Omo Valley tribes and Southern Ethiopia

Meeting with IETT guide and driver at Bole International Airport and transfer to hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is dedicated to the city tour of Addis Ababa including the panoramic view point Entoto Mountain, Merkato, said to be Africa’s largest market of its kind, and the National Museum (home of Lucy, hominid skeleton dating back 3.2 million years) and the ethnographic museum.

Overnight in Addis Ababa.

Depart south from Addis via the Great Rift Valley. Stop on the way at Lake Ziway to visit the bountiful birdlife on the shores of the lake, and then at Wondo Genet, the favorite weekend getaway of former Emperor Haile Selassie for a swim in the pool and a shower in the therapeutic hot spring waters.

Overnight in Awassa.

In the morning, visit the fish market on Lake Awassa, and then continue drive to Arba Minch.

During the route, you will ascend into the Gughe Mountains to visit the Dorze people, who are known for their tall beehive-like houses and their fine cotton weaving. Market days in Dorze village are Mondays and Thursdays and in Chencha on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

After the visit, continue to Arba Minch. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the crocodile market and hippo pods. At the end, departure for Jinka via Weyto (market day Sunday) and Key Afar (market day Thursday).

Overnight in Jinka.

After breakfast, transfer to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe, who are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates. Afterwards, return to Jinka to the Ari village and visit 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 in Jinka.

In the morning, departure for Turmi. This is the home of the Hamer people.

During the route, stop in Dimeka for the local market, which is on Tuesdays and Saturday. This is one of the most colorful markets in the South Omo and is visited by neighborhood Hamer, Benna, Karo, Tsemai and Ari tribes.

Overnight in Turmi. At night, it is possible to enjoy a traditional night dancing performance of the Hamer people, known as Evangadi.

In the morning, drive to Omorate and cross the Omo River. Cruise on a local boat to visit the Dasennech tribe (also known as Galeb tribe).

At the end, return to Turmi and, if there is enjoy the performance called Jumping of the Bulls, a traditional Hamer wedding ceremony. Monday is market day in Turmi.

Overnight in Turmi.

The whole day is dedicated to visiting the people of the Karo tribe. Depart from Turmi to the villages of Murulle, Kolcho and Dus on the shores of the Omo River.

The Karo people are the smallest in number of all of the tribes of the Omo Valley, and they are known for their elaborate decorations, particularly during local ceremonies.

Overnight in Turmi.

Depart from Turmi to Konso, via Erbore in the Weyto valley. Friday is market day in Erbore, so if passing on this day, the market will be visited, while market days in Konso are Mondays and Thursdays.

The Konso people are known for their totems erected in honor of the dead and their intricate agricultural terracing techniques.

Overnight in Konso.

In the morning, visit a local Konso village and the “natural New York village”, which gets its name from the tall sand formations that resemble skyscrapers.

After the visit, the tour continues to Yabelo for overnight.

After breakfast, the itinerary continues to reach the local Borena village of Dublock. Here, it is possible to visit the singing wells, where the locals form chanting chains of people to remove buckets of water from the long channeled openings of the wells.

Then, continue to El Sod, a crater lake where salt is mined from the lake for sale and use throughout Ethiopia.

After the end, the tour continues to Langano.

Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, after a refreshing swim in the lake, departure for Abiatta-Shala National Park. Lake Shala is a very deep crater lake and Lake Abiatta is a soda lake, which attracts thousands of flamingos.

After the visit, continue back to Addis. In the evening, farewell party with cultural dinner and traditional special buffet and local drinks to experience Ethiopia’s cultural meals and drinks.

After farewell party transfer to airport: the tour is ended.