Tour duration: 8 days (with full surface drive)
Cultural expedition to the southern Ethiopia (Omo valley)
Southern Ethiopia
Explore Tours
Tour Plan
On arrival in Addis Ababa, you will be met by your tour guide and transferred to the hotel and check-in. After checking-in, embark on a leisurely full-day tour of Addis Ababa. Founded in
1886 by Menelik II, Addis is located at 2,500m above sea level in the Entoto mountain chain, where it enjoys an excellent year-round climate, with an average temperature of 25°C. Start the tour with a visit to the National Museum which is among the best in Africa, containing an impressive collection of archaeological relics, foremost among them the plaster cast of
"Lucy," the 3.2-million-year-old Hominid. After touring the museum, continue to the Ethnographic Museum which is used to be the former palace of the late King Haile Selassie I. In the afternoon visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral the second holiest site in Ethiopia, and, time-allowing, end the day with a visit to Merkato, said to be Africa’s largest market of its kind followed by dinner in town.
Overnight: Your hotel
Drive to Arbaminch via Shashemene. On the way visit Lake Zeway. The Lake is one of
the freshwater Rift Valley lakes of Ethiopia. It contains five islands, one of which is home to a monastery said to have housed the Ark of the Covenant around the ninth century. The bountiful species of birds and the local fishermen give you a pleasant time in the area. After your visit, continue driving to Arbaminch.
Overnight: Hotel/lodge
The morning takes a boat trip on Lake Chamo to the locally known crocodile market to see the Nile crocodiles laying at the shore and watch for hippopotamus and some aquatic birds.
In the afternoon, drive to the Guge Hills to visit the Dorze people. These people are well known for their weaving techniques of cotton woven cloths and huts made out of local bamboo. The Dorze cultivate their food and prevent erosion by terracing along the mountainside. On their farmlands, they grow highland cereals, spices, vegetables, fruits, and tobacco within their compound. After your visit drive back to Arbaminch.
Overnight: Hotel/lodge
On this day, we will drive to Turmi crossing the Weyto Valley and Keyafer town (market on Thursdays). The colorful markets of the Omo Valley are places where different tribes of men and women gather for shopping. After you arrived at the lodge check-in and late afternoon visit one of the villages Hamer. If the harvest was good this year there is a chance to attend a bull-jumping ceremony. Late in the afternoon visit one of the local villages.
Overnight: Hotel/Lodge
Today we visit the Karo tribe at the bank of the Omo River. The Karo people are the smallest in a number of all of the tribes of the Omo Valley and well now for their elaborate body decoration. They use many colors made from different soil types, especially during local ceremonies. Drive back to Turmi and have some lunch. In the afternoon visit the Dimeka market mainly visited by the Hamer and Bena tribes. Continue your drive to Jinka.
Overnight: Hotel/lodge.
On this day, we will drive to one of Ethiopia’s national parks called Mago to visit the Mursi tribe. They are predominantly pastoral and measure wealth by the number of cattle they own name themselves after the color of their favorite cattle but they also engage in limited agriculture. The women are known for wearing clay-made lip plates on the lower part of their lips. The bigger lip plate that she had made her more beautiful and acceptable to the community.
Afterward, return to Jinka and visit Ari village and the South Omo Museum & Research Center for more information about the tribes. Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days in Jinka, which will be visited.
Overnight: Hotel/lodge
Drive back to Arbaminch. On the way, you will pass a small town called KEYAFER “RED
Soil”. There is a big market on Thursday where you can meet the Tsemay, Ari, and Bena people all at once. Proceed to Konso and visit one of the villages.
The Konso people are known for making terraces and converting the harsh environment to fertile land. They have a strong community that works hard and protect the land from erosion and has also a special kind of clan organization, interesting handicrafts, and architecture.
After your visit continues your journey to Arbaminch
Overnight: Hotel/lodge.
Drive back to Addis Ababa via Butajira by crossing the wonderful landscape of the
Wolayta, Hadiya, and the Gurage people.
Dinner at one of Ethiopia’s traditional restaurants and transfer to the airport for
your international flight.
End of tour
