Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Gursum is bordered on the south by Babille, on the west by the Harari Region, on the north by Jarso, and on the east by the Gursum district in the Somali region.

The altitude of this District ranges from 1200 to 2950 meters above sea level; Kondudo and Medero are amongst the highest points.

Perennial rivers include the Hariro, Goro Obole, Bombas, Ejerti, and Agemsa.

A survey of the land in this woreda (reported in 1996) shows that 15.7% is arable or cultivable, 8.9% pasture, 13.2% forest, 22.4% built-up, and the remaining 39.8% is considered degraded or otherwise unusable.

[4] Industry in the District includes 10 grain mills and one brick factory employing 44 people, as well as 314 registered business including wholesalers, retailers and service providers; although feldspar, quartz and garnet deposits are known to exist, only dolomite and granite are quarried.