Doho Lodge & Hotsprings

Disappointing Stay at Doho Lodge – Poor Maintenance & Substandard Service Our family (two adults and three kids) chose Doho Lodge based on positive reviews and photos, but our experience was far from expectations. While the natural spring water was wonderful and the staff were kind, the lodge itself was poorly maintained and not worth the $150/night price. major Issues: - accommodation problems: Our room had rats, the sink and shower had a terrible smell, and the bedding/towels were old and worn out. - Food Quality:The meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) were substandard,even the injera was poorly made, which was especially disappointing for an Ethiopian family. - Uncomfortable Conditions:Lights out at 10:30 PM since they use generator. which meant no fans or cooling, making it unbearably hot for us and the kids to sleep. - Safety Concerns: A midsized snake entered our room, terrifying our children. When we reported it, staff casually mentioned snakes are common,no prior warning was given. Imagine we ever considered sleeping on the bangalw outside our room. - Spring hygiene issue:Though swimwear is required, some men were bathing naked in the spring, which was uncomfortable. there was no separate female and male spring use. The manager said that most guests are foreign tourists using the lodge as a base for exploring. Due to these issues, we cut our stay short. The only positives:The spring water was refreshing, and the staff were polite. However, for the price, we expected much better maintenance, safety, and food quality. We cannot recommend this lodge for families for overnight stays.

We stayed at the Doho Lodge for a week, using it as a base to visit Afar camps in the area. It's a beautiful place, sited in an oasis of dom-palms, overlooking the Awash river, with dense reed-beds on the far side, and a magnificent view of Fantale in the distance. Our room opened on a balcony from which one could take in the whole panorama. The lodge was very peaceful - a haven set deep in the bush, far from the road, with monkeys and many birds - including a friendly ostrich. The rooms were spacious and the staff very friendly and helpful - and what a pleasure to be able to bathe in the hot springs morning and evening. We had not been in this area for 33 years, when we passed through with a caravan of donkeys, local guides, and a military escort - the lodge didn't exist then. It was wonderful to find it and we would thoroughly recommend it. We would certainly go back. Thank you to all the staff for making our stay wonderful. - Michael Asher (author & explorer) & Mariantonietta Peru (photographer)

Doho Lodge gives value for money We had a very nice stay in Doho Lodge. The staff went on and beyond to make the stay memorable. The food was great, the hot spring pools fantastic and the atmosphere nice. The place needs some refurbishing, but that is a minor issue