Discover Sululta: Plains, Wetland and Birdlife

The Sululta Plains, a broad, flat valley, lie near the destination of Sululta and are almost entirely surrounded by mountains. The marshy area changes character with the seasons: during the rainy season, it has larger areas of open water; in the dry months, it becomes grazing land again. This transformation gives the surroundings a distinct seasonal character. If you are interested in wetlands, open landscapes and nature watching, the plains are a notable focus for planning your trip.

Landscape and Birdlife

The waterways also place the plains in a broader geographical context: small rivers from the Sululta Plains feed into the Muger, which flows northwest into the Abbay (Blue Nile). Thus, the landscape is shaped not only by the mountains and changing areas of open water, but also by the waterways that flow onward from the plains.

The birdlife offers specific seasonal points of reference. Between 35 and 850 individuals of Cyanochen cyanopterus have been recorded on the plains. As the plains dry out, especially between October and January, up to 120 Vanellus melanocephalus have been observed. Wattled Ibis, Blue-winged Goose, Yellow-billed Duck and Abyssinian Longclaw are also associated with the Sululta Plains. To understand the timing, it is worth noting the difference: larger areas of open water occur during the rainy season; the records of Vanellus melanocephalus relate to the drying-out period, particularly between October and January.

The Sululta Wetland is also an important environmental education area for upper-secondary students and teachers. This educational aspect adds another perspective on the landscape to nature watching. Together with the seasonal change from areas of open water to grazing land, it makes the plains an interesting subject for travellers who are interested not only in individual animal species but also in the different aspects of a wetland.

Tours and Activities

A one-day tour by surface transport visits the Sululta Plains, the Portuguese Bridge Escarpment and Debrelibanos Forest. The three destinations represent different landscape features: plains, escarpment and forest. At Portuguese Bridge on the escarpment of the Jemma Valley, species found include White-winged Cliff Chat, Egyptian Vulture, Lammergeier and Erckel’s Francolin. This makes it possible to compare the birdlife of the plains with another group of species in a differently described landscape.

For a different kind of activity, a report published in 2022 describes easy and longer runs on the Sululta Plateau, on circular routes of 3 km and 5 km. The two distances offer a concrete comparison of running distance. The circular routes described are therefore a different running option from the one-day tour to several named destinations: one format is based on route length, the other on tour duration and multiple destinations.

Choosing the Right Base for Your Trip

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Sululta, first consider what you want your trip to focus on: the seasonal landscape and birdlife of the nearby plains, the destinations included in a one-day tour, or a run on one of the described circular routes. These priorities lead to different plans for your holiday.

Discover more destinations: Meki, Dukem, Laftu, Shashamane, Gojo, Boke Tiko, Ziway, K'ore

For the main travel overview: Oromia.