Western Ethiopia & Surma Tribes – 10 Days

Attractions: Scenery, Wildlife/Wilderness, & Tribal Culture

Duration: 10 Days & 9 Nights

Transportation: Surface drive

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport

Meet and greet our representative at the exit of the luggage claim and transfer you to the hotel.

Depending on your arrival you will visit Addis Ababa will be the National Museum (prehistoric, cultural, and archaeological attractions), Ethnographic Museum of Addis Ababa University (culture, dressing style, traditional practices of over 80 ethnic groups, and collection of traditional musical instruments).  Lunch at Lucy Restaurant.

After lunch, you will visit sites like Emperor Menelik’s Palace, (after a drive to Entoto Mountain – 3000 meters above sea level). And visit Merkato, the largest open market in Africa. In the evening, you will have dinner at the hotel and you will rest. Overnight stay in Oasis Hotel Apartment or similar accommodation, Addis Ababa.

Day 2 – Drive to Jimma

In the morning after breakfast, you will drive to Jimma (225 Km from Woliso) via Wolqite, which is home to the Gurage tribe, known as “the hardest working people in Ethiopia”. On the way, you will pass through beautiful landscapes as you drive through the Gibe River Valley.

You will be arriving in Jimma afternoon and checking into a hotel. Later, you can visit the Jimma Museum and King Abba Jiffar Place (the last king of the Jimma region). You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in Honey Land or Central Jimma Hotel.

Day 3 – Drive to Bonga, Kaffa the Birthplace of Coffee

In the morning, you will have breakfast and drive to Bonga (125Km from Jimma). And upon arrival at Bonga and check in to a hotel. You will have lunch at Bonga. Later you will be driven to the forest and you will start a short trek/walk to the birthplace of Coffee, Makira.

Late afternoon you will be driven back to Bonga. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in Coffee land or a similar hotel.

Day 4 – Visit waterfalls, forest & natural bridge and drive to Mizan Teferi 

An early morning drive will take you to surround Bonga forest with its Natural Bridge and Berta waterfalls. You will have lunch in Bonga.

After lunch, you will drive to Tepi (163 Km from Bonga). You will be arriving in Tepi late afternoon and checking into a hotel. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in a guest house or local Hotel.

Day 5 – Drive to Kibish 

After breakfast, you will be driven to Kibish (approx.  300 Km from Mizan Teferi). On the way visit the Bebeka Coffee Plantation (the largest coffee farm in Ethiopia), where they cultivate organic coffee trees, peppers, as well as rubber trees. You will have a picnic lunch.

Then you will be driven to Kibish and you will be arriving in Kibish late afternoon and stretching your tent for camping. Later, you can walk around the Surma village at Kibish, where you can visit the local Surma people. You will have dinner and spend the night camping. Overnight stay camping.

Day 6 – Visit Surma Villages around Kibish

An early morning drive will take you to Surma villages ( Surma women are known for their beautification rituals, in preparation for marriage: most women have their bottom teeth removed and their bottom lips pierced, then stretched, to allow insertion of a clay lip plate & men are known for stick-fighting competition, known as Donga, now that is officially prohibited).

You will have a picnic lunch or back to the camping site to have lunch.  The afternoon continues a visit to the villages.  You will have dinner and spend the night camping. Overnight stay camping.

Day 7 – Drive back to Mizan Teferi

After breakfast, you will be driven back to Mizan Teferi (300 Km from Kibish). You will be arriving in Mizan Teferi late afternoon and checking into a hotel. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in local Hotel.

Day 8 – Drive back to Jimma

After breakfast, you will be driven back to Mizan Teferi (300 Km from Kibish). You will be arriving in Mizan Teferi late afternoon and checking into a hotel. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in local Hotel.

Day 9 – Drive back to Jimma

After breakfast, you will be driven back to Jimma (290 Km from Mizan Teferi). You will be arriving in Jimma late afternoon and checking into a hotel. You will have dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in Honey Land or Central Jimma Hotel.

Day 10 – Drive back to Addis Ababa and departure

After a relaxed breakfast, a short flight will take you back to Addis Ababa. You will arrive in Addis Ababa in the afternoon where you will do some shopping for souvenirs.

Finally, you will be taken to a farewell dinner at an Ethiopian (Habesha 2000 or YOD Abyssinia) traditional restaurant where you will taste Ethiopian food & drinks and live music & dance.

Then depending on your scheduled flight; you will be transferred out to Bole International Airport for a return flight back home.

End of 10 Days – Western Ethiopia & Surma Tribes.