The jetty is Ziway's front door to the lake. Fishermen land here, birds gather around the shore, and local boatmen arrange short trips to see waterbirds, hippos, and the lake islands. It is a rough-edged place rather than a formal visitor centre, but that is part of its value: you see the lake as a working fishery as well as a day-trip destination.
Go early if you care about birds and light. Marabou storks, ibises, kingfishers, pelicans, and other waterbirds are commonly seen around the shore and shallows, while hippo sightings depend on the boat route and conditions.