Aba Jifar Palace Travel Guide: Top Sights in Ethiopia, Tours & Travel

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Aba Jifar Palace- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Ethiopia; 5 Reviews

Suggested Duration: 2 hours

Aba Jifar Palace in Jimma, built in the 1880s by King Aba Jifar II, stands about seven kilometers north of Jimma atop a 2,000 metre hill chosen to avoid malaria and allow surveillance of regional caravan routes into Kaffa and the Somali coast. This wooden palace, the oldest and largest surviving example of traditional architecture in the southwestern highlands, fuses local building techniques with Indo‑Arab design motifs—reflecting Jimma's historic connections to Indian Ocean trade. The compound includes a still‑active private mosque, reception halls, royal residential quarters and a sentry tower with commanding views of the former Gibe kingdom's territory. Recognised as a protected heritage site of Oromia cultural identity, the palace has undergone recent preservation funded by international partnerships to stabilize its ornate wooden carvings and architectural structure.

Operators offering tours in Ethiopia

Attractions in Jimma

Jimma Museum

Reviews of Aba Jifar Palace

Fitsum Teklu

5
Reviewed: 2025-06-01

Was lucky to see the Aba Jifar Museum as it is undergoing some impressive conservation and rehabilitation. We were welcomed by a tour guide who was knowledgable and had some fun stories to tell about the late Aba Jifar.
Sumantra Misra

5
Reviewed: 2025-05-26

This place has been under renovation / restoration since ages. Can't quite understand how it can take so long to conserve, given the fact that the actual size of the palace is not too large really
Ayele Bedada

5
Reviewed: 2025-05-25

In addition to it's historical significance, the preservation of this place can secure the aspiration of future timber architecture and construction in the country.
Yeneneh Seay

5
Reviewed: 2025-05-16

I highly recommend visiting The Castle of Abbaa jifaar! overlooking the city of Jima. You cannot go without visiting this historic place.
Leul Habte

4
Reviewed: 2021-07-24

Based on the history I heard there Abba Jiffar Abba Gomol ruled over The Shenen-Gibe (The five gibes- Guma, Limu-Ennarea, Gera, Goma and Jimma) from His superflous palace on the mount of Jiren. An estimated 3000 lived around the palace specializing in various craftsmanship. Huge in size (2.1 meters and weighing 150kg), Abba Jiffar kept a very positive relationship with the then King of Ethiopia Menilik II which is evident in the various letters they exchanged. Built over a course of 6 years and 143 years ago the design of the palace is articulate and built by an Indian, corrugated Iron said to have been imported from the UK. It's a fascinating place housing, bedrooms, prayer rooms, dining room, a royal office, and small arena (yes, Arena😉 where gladiators used to fight). I have to confess it was not the best of times to visit the Abba Jiffar Palace by the time I visited (July) and was raining a lot which did not allow us to have the famous panoramic view of Jimma City. The Palace was also under an overdue renovation and it's most parts were not accessible for visitors. It is a must visit for anyone who happens to visit Jimma.