Wondo-Genet is a popular thermal spa nestled amidst forested hills, about 18 km south of Shashemene and 24 km north of Hawassa (the capital of the Sidama region). The name Wondo-Genet means "Green Paradise." The surrounding area offers numerous attractions, including the swimming pool fed by the spring directly on the hill. The resort was built for the royal family during the reign of Haile Silassie (the last king of Ethiopia). This place is also an ideal spot for birdwatchers. A variety of forest birds can be observed here, including the Tree Pipit, Yellow-fronted Parrot, Mountain Buzzard, Banded Barbet, Ethiopian Golden Oriole, Ethiopian Salt-creeper, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-headed Saw-winged Stork, Spotted Tree-creeper, and many more. Also Gureza monkeys, Anabas baboons, and grivet monkeys live on the resort grounds.

Wondo-Genet is known for its hot springs and is surrounded by Ethiopian forests. It houses an arboretum and a forestry school founded in 1977 with Swedish support. This complex also houses the Essential Oils Research Center, where spices, aromatic, and medicinal plants are preserved and their properties are researched.

The Rastafari community of Shashemene

Shahemene, The Rastafari community of Shashemene, known locally as Jamaica, is located on the main street in the north of the city. It is easily recognizable by its tricolor buildings, dreadlocked residents, and the rounded vowels of Caribbean English. Rastafarians worldwide consider Ethiopia their spiritual home. Many believe that the country's last king, Haile Selassie, was a descendant of King Solomon and the Messiah. Many of these men traveled thousands of kilometers to live in their promised land. The town of Shashemene in southern Ethiopia is a pilgrimage site for Rastafarians from all over the world.

Senkele Swayne’s Hartebeest Sanctuary

The home of the endemic Swayne's hartebeest is located 28 km west of Hawasa. Its primary purpose is the conservation of the endemic Swayne's hartebeest. The reserve is now home to 36 mammals and 191 bird species, three of which are endemic to Ethiopia. It is skeptical to hear that Swayne's hartebeest is a member of the Hambentu clan of the Oromo people. Due to the spectacular views of the Lalima and Borena Hills, the reserve's small size, and its open terrain, it is a place in Ethiopia where sightings of Swayne's hartebeest are virtually guaranteed.

Wildlife: Swayne kudu, oribi, Bohor-reedbuck, greater-kudu, leopard.