Dilla/ YirgaChefe
Gedeo Zone is located south of Sidama zone and it is one of a unique and rich landscape in the country in terms of the cultural Agro-forestry practices. Each of the Gedeo farmers is known for Enset (false banana) and coffee together with old trees in his pieces of farmland. Live tree cutting is highly criticized in the Gedeo people tradition. Viewing the forested cultural landscape along the main international road (Addis-Moyale Road) and on different vantage point along the road is highly breathtaking and unique. Most tourists visit the Agro-forestry land of Gedeo on foot following the different footpath guided by local guide.
Dilla, administrative centre of Gedeo zone, is located south of Hawassa just and it is the borderline of Sidama and Gedeo zone. It represents a kind of epicenter of the Southern Ethiopia tradition of stelae erection..
Tutu Fela, Tutit and Scoro-Sodo stelae sites are the most impressive and located with interval of average some 6 to 10 km along the high way with additional 2 to 4 km away from the high way. The Gedeo zone landscape is highly breathtaking for traveler along the high way in which big old trees mixed with coffee and Enset is common cultural practices for any Gedeo farmer. No open place has seen on the Gedeo landscape. Tourist can visit the Gedeo agricultural land (Mixture of tree, coffee and Enset) following the traditional footpath with help of local guide. Currently, there is some movement from the Region and local administrations to nominate, the Gedeo cultural landscape (which comprises tree, coffee and Enset a type of agro-forestry) together with the numerous historical stelae sites, as a world heritage sites.
Yirga-Chefe, the administrative center of Wenago-Werda of Gedeo Zone, is located about 20 km south of Dila along the highway of Addis to Moyale. Traveler usually makes a brake in Yirgachefe to get the tasty and flavored coffee in the suitable hotels and restaurant available in the town. Yirgachefe Coffee Farmer Cooperatives union is an umbrella organization of 23 primary cooperatives. There are 44000 member farmers organized under these primary cooperatives are beneficiaries of the export price, which is the result of the activities of the union. The union exports high quality premium Arabica organic coffee.
Market: The most interesting market in Gedeo Zone is the Dila market. It is one of the big Market which stands everyday. Other Market is Wonago (Thursday), Yyirgachefe ( Saturday ) . It is worth to see the various agricultural products such as Enset and coffee and cattle on market day. Public transport to Hawassa and the surrounding small town is available in the Dila Bus station.
Place to stay:- there are a number of hotels and restaurant that provide services for tourist in Dila town. These includes: Get Smart Restaurant, Zeleke Hotel
Visitors who come to Gedeo Zone can have information about the attractions of the Zone from the Gedeo Zone State Communication Culture and Tourism Office found in Dila town
Address
Gedeo Zone State Communication and Culture & Tourism department
Po. Box
Telephone: +251463313088/ +251463312506
Fax: +251463313152
Dila |
