Sor Waterfall

The Sor river drops over a broad rock lip in the forested hills near Metu, a curtain perhaps twenty metres high and considerably wider, falling into a pool in dense green forest, and the setting is what distinguishes it: this corner of Illubabor is one of the wettest parts of Ethiopia, with rainforest, tree ferns, wild coffee and heavy birdlife. The walk in from the road takes about forty minutes through coffee gardens and forest, descending to the river. The region sees very few foreign visitors and there is no tourism infrastructure to speak of; local guides come from the village. The falls run strongly for most of the year because of the rainfall, which is not true of most Ethiopian waterfalls.

What you actually see

• The wide curtain - the Sor dropping across a broad rock lip.
• Rainforest - dense wet woodland with tree ferns and wild coffee.
• The walk in - forty minutes through coffee gardens to the river.
• Forest birds - turacos, hornbills and highland species along the path.

When to go

November to February is driest, though the falls run well most of the year given the rainfall. The path is very muddy from June to September. Mornings are clearest before cloud builds.

Honest expectations

The path is muddy and slippery in almost any season and the descent is steep in places. There are no facilities. Guides are informal and payment negotiated. Metu is remote, with a long drive from Jimma and limited accommodation.

Nearby

Metu is the base town; Jimma lies east.