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: Dive from Addis Abeba to Arbaminch
This morning after breakfast drive full day towards south to Arbaminch. Southern region is noted for its enormous variety of peoples &culture. Today your first stop will be at Adadi Mariam rock church which is believed to be built by king Lalibela around 11th century. Then visit Tiya stelae filed which is registered by UNESCO for its 600-800 years old large stone pillars. There are around 36 standing stones 32 of which are engraved and decorated with enigmatic symbols marking a large prehistoric royal burial place. Continue further south through the territory of the Gurage and Alaba people and arrive at Arbaminch late in the afternoon.
Overnight: Arbaminch
Accommodation: Lodge or Hotel
Day 3: Explore Nech Sar National Park, Lake Chamo & Dorze Tribe
Full day in Arbaminch and visit attractions in and around this town. In the morning embark on a boat trip on Lake Chamo, a lake that supports a large population of crocodiles, hippos and fish. First you will cross the lake and head to the east bank and climb the plateau to the NechSar national park to see Wild Zebras and Gazelles. Return to the boat trip & visit the famous Crocodile Marketwhich is not a market but a place to see large concentration of giant Nile Crocodiles and many hippos. The lake is about 32 kms long and provides a lush wetland habitat for many of flora and fauna. In the afternoon visit the Dorzetribe 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 4: Travel from Arbaminch via Konso to Turmi
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. If today is a market day you will get the chance to visitone of the following colorful markets, Alduba (every Tuesday), Keyafer (every Thursday)or Dimeka (every Saturday).
Overnight: Turmi
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge or Camping
Day 5: Visit the Hamer and Karo Tribes
This morning begin an excursion to the Karo tribe. The Karo excel in face and body painting that is practiced especially during their dances and ceremonies. They pulverize locally found white chalk, yellow mineral rock, red iron ore and black charcoal to decorate their bodies often mimicking the spotted plumage of a Guinea Fowl. The men create highly decorated clay hair buns which can take several days to complete. Return to Turmi and after lunch and short break late in the afternoon at the sun set visit the village of the famous Hamer tribe village located close to Turmi. The Hamer tribe is 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 6: 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 OmoRiver close to the border of Kenya. You will cross the OmoRiver 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 further south to Jinka.
Overnight: Jinka
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge or Camping
Day 7: Discover the Mursi Tribe & Visit the Ari Village.
This 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 after lunch break, short drive to the village of Ari tribe. 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. The most beautiful in the country.
Overnight: Jinka
Accommodation: Hotel, Lodge or Camping.
Day 8: Visit Jinka Museum & Fly Back to Addis Abeba and Departure
In the morning visit the Jinka museumwhich contains the southern Omo research centers permanent cultural collections and containing research of the various ethnicgroups and provide an in-depth overview into the people and traditions of the Omo valley. Then transfer to Jinka airport for your 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.
