Fascinating Tribes of Omo

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: Travel from Addis Abeba to Awassa via Ethiopian Rift Valley

Today you will start your travel to southern Ethiopia region.The Southern region is noted for its enormous variety of peoples &culture. Drive through the Ethiopian rift valley region. The Ethiopian rift valley is part of the Great Rift Valley which starts in the Middle East and runs all the way to Mozambique. It comprises numerous hot springs, beautiful lakes and wildlife. Your first stop will be at Lake Ziway which is one of the rift valley lakes with 5 volcanic islands. The lake is reach in fish, hippos and bird life. Then proceed to Abijatta-Shalla National Park. The park contains the rift valley lakes of Abijatta and Shalla which are separated by 3 kms of hilly land. You will enjoy the view at a lookout point over the two lakes. Hot Springs, Ostriches, birds, Gazelles and other mammals are the main attractions in the park. Continue your drive and arrive at Awassa the beautiful lake side city.

Overnight: Awassa
Accommodation: Resort or Hotel

Day 3: Visit Lake Awassa & Dorze Tribe and Drive to Arbaminch

This morning you will visit the Fish market on LakeAwassa where you will see firsthand how locals trade and prepare their fish. Then depart Awassa and drive towards Arbaminch. On the way first stop at Alaba People’s village and visit their unique hut.The Alaba people are known for chill peeper production and decorating and painting the walls of their huts. The majority of the Alaba are Muslims.Before arriving at Arbaminch 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. Arrive at Arbaminch late in the afternoon and transfer to your accommodation.

Overnight: Arbaminch
Accommodation: Lodge or Hotel

Day 4: Drive to Jinka through Konso

Travel further south to Jinka, the biggest town in south Omo region. The south Omo region is noted for its enormous variety of people and culture. 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 towards 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.If today is Thursday you will get the chance to visit the Keyafer colorful local market.

Overnight: Jinka
Accommodation: Lodge, Hotel or Camping.

Day 5: Discover the Mursi Tribe & Travel to Turmi

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, drive through the acacia forest to Turmi, a small town and center to visit the Omo valley tribes. If today is Tuesday or Saturday you will visit the Alduba or Dimeka colorful markets. Arrive at Turmi late in the afternoon and transfer to your accommodation.

Overnight: Turmi
Accommodation: Lodge, Basic Hotel or Camping

Day 6: 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 Hammer tribe located close to Turmi. They 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: Lodge, Basic Hotel or Camping

Day 7: Drive to Omorate & visit Dassenech Tribe and drive back to Konso

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 drive back to Konso.

Overnight: Konso
Accommodation: Lodge or Basic Hotel

Day 8: Explore Nech Sar National Park & Lake Chamo

In the morning drive back to Arbaminch. Then 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 Nech Sar national park to see Wild Zebras and Gazelles. Return to the boat trip & visit the famous Crocodile Market which 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.

Overnight: Arbaminch
Accommodation: Lodge or Hotel

Day 9: Travel Back to Addis Abeba and Departure

Following breakfast this morning enjoy a full day scenic drive back to Addis Abeba. On the way visit the 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.Arrive in Addis late 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.