Dorze Village- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Reviews of Dorze Village

• bk Med

  4

  Reviewed: 2024-09-10

  Very amazing reception from the local people representatives. Very hospitable and eager to show their life style.

• Kidus Mulugeta

  5

  Reviewed: 2024-08-16

  I am guide and all my guests are happy because there is cultural weaving practice and making kocho traditional food that my guests would practice

• Dori Travels

  2

  Reviewed: 2023-09-16

  Dorze was our first tribe we visited in Ethiopia. In the meantime we were there 2x with our family and unfortunately we can not recommend it. At least not this village where we were. You get a brief overview of how weaving is done, how it looks in the huts and how fake banana bread is made. We always had the impression that we are not welcome and it is only done because it must be done. Almost no friendly faces, no smiles. At the end of the tour you can dance with the singing women and dress up on traditionalDorze clothes. If you want to be involved, you can have fun. Apparently it's a tradition to drink some shots and sing loud toasts. Once we didn't want to drink liquor because it was still morning and we were scorned for it. Why can't a non-alcoholic option be offered? However, what bothered us extremely was the constant request to buy something or even more to support the village and give the woman big donationd for singing. Of course I understand that the people are dependent on donations. Here, however, it took place in such a penetrance that we really felt uncomfortable. No recommendations from us if this intrusiveness is not changed. Really a pity. And one last point: on the way up and down to the village, kids jump in front of your car to get some Birr for dancing. Please be super careful!

• Aron Tamene

  5

  Reviewed: 2023-06-20

  Interesting place to vist. One hour driving from arbaminch. Beautiful land scape with nice views. The people of dorze are very nice. Highly recommend !!

• Silvan Aemisegger

  5

  Reviewed: 2023-02-04

  a bit more than a one hour drive from arba minch you will find this dorze mender (village of the dorze people) which is absolutely worth a visit! if ever you should visit arba minch, take the chance: hire a local driver and visit the village. after leaving arba minch you will drive 20 minutes alongside lake abaye in the plain of the main ethiopian rift. from there, the street climbs about 1100 meter (with an amazing view over the valley) to the village of chencha. the dorze village is an „open-air museum“. you will be welcomed by a tour guide, who will introduce you to some main aspects of the dorze culture, such as housing and construction (the elephant-shaped bamboo houses), food (enset, kocho), weaving and dancing. the whole trip will take you at least half a day. some may say, the guided tour is a pure performance of the village people. my opinion is: yes, it is an open-air museum. but it is definitely an impressive experience, which teaches a lot about the beautiful dorze culture. and it was a feast for the eyes to see the beautiful handicrafted textiles (shemane). many things you will see there, you can also find in the ethiopian culture (e.g. kocho). and last but not least: the dorze village is a cooperative. by taking the tour, you will support the whole cooperative. all in all, it is a very worthwhile experience!