Tour overview
This trip will start and end in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia and center for the African continent. This is a great itinerary which gives travelers an extraordinary opportunity to travel through Ethiopia’s fascinating Southern region, famous for its natural and cultural spectacles and the famous Omo Valley for the chance to meet and discover some of the more remote, colorful, and enigmatic ethnic groups of this incredibly diverse area of Ethiopia. In this fascinating region you will learn about the indigenous culture different ethnic groups who inhabit this part of the country.
This itinerary let you to mingle and discover; The Mursi Tribe, renowned for their lip-plates; The Hamer famous for their bull jumping coming of age ceremony, The Konso known for their intricately-terraced hillsides, fine woven materials, and carved totems with which they decorate their graves; The Karo famous for their attractive body painting; The Dassenech (Gelab); The Ari known for their beautiful green villages and The Dorze well known cotton weavers. You will visit the weekly colorful local markets for spontaneous interactions and fantastic photo opportunities and attend authentic cultural events. This tour also includes visit to the Ethiopian Rift Valley to explore some of the natural wonders of the Great African Rift Valley. Visit Lake Awassa, Ziway and Langano to spot different birds, Abijatta-Shalla National Park; Boat trip on Lake Chamo to see Nile Crocodiles and Hippos. This will be a truly unforgettable experience.
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Abeba Ethiopia & City Tour
Welcome to Ethiopia! Arrive at Addis Abeba bole international airport. Here you will be greeted by your tour guide or driver from Memento Ethiopia Tours. Then you will be transferred to hotel. If your arrival is early morning, after a leisurely morning rest and relax you will spend the afternoon on a site seeing of Addis Abeba. Established by Emperor Menelik II 1887 Addis Abeba or ‘New flower’ in Amharic, is relatively young city full of contrasts. This city tour includes, The National Museum which houses the country’s historic treasures & the famous ‘Lucy”, The Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Ethiopian main cathedral and home to the remains of the last emperor: Drive up to Mount Entoto to have a panoramic view of the city and end the tour with Merkato, one of the largest open air markets in Africa.
Overnight: Addis Abeba.
Accommodation: Hotel.
Day 2: Fly to Arbaminch and visit the Dorze Tribe
Transfer from your hotel to Addis Abeba Bole International Airport for your internal flight south to Arbaminch.Southern region is noted for its enormous variety of peoples &culture. Up on arrival at Arbaminch meet your driver and transfer to your accommodation. Then in the afternoon short drive to visit the Dorze Tribe who lives on the Guge Mountain. The Dorze are renowned for their cotton-weaving techniques and beehive shaped houses constructed entirely from organic materials. Here in their village you can see the unique beehive huts, observe their exceptional cotton weaving skills and learn about their life and traditions.
Overnight: Arbaminch
Accommodation: Hotel or Lodge
Day 3: Travel from Arbaminch to Turmi & Visit Konso and Hammer Tribe
Following breakfast this morning travel to Turmi a small town and center to visit the Omo valley tribes. On the way stop at Konso and visit their village. The Konso tribe is famous for their agricultural terracing method and for their wooden totems that honor the dead. The Konso villages are a world heritage listed site for its cultural significance. The villages are surrounded by high stone walls and encompass separate compounds. After lunch continue further south through the acacia forest to Turmi. Visit the village of the famous Hammer tribe located close to TurmiThey are known for the fine pottery they produce as well as their remarkable hair style. The women are striking wearing beautiful colorful beaded goat skins, ornate necklaces and metal bangles around their wrist and ankles. These decorations indicate the wealth and prestige of a woman’s husband.
Overnight: Turmi
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge or Camping
Day 4: Drive to Omorate & visit Dassenech Tribe and continue to Jinka
In the morning travel towards Omorate on a 75kms paved road to visit the Dassenech tribe. Omorate lies on the bank of the Omo River close to the border of Kenya. You will cross the Omo River with a local boat and walk to one of the village of the Dassenech. The Dassenech are semi-nomadic tribe living on the shores of Omo River. Their clans stretch across Sudan, Kenya and southern Ethiopia. They are known for their very unique and ornate hair buns. They grow crops and fish. Then return back to Turmi and continue to Jinka.Before arriving to Jinka visit the village of The Ari People. The people of Ari live in the lush surroundings of the Jinka and grow coffee and fruits for trading and self-consumption. Their villages are green and surrounded by banana, mango and avocado and it is the most beautiful in the country.
Overnight: Jinka
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge or Camping
Day 5: Discover the Mursi Tribe & Fly Back to Addis Abeba and Departure
Early in the morning you will drive through the Mago national park to visit one of the villages of the Mursi Tribe. The Mursi, possibly the most well-known tribe in the area, is famous for both for their women who practice extending their lower lips with clay discs and their men who engage in stick fighting rituals called Donga. The Mursi are probably the last tribes in Africa amongst whom it is still the norm for women to wear those large pottery or wooden discs or plates. Afterwards, return to Jinka and transfer to Jinka Bako Airport for your return flight back to Addis Abeba.Arrive in Addis in the afternoon. Then transfer to hotel to rest and get settled before your night flight or you can do last minute shopping. In the evening enjoy final farewell dinner at a well-known local Ethiopian restaurant with cultural dances. Later this evening you will be transferred to Addis Abeba Bole International Airport for your return flight back home. Your vacation ends here.
