Omo Valley & Southern Ethiopia

Discovery of the Authentic Tribes of the Omo Valley and Southern Ethiopia

• SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
• Senkele Sanctuary
• Lake Chamo 
• Mago National Park
• Mursi Village
• Turmi/Omo Basin
• El Sud Salt Mine
• Singing Wells
• Lake Zuway

DAY 1: ADDIS ABABA – LANGANO 

On arrival in Addis Ababa, transfer to Ghion Hotel. After having a rest, drive directly to Langano at a distance of 210 km. On arrival in Langano, rest, relax, have dinner, and stay overnight.

 DAY 2: LANGANO / SENKELE SANCTUARY / ARBA MINCH

 Your journey of this august land starts as you head for Arba Minch, land that is inhabited by the people of the Guragie, who were once nomads but are now farmers. A long section of the road offers magnificent views of Lake Abaya, surrounded by mountains. The lake has volcanic origins and is almost pink in color. When 15 Km are left to reach Arba Minch, you start with the Dorze ethnic group, one of the many small segments of southern Ethiopia. Once warriors, the Dorze have now turned to farming and weaving to earn a living. Their success in the field of weaving has been phenomenal, and the Dorze name is synonymous with the best-woven cotton cloth. Each amazing Dorze bamboo house has its own small garden surrounded by enset, beds of spices, cabbage, and tobacco.

 DAY 3: ARBAMINCH

 Early in the morning starting from 07:00 am. An excursion is made to visit the Chencha Village.  On the way back by noon and after lunch, boat excursion in Lake Chamo to visit the Crocodile Market where many crocodiles, the longest in Africa, are seen from close range. Back to the town of Arba Minch.

DAY 4: ARBA MINCH / JINKA 

A spectacular scenery as the road crosses soft rolling hills with dark red soil and plentiful crops and woods. You have an interesting cultural encounter as you meet with different tribes. Southern Ethiopia is home to many minorities’ ethnic groups with social and cultural diversity. As you go further south, you find indigenous people with unique and primitive ways of life with colorful costumes and a tradition and culture all their own. Among which you continue your experience of tribal life with a visit of various tribes on the way, among which the Banna, Tsemay and Ari  tribes. An excellent day to meet the people, take photographs with them and learn of a culture that has had very little outside influence.

 DAY 5: JINKA / MURSI / JINKA

Day excursion to Mago National Park to visit a Mursi village. The insertion of wooden and terra cotta discs into the ear lobes is a widespread custom and Mursi women also progressively split and stretch their lower lips to make room for similar discs there, too. Though these lip plates may appear bizarre to outsiders, the Mursi regard them as signs of beauty, the larger the lip plate the more desirable the wearer. At certain seasons, visitors may be lucky to chance on colorful and dramatic traditional ceremonies. Periodically young men of the Mursi and the  Bodi tribes engage in ritual stick fighting. These duels are conducted with the utmost Vigor since the winners are much admired by nubile girls. These are people who farm the land and breed livestock;  they live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world. You have an interesting day here seeing how the lifestyle of bygone days is still being lived.

 DAY 6: JINKA / KEY AFER / TURMI

Turmi is going to be your base for the next two days as you explore the different regions and meet the different tribes who live a life of their own. This day will be dedicated to seeing the Hammer which is one of the most beautiful and dignified people in the Omo basin. The women wear elegant leather skirts festooned with tiny pearls. Elaborate hairstyles are another form of personal adornment. Hamer women wear their hair in dense ringlets smeared with mud, clarified butter, and topped off with a headdress featuring oblongs of gleaming aluminum. Overnight in Evangadi Lodge in Turmi or if the client prefers camping.

 DAY 7: TURMI / KARO / TURMI

During this day drive to Omorate to visit the Dassanech ethnic tribe and continue towards Murulle area to see the aro ethnic group which are one of the most interesting nationalities in the Omo region. Moreover, the Omo River will also be seen during this trip. Back to Turmi.

 DAY 8: TURMI / ERBORE / KONSO (NEW YORK )

Drive passing across Woito to Konso and on the way visit the Erbore ethnic group. Southern Ethiopia is home to many minorities’ ethnic groups with social and cultural diversity. As you go  further south you find indigenous people with unique and primitive ways of life with colorful costumes and a tradition and culture all their own. Among which you continue your experience of tribal life with a visit to Erbore ethnic tribe and Konso. The Konso’s are a pagan society; they erect wooden totems replete with phallic symbols over the graves of the dead and have numer ous cults based around the breeding and veneration of serpents. The cornerstone of Konso culture, however, is a highly specialized and successful agricultural economy that, through terracing  buttressed with stone, enables these people to extract a productive living from the none-too-fertile hills and valleys that surround them. An excellent day to meet the people, take photographs with them and learn of a culture that has had very little outside influence in the villages among which New York and Macheke.

DAY 9: KONSO / EL SOD / YABELO 

Morning after breakfast, continue driving for another 60km towards the salt mines of El Sud where the people extract salt by going deep into the ground which takes a round trip of 3 hrs to  reach the bottom of the salt mine and return to the surface. A picnic lunch will be held during this day. Drive to Yabelo to reach there in the late afternoon for rest and overnight.

 DAY 10: YABELO / AWASSA 

In the morning after breakfast, we drive some 60 Kms on the Moyale road to visit the local people taking their water supply from the deep and famous wells, singing together to motivate one another while taking water out. These wells demonstrate an extraordinary feature of this culture and are known as “The Singing Wells”. After lunch, I continued to drive to cover the 300 km distance by taking the road that leads back up the Rift Valley, crossing fertile land planted with bananas, cereals and tobacco, and inhabited first by the Oromo people and then by the Sidamo.  Various kinds of fruits are sold along the roadside. Lake Awassa is surrounded by mountains and populated by countless species of birds. There is a beautiful track running along the lakeside, perfect for a walk. 

DAY 11: AWASSA / ADDIS ABABA

Early wake-up and visit the Fish Market in Awassa and then depart towards Addis Ababa. Crossing the fertile areas cultivated with all kinds of tropical fruits, you visit lakes Shala and Abiata offering beautiful vistas and arrive at Langano which is a holiday resort with a splendid beach dotted with acacia trees, pinkish volcanic water ideal for swimming and splashing about in and good food in the restaurant, especially fish. Numerous birds live on the shores, among whom the pink flamingo. Proceed from there on to Addis visiting Lake Zuway on the way to Addis Ababa and the small town of Debre Zeit and its Crater Lakes of Bishiftu and Hora.  Dinner and overnight. 

DAY 12: ADDIS ABABA / DEPARTURE

Bb.  Panoramic tour of Addis.  Visit of National Museum, St Trinity cathedral with its museum and Menelik II mausoleum.  Ending with an ethnographic museum.  Lunch in a local restaurant next to the National Museum that we visit if there is time left.  Back to the hotel where we have a day room.  In the evening, you culminate with a farewell dinner recalling the exciting days spent.  By night transfer to the airport for departure

  End of our services.

Starting from 1798, 00 € / person

Prices are per person based on 2 people travelling together. Price is guideline only. Price will depend on your final itinerary, group size, accommodation choices, and time of year.