10-Days Lower Omo Valley, South-West Ethiopia
Overview
Group Size : Two
Tour : Lower Omo Valley, South-West Ethiopia
Duration : 10 Days / October 2015 /
Day One
Sunday : Addis Ababa – Tiya – Arbaminch
Starting off from Addis Ababa in the morning, you will be heading to Arbaminch via Hosaina and Butajira. In addition to the very scenic route you will be driving through, you will be stopping over at Tiya, the UNESCO-registered Stelae fields. After your visit of the Stelae Fields, you will be proceeding to Arbaminch via Wolaita Sodo. Arriving Arbaminch late afternoon, you will be spending overnight at Paradise Lodge Tourist Hotel.
Day Two
Monday : Arbaminch – Dorze Haizo
In the morning, you will be have a boat trip on Lake Chamo where you will be able to see a variety of birdlife, Hippos, Pelicans and Nile Crocodile. Returning back to Arbaminch, you will proceed to Dorze Haizo village located 23kms North of Arbaminch. Monday being their weekly market day, you will be able to visit this weekly market as well as their local villages – cotton weaving skills, bamboo huts and ‘Kocho’ preparation etc. End of the day, you will spend overnight in the traditional bamboo tukuls at Mekonnen’s Lodge. Optionally, you can spend overnight back in Arbaminch at Paradise Lodge / Tourist Hotel.
Day Three
Tuesday : Dorze Haizo – Konso – Jinka
Staring off from Dorze Haizo village in the morning, you will be proceeding to Jinka via Konso. At Konso, you will be able to visit local Konso village Gesergio, their totems and magnificent rock formation infront of Gesergio village. The Konsos are the first to have initiated terrace farming. Proceeding to Jinka after your Konso village visit, you will be driving through Tsemai village and magnificent lowland scenic beauty of the Lower Omo Valley. Arrival in Jinka, you will be spending overnight at Eco-Omo Lodge Orit Hotel.
Day Four
Wednesday : Jinka – Mago National Park – Jinka
In the morning, you will be heading into Mago National Park, home to the Mursi tribe. Settled in the lowland plains of the Park, you will visit a local village of the Mursis. Returning back to Jinka, you will have a visit of the local Museum, an opportunity that will give you a general insight into the various tribes of the Omo Valley. Overnight will then be at Eco-Omo Lodge www.eco-omo.com / Orit Hotel.
Day Five
Thursday : Jinka – Key Afer – Turmi
At 8:30AM, you will be able to visit Omo Child Center www.omochild.org, an NGO that is engaged in rescuing and caring for Mingi children of the Hamer and Kara tribes.
Mid-morning, you will be heading to Turmi via Key Afer and Dimeka. Arrival at Key Afer, you will be able to join into the local weekly Bena market, same a very colorful market that attracts neighboring tribes in the region – the Aris from Jinka, the Tsemais from Weito and the Hamers from Dimeka area. Attending to this market will allow you to compare the dressing patterns, ornamentation techniques etc. of the various tribes in the area. Mid-afternoon, you will be proceeding to Turmi, home to the most hospitable of all the tribes in the Omo Valley – the Hamer tribe. Arrival in Turmi, you will be spending overnight at Buska Lodge camping overnight at the Keske Campsite.
Day Six
Friday : Turmi – Korcho – Turmi
In the morning, you will be heading to Korcho, home to the Karo tribe. Settled around the banks of the Omo River, the Karo tribe are known for their body paintings, same done for beautifying purposes. From this particular village, the view of the Omo River is magnificent, a high ground view seeing off the Omo River flowing down South into the Turkana Lake. Early-afternoon, you will be returning back to Turmi where you will visit a Hamer tribe village. End of the day, you will spend overnight at Buska Lodge camping overnight at the Keske Campsite.
Day Seven
Saturday : Turmi – Omorate – Dimeka – Turmi
Early morning, you will be heading to Omorate. Home to the Dassanach tribe, Omorate is a small town settled on the banks of the Omo River. Crossing the river with a wooden canoe boat, you will be visiting a local Dassanach village. Their huts and lifestyle much different from the rest of the tribes in the Omo, the Dassanach tribe are said to be descendants of the Turkana tribe in North Kenya.
Returning back to Turmi and on to Dimeka at noon, you will be visiting the weekly Hamer market at Dimeka where you will be able to see their authentic dressing patterns, ornamentations, close-interaction due to the market. End of the day, you will be returning back to Turmi and spending overnight at Buska Lodge camping overnight at the Keske Campsite.
Day Eight
Sunday : Turmi – Arbore – Arbaminch
In the morning, you will be heading to Arbaminch via Arbore and Weito on your way stopping briefly at Arbore, a small settlement of the Arbore tribe. The Arbores are settled infront of Lake Stephanie and at the Northern edge of Buska Mountain chain that extends 96Kms in the Weito Plains of the Omo Valley. With a stop at Weito as well to see the Tsemai tribe of the area, you will be proceeding to Arbaminch via Konso. Late afternoon, you will be arriving Arbaminch where you will be spending overnight at Buska Lodge Tourist Hotel.
Day Nine
Monday : Arbaminch – Halaba Kulito – Awassa
Heading out of Arbaminch in the morning, you will be heading to Awassa. En route, you will be visiting the colorfully decorated huts of Halaba Kulito surroundings and further ahead at Shashamane, you will also be visiting the Rastafarian Community House as well as Banana Gallery. Arriving Awassa late afternoon, you will spend overnight at Haile Resort Pina #2 Hotel.
Day Ten
Tuesday : Awassa – Wendo Genet – Addis Ababa
Awassa city located on the shores of Lake Awassa, you will be able to visit the daily fish market at Amora Gedel. Here, you will be able to see Tilapia fishing and marketing activities by the locals as well as a variety of birdlife. To be highly recommended, it will be good to taste the freshly cooked Tilapia fish in the various booths infront of the lake. Out of Awassa mid-morning, you will be heading to Wendo Genet where you will be able to see primary forests, a refreshing hot spring where you can enjoy a bath in as well as short trekking in the surrounding forests. Mid-afternoon, you will be heading back to Addis Ababa via the Rift Valley lakes region, driving through Ziway, Langano, Shalla, Abiatta and Koka lakes. Arriving Addis Ababa late afternoon, you will check in at Monarch Hotel Mr. Martin’s Guest House.
