Southern Ethiopia
Southern Ethiopia is a canvas ripped in two. Its landscape is being torn apart by the Great Rift Valley, leaving a trail of lakes where you can go see crocodiles, hippos and birds – or just drink in the scenery from you hotel. Move east and the Bale Mountains offer rewarding treks across a plateau amid Afro-alpine plants and rare wildlife. It’s here you’ll encounter the world’s rarest canid, the Ethiopian wolf, hunting giant molerats.
But it’s the seemingly timeless tribes of the Lower Omo Valley, such as the lip-stretching Mursi and body-painting Karo, that leave the deepest impression on visitors. To meet them 20 years ago was nearly unheard of. To travel there today is very easy, but still a privilege. Not that it always seems so. Frustration, born of the vast (but narrowing) cultural chasm, is almost inevitable. But while the irritation quickly fades, the memories never will.
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Omo Valley – 5 days
Day 1: Fly from Addis to Arba Minch. Drive to Konso.
Day2: This morning we travel out to the Karo people at Kolcho village on the banks of the Omo river The Karo people excel in traditional body painting. This evening we visit a Hamer Village near to our accommodation. The Hamer are fine looking people taking great pride in their appearance – the women, with their red dyed plaited hair wear leather skirts decorated with shells, are beautiful. Each Hamer village is amazingly still free from western influences and non-organic materials. Their homes are constructed entirely of local materials, mud, wood and thatch. Each village consists of a single extended family unit of approximately 10-15 huts in close proximity around which daily life rotates. Overnight Turmi, Turmi Lodge.
Day 3: Drive across dry sandy plains to Key Afar then into more fertile rolling hills to the small town of Jinka. We visit a small museum which gives valuable insight into some tribal customs then take an optional walk down to the town meeting the people on the way, before driving out to our accommodation. Tonight’s accommodation is at an Jinka resort.
Day 4: Taking an early start we drive across the mountains through some of the most beautiful Ethiopian scenery, into the drier Mago National Park area where we may see Dik Dik and the lesser Kudu. Out on the dry plains we visit a Mursi Village. These people are known for their decorated clay plates which are inserted in the lower lips of women. Starting at adolescence the plates eventually become larger, some plates are finally reaching the dimensions of a bread and butter plate. This custom seems to be used less now and many of the older women just have the loose skin with no plate inserted. Drive to Konso. Overnight Kenta Lodge.
Day 5: Early start today as we drive from the fertile soils, across the dry plains until reaching Abra Minch known for its Ensete (false) bananas Arba Minch, meaning Forty Springs, it is a fertile fruit producing valley. Drive into the Chencha mountains tovisit a Dorze village. Noted for their fine weaving in wool and cot-ton (great shopping). Their distinctive thatched homes are tall and beehive shaped, we will be able to visit a home and see some weaving, also a demonstration of the many uses of the “false” banana. After a picnic lunch we drive to Lake Chamo and take a boat trip in search of the enormous crocodiles and possibly even Hippopotamus before returning to the air port. Fly from Arba Minch to Addis.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation as per the program
- All transfer in and transfer out services
- Ground transportation by 4 WD Toyota Land Cruiser
- Experienced driver, driver allowance
- All fuel expenses and Lubricants Expense
- Professional guide
- Local guides and Scout where needed
- Boat trip on Lake Chamo
- All entrance fees, Village and elders payments
- Bed and Breakfast.
Price Excludes:
- International and Domestic flights
- Any alcoholic drinks
- Any videograph or camera fee needed
- Laundry service
- Any expense of Personal items like, internet, fax, telephone
- Services which are not mentioned in the above section.
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Omo Valley – 8 days
Day 1: Depart south from Addis Ababa via Butajira. On the way you will visit the archeological sites of Tiya (ancient stelae field and UNESCO World Heritage Site), Adadi Maryam (a rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela) and Melka Kunture (pre-historic tool-making site). Final destination for the day is Awassa. Overnight in Awassa hotel.
Day 2: In the morning after breakfast, visit the fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa and then proceed driving to Dorze, set in the highlands above Arba Minch. The Dorze people are known for their tall beehive-like houses and their fine cotton weaving. You will visit the village and learn about the daily lives of these industrious people. If today is market day (in Dorze village on Monday and Thursday and in nearby Chencha on Tuesday and Saturday), that will be visited. Overnight in Dorze in traditional Dorze hut (shared toilet facilities) or continue to Arba Minch for overnight Ezana Hotel.
Day 3: In the morning, depart to Arba Minch for a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market”, and the local hippos. Afterwards, depart from Arba Minch to Turmi. On the way you will pass through the village of Weyto (market daySaturday), which is home to the Tsemai tribe. Continue through the Weyto Valley to Erbore, where you will have a brief visit to a local Erbore village (market day is Saturday). Finally, proceed to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribe. At night, you can see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer tribe, known as evangadi. Overnight in Turmi Lodge.
Day 4: In the morning, take a day trip to Omorate to visit the Dassenech tribe. Here you will cross the Omo River by local boat and enter a Dassenech village. Afterwards, return to Turmi (Monday is market day) for a visit to a local Hamer village. If there is jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer coming-of-age ceremony that will be visited. Overnight in Turmi Lodge.
Day 5: Depart for Jinka, via Dimeka and Key Afar. Tuesdays and Saturdays are marketdays in Dimeka, which is one of the most colorful markets in the area and is visited by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna and Karo. Afterwards, continue to Jinka. Overnight in Jinka Resort.
Day 6: In the morning, drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates. In the afternoon, after returning to Jinka, you can visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center to learn more about the local tribes. Alternatively, take a hike in the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village. Overnight in Jinka Resort.
Day 7: After breakfast, depart from Jinka to Arba Minch via Key Afar and Konso. Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods. This is another very popular market in the region. After the visit, proceed to Konso (market days are Mondays and Thursdays). The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing. Today you will have a brief opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. After the visit, proceed driving to Arba Minch. Overnight in Arba Minch Ezana Hotel.
Day 8: Early in the morning, depart from Arba Minch for a full day’s drive to Addis Ababa. On the way you may have time to visit one of the following archeological sites of interest:
- Tiya – ancient stellae field and UNESCO World Heritage site
- Adadi Maryam – rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela
- Melka Kunture – pre-historic tool-making site
End of tour.
This itinerary is flexible, and will likely change in order to coordinate visits with market days in the south, which is a great opportunity to mingle with the people, many of whom travel long distances on foot to attend.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation as per the program
- All transfer in and transfer out services
- Ground transportation by 4 WD Toyota Land Cruiser
- Experienced driver, driver allowance
- All fuel expenses and Lubricants Expense
- Professional guide
- Local guides and Scout where needed
- Boat trip on Lake Chamo
- All entrance fees, Village and elders payments
- Bed and Breakfast.
Price Excludes:
- International and domestic flight tickets
- Any alcoholic drinks
- Any videograph or camera fee needed
- Laundry service
- Any expense of Personal items like, internet, fax, telephone
- Services which are not mentioned in the above section.