Blue Nile Falls

Blue Nile Falls, known in Amharic as Tis Abay, "great smoke", is where the young Blue Nile drops up to 45 metres into a gorge some 30 kilometres downstream of Lake Tana. In flood it spreads into a curtain hundreds of metres wide.

Why visit Blue Nile Falls

The walk in passes through farming villages and crosses a stone bridge built in the 17th century, then a modern suspension bridge over the gorge. Upstream, a hydroelectric scheme diverts part of the flow, so the falls vary: thunderous after the rains, more modest in the dry months when water is held back.

Best time to visit Blue Nile Falls

Go between August and November, after the June-to-September rains, for the fullest flow. Dry-season visits are pleasant but the falls can be reduced to a few strands.

How to get to Blue Nile Falls

Fly from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar (about an hour), then drive an hour to the village of Tis Abay. Combine it with boat trips to the monasteries of Lake Tana.

The walk to the falls

From the village of Tis Abay, a walk of about 30 minutes each way leads through fields to the falls. One common loop crosses the Blue Nile on a stone bridge built in the 17th century, follows the river to a viewpoint opposite the falls and returns across a modern suspension bridge over the gorge. Boats sometimes cross the river above the falls as an alternative way back. Allow two to three hours for the whole visit.

How the falls have changed

The falls are known in Amharic as Tis Abay, often translated as "great smoke". Since a hydroelectric station opened upstream, much of the river is diverted for much of the year, and the falls can be a fraction of their natural width, particularly in the dry season. The water is usually best from about August to October, after the rains, when more of the flow is released.

Practical information

Bahir Dar is the base. Entrance tickets are sold in Tis Abay, where local guides are available and recommended. Wear sturdy shoes, as the path can be muddy, and carry sun protection. Combine the falls with boat trips to the island monasteries of Lake Tana and the castles of Gondar, about three hours north.

Pair Blue Nile Falls with a safari

See the falls, Lake Tana, Gondar's castles and the gelada baboons of the Simien Mountains on our 7-day Ethiopia journey.

Tips for visiting Blue Nile Falls

Visit after the rains for the full curtain and ask locally whether water is being held back upstream. The walk crosses farmland and a 17th-century stone bridge; local boys will offer to guide you, so agree a fee first. Combine the visit with a morning on Lake Tana. For planning, see our Ethiopia guide and the month-by-month water levels, or compare it with Africa's two most visited falls, Victoria Falls and Murchison Falls.

National parks and sights nearby

• Lake Tana monasteries
• Simien Mountains National Park
• Gondar