On the way from Jimma to Mettu via Aggaro and Bedelle towns, the wonderful scenery through vast and extensive tropical forests is fascinating. Mettu, the capital city of Illu Abba Bora zone, is situated at 255 kilometers from Jimma and 600kilometres from Addis Ababa. The main road from Mettu to Gore passing through Bechu leads visitors to Sor Waterfalls which is located 27 kilometers from Mettu.
The Sor River is found in southwestern Ethiopia. It has water falls in its courses. It creates one of the most beautiful falls in Oromia. It is a tributary of the Birbir River on its left side and empties to Gebba River in Nekemte, Wollega.
Kebede, Oromia Culture and Tourism Bureau Head, told The Ethiopian Herald that the Dangawaj, Saqa and Sor water falls are categorized under the South Western Tourist routes. The route is rich in river falls and tropical forest vegetation which makes it one of the most resourceful areas in Oromia, underscored the Bureau.
Kebede added that Sor waterfall is one of the tourism sites anticipated by the bureau.The bureau has launched a project following the river and the tourism potential of the river. The project has created job opportunity for the youth. The bureau played its role by providing loan and training the youth, he pointed out.
Ms. Rosa Mohammed, Culture and Tourism Bureau Head of Illu Abba Bora Zone, depicted that Sor river projects are benefitting a good number of people. The dwellers of Bechu village have earned income from Sor one and two projects in various ways.
The villagers rent horses, and mules. They also are hired as a local tour guide. An organized group of youths are working to provide these necessary goods and services. Most youths are engaged in the service of providing the visitors with food and drink. A good number of females are involved in supplying traditional coffee, explained the Director.
Moreover, the river is giving life to the surrounding lives. The green vegetation and the coffee plantation surrounding the river highly depend on the river, she added. The wild coffee plantation along the river is creating a huge income for the local people. The evergreen coffee plantation yields once in a year. This farming is changing the life of many people, added the Head.
She explained that the river is contributing a lot to the coffee market besides its tourism attraction. The wild lives in the forest also rely on the river for their survival especially during the Ethiopian winter. Various wild animals are found in the forest some of them include diverse species of birds, baboon, monkeys, apes, and buffalo, as to her.
As to Rosa the river has two waterfalls namely Sor waterfall one and two. The water fall pours over the lip of a broad chasm over 20 meters deep. It falls downward creating charming scenery at the basement of the water fall. The steam formed by the water adds beauty to the waterfall, she elaborated.
“The natural scenery, heavily overgrown with tree ferns and grasses, forms a delightful spot to flavor the primal atmosphere of Illu Abba Bora Zone and the scenic beauty of the water fall. The intact natural vegetation and wildlife that took shelters is attraction for sightseeing” said Rosa.
She suggested that as one walk through the forest teeming with different bird species, buffaloes, and monkeys; Sor River waterfalls suddenly drop 20m over the lip of a wide chasm into fern-lined scenery. One can take a dip in the pool below, as to her.
Kemal Abdi, a youth from Bechu village, told The Ethiopian Herald that he is a member of the youth association. And he has benefitted from the project by renting horse and training the tourists galloping on a horseback. Some other members also rent horses and mules. Some of his colleagues provide the tourists with local food and beverages, as to him.
As to Kemal one can take daily minibus from Metu to Bechu in the morning and arrive there after a three-hour- journey. After quarter an hour down walk through Yayo forest and coffee plantation, on a narrow path, one would see will come to one of Ethiopia’s most magnificent and delightful waterfalls of Sor River. After finishing the wonderful view of the falls, one may have to go back to Metu or spend the night in Bechu, he illustrated.
Kebede Fufa, Oromia Hotels and Tourism Professionals Association (OHPTA) Director, on his part told that the natural resources in the regional state would yield a great deal of income for the state provided that the problems related to the tourism industry solved.
As to Ketama, OHTPA is established mainly to solve problems related to the industry. It is aimed at filling the gap between the Bureau and other stakeholders. The association is working to enhance the actualization of the necessary infrastructure to augment the tourism industry, he confirmed.
The Ethiopian Herald August 24/2019
BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
