Visiting the south-west of Ethiopia is for the real adventurer. Bad roads and basic campsites make this tour challenging but the scenery and the people we are going to meet makes it all worth it. We are going to meet people from many different ethnic groups, the Suri probably the most memorable. Different options of hiking are available during this tour.
Itinerary
We will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The first day we spent in the fascinating capital of the country: Addis Ababa. Depending on your time of arrival we take you on a half day or full day city tour visiting some sites of your choice like the Ethnographic Museum, National Museum, Trinity Cathedral, Mercato (the largest market of Africa) or the Entoto Hills just outside Addis Ababa. Overnight hotel.
Today we leave Addis Ababa to the west. We are traveling through a fertile area where the Gurage people are living, they are known as very hardworking people. The scenic highlight of the day will be the spectacular gorge of the Gibe and Omo rivers. Overnight hotel
The landscape after Jimma is lush and green. We are traveling through the ancient Kingdom of Kaffa, this is the home of coffee. The Kafficho people are living in this area. Near Wushwush we find one of the largest tea plantations of Ethiopia. Approaching Mizan Teferi we enter the area where the Bench people are living. Overnight hotel
From Mizan Teferi it is not to far to Bebeke where we find the largest coffee plantation of Ethiopia. We traverse the homeland of Bench, Sheko, Dizi people and finally we reach Suri country. Near Dima there are living few Anuak people who originally came here as refuge from Sudan. The landscape is first lush and green but later this day we leave the forest behind and descent to the African savanna. Overnight camping.
The program for the next days is flexible. We can hike to Kibish meeting Suri people and visiting their villages on the way. We can also make shorter walks and drive to Kibish. The Suri people are related to the Mursi people from the other side of the Omo river and like them well known for the women wearing lipplates. Overnight camping.
Today we explore more of the Kibish area and if the roads are fine we might travel south to try to find the nomadic Nyangatom people. When we are lucky we might witness a Suri stick fighting competition one of these days and therefor we need to adjust the program. Overnight camping.
We drive back pass Tulgit and branch east to reach Tum, home of the Dizi people. Overnight camping.
Today we embark on a hike to reach the small highland village of Maji, the largest settlement of the region. This is a beautiful walk which takes about 6 hours, first through the mountains and later through the fields. Alternatively we drive to Maji en enjoy shorter walks from there. Overnight camping.
We complete the round trip to Mizan Teferi today via Jemmo and Bachuma. It is a day of driving through Dizi, Me'en and Bench people country. Meeting the people and visiting their villages on the way. Overnight hotel.
Today we travel back to Jimma, enjoying the lush and green highland scenery. Once in Jimma we visit Abba Jiffar's Palace, he was the last king of the Kingdom of Jimma. Overnight hotel.
The last day of your unforgettable visit to Ethiopia brings us back to Addis Ababa. A hotel room for day-use is available in Addis. We say goodbye to dear friends with a visit to a cultural restaurant, enjoying the great Ethiopian food together with traditional music and dance from all over this fascinating country. After diner we take you to the airport for your flight back home.
