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Konso Cultural Landscape

Konso · Ethiopia

Background

World Heritage since
2011
Type of site
Cultural
More than 400 years
21 generations

The Konso Cultural Landscape is an arid property of stone-walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands. UNESCO calls it a spectacular example of a living cultural tradition stretching back 21 generations, more than 400 years, adapted to a dry, hostile environment and showing the shared values, social cohesion and engineering knowledge of its communities. Its wooden anthropomorphic statues honour respected members and heroic events, and stone steles mark the passing of generations of leaders.

Wikipedia: Konso oral tradition says the people arrived about 400 years ago; Menelik II took the town in 1897, Father Azaïs presented the waga statues in 1931, and in 2011 Konso became the first place in Ethiopia recognised as a cultural landscape. The terraces, some 8 m high, are reinforced with stone and turrets against heavy rain; the walled settlements, paletas, sit on hilltops. Wikivoyage: an official tourist office with trained guides stands up the main road from the roundabout.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. c. 400 years agoThe Konso settle the highlands, 21 generations ago by tradition
  2. 1897Menelik II takes over the town
  3. 1931Father Azaïs presents the waga statues to the world
  4. 1997Placed on the World Heritage Tentative List
  5. 2011Inscribed, Ethiopia's first cultural landscape

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    The Terraces
    Stone walls up to 8 m high, built and kept by whole families.
  2. 2
    The Paletas
    Walled hilltop villages, encircled for defence.
  3. 3
    Waga Statues
    Carved wooden figures grouped to honour heroes and elders.
  4. 4
    Generation Stelae
    Stone markers for each generation of leaders.
  5. 5
    Konso Cultural Village
    Up the hill west of town, a short bajaj ride.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Go with an Official Guide
Wikivoyage: the tourist office up the main road gives tours of the villages, the chiefs' compounds, the canyon locals call New York and the hot springs; avoid touts at the hotels.
Buses from Arba Minch
Buses run from Arba Minch, Yabelo and Moyale; from the Omo Valley, minibuses come from Jinka via Key Afer.
Dry Highlands
Karati sits at 1,650 m in an arid landscape; the terraces exist to hold the sporadic heavy rains.
Market Town
Wikivoyage: the tiny town around its roundabout is the region's central market.

Terraces and Villages

Not yet in a GoGo guide

  1. 09:00
    Tourist Office and Guide30 min
    Up the main road from the roundabout.
  2. 09:30
    Walled Villages and Terraces4 hrs
    The paletas, chiefs' compounds and waga statues with a guide.
  3. 14:30
    Konso Cultural Village90 min
    Up the hill west of town.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Jun–Sep. Rainy season Apr.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Apr (164 mm), driest Feb (18 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
The Gedeo Cultural Landscape is 144 km away and the Lower Valley of the Omo 168 km.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 1333 · Wikipedia: Karati · Wikivoyage: Konso (CC BY-SA 4.0) · UNESCO listing