Shashamane sits on the road south through the Oromia Region, and the first thing that marks it out is the presence of the Rastafarian community that grew here from the land grant Emperor Haile Selassie set aside in 1948. You will notice it in the food as much as anywhere: the local cuisine is heavily vegetarian because of the Rastafarian population's influence.
The town suits travellers moving between Addis Ababa and the southern lakes who want to break the journey somewhere with a distinct story, and anyone interested in the repatriation movement that brought Caribbean settlers to Ethiopia. It also works as a base for the resort of Wondo Genet and the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary, both of which lie near Shashamane.
This guide covers what is actually documented about the town and its surroundings, and is honest about how thin that record is. The Wikivoyage entry for Shashemene carries no See or Do listings at all, so the items below draw on what the source material does describe.
Top things to do in Shashamane
1. Walk the Rastafarian settlement area
The settlement began with the land grant Haile Selassie made in 1948 for black refugees, and the first West Indian family, James Piper and his wife Helen, arrived in 1955 as the first Land Grant administrators. Gladstone Robinson, the first Rastafarian to settle in Ethiopia, came in June 1964, followed by Papa Noel Dyer in September 1965. Walking the area is the way to understand the town's central story.
Read up on the sequence of events before you go, because the settlement's history is bound up with the Ethiopian World Federation and the petitions Jamaican settlers made for citizenship. Combine it with a meal of the local vegetarian cooking, which reflects the same community.
2. Eat the local vegetarian cuisine
The cuisine of Shashamane is heavily vegetarian because of the influence of the Rastafarian population. This is the most immediate way a visitor encounters the community's presence in the town, and it is worth planning a proper sit-down meal rather than a snack.
It pairs naturally with a walk through the settlement area, and it is a sensible choice if you are travelling on and want something lighter than the usual road-stop food.
3. Visit nearby Wondo Genet
The resort of Wondo Genet lies near Shashamane and is the most established excursion from the town. Treat it as a half-day or full-day trip rather than something to squeeze into a gap.
Because it is outside town, arrange your transport before you set out, and consider pairing it with the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary if you have a full day to give to the area.
4. Visit the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary
The Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary lies near Shashamane, alongside Wondo Genet. It is the second of the two named natural attractions within reach of the town.
If you are combining it with Wondo Genet, plan the order of the two in advance so you are not doubling back on the same road.
5. Time your visit around the Ethiopian millennium development plans
Prior to the Ethiopian millennium, various pro-Ethiopian World Federation groups, consisting of indigenous Ethiopians and Rastafari, gave support to one of many five-year plans proposed for sustainable development of Shashemane. If you are interested in the town's civic life rather than only its history, this is the thread to follow.
Ask locally about which organisations are currently active, since the source material describes the federation's official authority as having been compromised by divisions among Rastas.
6. Look for the January exhibition and bazaar tradition
In January 2007, the settlers organized an exhibition and a bazaar in the city. That gives you a reason to consider January as a month for a visit if you want to catch community events rather than just the permanent sights.
Confirm what is happening in any given year before you build a trip around it, as the source material records the 2007 event specifically.
7. Seek out the 2016 documentary
In 2016, Shashamane, a documentary film about Shashamane and its relationship to repatriation, was released. Watching it before or after your visit gives context to the settlement that is hard to assemble on the ground.
It is a good thing to watch before you arrive, so that the names and the sequence of the land grant story are familiar when you walk the area.
8. Follow the town's rivers
Four rivers flow through the town towards Lake Shala: Laftu, Melka Oda, Gogeti and Essa. Dhedhaba is another major river that serves as a natural boundary between Shashemene and Arsi Negele.
These are features of the town's geography rather than organised attractions, so treat them as landmarks to orient yourself by rather than destinations with facilities.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in the Rastafarian settlement area, walking the ground where the land grant settlement took shape from 1955 onwards. Take your time, and keep the names of the early settlers in mind as you go.
Afternoon: Eat a vegetarian meal in town, which is the clearest everyday expression of the Rastafarian community's influence on Shashamane. If you have transport arranged and the day is still young, continue to Wondo Genet.
Evening: Return to town and, if you have time before you leave, look for the 2016 documentary Shashamane, which frames the repatriation story you have spent the day walking through.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Shashamane associated with Rastafarians?
After the end of the Italian invasion in 1941 and Emperor Haile Selassie's return to the throne, he made plans in 1948 to grant 500 acres of fertile land to black refugees in response to racism in the United States. The official letter confirming the land grant was submitted to the Ethiopian World Federation in New York City in 1955, and the first West Indian family arrived that same year.
What is the food like in Shashamane?
The cuisine of Shashamane is heavily vegetarian because of the influence of the Rastafarian population. If you are vegetarian, this is one of the easier towns in the region to eat well in.
What can I see outside the town itself?
The resort of Wondo Genet lies near Shashamane, as does the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary. Both are named in the source material as places within reach of the town.
Is there a film about Shashamane?
Yes. In 2016, Shashamane, a documentary film about Shashamane and its relationship to repatriation, was released.
Start by reading up on the 1948 land grant and the settlers who followed it, then plan your days around the settlement, the vegetarian cooking and the two nearby natural attractions.