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Omo Valley Tour

Wedged into Africa’s Great Rift Valley, well beyond the tarmac and in the deep south reaches of Ethiopia, lies the Omo Valley – an epicenter of ethnic, tribal and cultural diversity that has been spared modernization and still nurtures ancestral values such as pride, honor and self-determination to become who they were born to be.

The valley is mostly a dry savanna expanse fed by the Omo River –one of their most important resources.

Along the river and throughout the valley region, hundreds of small tribal villages pepper the landscape, each of them with its unique customs and even its own language.

These tribes have lived here for centuries, and since the discovery of human remains dating back nearly 2.5 million years, the Lower Valley region has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Price varies by group size

Details

Schedule

Everyday

Group

Minimum of Ten Persons

Availability

Available throughout the year

Itinerary

Day One: Drive to Arba Minch

Haile resort

Arbaminch

Your visit to the destination of the single most ethnically diverse region in Africa starts this morning by departing to Arbaminch. On the way you will visit Tiya stele field a world heritage site. Lunch in Butajira and continue driving through stunning greenery.

Day Two: Site seeing around Arbaminch

Haile resort

Arbaminch

Morning, drive to the crocodile ranch. Watch beautiful Nile crocodile hatchlings and adults in their concrete tanks and around it. The small museum inside the compound houses skulls of former residents, including a record breaking 7 meters long.

Then, drive to lake Chamo and board local boat to spot and photograph Hippos, various species of aquatic birds and Nile crocodiles. Different species of fishes are also found here in abundance. The most sought-after attraction of lake chamo is the so called “crocodile market” where you can see scores of massive Nile crocodiles daily gathering on the sandy bank of Lake Chamo. Watching these giant beauties sun themselves with their mouth wide open while brazen egrets pick parasites from their mouth is a phenomenon. Return to Arbaminch in time for lunch. In the afternoon, drive 37kms to dorze village to meet Dorze tribes who are well known for their cleverly designed conical thatched huts that are supposed to resemble the heads of elephants that once roamed these plains. Dorzes are Ethiopia’s most talented weavers. They also produce baskets, Pottery and leather products. Drive to Arbaminch for overnight.

Day Three: Drive to Jinka

Eco Omo lodge

Jinka

After Breakfast, drive 240kms to Jinka visiting en route the Konso village a UNESCO registered world heritage site. Have lunch in Konso and continue driving to Jinka. If the day of visit is Tuesday, you will visit Dimeka market and if Thursday visit Keyafer market these markets are the best markets in the whole of Omo valley.

Day Four: Drive to Turmi

Buska lodge

Turmi

Morning, drive to Mgo national park to visit Mursi tribes in their village. Because of their distinctive appearance, Mursi tribes have been a visitors and photographers' curiosity more than any tribe in the whole of Omo valley. Mursi women are known for their custom of expanding their lower lips by cutting and inserting a wooden or clay plate that gradually get larger and larger. This plate is considered as a sign of beauty and the size signifies the amount of dowry. After Mursi, drive back to Jinka in time for lunch. In the afternoon drive to Turmi. In Turmi, you will visit Hamar tribes the most celebrated tribes of the Omo valley. Hammer women can be easily identified by their hair style twisted into red tresses using red mud and butter. They often adorn themselves with leather skirts dotted with cowry shells, copper bracelets and bead necklaces. Another distinct culture of the Hamar tribe is the Bull jumping event, a rite of passage and precondition for marriage in which every Hamar male has to go through.

Day Five: Excursions to Karo and Dasanech

Buska lodge

Korcho

Today we will visit 2 of the main tribes of Omo valley, the Karo and Dasanech using Turmi as a base. Morning we will drive 55kms to village of Korcho where we visit Karo tribes. The Karos tribe are best known for their elaborated body painting made from white chalk, black charcoal, red iron ore and plant pigments. Beaded belts, shell necklaces and copper bracelets are worn by women while body scarification and piercing holes on their lower lip and inserting adornments is common for both male and female. Return to Turmi for lunch and in the afternoon; drive 72kms west of Turmi to the village of Omorate to visit another astonishing tribe, the Dasanech. Cross omo river by canoa to reach their village.

Day Six:Fly to Addis

After early breakfast, drive to Jinka to catch your flight to Addis where your trip comes to an end.

Summary

Lodging

Haile resort, Eco Omo lodge and Buska lodge

Room

Based on Double or Twin Room Occupancy

Activities

Visiting Arbaminch, Jinka, Turmi, Korcho and Dasanech

Food

Breakfasts only

Guide

English Speaking Professional Guide

Transport

Ground transport based on 4x4

Package Includes

Accommodation based on double/ twin room

Breakfasts in hotels

Entrance fees as per itinerary

Domestic flight Jinka- Addis based on the discounted fare that is offered for those who uses Ethiopian airlines for international flights

Ground transport based on 4x4

Fuel, road tax and driver accommodation

Professional English-speaking national guide

Local guides

Boat hire fee for Lake Chamo

Village payments

Government tax

Package Excludes

International and domestic airfare

All lunches and dinners

Tips

Alcoholic drinks

Any cost of a personal nature like laundry and anything that is not included in the included section above

Pricing

From $1,005.00

For International Tourists

From ETB 51,200

For Ethiopian national or yellow card holder