Camping Tour in the Western Highlands – 7 Day

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On this trip, you will see the palace of Abba Jaffar, the last independent King of Jimma

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Vacation Style Holiday Type

Camping, Culture, Wildlife
Activity Level Fairly Easy
2/8
Group Size Large Group
25

All about the Camping Tour in the Western Highlands – 7 Day.

On this trip, you will see the palace of Abba Jaffar, the last independent King of Jimma, visit the stunningly beautiful Kafa Biosphere Reserve, the birthplace of coffee, tour the Bebeke Coffee Estate – the largest in Ethiopia and meet people of the Surma and Dizi tribes and learn about their ways of life.

Departure & Return

Departure Point

Arada, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Customers can meet us at our office which is within the compound of the Taitu Hotel, or we can pick up customers from any hotel in Addis.

Departure Time

9:00 AM

Return Details

Returns to the original departure point

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

Private transportation
Tents, mattresses, and camping equipment provided, but please bring your own sleeping bag
Dinner (6)
Lunch (7)
Breakfast (6)

What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.

Gratuities
Please bring your own sleeping bag
Alcoholic beverages

Day 1 Addis Ababa to Jimma

Gurage

Leaving Addis Ababa, you will start the journey southwest to Jimma. On the way, you’ll see villages of the Gurage and Oromo people, and the land that they traditionally farm.

Duration: 1 hour

Admission Ticket Free

Jimma

In the afternoon, you’ll arrive in Jimma where you’ll stay overnight

Duration: 3 hours

Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Overnight in a hotel in Jimma

Meals: LunchDinner
Day 2 Jimma to Mizan Tefari

Jimma Museum

You’ll spend the morning exploring Jimma, including a visit to the Jimma Museum.

Duration: 1 hour

Admission Ticket Included

Aba Jifar Palace

Abba Jiffar was the last independent King of Jimma, and a selection of his personal effects are on display at the museum, along with some interesting ethnographic displays relating to local cultures. Abba Jiffar’s palace was built during the early years of his reign at a cost of 400kg of gold and 65,000 Maria Theresa dollars (money obtained largely through the King’s active involvement in the slave trade).

Duration: 2 hours

Admission Ticket Included

Kafa Biosphere Reserve

From Jimma, you will continue the journey west, passing through the Kafa Biosphere Reserve and stopping at Kafa village. The Kafa Biosphere Reserve contains the last remaining Ethiopian subtropical moist forests of any size and is a biodiversity hotspot, containing more than 5,000 species of plants. The forest is managed by community-based committees and is also renowned for its abundance of sustainable non-timber forest products including coffee, forest cardamon, forest pepper, and honey. It contains natural features such as hot springs and waterfalls and is a haven for monkeys and birds, many of which remain undocumented.

Duration: 2 hours

Admission Ticket Included

Wushwush

Continuing the journey to Mizan Tafari, you will pass through more scenic countryside and a huge tea plantation at Wushwush.

Duration: 30 minutes

Admission Ticket Free

Mizan Teferi

Overnight in a hotel in Mizan Tefari.

Duration: 3 hours

Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Overnight in a hotel in Mizan Tafari

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Mizan Tefari to Kibish

Bebek Coffee Estate

From Mizan Tafari, you will follow the remote road towards the village of Kibish, stopping on the way to the Bebeka Coffee Estate. This is the largest coffee plantation in Ethiopia, covering 6,500 ha, and is home to an interesting variety of birdlife.

1 hour

Admission Ticket Included

Dima

From Bebeke, the road descends into more open savannah with tall acacia trees and bands of riparian woodland supporting rich birdlife. You will pass through the small market town of Dima, as well as traditional villages, and you may well see Surma men herding their cattle.

Duration: 30 minutes

Admission Ticket Free

Kibish

Overnight camping near Kibish.

Duration: 3 hours

Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Overnight camping near Kibish

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Kibish

Kibish

You’ll spend the day exploring the village of Kibish and meeting the Surma people (also known as the Suri). The Surma are agro-pastoralists, with the women traditionally taking care of the household and the land, and the men taking care of the livestock. Young boys and unmarried men spend much of the year in temporary grazing camps, returning to the established settlements only for ceremonial events and to collect food supplies. The Surma are similar in appearance to the Mursi, with their most noticeable feature being the lip-plates worn by the women. They also practice the art of body painting, mixing different colored clays with water. The men of the Surma take part in ritual stick fights using long wooden poles, called Donga. Fights are held so that young men can prove themselves to the girls and find a wife. They are also used to settle disputes between individuals, clans, or even whole villages. Overnight camping near Kibish.

8 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: A second-night camping near Kibish

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Kibish to Tum

Maji

From Kibish, you will travel to Tum, spending the day meeting members of the Surma and Dizi tribes. The Dizi people live in the highlands around Maji and Hanna and cultivate the land, and have traditionally been looked down on by the Surma because of their lack of cattle wealth.

Duration: 3 hours

Admission Ticket Free

St. Hanna Church

From Kibish, you will travel to Tum, spending the day meeting members of the Surma and Dizi tribes. The Dizi people live in the highlands around Maji and Hanna and cultivate the land, and have traditionally been looked down on by the Surma because of their lack of cattle wealth.

3 hours

Admission Ticket Included

TUM

Overnight camping near Tum.

3 hours

Admission Ticket Included

Accommodation: Overnight camping near Tum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Tum to Jimma

Jimma

From Tum, you will complete the circuit back to Jimma, passing through lands occupied by the Menit, Bench and Kefa people. Overnight in a hotel in Jimma.

3 hours

Admission Ticket Free
Day 7 Jimma to Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa

From Jimma, you will make the return journey to Addis Ababa, arriving in the late afternoon.

30 minutes

Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch