Plizio Visual Lab

Batu

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

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Practical info — Batu

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

Boat trips on Lake Ziway are best in the early morning for bird watching.
Always negotiate boat prices before boarding.
Hippos can occasionally be seen; ensure your guide keeps a safe distance.
The weather is generally warm, so sun protection is needed.
Try the fresh fish from the lake, it's a local specialty.

🍽 Food

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Fresh Tilapia

Lakeside restaurants.

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Rift Valley wine

Local bars and restaurants in town.

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Shiro wat

Traditional eateries in the center.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

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Fresh fish

Lake shores in the morning directly from fishermen.

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Local fruits and vegetables

Batu main market.

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Lake Ziway shoreline

Excellent for calm walks and bird watching.

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Gelila Island

A peaceful spot requiring a short boat trip.

Batu, officially known as Ziway, is a rapidly growing town in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, situated on the shores of Lake Ziway. Located at an elevation of approximately 1,640 meters within the Ethiopian Rift Valley, the town serves as a key economic hub for fishing and modern agriculture. Batu is nationwide famous for its large-scale greenhouses where flowers are cultivated for the global market, as well as for its productive fishing industry. Lake Ziway itself is an ecological jewel, hosting a rich variety of birdlife and famous for its five islands which house ancient monasteries of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Over recent decades, the town has developed into a major logistical hub on the highway connecting Addis Ababa to Nairobi. The blend of traditional fishing and modern agribusiness gives Batu a unique economic character in the central Rift Valley region.

Location: Ethiopia
Nearby: Adami Tulu (6 km)
Population: ~90.500 (2023)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	20	21	22	22	22	20	19	19	19	19	18	18
Rain mm	10	19	48	82	92	106	196	194	120	43	22	12

Geography

Population

90,500 (2023)

Coordinates

7.93330, 38.71670

Facts

Batu is located approximately 160 kilometers south of Addis Ababa.
Lake Ziway is the northernmost of the Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes.
The town hosts Sher Ethiopia, one of the largest rose farms in Africa.
The island of Tulu Gudo in Lake Ziway is said to have once hidden the Ark of the Covenant.
Batu is a significant producer of table grapes in Ethiopia.
The town was renamed Batu from Ziway in honor of the Oromo leader Batu.