Ethiopian Coffee Tours (Jimma, Yirga Cheffe & Harar) – 10 days
Here are some key reasons to explore the incredible world of coffee:
Cultural Heritage: Ethiopia is often considered the birthplace of coffee. Legend has it that a 9th-century Ethiopian goat herder named Kaldi discovered coffee when he noticed his goats became more energetic after eating certain berries. This historical connection makes coffee deeply ingrained in Ethiopian culture.
Economic Importance: Coffee is a major contributor to Ethiopia’s economy. It is one of the country’s most significant exports and a crucial source of foreign exchange earnings.
Much of the coffee grown in Kaffa is grown in coffee forests amidst a diverse mix of plant and animal life. Coffee forests offer an incredible amount of genetic diversity
These tours bring you to the origin of coffee. They take you to the Mother Coffee Tree in the coffee forest of Kaffa region in south west Ethiopia. This is the place where Kaldi the goat herder discovered coffee.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and city tour of Addis Ababa
Upon your arrival, our staff will extend a warm welcome and assist in transferring you to your hotel. The name “Addis Ababa” in Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia, translates to “New Flower.”
Founded in 1886 by Menelik II, Addis Ababa is situated at an altitude of 2,500 meters in the Entoto mountain chain (3,000 meters above sea level). The city boasts a delightful climate year-round, with an average temperature of 25ºC.
Addis Ababa offers a pleasant ambiance, captivating museums, and the open-air market known as the “Merkato.” A city tour can be arranged to visit museums.
Day 2: Drive to Jimma (345 kms)
Embark on an early morning journey to Jimma, passing through Weliso, where the local culture, unique food preparation, and distinctive house architecture provide an enriching experience. Visit a Gurage village before exploring local coffee farms in Jimma, engaging in a quest to determine who makes the best coffee.
Day 3; Drive to Keffa. Today’s journey takes you to Keffa, the original source of coffee arabica. Explore local coffee farms in Keffa, offering an opportunity to evaluate and appreciate the nuances of coffee production.
Day 4; Day trip to Bebeka. From Keffa, drive to Bebeka, home to the largest coffee farm in Ethiopia. Assess the quality of coffee and return to Jimma.
Day 5; Drive to Awassa (450 kms) Visit Sidama and Yirga Chefe, prominent coffee arabica production areas.
Day 6; Hawassa – Yirga Cheffe (121 kms) Drive to Yirga Cheffe to explore coffee farms and the coffee union, discerning the best coffee before returning to Awassa for the night.
Day 7; Drive to Adama (186 kms) Following a leisurely breakfast, depart for Adama, also known as Nazreth. En route, stop at Lake Ziway, offering a captivating blend of nature and culture with abundant hippos and birdlife.
Day 8; Drive to Harar (325 kms) after breakfast, journey to Harar, an ancient walled city in eastern Ethiopia. Known as one of Islam’s holy towns in Africa, Harar is considered the “fourth holy city” of Islam and the capital of a minority region within Christian Ethiopia.
Day 9; Excursion in Harar city, Explore the unique cultural heritage of Harar, distinguished by 82 mosques, shrines, and traditional townhouses with captivating interior designs. The city’s layout reflects a 16th-century Islamic town, featuring narrow alleyways, imposing facades, and a long-standing tradition of feeding meat to spotted hyenas, evolving into a mesmerizing night show for tourists.
Day 10; Drive back to Addis Ababa (510 kms) Conclude your journey with a drive back to Addis Ababa, where you will be dropped off at your hotel or the airport.
