Transport: Surface
Tour Code: VET078
Durations: 11 days & 10 nights
Summary: Western Ethiopia is a truly extraordinary place to visit with superb scenery and colorful culture. The fascinating costumes, colorful ceremonies and celebrations, arts, crafts, music and dance of Gambela, and Surma people along with the natural forests in the western part will be visited. The Nuer people are known by body scarification. The Surma people are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular or rectangular clay discs inserted. Surma men are known by the stick fighting, called Donga.
Day 1:Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis Ababa
On arrival in Addis Ababa our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to Ambassador Hotel. An overview of the program and itineraries will be given. The rest of the day visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains when discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 meters and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis. Overnight Ambassador Hotel
Day 2:Addis Abeba- Nekemt
After breakfast drive to Nekemte through the western direction of the country visiting the beautiful scenery and the Shoea and Wolega Oromo tribe with their village,Overnight local hotel.
Day 3:Nekemt – Metu
After breakfast drive to Metu: after crossing Didasa River we will stop at the town of Bedele for lunch. You drive through the indigenous natural forests of Western Ethiopia and it is a good experience the life of the local people residing in the region. Overnight,hotel.
Day 4: Metu- Gambela
Continue driving to Gambella via Gore. Today also you will be driving through the indigenous natural forest of Western Ethiopia. Again this place is the famous place in Tea farms. En route you will visit the Gumero tea field. Overnight Gambella Ethiopia Hotel
Day 5: In Gambella
the major two tribes living in Gambella town are the Nuer and Anuak people. Morning visit the Neuer people. In the afternoon visit The Anuak people. Overnight Gambella Ethiopia Hotel
Day 6: Gambela – Mizan Teferi
Drive from Gambella to Mizan Teferi through Bebeka coffee plantation, the Ethiopia’s largest old coffee plantation. On the way visit the Menit, Yem and the Dizi tribes. Overnight Eden Hotel
Day 7: Kibish
Continue driving further to the west from Mizan Teferi to Kibish through Bebeka coffee plantation, the Ethiopia’s largest old coffee plantation. On the way visit the Menit tribe. After crossing the Akobo River you experience the African Savanna grass land. You will stop at the little town of Dimma for lunch. Continue driving further west to Tulgit and then to Kibish. Tulgit and Kibish are small towns of the Surma people. Much more Surma people live in Kibish town. The rest of the days walk around your campsite to visit the Surma people. (Altitude 17450m above sea level) Overnight camping at KIbish
Day 8: Around Kibish
In the morning if there is any Donga (Stick fighting of the Surma people) you will attend it otherwise you walk around the old kibish village (14kms round trip) for the visit of more of the Surma villages-to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Surma tribe, they are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular or rectangular clay discs inserted. The Surma men are well known for their stick fighting, which is called Donga. Players are usually unmarried men. The winner is carried away on a platform of poles to a group of girls waiting at the side of the arena who decide among themselves which of them will ask for his hand in marriage. Taking part in a stick fight is considered to be more important than winning it. The men paint their bodies with a mixture of chalk and water before the fight. Overnight Camping at Kibish
Day 9: Kibish – Bebeka
Drive the same way back via Dima town to Bebeka town near the town of Mizan Teferi. Overnight Bebeka Gust House
Day 10: Bebeka – Jimma
Drive from Mizan Teferi to Jimma (240 kms) through the Ethiopia’s indigenous dense forest. The people living in this area are from Kefecho, Yem and Bench ethnic groups. This place is famous in coffee, tea and spice growing region from all over the country. Overnight Welde Argi Hotel
Day 11: Jimma – Addis Ababa
After breakfast drive back to Addis Ababa; En route you will Visit one of the Oromo Villages. . Evening we will have a fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurants for cultural dinner and dances from the different ethnic groups. Then after transfer to the airport for flight back home