Baro River Gateway · Western Ethiopia
Gambela
The capital of the Gambela Region, on the banks of the Baro River in the western lowlands near the border with South Sudan.
- Best Time
- November to March
- Suggested Stay
- 1 to 2 days
- Altitude
- About 500 m
- Region
- Western Ethiopia
Why We Go
A riverside town on the Baro, gateway to Ethiopia’s tropical west.
Gambela lies in the hot, green lowlands of western Ethiopia, where the Baro River flows west towards South Sudan and the Nile. In the early twentieth century the town was a river port leased to Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, and steamers carried coffee and other goods downriver; traces of that era can still be seen along the riverbank.
Today Gambela is home to the Anuak and Nuer peoples, among others, and is the base for expeditions into Gambela National Park. Ethiopian Airlines flies to Gambela from Addis Ababa, and visits are best arranged as part of a tailor-made journey to the west.
Highlights
- Life along the banks of the Baro River
- Anuak and Nuer communities and their traditions
- Traces of the early 20th-century river port
- The starting point for Gambela National Park
Plan This Destination
Build Gambela into your journey
Nothing here is fixed. Tell us how long you have and what else you want to see, and our team will plan the route, including the flights, the guides and the hours that matter.
Let’s Plan Your Ethiopian Adventure
Tell us a little about your travel plans. We’ll help you create a journey that suits your interests.
Discover Ethiopia. Experience the Extraordinary!
Speak to someone who has been there this season
Our guides travel these routes all year. Ask about road conditions, festival dates or the best time to visit. You will get a straight answer.
Or call us directly on +251 912 039405