Africa’s Biggest Dam (GERD) Set to Open for Tourists











ADDIS ABABA / GUBA, BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will be opened for public visits “in the coming weeks,” signaling a new phase for Africa’s largest hydropower project: from nation-building icon to national attraction. The announcement comes as Ethiopia prepares formal inauguration events for September, after the government declared the dam “complete” in early July.

What’s new

The PM’s on-site remarks—delivered during a visit to the GERD with Social Affairs Adviser Deacon Daniel Kibret—framed public access as both symbolic and economic: allowing Ethiopians (and the diaspora) to see the country’s most ambitious infrastructure up close. Operational specifics (ticketing, security, hours, and routes) have not yet been published at the time of writing.

The opening dovetails with plans to inaugurate GERD this month, following the July statement that construction is finished.

Why this matters

Tourism as a second dividend. Hydropower mega-projects worldwide routinely evolve into visitor magnets with museums, guided tours, and viewing platforms. If Ethiopia gets the visitor experience right—safe access, engaging storytelling, and reliable transport—GERD’s lake, viewpoints, and surrounding highlands could become a year-round draw alongside the country’s historic circuits.

A diaspora moment. The government has emphasized rising diaspora arrivals this summer; opening GERD to visitors creates a timely anchor attraction during holiday seasons and major events.

What visitors can reasonably expect (early phase)

Until official guidance is published, the most likely first-phase setup will mirror global best practice:

Controlled access & hours (e.g., fixed viewing windows, mandatory screening, no-drone zones).

Guided or bus-based circuits to pre-approved viewpoints above the main dam and spillway.

Interpretive exhibits explaining engineering, environmental management, and regional development benefits.

Lake-focused add-ons (scenic lookouts now; water-based activities only later, once safety, search-and-rescue, and navigation rules are established).

Getting there. Road access from Addis Ababa to the GERD area (near Guba) is long but doable; indicative travel planners estimate ~685–720 km by road (roughly 12–13 hours, depending on route and conditions). Domestic flight plus overland transfer via nearby hubs (e.g., Assosa) could become popular if tour operators bundle transport.

Global benchmarks Ethiopia can learn from

Hoover Dam (USA) — The Bureau of Reclamation runs a polished visitor center, guided powerplant tours, timed tickets, and strict security. It’s open daily and attracts massive footfall—historically more than a million visitors a year—thanks to proximity to Las Vegas and seamless logistics.

Itaipu (Brazil–Paraguay) — A full “Itaipu Tourism” operation offers panoramic bus routes, night illuminations, wildlife areas, and a museum. In 2024, the Brazilian side alone logged ~486,000 visitors; combined sides have topped a million in some years.

Three Gorges (China) — Purpose-built viewing platforms and excursions—plus the world’s largest ship lift—have turned the site into a mainstream attraction; the lift alone had carried over 1 million passengers by early 2024.

Katse Dam (Lesotho) — A clean African analogue: set tour hours, a visitors’ center, and regular dam-wall presentations, integrated with nearby lodge stays and alpine scenery.

These cases highlight four pillars Ethiopia can localize at GERD:

Dedicated visitor hub (tickets, exhibits, gear checks);

Scripted tour routes with trained guides;

Bundled transport (coach transfers, optional air shuttles);

Community linkages (local crafts, culture, and jobs).

The experience Ethiopia could design

Storytelling & exhibits. A compact museum can cover: the Abay/Blue Nile’s geography; engineering (RCC dam, saddle dam, spillways, powerhouses); grid integration; environmental safeguards; lake navigation rules; and cross-border water cooperation.

Lake GERD add-ons. Emerging research and local reporting point to rich lake-based potential—dozens of islands, shorelines suitable for low-impact lodges, and eventual rowing/canoe events—once safety and conservation protocols are formalized.

Transport & lodging. Ethiopian Airlines already operates nationwide tourism logistics and manages other state-backed lodge projects (Wonchi, Gorgora, Halala Kella), a model that could be adapted for phased GERD access and regional packages.

Economic upside

High-value day trips & overnights. With curated, time-boxed visits and pre-booked buses, GERD can capture premium day-trip revenue (tickets, concessions, guides) and seed new overnights in Benishangul-Gumuz (lodges, community homestays).

Diaspora & MICE. Corporate retreats, engineering conferences, and diaspora homecomings can anchor shoulder-season demand—especially if bundled with Addis museums, Gorgora/Wonchi eco-lodges, Bahir Dar, Lalibela, and Gondar itineraries.

Skills & SMEs. A visitor operation catalyzes guide training, safety services, catering, crafts, and maintenance SMEs.

Guardrails: doing this safely and fairly

Safety first: Clear perimeters, no-go zones, fencing and viewing platforms built to code; staffed medical and firefighting units; weather and water-level alerts; enforceable photography/drone policies. (Hoover and Itaipu protocols offer templates.)

Environmental management: Lake-use plans (waste, fuel, wake, wildlife), shoreline zoning, and caps on daily visitor flows.

Community benefits: Local hiring, fair concessioning, and protected cultural spaces for Berta, Gumuz, Mao, Komo, and Shinasha communities—tying revenue to local schools, clinics, and training.

Security & diplomacy: Visitor operations must align with infrastructure protection and ongoing Nile diplomacy; interpretive content should emphasize basin-wide benefits and transparency about operations.

What happens next

Government notice: Expect formal guidance covering access points, ticketing, prohibited items, and photography.

Tour packaging: Airlines and tour operators will likely pilot weekend departures that pair GERD with heritage and eco-lodges.

Phased amenities: Start with viewpoints and exhibits; add lake experiences only after rescue and navigation systems are certified.

Fast facts (for trip planners)

Status: Construction complete; inauguration targeted for September. Public opening “in the coming weeks,” per the PM.

Where: Near Guba, Benishangul-Gumuz, ~685–720 km by road from Addis Ababa.

Scale: Africa’s largest hydropower project; installed capacity >5,000 MW (official figures vary by source).

Bottom line

Opening GERD to visitors turns Ethiopia’s most consequential engineering work into a living classroom and a new tourism spine in the west. If Ethiopia adapts best practices from Hoover, Itaipu, Three Gorges, and Katse—while foregrounding safety, conservation, and local livelihoods—GERD can deliver a second dividend well beyond electricity: national pride you can stand on, look over, and learn from.