5-Days Lower Omo Valley
Starting from Addis Ababa through Omo valley Tribes to Jinka, a trip that will give you the chance to experience the true nature of Southern Ethiopia
Overview
Destination: Lower Omo Valley, South-West Ethiopia
Tour Duration : 5 Days / January 2020 /
Group Size : One – Two
Tribe Visits (8) : Dorze, Konso, Tsemai, Bena, Hamer, Kara,
Dassanach, Mursi
OPTION ONE: Flight Addis Ababa – Arbaminch on Day 1 and flight Jinka – Addis Ababa on Day 5
Day One
Wednesday : Addis Ababa – Arbaminch (Flight ET-135) – Dorze Haizo – Arbaminch
Checking in for your flight at 10:00am, you will be flying to Arbaminch at 11:40pm. Arriving Arbaminch at 12:45pm, you will proceed to Dorze Haizo village located in the Gughe Mountains. Here, you will be able to visit their bamboo-made cone-shaped huts, cotton weaving skills they have attained as a result of the need for warm clothing due to living in the 2550+meters asl altitude, ‘Kocho’ preparation out of false-banana trees etc. Late afternoon, you will proceed South down to Arbaminch, spending overnight at Paradise Lodge or another hotel of your option.
Day Two
Thursday : Arbaminch – Konso – Weito – Key Afer – Turmi (*MARKET VISIT)
At 8:00am, you will be heading to Turmi, enroute visiting a Konso tribe village in the surroundings of Karat Konso. Proceeding further into the Omo Valley roughly 40kms past Konso, you will be able to see the scenic Weito lowlands that extend South West of the Buska Mountain chain and further into the highlands of Key Afer. Arriving Key Afer at noon, you will be able to attend to the weekly Bena market that attracts neighbouring tribes from the surroundings – the Tsemai from Weito area, the local Benas, Aris from Kako, Hamers from Alduba and neighboring tribal territories. This market visit will allow you to compare between the various tribes in their dressing patterns, hair-makes, ornamentations techniques etc. Mid-afternoon, you will be proceeding to Turmi where on arrival you will be spending overnight at Buska Lodge or another hotel of your option.
Day Three
Friday : Turmi – Korcho – Turmi
At 7:30AM, you will be proceeding to Korcho, one of the Kara-tribe village settlements on the Omo River. The Kara tribe is best known for their body paintings that resemble that of a Guinea Fowls and lower lip piercing of the women for decoration purpose with insertion of feathers, etc. Furthermore, this particular village location will allow you to have a panoramic highground view of the Omo River flowing down south into Lake Turkana of South Ethiopia/North Kenya.
Early-afternoon, you will be returning back to Turmi, where on arrival, you will be able to visit a Hamer tribal village in the surroundings of Turmi. End of the day, you will be spending overnight at Buska Lodge or another hotel of your option.
*During your time in and around Turmi, you may have the possibility of visiting a ‘Bull-Jumping’ ceremony, a ritual of the Hamer tribe.
Day Four
Saturday : Turmi – Omorate – Dimeka – Jinka (*MARKET VISIT)
Starting off at 7:30am, you will be heading to Omorate, home to the Dassanach tribe. Settled in the surroundings of Omorate, mainly on the banks of the Omo River, you will be visiting this semi-nomadic tribe. Returning back to Turmi and heading on to Jinka at noon with enroute stop at Dimeka. At Dimeka, you will be able to visit the weekly Hamer tribal market – a colorful vibrant market where you will be able to see their dressing patterns, hair-makes, ornamentations etc. Mid-afternoon, you will be proceeding to Jinka, arriving and overnight at a hotel.
Day Five
Sunday : Jinka – Mago National Park – Jinka – Addis Ababa (Flight ET-170)
At 7:30AM, you will be heading into Mago National Park where you will be visiting a Mursi village, their day to day life style. Returning back to Jinka at noon, at 1:30pm, you will be proceeding to the airport to check-in for your flight to Addis Ababa. Arriving Addis Ababa at 4:05pm, you will be ending your 5-days-tour of the Lower Omo Valley of South-West Ethiopia.