The popular legend of coffee in Ethiopia starts with a boy called Kaldi, a goat herder who discovered the energetic effect of coffee unexpectedly. Kaldi noticed the exciting prancing of his goats and decided to try the beans himself. Enjoying its stimulating effect he shared his findings with the surrounding monks in the monastery who found the uplifting effects of coffee to be beneficial in keeping them awake during their spiritual practice. The rest like they say is history.

With ample rainfall, appropriate temperature, and fertile soil, Ethiopia grows varieties of washed and sundried/natural Arabica coffees in East, South and Western parts of the country. Ethiopian farmers cultivate coffee in four different systems-forest coffee, semi-forest coffee, garden coffee and plantation coffee. Centuries of local knowledge of coffee cultivation, growing process emphasizing intrinsic qualities, and the country’s incredible geographical and cultural diversity are some of the reasons for the different and unique favor varieties available in the market. Among the most sought after, well known coffee types in the country are Sidama, Harar, Limu/Jimma, Yirgacheffe and Bebeka.

Ethiopia Orgins of Coffee Tour

Day 1: Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour

Arrival at Addis Ababa , be greeted and transferred to your hotel. After check in to the hotel and having a brief rest, you will have a sightseeing tour which includes the following:

Trinity Cathédral Church :-A beautiful church with a baroque style of European architecture which is unique to both Ethiopian and Africa and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

National Museum :-It comprises of many archeological and historical findings including the famous complete hominid fossil remains of ‘Lucy’ locally known as Dinknesh meaning Wonderful. Visiting this museum is having a good summary for your visit to the historic Ethiopia

Ethnological Museum:-It is founded in the main campus of the Addis Ababa University by the institute of Ethiopian studies with the aim of to preserve the country’s historical and cultural heritages. It has complete collections that describe almost all the tribal groups in Ethiopia.

Entoto  Mountain :-It is the highest pick in Addis with an altitude of 3200 meters, which was the site for the first palace of Emperor Menilik II the founder of Addis Ababa .Here there is St.Marry church, here Emperor Menilik crowned in it and you will admire the panoramic view of the city with its surrounding forests with its breathe taking site.

 Merkato :-It is the largest open- air market in Africa and you will enjoy the Ethiopian trade exchange tradition in the open air.

Day 2: Addis – Weliso

You’ll start the journey towards the western coffee region of Kaffa.
First, we will visit Mt Menagesha, 3,400 m, an extinct volcano, which hosts the Menagesha State Forest, one of the oldest reforestation projects in the country. Here you take a short walk to experience the special flora.Later, we will drive through the city of Addis Alem, where Emperor Menelik II wanted to build the new capital because of wood shortages in Addis Ababa.
On the Mt Wenchi, we will take a hike through another extinct volcano further south, see the hot springs, and visit the monastery island that lies in the Crater Lake by boat.
Overnight in a beautiful lodge in Weliso, surrounded by breathtaking nature, populated by diverse species of birds. Relaxation is offered here by the thermal springs – Negash Lodge

Day 3: Weliso- Bonga

The trip continues through Jimma, the largest and most important city in western Ethiopia. Jimma welcomes you with a monumental coffee pot at the roundabout.  You will also visit the Coffee Research Center in JimmaMelko – where you’ll learn a lot about the genetic diversity of coffee plants, farming methods and protection against pests. After lunch, we’ll drive to Bonga, the former capital of the kingdom of Kaffa, which was the origin of the coffee, and it is still the region in which one of the best and most popular coffees is harvested. Overnight Hotel

Day 4: Bonga and surroundings

After a short ride and a half an hour walk you’ll reach the origin of coffee plant, from which all other coffee plants derive. This is the real birthplace of coffee.

Legend said that a young goatherd named Kaldi watched his goats became hyperactive after they ate beans from a bush. Soon had the news spread about the godly effect of the plant, the monks could pray longer without tiredness. The slave-trade route to the east spread the popularity of the coffee from the Kaffa region to Harar, from there to Arabia and further into the world. The afternoon is free to explore the beautiful natural surroundings of Bonga and Overnight Hotel

Day 5: Bonga /MizanTeferi / Bebeka coffee plantation

Drive to MizanTeferi. On the way, we will have a short hike in the beautiful surroundings of Bonga and visit the Wushwush tea plantation. Then drive to Bebeka coffee plantation. After a short drive you’ll reach to Bebeka Coffee Plantation-the biggest and oldest plantation of Ethiopia. You’ll have a guided tour through the coffee plantation and facilities. Then drive back to MizanTeferi for overnight

Day 6: MizanTeferi -Jimma

In order to start the morning caffeinated, we will have a morning coffee tour around Bonga on the way to Jimma. Up on arrival at Jimma, you will be taken to the former palace of the Kaffa king Abba Jiffar II who died 1933.  The environs of Jimma produce a large part of Ethiopian coffee.

Day 7: Jimma-Awassa

Today is a long trip to visit the other best coffee plantation area of the Yirgachefee. So we will pass through Sodo to get Awassa. Overnight hotel.

Day 8: Awassa – YirgaCheffe- YirgaAlem

After breakfast drive to Yirgacheffe, where one of the most popular coffees in the world is harvested. In this area, several coffee cooperatives with lovely plantations can be seen. The interesting aroma, full of citrus, and also floral notes – making Yirgacheffe one of the best growing coffee in the world.

In the late afternoon you reach the beautiful Aregash Lodge which is surrounded by coffee plants, forests and wilderness. An ideal place for coffee lovers to relax and to let fade away your day.

Day 9: Coffee tours around YirgaCheffe- YirgaAlem

Spend the whole day visiting small farms, different cooperatives, and some of the facilities created by the Oromia Union.  Then, transfer to Yirgalemand spend the rest of the day enjoying the lush and verdant scenery or enjoy a bushwalk in the nearby countryside. Overnight at Aregash Lodge

Day 10: YirgaAlem- Addis Ababa

In the morning, you will visit the bustling fish market at Lake Awassa. And then continue driving to Addis Ababa. For lunch you have a short break in the small town of DebreZeit/Bishoftu. The city is situated around several small crater lakes and a popular day trip destination for locals of Addis Ababa. In the evening, we will invite you to a farewell dinner with presentation of traditional dances and music and it will be end of the trip.