Shalla. On Ziway highlights include marabou stork and great white pelican plus at least another 50 species you could identify within a mere two hours – for example, jacanas, yellow bill stork and black crake. Together, Langan, Abijatta and Shalla have an exceptional range of 430 or more species.

For birdwatching here or elsewhere in Ethiopia the essential fieldguide is Birds of the Horn of Africa by Redman, Stevenson and Fanshaw (Princeton University Press and Christopher Helm). Comprehensive and well illustrated, it is a feat of ornithology publishing, but confines itself to identification only.