10 Days Omo Valley Cultural Tours
Day 1: Addis
We spend the day exploring Addis Ababa beginning with a visit to the National Museum, one of the most important sub- Saharan museums in all of Africa. The museum is home to the fossilized humanoid Lucy, as well as an amazing collection of artifacts, royal items and art. We then visit the Ethnological Museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie.
After lunch, we take time in St. George Cathedral, built in 1896 by Emperor Menelik and then continue on to Holy Trinity Cathedral. Trinity Cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in Ethiopia and has survived through many historical periods, as its interesting architecture can attest to. The Cathedral contains the thrones and the tombs of the emperor and some of the royal family. Visit Merkato, the largest open air market in Africa. If time allow have shopping and drive to hotel. At hotel of your choice.
Day 2: Arba Minch
A day drive to Arba Minch, the Southern Rift Lakes of Chamo and Abaya adjacent to Nechisar National Park. We stop at the Melka Kunture archeological site and Tiya heritage site to admire the crudely fashioned stone monoliths, that some believe to be ancient grave marks. We stop for lunch at Butajira local restaurant and then precede on the edge of the Rift valley the village of Guraghe, Kambata, Wolayita and if time allow we detour to Dorze peoples traditional weaving. Much important is Enset (false banana) plantation, used for Kocho (food), dominant multipurpose. In the evening enjoy the clear-blue stars of the African sky over fascinating Chamo and Abay Lake.
Overnight Paradise or Swyenes Hotel at Arbaminch Town.
Day 3: Arba Minch
In the morning we drive across the barrier land, the so called 'BRIDGE OF GOD', which separate the Chamo and Abaya Lakes. In the park you will see the endemic Swayne Hartebeest, Burchellfs Zebras, Lesser and Greater Kudus, Grantfs and Thomsonfs Gazelles and amongst birds; Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Kori Bustard, Secretary bird and Lesser Kestrel. In the afternoon, boat trip to Lake Chamo to view the Crocodiles, Hippopotamus or we drive to Chencha a Dorze village to admire their cultural weaving and Bamboo and Enset-leaves made house style.
Overnight Paradise or Swyenes Hotel at Arbaminch town.
Day 4: Jinka
Today we drive further south to the town of Jinka to visit the Konso villages, known for their traditional cluster house style, ritual sites, grave mark Totem known as Waka and traditional terrace farming. After short break at Weyto proceed to Key Afer, you will be able to join in the local weekly Banna and Tsamay market, same a very colourful market that attracts neighboring tribes in the region - the Ari from Jinka, the Tsamay from Weyto and the Hamars from Dimeka areaand are known for their local made showy decorative dressings and bunting hair style as well as dye striped bodies. Attending to this market will allow you to compare the dressing patterns, ornamentation techniques etc. of the various tribes in the area. Afternoon, you will be proceeding to Jinka.Overnight Jinka Resort or Orit Hotel at Jinka town.
Day 5: Mursi Tribe...
We drive further south to visit the Mursi Village in Mago Park, and may spot wild games such as Gerenuk, Oribi, Kudu, Hartebeest, Water-buck and many bird species (180 species have been recorded in this Park so far).
The Mursi tribe whose women wear circular clay plate on their lower lip as well ear lobes the men are known for the fierce stick fighting. Afternoon visit Jinka townfs daily market and Ethnographic Museum that gives a good overview of the Omo Valley people culture and way of life. Overnight Jinka Resort/Orit hotel at Jinka.
Day 6: Turmi
Drives to Turmi en-route visiting Ari and Banna tribes arrive have lunch; fix our camp and rest till the sun get cool. Late afternoon walk to the villages of the Hammer people that enjoy body decoration and wear quantities of colorful beads and clay hair buns with Ostrich feathers spend pleasant after noon with friendly Hamar people walk back to the camp before dark. Overnight camping.
Day 7: Karo Tribe
Estimated Travel Time: 5 hours Approximate Distance: 114 km round trip today we take a day excursion to Omorate to visit the semi-nomadic pastoral Dassanech people at the bank of the Omo River. Embark on an optional dug-out canoe ride across the Omo river to visit a Dassanech village on the other side Or to Karo tribe which set up their beautiful village at edge of Omo river, These peoples are masters at body decorating during festival time. Visit Karo and retrace to Turmi overnight at Keske campsite.
Day 8: Turmi – Arba Minch
After breakfast we drive Arba Minch on the way you may dik-dik, and lesser kudu. We can also keep an eye out for lesser bustards, secretary birds, and ostriches. You will have a stop at Arbore. The Arbores are settled parallel to Lake Stephanie and at the Northern edge of Buska Mountain chain that extends 96Kms in the Weyto Plains of the Omo Valley. Short break at Weyto for proceed to Arba Minch. Overnight Paradise Lodge/ Swyenes Hotel at Arba Minch
Along the way.
Day 9: Arba Minch- Langano
Morning drive to Chencha village to visit the Dorze people, renowned cotton weavers as well construction of tall beehive-shaped dwellings or like Elephant shape Enjoy the false banana bread with hot spice .Crossing fertile land planted with bananas, cereals and tobacco we drive to Langano. This is a holiday resort with a splendid beach dotted with acacia trees, pinkish volcanic water ideal for swimming. Overnight at Sabana beach Resort. Full board.
Day 10 Abiyatta and Shalla National Par- Addis.
After we arrive in Addis we will visit the National Museum and the biggest open air Market in East Africa. Depart late evening.