Tour Description
Ethiopia is a vast country with various terrain and ecological zones. It is the fourth largest biodiversity zone in the world. The difference between the highest mountain Ras Dashen (4620mts) and lowest points (120meters is below sea level), ranges 4740 meters and this enables the country to grow vegetation and animals varieties that could be found between tropics and poles.
Due to its various and diverse eco-systems with different habitat, Ethiopia has some of the richest bird life in the horn of Africa with more than with 863 species registered so far, representing about 9.5% of the worlds and 39% of Africa's birds. Ethiopia has 31 endemic birds found in different areas of the country.
Coffee is one of Ethiopia’s gift to the world, it was discovered in a place called “Kaffa”, western Ethiopia and got its name coffee, and in large areas of western Ethiopia coffee still grows as part of natural forest. Western Ethiopia is endowed with intact nature and culture, it is home to virgin forests, unique tribes and wild life and yet the least discovered regions.
WUB ETHIOPIA TOURS special package offers new fixed and tailor made special tour packages including the bird watching tour, coffee tour ,exploring western Ethiopia and Gambela that could be done between 10 to 16 days.
Tour Program
Tour Code: WET-802
Tour Title: Explore the Birth place of Coffee
Duration: 10days 11nights
Transportation: Surface driving
Day1. Transfer and Addis Ababa sightseeing tour
Arrive Addis Ababa Bole international airport and transfer to hotel. Depending on your arrival time make Addis Ababa city tour including the National Museum, which is home to the fossilized hominid (Lucy), the Ethnological Museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie and then continue on to Holy Trinity Cathedral Orthodox Church. Overnight in Hotel
Day2. Drive to Jimma
After breakfast, drive 345km through the southwestern highlands to Jimma town, a town known for its history and intact natural beauty. Overnight in Hotel.
Day3. Excursion trip to Bonga
Morning drive to Bonga and visit wild coffee plantation. Here coffee grows as part of natural forest. The area is famous for coffee and Kaffa area is said to be where the original wild plants were found .Afternoon drive back to Jimma for overnight stay. Overnight in Hotel
Day4. Drive to Bebeka
Morning drive 30km to Mizan Tefari and the Bebeka Coffee Plantation farms, the largest and oldest Coffee Plantation in Ethiopia. In the afternoon make a tour of the plantation which includes the organic coffee, spice and fruit plantations. Overnight in a Guesthouse
Day5. Drive to Yirgalem
This morning drive to Yirgalem, stopping en route for lunch at Awassa, the seat of regional sates. Overnight in Aregash Lodge.
Day6. Excursion around Yirgalem
Today visit the heart of Ethiopian coffee growing – high quality garden coffee farms found around Yirgalem town. Aregash Lodge is built on the edge of a cliff overlooking a stunning gorge, enjoy walking in the lodge premises and participate in traditional Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony which is at the heart of Ethiopian hospitality. An invitation to attend the ceremony is a mark of friendship and respect and not to be hurried. Overnight Aregash Lodge
Day7. Drive back to Addis Ababa
Leaving Aregash Lodge and heading back to Addis Ababa, stopping at the village of Adadi to visit the 12th century rock-hewn church of Adadi Mariam and to Tiya (UNESCO World heritage site). Overnight in Hotel
Day8. Drive to Harar
Morning drive 525km to walled city of Harar, which dates back to the 16th Century. Harar shelters more than 87 mosques within one sq km area, which is the largest concentration in the World. Along the route visitors can stop at Awash National park, and at the most scenic viewpoints. Lunch will be either at Asebeteferi or Hirna towns. Overnight in Hotel.
Day9. Harar City tour
Visit the multicultural colorful market of Harar which is attended by different tribes, the traditional house of the people of Harari , the House of the famous late 19th French poet - Arthur Rimbaud, the panoramic view of Harar, walls and gates of Harar, and in the evening visit the Heyna Man. Overnight in a hotel
Day10. Day trip to Grawa
This morning drive south west to small local district of Grawa to see the best variety of Harar Coffee. Drive back to Harar for overnight stay. Overnight in Hotel
Day11. Drive back to Addis Ababa
Morning after breakfast drive back to Addis Ababa, participate in the evening farewell dinner in traditional restaurant and transfer to airport for your departure.
The founder of WUB ETHIOPIA TOURS private company is an experienced tourism expert who has been working in tourism institutions for more than 25 years. In one of Ethiopian languages, in Amharic the word “Wub” means; Stunning, Wonderful, Beautiful, etc.
