HomeCategoryJimma

Past the Gibe gorge tourist can enjoy spectacular scenery of the land and vegetation cover which will culminate on the view of the artificial lake of Gilgel Gibe.Enjoy the view of this lake which is made to generate hydroelectric power and the landscape beyond until you reach Jima.  Located at 335 kilometers south west of Finfinnee, is one of the famous coffee growing areas of western Oromia, As one of the world’s coffee exporter Ethiopia owes much to Jimma along with other areas, Jimma area is believed to be the place of the origin of coffee.

Apart from its coffee yield and vegetation, Jimma is also reputed for its history. Owing its origin and establishment to the early Oromo monarchy (one of the five Gibe kingdoms) whose capital was at the site called Wren (9 kilometers north of Jimma town), Jimma is also reputed for its history and intact natural beauty. It was the line of the 19th century long distance trade route whereby 30,000 people used to attend the ancient great Thursday market at Hirmata, the current site of the Jimma town. Historical palace of Sultan Abba Jifar (1853-1925) and Jimma museum antiquities are also among the major historical heritage that make Jimma one of the major tourist destinations of Oromia.

Tourist activities

• Mentioned on the above same topic

Before being incorporated into the central Christian Empire of Ethiopia, Jimma was one and the strongest of the five autonomous Gibe kingdoms of the Oromo people under the leadership of Abba Jifar Abba Gomal, best known as king Abba Jifar also known by his Islamic name (Sultan Muhammad Dawud Ibn Ibrahim) of Jimma.

Towards the end of 1860’s king Abba Jifar built his palace at Jiren which costed him 400 kg.of gold and 65,000 Maria Theresa and still stands with colourful architectural beauty. In the compound of the palace still stand other four buildings: the public mosquareue, the mosquareue of Abba Jifar, residential palace of Abba Jifar and residential building of Abba Jobir Abba Dula (the grandson of Abba Jifar). Jimma Museum displays most of historic materials of king Abba Jifar, his kingdom and cultural objects of local Oromo people and other ethnic groups around Kafa. The first set of collection in this museum is the personal household furniture of the king which include beds of Abba Jifar, tables, arm chairs, utensils, religious manuscripts and others.

Tourist activities already listed under the same topic

Jimma (Oromo: Jimma also spelled Jimmaa, is the largest city in southwestern Oromia Region in Ethiopia. It is a special zone of the Oromia Region and is surrounded by Jimma Zone. It has a latitude and longitude of 7°40′N 36°50′E. The town was the capital of Kaffa Province until the province was dissolved. Prior to the 2007 census, Jimma was reorganized administratively as a special Zone.