From Addis Ababa the drive is about an hour on a good day — 47 kilometres south on the A1 expressway toward Adama. The new toll road bypasses most of the old congestion, but the last few kilometres into town are still slow.
Minibuses leave from Addis's Mexico Square and Kality terminal regularly through the day, dropping at the main bus stand in Debre Zeit. The fare is modest. From there, taxis (bajaj three-wheelers) run out to the lakes.
Train. The Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway makes a stop at Bishoftu station, which is the easiest way in if you happen to be timing it right. The station is in the south of town, twenty minutes from the lakes.
A car helps if you want to circuit several lakes. Otherwise pick one — Hora, Babogaya, or Kuriftu — and base yourself at a lodge there.