While Arba Minch is primarily known to tourists as the gateway to Omo Valley’s rural tribes, there is one other popular attraction here — a scenic cruise on Lake Chamo.

It’s located only about 20 minutes outside of Arba Minch and from what I gather there are a few ways to access the lake. Our Omo Valley driver Tezera takes us to the fancy Paradise Hotel, which runs its own boat cruises on Lake Chamo. The views from the hotel’s main balcony are outstanding — I could’ve just stayed here all morning.

We drive to the shores of Lake Chamo, already passing wildlife along the way:

This is a marabou stork, a HUGE bird — it grows up to five feet tall and weights 20 lbs, with the largest wingspan of any living bird. They are found throughout Africa.

Since we are in a national park again, we have to be accompanied by an armed guard. He escorts us to the boat.

It’s just me, Mike, our driver Tezera, a guide, and the escort — so it’s very low-key and a totally relaxing way to spend a morning.

We notice dots on the horizon, and as we get closer they come into focus — there are a handful of local fishermen in rudimentary watercraft which, to be honest, look like deathtraps. They’re constructed with wood and maybe some twine and nails. But these intrepid young men take to the lake in search of fish.

In fact, our guide purchases a fish for the Paradise Hotel restaurant! It’s as fresh as they come and extremely cheap.

Off he goes, back to fishing.

We make our way to an area nicknamed the Crocodile Market, a lounging area for dozens of these scary creatures. Sure enough, we spot some immediately:

There are also more marabou storks, happily swimming in peaceful coexistence with the crocs.

While we are most excited about the prospect of seeing hippos, they are quite shy this morning. We find a couple during our hour-long cruise, but they are almost entirely submerged, popping up just a couple of inches above the lake’s surface.

Another fisherman on the water:

We head back to shore. I’m a little disappointed about the lack of hippo sightings, but content with the knowledge that I’ve just begun my African travels and more opportunities lie ahead.

That wraps up my time in Ethiopia… I’ll be back tomorrow with a budget breakdown.