Day 1: Drive Addis Ababa- Ambo
On the way visit the Menagesha state forest and have a short hike through the beautiful old forest. See the Mariyam church and the museum in Addis Alem. This town was supposd to be the new capital under Emperor Menelik II, because of shortage of firewood in Addis Ababa. When fast-growing Eukalyptus was brought from Australia, the capital was moved back to Addis Ababa. Arrival in Ambo, the origin of the famous Ethiopian mineral water. Visit the Gouder Falls in the vicinity of Ambo.

Day 2: Drive Ambo- Weliso
Have a hike or even a horse ride at the Wenchi crater lake and take a boat trip to the Cherkos monastery island. Drive on to Weliso. Dinner and overnight in a lodge with thermal pool.

Day 3: Drive Weliso- Jimma
Drive Weliso- Jimma via Welkite, passing all around the scenic Gibe dam. City tour in Jimma with visit of the Jimma museum, the Abba Jiffar palace and the fascist architecture.

Day 4: Drive Jimma- Mizan Teferi
On the way have a short hike in the beautiful surroundings of Bonga and visit the Wushwush tea plantation.

Day 5: Drive Mizan Teferi- Bebeka coffee plantation
After a short drive you reach the biggest and oldest plantation of Ethiopia. Have a guided tour through the coffee plantation and facilities and stay overnight in the coffee plantation’s beautiful guesthouse.

Day 6: Drive Bebeka- Metu
Drive Bebeka- Metu via Tepi on a scenic route through wild forests and tea and coffe plantations.

Day 7: Visit the Sor Waterfalls within a short drive
short drive and a small hike and drive on further west into the hot humid lowlands of Gambela.

Day 8: Full day excursion into the Gambela National Park
Within a safri drive you will probably see different wild animals like elephants, leopards , buffaloes and many other species of mammals and birds. On the way visit some of the villages of the local tribes anuak and nuer, famous for their body scarifications.

Day 9: Short city tour in Gambela
Short city tour in Gambela and flight back Gambela- Addis Ababa (not daily). Free afternoon or city tour in Addis Ababa.

Today we are traveling through a fertile area where the Gurage people are living, they are known as very hardworking people. The scenic highlight of the day will be the spectacular gorge of the Gibe and Omo rivers. Overnight central Jimma hotel/Similar.

http://www.centraljimmahotel.com

The landscape after Jimma is lush and green. We are traveling through the ancient Kingdom of Kaffa, this is the home of coffee. The Kafficho people are living in this area. Near Wushwush we find one of the largest tea plantations of Ethiopia. Approaching Mizan Teferi we enter the area where the Bench people are living. Overnight Kashini hotel / Similar.

http://www.kashininhotelethiopia.com

This afternoon we will arrive at our camp in the town of Kibish and home to the Surma Tribe. Our camp is a very short walk to the river’s edge where we will spend a lot of time photographing these beautiful people. We will have our first afternoon photo shoot with the Surma.

Accommodation Mobil camp at Kibish by the river side.

We have two full days to spend with the Surma. Our base will be kibish, and we drive in the radius of 40-60km to photography of the Surma, suri, menit, etc. We are staying in the heart of Surma land and many of them will hang out in our campground. When you are able to send this kind of quality time with a tribe you have fantastic opportunities to create stunning and compelling imagery. We will also be able to arrange a night shoot/filming as with the moon lighting the river or around a campfire (the moon is almost full sometimes). We will also put out word and try our best to find a cattle camp. We will be shooting in a variety of locations in the area. No hotel/lodge here. So we will use mobile camping.

Accommodation Mobil camp at Kibish by the river side.

We complete the round trip to Mizan Teferi today via Jemmo and Bachuma. It is a day of driving through Dizi, Me'en and Bench people country. Meeting the people and visiting their villages on the way. Overnight Kashini hotel /Similar.

http://www.kashininhotelethiopia.com

Today we travel back to Jimma, enjoying the lush and green highland scenery. At Bonga we will have a visit of coffee farms as this is one of the best coffee area in the country. Also admire the wishwush team farm and spend some time there. Once in Jimma we visit Abba Jiffar's Palace, he was the last king of the Kingdom of Jimma. Overnight Central hotel / Similar.

Breakfast and Dinner

http://www.centraljimmahotel.com

Today we cross the Ghibe valley and visit some of the gurage villages. Then proceed to Weliso which is one of the best known place for natural hot spa. Enjoy the natural hot spa and the beautiful atmosphere. Overnight at Negash Lodge.

https://negashresort.com/

Morning we drive to Wenchi Lake is a beautiful volcanic crater lake that is famed as “Africa Switzerland”, it is also home to natural forests, hot springs, and waterfalls, as well as a traditional village. It is about 38 Km from Woliso. With less than 50 volcanic lakes in the world, about 5 of them are located in Ethiopia. Lake Wenchi is located 2600 meters above sea level, there is no good environment or food to support fish in it, the water is very clean and free from any odor of water. In fact, it is the second cleanest lake in Africa. After lake Tanganyika. The water of Lake Wonchi is used by locals for drinking, and a recent study from Ambo University shows that it can be used for drinking. Then proceed back to Addis and Evening fare well dinner at one of the city’s best traditional restaurants to enjoy a variety of Ethiopian cuisines and watch traditional dancing, transfer to Bole International airport for the night flight.