Western Ethiopia’s Anuak people believe that if you keep walking, you will eventually fall off the world’s end. If you keep walking west in Ethiopia, you will fall into another world. A trip through the lush ‘birthplace of coffee’ can be richly rewarding and eye-opining (thanks to the scenery- not the caffeine!).

BONGA (BIRTHPLACE OF COFFEE’)
Bonga used to form part of the great Kingdom Kefa, the birth place of coffee’. and the name of coffee were initially derive from the place itself kefa, In the surrounding area are a number of unexcavated historical sites, including what’s thought to kefa be an ancient burial site for kings. Various battle sites, including defensive ditches believed to date from the 14th century, and some 500- year- old churches, have also been found. There’s also terrific potential for hiking in the surrounding hills, caves, waterfalls, natural bridges, hot springs, natural forest, wildlife and birdlife are all found close to town.

BEBEKA COFFEE’ PLANTATION
Twenty–eight kilometers southwest of Mizan-Teferi is Ethiopia’s largest and oldest Coffee’ plantation. A tour of around 10,000 hectare plantation gives a fascinating insight into Ethiopia’s most important export. Around 15,000 quintals of Arabica coffee are produced annually; during the harvest up to 22,000 workers are employed. Almost 1500 hectares are devoted to honey production and experimental spice and fruit plantation. The honey is delicious, pots can normally be provided. Spices grown include black pepper, cardamom and cinnamon, while bananas, oranges, jack fruits, and pineapples are some of the fruits dotting the plantation’s hills.

GAMBELLA NATIONAL PARK
Located about 600 kilometres from Addis Ababa on the river Baro, Gambela has a strange history. From 1902 until it was captured by the Italians in the Second World War, it was administered by the British, the only part of Ethiopia to be so governed,

The reason for this is that the British opened a port there on the wide and navigable Baro River, which during four months of the rainy season is navigable and provides direct access to the sea via the Nile through Khartoum. Ethiopian coffee was exported via this route, up to 1940. Now the port has fallen into disrepair, though remains of the warehouses and jetty can be seen. At its peak, up to 40 ships would be in dock at any one time. Gambela (sometimes spelt Gambella) gives access to the GambeIa National Park.

Beyond Gambela towards the Sudanese border, the Anuak cultivators give way to the nomadic Nuer. These pastoralists herd their long-horned cattle into huge camps when they stop for the night.

In the river are to be found huge Nile perch, up to 100 kilograms, crocodiles and hippos. Other wildlife includes buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, Roan antelope, zebra, bushbuck, Abyssinian reedbuck, warthog, hartebeest, hyena, lion and elephant. Unfortunately, there are very few animals to be seen in the park, but the birds are many and varied, the olive baboon and the local race of the vervet, with its white whiskers, are the very common, as is the black and white colobus monkey.