Set in the heart of southern Ethiopia just 40 kilometres south of Awassa in the Sidama Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s region of Ethiopia, Yirga Alem – also known as Irgalem – is surrounded by lush greenery and boasts a subtropical climate. It makes for an excellent stopover between Yabello and Addis, offering an array of attractions for visitors to enjoy. Visit the local coffee plantations and sample the world-renowned Ethiopian flavours, said to be some of the world's best coffee; and stay at one of Ethiopia's best tourist lodges which is set amidst wild indigenous forest and serves as an excellent base from which to explore the area. Other highlights include: discovering the ancient rock carvings of Manchiti, viewing the unique stone stelae fields near the town of Dila, and visiting the Yabelo Wildlife Sanctuary, where visitors can catch a glimpse of the rare endemic Swayne’s hartebeest, the white-tailed swallow and the Stresemann’s bush crow.