Mizan Teferi

Take a morning or midday domestic flight from Addis Ababa to Jimma, the historic heartland of Ethiopian coffee. Upon arrival, you will be picked up at Jimma Airport to begin your overland journey southwest through the lush, rolling highlands and forest landscapes dotted with highland villages. Along the way, enjoy views of fertile lands and coffee farms where some of Ethiopia’s finest Arabica beans are grown under the shade of native trees. The road gradually leaves the central highlands and enters the greener southwest of the country, an area known for its rich soils, forests, and diverse ethnic communities. Stop for short breaks or a local coffee ceremony en route before arriving in Mizan Teferi by late afternoon. Settle into your hotel and enjoy a relaxed evening.

Gambela Region

We will leave early and drive northwest to the town of Meti, the main settlement in the densely forested Majang homeland. The road passes through increasingly thick forest and remote rural areas as we approach the Majang Zone. Upon arrival, we will meet up with our local guide and begin exploring the surrounding rainforest in search of the rarely visited Majang. The Majang live in small, scattered villages connected by narrow forest paths. Their language is related to those of the Suri and Mursi tribes further south, and they share distant cultural ties with these groups. They are little-known outside of this corner of Ethiopia and see few outsiders, making this a truly non-touristic experience. The forest here is rich in wildlife, and not many signs of modern civilization are found in this vast area.

Gambela Region

Spend the day with the Majang in their remote forest environment. This region forms part of the Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve, an area recognized for its important tropical forest ecosystems and traditional forest-based livelihoods. Take short treks to visit nearby villages, observe their daily life, and learn about their traditional honey gathering, forest farming, and deep spiritual connection to the jungle. The Majang regard the forest as sacred, and you will gain insight into their traditions and oral stories that have been passed down through generations. You may also see how forest products such as wild honey, fruits, and medicinal plants play an important role in their way of life. In the evening, enjoy a meal by the campfire.

Gambela Region

Continue your journey through the forest to visit the nearby Shabo (Sabu), another little-known tribe in the region. Until recently, the Shabo were Ethiopia’s last hunter-gatherers and are considered the closest living relatives of the earliest inhabitants of Ethiopia. Today, some Shabo families combine hunting and gathering with small-scale farming and interaction with neighboring groups. Spend the afternoon learning about their forest-based lifestyle and their symbiotic relationship with the Majang. The Shabo’s knowledge of medicinal plants and wildlife is extensive, and their traditions are still partially intact. Their settlements are usually small and scattered, reflecting their long tradition of living within the forest environment.

Mizan Teferi

In the morning, we will say goodbye to the Shabo and Majang and make our return trip south to Mizan Teferi to freshen up from our time in the jungle. The drive back provides another opportunity to enjoy the scenery of the forested southwest and the rural landscapes of the region. Spend a leisurely afternoon in Mizan Teferi, resting up for the next day's early departure and journey. You may choose to take a short walk through town or relax at the hotel after several days of camping in remote areas.

Gambela Region

Leave early and head south toward the land of the Sheko. The Sheko are primarily farmers, culturally similar to the Dizi, Dime, and Ari peoples further east. They cultivate crops such as maize, sorghum, and coffee in the fertile soils of the region. They are also the traditional guardians of the Gura Ferda cloud-forest, a mist-covered plateau that is almost unknown to the outside world. Upon arrival, we will meet with the locals and begin our ascent into the forest, surrounded by dense vegetation and unknown wildlife. As the road climbs, the air becomes cooler and the vegetation thicker, gradually transitioning into montane rainforest.

Gambela Region

Continue your trek upward toward the rainforested plateau, exploring this virtually untouched wilderness. Hike through thick jungle trails, alive with the sounds of birds and insects, where unexpected encounters may await. This forest is uniquely rich in biodiversity, and you may encounter monkeys, colorful birds, and a variety of endemic flora and fauna, including the occasional leopard. Towering trees, hanging moss, and dense undergrowth create an atmospheric environment typical of Ethiopia’s remaining cloud forests. Spend the evening by the campfire in this serene setting.

After an early breakfast, begin your descent from the plateau and trek back down toward the Sheko farmlands. Enjoy scenic views as you leave the misty forest behind. After finally reaching the bottom, we will drive to Kibish, the only town in the territory of the Suri tribe. The Suri are composed of several subgroups—the Tirma, Chai, Baale (called Kacipo in South Sudan), and Luholi. Their homeland lies in a remote area close to the border with South Sudan, where cattle herding plays a central role in daily life and cultural identity. After our afternoon arrival, we will meet up with our local guide and mingle with the nearby Tirma-Suri as we set up camp for the night.

In the morning, we will drive east to a rarely visited Chai village. The Chai are less visited and correspondingly more traditional than the Tirma, and their remote location ensures an authentic cultural experience. Spend the afternoon immersed in the daily life of the Chai. Learn about their striking traditions—lip plates and ear plugs worn by women, intricate body scarification, and the symbolic stick-fighting ceremonies that represent courage and status. If the timing aligns, witness a Donga stick-fighting match, a ritualized contest of skill and bravery among young men. Engage with local families, observe their customs, and gain insight into how beauty and status are intertwined with cattle ownership. The Suri people are also known for their distinctive body painting using natural pigments, which may be seen during village visits.

After breakfast, we will drive east through the sugar plantations surrounding the Omo River and continue to the land of the Bodi tribe. The landscape gradually opens into savannah and riverine plains as we approach the Omo Valley. The Bodi, northern neighbors of the Mursi, are known for their annual Ka’el “fattest man” competitions, which celebrate abundance and fertility. Spend the afternoon in a remote Bodi village, learning about their traditional beliefs, diet based on milk and blood, and their strong attachment to cattle culture. Cattle are central to Bodi social life and are closely tied to wealth, marriage, and community status. In the evening, relax at your campsite and enjoy your final night in the wild.

Spend the morning with the Bodi tribe, observing their daily routines and interacting with community members before beginning the drive to Jinka in the early afternoon. The journey passes through the diverse landscapes of the Omo Valley, home to several different ethnic groups and traditional cultures. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel to relax and recharge after several days of travel and camping in remote areas.

Jinka

Depending on the time of your flight, morning or midday airport drop-off in Jinka.