Travel Omo Tribes

Trip Descriptions

The Omo River in southern Ethiopia is the largest Ethiopian river outside the Nile Basin. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and it empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya. The river is the principal stream of an endorheic drainage basin, the Turkana Basin

Highlight

• Adadiy Mariam church, Tiya Archeological site
• Boat trip on the Lake Chamo
• Omo Tribe Culture

Itinerary

Day 1: Addis Ababa/ Arba Minch , Full Day Drive

Today, start your journey to south Ethiopia to the Omo Valley. Depart from the hotel early in the morning and drive to Arba Minch. On the way, stop  & visit Melka Kunture, a stone-age archeological site; Adadi Mariam, a 12th century rock-hewn church and Tiya, a stela from the 12th century considered as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Depart early from Addis so as to see this sites .
Overnight stay in hotel

Day 2: Arba Minch /Nechisar National Park /Jinka

Visit the Nechisar National Park where you can take a boat trip on the Lake Chamo to see crocodiles, hippopotamus and abundant bird species. After lunch, continue to Jinka and visit some ethnic tribes such as Gamo and Derashe.
Overnight stay in hotel

Day 3: Mago National Park

Today, we drive to the Mago National Park early in the morning. Here, we visit the most famous of Ethiopia’s tribes, the Mursi people. The most memorable of the morning tour is the fascinating insight into this tribe, which women insert large circular clay discs into the lower lips. In the afternoon, you return to Jinka and to the Ari village. The Ari people are known for their colorfully painted houses, blacksmithing and pottery. If time allows, visit the Omo Valley Museum in Jinka.
Overnight stay in hotel.

 Day 4: Jinka – Turmi

Today, you are expected to drive long hours through a typical dry landscape that brings you to the distant town of Turmi , to the settlement of colorful Hamer tribe exhibit beaded decorations, ocre-colored braided hair and painted white faces. In the afternoon, visit Omorate, where you will take a boat trip across the Omo River to meet the Dasenech people, known for their body painting, scarification and wigs made from bottle tops.
Overnight stay in hotel

Day 5: Exploration of Murelle

After an early breakfast at your hotel, depart to Murulle, a settlement for the Karo people known for their unique body decorating culture. En route, have a simple picnic lunch. Once in Murelle, start tour through villages and drive back to Turmi.
Overnight stay in hotel

Day 6: Turmi – Konso

Today, we drive to Konso via Key Afar and, if the day is Thursday a possible visit to a popular Thursday market where the Benna and Tsemai tribes trade goods. On the way, visit the 55 km stonewalled terraces and fortified settlements, declared as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The Konso highlanders are known for the ancient and intricate terraces that encircle their well-planned villages. The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, erected in honor of dead heroes.
Overnight stay in hotel

Day 7: Konso – Awassa

Drive to Awassa, the lakeside town. On the way, visit the Dorze tribe in the Guge Mountains, popular for their tall, beehive-shaped bamboo houses.
Overnight stay in hotel

Day 8: Awassa – Addis Ababa

In the morning, visit the fish market and the surroundings, where you will witness the ancient fishing and lifestyles in a stunning area full of different bird and primate’s species. Drive back to Addis Ababa , you may stop at the Rift Valley Lakes and visit the Abiatta-Shalla National Park. Lunch en-route at one of the resorts located by the lake side Langano Lake. Arrive to Addis Ababa International Airport for departure.