Zion Train Lodge

Alex & Sandrine were the perfect host in Shashamane. They were very welcoming and gracious. The room was very clean and all the accommodations were very comfortable. They recommendations about things to do around Shashamane were useful and the breakfast with her homemade jams was delicious. Thank you for the Nayabingé jam session!

This place was such an oasis for us. We’d had a long ride and we had a very warm welcome from Sandrine and Alex. The entire property was so beautiful and well maintained. There was a lovely garden and a nice covered area to sit and chill during the day/evening. We stayed in one of the rooms (1400 w/ breakfast) but there is plenty of space for camping as well. Room was very comfortable we slept great. The bathroom is just outside the room, very clean. The shower is an outside shower with hot water and wonderful paintings inside. You look up and see banana leaves and birds. The food was some of the best food we’ve had! Sandrine was using ingredients right from the garden, it was so fresh and delicious. We learned a lot about the Rastafarian history from other locals that came by. We hope we can come back again!

Alex and Sandrine are the best hosts you can have not only in Shashamane, but in Ethiopia. Facilities are awesome, hot water, good place to camp, food is healthy and delicious, beautiful rooms and peace. Come with love and your best vibes and you will have an unforgettable experience! Thank you guys

This place is a must see when you’re in Shashamane! It’s an absolute gem. Tranquil surroundings, nature, delicious and healthy food- it’s a little paradise. We stayed in our tents but rooms and lodges are also available. There are 3 amazing ladies who always ensure that the place is super clean. Alex and Sandrine are amazing hosts and beautiful people. They taught us a lot about the Rasta history, recommended a lot of local places to see, and made our stay truly unforgettable. We also loved the animals- Zorro, Gabriel and Nina 🤍 Thank you so much for the bottom of our hearts.

After a disappointing stay nearby I took a trip with my son to Zion Lodge. Immediately felt the Love. Humble, informative and very helpful owners. Ate with us, talked to us and put us in the safe, right direction of where we needed to go. Chilled relaxing time. Not overbearing hosts. Despite the obvious lack of tourism, we never felt hurried, pushed or pressured to 'spend'. My ten year old boy described them as very kind, nice people. He felt totally at home. If there were more people and places like this, traveling would be paradise. I was impressed that as soon as I phoned, I was given an accurate, honest description of the accomodation which for tbe price was totally adequate. There is a warmth there. They genuinely seem pleased to have you. From the home grown fruits, jams, mayonaise to the vividly decorated compound the Rasta vibe comes through again and again. A great place to stay and chill or use as base camp for exploring.

Zion Train Lodge is one of the sacred places in Africa that I had stayed at for more than a week. Besides the spaciousness of the place, it offers a quite mesmerizing natural view as well as lovely pets such as cats, a dog and a horse. The holder of the place Ras Alex and Sister Sandrin are nice people, in a sense of not only running the business harmoniously, they've also been serving the community by for example teaching a Free Yoga Class for the youths of Shashamne city. ||||Zion Train Lodge embodies both the local French and the Ethiopian Heritage as its elements that it's not strange to find one's self blending into the vibe easily. As also a Rastafari center, it exhibits the cultural, historical and spiritual depth of Ethiopia through the images, photographs and paintings of the iconic figures within the historical Ethiopian Orthodox Church as well as the Earth Rulers, Emperor Haile Selassie and Empress Menen Asfaw. ||||I'd say it's an excellent place to pass through, and most importantly to learn about King Rastafari, Ituiopia and the vision that we all share as one family, which is to live together in peace and love. ||||Jah Love. Rastafari. ||💚💛♥️

Zion Train Lodge first seemed a random choice to stay for the night in Shashamene, on my way to Bale Mountains. After all I had a short, but great time with Sandrine, Alex and other guests. If you´d like to stay a little more confortable, I recomend the nightstay in one of the round-huts, but you also can stay more economic in rooms with shared bathrooms. The prices, as well for the delicious food, are fair, the service helpful and friendly, and you can also get information about the rasta-religion, and the "promised land" Ethiopia, and, the "Jamaica-village" here in Shashamene with its rasta-community, which is told to be one of two such communities existing in Ethiopia.

Stayed two nights in April 2019 with my 17 year old grandson who is a teenage Rasta man.||Firstly the hosts Alex and Sandrine are fantastic, lovely people; as are the ladies who run their kitchen. The grounds are beautiful, as are the Sidamo style bedrooms. We were lucky enough to be there at a weekend, on Saturday and Sunday mornings Ras Alex runs a 3 hour programme of drumming, yoga, and fitness for a dozen local youngsters, which to me as an ex headteacher was just brilliant to watch.||Shasamane as a town does not have a lot to offer but visit South Rift Valley Hotel with its beautiful setting for a drink. We went down on the 12.30 Ethiobus bus and returned by the 12.30 Sky Bus. The Addis to Hawassa luxury buses will drop you at the Rasta Community gate. (If you want to know the best way to walk from there to the lodge message me on here)||Sandrine can book your return ticket by phone and you pick up the bus from Hawassa at the NOC station on the by pass road.||As the hosts are now so well known in the tourist industry, the lodge attracts French speaking tourists, passing through, for meals or overnight stops.||Highly recommended.||||( PS Dont be put off by the strange review from Likkle T.||Anyone who thinks Arba Minch is the nearest airport to Shasamane has not treated Ethiopia seriously..???)