Western
Gambela
Hot lowlands on the Baro River and a vast dry-season migration of white-eared kob.
Western Ethiopia
Benishangul
Asosa and Bambasi on the Sudan border: Berta music, bamboo hills and the Blue Nile.
Overview
About Benishangul
In Asosa the Berta play the waza, long trumpets of gourd and bamboo, each sounding one note that joins the next in a moving chord. Muslim sheikhdoms once ruled from Asosa and Bambasi, and traders crossed with gold and salt.
Further down, the Blue Nile fills the reservoir of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, inaugurated in September 2025, and Gumuz villages farm the hot lowlands.
- Region
- Western
- Best time
- October to April
Highlights
What makes it worth the journey
Highlights
- Berta waza music
- Sheikh Hojele’s palace in Asosa
- Bamboo hills near Bambasi
- The Blue Nile lowlands
Things to do
- Walk the Asosa market
- Visit a Berta village
- See the Blue Nile lowlands
Plan your visit
Before you go
Best time to visit
October to April
Getting there
Flights from Addis Ababa to Asosa.
Getting around
By 4x4 with a local guide; carry your passport for checkpoints.
Good to know
- A malaria area; bring repellent.
- The region is under official travel warnings; tours are paused.
Gallery
A look at Benishangul
Photos: Unsplash
Keep exploring
More places to see
Western
Central
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia’s capital: museums, markets and the birthplace of many a coffee ceremony.
Afar
Danakil Depression
Discover Danakil Depression.
Let us plan your Benishangul trip
Tell us when you want to travel and what you love. A local specialist will reply with a suggested plan and a clear price.