Sidama Region – Where the Coffee Grows
On this coffee tour, you will discover a stunning section of the Ethiopian Great Rift Valley, where some of the finest coffees in the world originate. Settled in a lodge amidst an old coffee plantation, you’ll experience Ethiopia’s coffee culture right at your doorstep.At Lake Langano, enjoy a stopover to soak in the beauty of Ethiopia’s only swimmable lake.
Accompanied by one of our experienced Bale Trek Ethiopia Tours guides, your coffee journey begins in Addis Ababa, following the Great Rift Valley into the lush Sidama coffee region.This trip can easily be extended by one or several days. If you need more information, just ask our Travel Experts.
Optional extensions to the Danakil Depression or Southern Ethiopia are available to enrich your adventure. Contact us to tailor your journey!
Day 1: The Great African Rift Valley at Lake Batu / Ziway
You will be picked up by your guide and driver from your location in Addis Ababa after breakfast to start your journey. Heading south, you’ll soon arrive in the Great African Rift Valley, passing the majestic Zuqualla Volcano near Bishoftu / Debre Zeit.
Joining the main road to Kenya, you’ll follow a chain of stunning Rift Valley lakes. At Lake Batu, your guide will show you around the lakeshore at Liben, with opportunities to spot waterbirds. It’s also a great spot for an early lunch at Liben Lodge.
Continuing south past Lakes Langano, Abijata, and Shalla (to be explored later in the trip), you’ll drive further to Yirga Alem. Arriving in the late afternoon, you’ll have time to explore the lodge compound an old coffee plantation and enjoy a bonfire and traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony before dinner. Dinner at the lodge offers a unique mix of local and international cuisine for a special culinary experience. Accommodation: Aregash Lodge, Yirga Alem
Day 2: Explore the Coffee Farmers of Sidama
Today is all about discovering where coffee really grows. Around your lodge, Sidama farmers live lives rooted in smallholder agriculture, often growing enset (a banana-like plant cultivated for its root) alongside coffee. Many coffee beans don’t make it to export but are instead sold in local markets or sent to Addis Ababa.
With your guide, you’ll walk through the villages, meet local farmers, and gain insight into their daily lives. The Sidama people are incredibly welcoming and often invite visitors into their homes, offering fresh coffee brewed in a jebana (traditional Ethiopian clay coffee pot) and tastes of enset.
After your village visits, return to the lodge for a relaxed afternoon and evening. Aregash Lodge is also a great spot to observe wildlife wake up early for a morning stroll through the forest. Lodge guards are happy to show you Colobus monkeys and the hyenas you may have heard laughing through the night.
Accommodation: Aregash Lodge, Yirga Alem
Day 3: Swim, Relax, and Walk at Lake Langano
After breakfast, begin your journey to Lake Langano (approx. 2–3 hours’ drive). This is the only lake in Ethiopia safe for swimming bilharzia cannot survive in its alkaline waters.
Hara Langano Lodge is among the best accommodations at the lake, offering stunning scenery and abundant wildlife. From the forested compound, you can spot numerous birds and sometimes a nearby family of hippos. Enjoy a swim, paddle out in a kayak, or simply relax.
In the afternoon, take a walk with your guide in a nearby forest reserve, where the peaceful surroundings offer the chance to spot more wildlife and soak in the serene atmosphere. Accommodation: Hara Langano Lodge, Lake Langano
Day 4: Flamingos in Abijata-Shalla National Park
There’s no rush to leave early today. For early risers, we recommend a morning game drive in the nearby Abijata-Shalla National Park. Enter the park just after sunrise for the best chance to see wildlife and waterbirds. This park is known for its large colonies of Lesser Flamingos along the lakeshores. After the excursion, enjoy a hearty breakfast back at the lodge.
Not an early bird? No problem you can visit the park after breakfast. Just note that as the day gets hotter, wildlife tends to retreat, and local livestock may disturb the area more.
Whether you go early or later, take your time at Lake Langano. Rooms should be vacated by 11:00 AM, but we recommend staying until 2:00 PM, which still allows plenty of time to return to Addis before dark.
On the way back, consider stopping for dinner at a highly recommended Indian restaurant in Debre Zeit (Bishoftu) a delicious end to your trip!