Western Ethiopia Tours – 7 Days

Highlights:

Trekking (or horseback) at Wenchi Crater Lake in stunning nature
Visit of the palace of the former Kaffa king Ras Abba Jifar II in Jimma
Rain forest of Kaffa biosphere with rich flora and fauna, hot springs, stunning waterfalls and more. Excursion to the Alem Genna wetlands. Visit of a local family with their own honey production Meeting with a spiritual leader of the Kaffa region.

Day 1: Addis Ababa City Tour

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport you will be met by a Ruba Tours representative and be taken to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options:
Mount Entoto with the best views over the capital. Institute of Ethiopian Studies, where you can see a variety of artifacts from all the different regions reflecting the history and culture of the country. National Museum which among other exhibits the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy. Saint-George Cathedral, where paintings by the famous Ethiopian artist Afework Tekele and other ecclesiastical wealth and cultural heritage of the past are displayed. Trinity Cathedral: this is the burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots; the cathedral is the most magnificent of its kind in the country, ornamented with carvings, mosaics and other artistic works.
The Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa
Unity Park, located within the National Palace of Ethiopia , embodies generational legacy of Ethiopia And Ethiopians.Prime minster Dr Abiy has announced that The park will be open to the public as of October 11, following the October 10th launchThe National Palace was Built under Emperor Menelik II over a century ago, the Palace rests on 40,000Sqm of land. For generations, it has been viewed as the epicenter of political power, where the most powerful family in the land resides. The renovated compound incorporates several sights of interest to visitors, including an arena, a playground, a zoo,three churches,House of Royals and an imperial banquet hall.

Day 2: Welliso – Wenchi Crater Lake – Welliso (185 km)

Morning:
We start our journey early in the morning from Addis Ababa west to Welliso, from where we reach Wenchi crater lake located towards the North in less than 2 hours.
Afternoon:
In Wenchi we will take a pleasant walk (optionally also on horseback) through stunning nature. From the rim of the crater we descent into a beautiful valley abundant with rivers. We may also cross the lake in a traditional boat. In the late afternoon, we return to Welliso where we spend the night.Wenchi crater lake, also spelled as Wancii or Wenchi, is a volcano located 98 km (61 mi) west of Addis Ababa .

Day 3: Welliso – Jimma – Bonga (345 km)

After breakfast, we continue westward via Jimma to Bonga. On the way, we will visit the palace of the former Kaffa king Ras Abba Jifar II overlooking the town and the adjacent coffee forests. The palace is a relic of a glorious past when coffee trade gave the king wealth and power. The then economically strong region remained independent from the Ethiopian empire until 1930. After our visit in Jimma, we continue to Bonga (120 km). We will reach the small town of Bonga located in the heart of the Kaffa region and surrounded by fantastic mountainous rain forest in the afternoon.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 4: Full Day in the Bonga Region

Today we start with an excursion to the Alem Genna wetland. An early morning visit not only pays off because of the many bird species and De Brazza monkeys, but also because of the mystical atmosphere created by the landscape shrouded in mist. We walk through the wetland during sunrise and enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast pick nick. After a short stop in Bonga, we will take a pleasant walk to the Barta waterfall (approx. 1 h). The waterfall is over 70 m high surrounded by basalt walls in the middle of the rain forest. On our way back, we will stop at the house of a local bee-keeper producing his own organic forest honey. He will give us some interesting information on bee-keeping and local plants.
For those with plenty of energy left after lunch, we have an option of another interesting walk to some hot springs located in the middle of the rain forest (10 km walks back and forth). However, there are also less strenuous options in this incredibly diverse area.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 5: Excursion to Elevated Areas of the Kaffa Region

Today we explore some of the more elevated areas of the Kaffa biosphere conservation area. The village of Boka lies at an altitude of approx. 3.000 m. Here bamboo grows and is used by the farmers for the construction and fencing of their houses. An unknown number of lions is said to live here in the nearby bamboo forests. We will stop at one of the neat bamboo villages and listen to the stories of a spiritual leader about the king of the animals and more.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 6: Bonga – Jimma

We drive to Jimma in the afternoon and visit the city and its markets.
Jimma (Oromo
Overnight:Hotel

Day 7: Jimma – Addis Abeba

In the morning before the flight to Addis Ababa, we will visit the markets of Jimma known for their wood works. We will then fly back to Addis Ababa.
Evening:
In the evening, you will be invited to a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance show at a renowned restaurant of Addis Ababa. Then you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.