Exploring One of Africa’s Hidden Gems: Blue Nile Falls (Tis Issat) in Ethiopia

 

 

Dear Family,

Hello from Tis Issat (Blue Nile Falls) in Ethiopia.

As you know, I love waterfalls, and Blue Nile Falls did not disappoint. They are known locally as Tis Issat, meaning “the water that smokes”. It’s an apt name – when the Blue Nile River is in full flow, the falls send thick clouds of spray high into the air like wisps of smoke, leaving you feeling quite damp.

Located about 30 kilometres downstream from Lake Tana, the source of the Nile, Blue Nile Falls are the second largest waterfalls in Africa, after Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Regardless of its ranking, as the river plunges over a basalt cliff that is 400 metres wide and 45 metres deep, what I saw was a breathtaking display of power and beauty.

Leaving Bahir Dar, where I was staying on Lake Tana, my guide and two other women drove to the small town of Tis Abay (meaning “the smoking Nile” and the name most travellers know the falls by) for our walk to Blue Nile Falls (Tis Issat).

You might see the Blue Nile Falls called Tis Issat or Tis Abay, so I’ll explain the difference the way my local guide did.

• The waterfall itself is called Tis Issat, “the water that smokes”, named for the mist that rises in drifting white clouds.
• The nearby town where every visit to the falls begins is Tis Abay. “Abay” is the Amharic word for the Blue Nile, so Tis Abay roughly means “the smoking Nile”, linking the town to the river that feeds the waterfall.

People understandably confuse the two names, but locals don’t – Tis Issat is the waterfall, and Tis Abay is the place you start your walk to it.

From Tis Abay, we crossed the Blue Nile in a small local boat, gliding over a calm, narrower stretch of the river. Once on the far bank, the rest of the journey was on foot, an easy 1.5-kilometre walk following the river on a dirt track and accompanied by several small children trying to sell us souvenirs.

As we rounded the escarpment and the waterfall came into view, I was awestruck, my heart racing with excitement at the spectacular sight. The Blue Nile River thundered down the cliff face into a natural pool with unstoppable force, sending up clouds of spray before dropping again into the gorge below.

Our guide told us we were lucky to see the Blue Nile Falls actually flowing, especially given its volume, because a hydroelectric dam was built between Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls, and the waterfall is only ‘switched on’ on certain days of the week. We were there on a Saturday, and according to our guide, the waterfall is not ‘switched off’ on weekends.

There was a thatched, wooden coffee house within sight of the falls, and we had to stop before heading back to Tis Abay to take part in Ethiopia’s ritual coffee ceremony, practised throughout the country.

As much as I love my coffee, I knew I was delaying the inevitable – leaving Tis Issat. The sound of the water and the quiet of the landscape made me want to linger longer. Blue Nile Falls is not just a sight to see, but one of those places you never forget.

Till the next adventure,

Joanna

 

 

Disclaimer: This post contains no affiliate links. All views and opinions are my own and non-sponsored. All photos are my own and remain the copyright of Joanna Rath/Just Me Travel.

© Just Me Travel 2018-2025. All rights reserved.

 

What’s a travel moment that took your breath away and stayed with you long after you returned home?

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© Just Me Travel 2018-2025. All rights reserved.