Attractions in Western Ethiopia
CULTURE
Anuaks, Nuer, and the Oromo People
The Anuak people live in villages along the river banks of the lowlands of Gambela and both the Anuak and Nuer people are distinguished from other Ethiopians by their height and very dark skin. In terms of decoration, both groups wear wood or shell and horn necklaces but the Nuer alone receive facial scarrings as part of their initiation into adulthood. Both groups still harvest fish from the river Baro using spears but the Nuer are primarily cattle herders and are more gregarious than the Anuak. The Oromoes, numerically the biggest tribe in the country dominates most of the settlements in the west, they are mixed farmers and they live in very fertile and scenically attractive land. There are some remarkable and colourful weekly markets in the Oromo region which gets the interest of tourists.
Our company now offers a newly designed tour to this region, which is mainly about discovering the origin of coffee and other coffee growing areas in Ethiopia combined with cultural tours and photo safaris. For more information visit our sample tour programs in the itinerary page.
HISTORY
The western part of Ethiopia historically has remained as one of the most important and powerful political entities of Ethiopian economy. Blessed with richly fertile soils and noted for its fine coffee, the western highlands served as important centers of commerce at the junction of several trade routes. In the 19th century, the western part of Ethiopia had one of the biggest weekly market in Africa, where there could be up to 30,000 people involved in exchanging goods every Thursday at a place called Hirmata. Besides Coffee; Gold and other precious metals, Ivory and Slaves were other commodities exchanged at western Ethiopia in market places.
NATURE
Lake Wenchi, Natural Forest & Gambella
The Gambela region is tropical and hot with rich, fertile soil and highlights include Gambela National Park and tropical rain forest reserves, containing exotic wildlife. The area around Jimma is one of the main coffee growing regions of the country. Ethiopia, renowned to be the water tower for Eastern and Northern part of Africa, it is in this part of the country where the source for some of the main rivers is located. Lake Wenchi is a beautiful volcanic crater lake near the town of Ambo.