About
The Southern Nations Region is one of the regions of Ethiopia, in the east of Africa, and it is known above all for its people. It is home to more than 80 different ethnic groups, which makes it one of the most ethnically diverse parts of the country. For a visitor, that diversity is the main reason to come: languages, customs, music, dress and daily life change noticeably from one area to the next.
What a visit offers
- Cultural richness: the region's many communities keep their own traditions, so a trip here is as much about meeting people as about seeing places.
- Agricultural landscapes: the region is noted for its farming, and the fields, crops and rural villages give a clear picture of how much of Ethiopian life is built on the land.
- A deeper view of Ethiopia: visitors who travel beyond the better-known northern sites find a different side of the country here.
Planning your trip
The region is best suited to travellers who are curious about cultural variety and want to spend time outside the main tourist circuit. Because the communities are so varied, it helps to arrange your route in advance and to ask locally about which events, markets or villages are open to visitors. Taking time to listen and to ask questions will make the visit more rewarding than a quick passage through.