LOWER OMO VALLEY SOUTHERN CULTURAL ROUTE

The Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia is a little visited area of the country. The tourist experience is a mixture of people’s daily life, rural scenery, rift valley lakes, wild life viewing, Birds and hiking.  It is where one can find many of the most colorful ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The fascinating customs, ancient ceremonies and celebrations, arts, crafts, music and dance of the Benna, Hamer, Mursi, Karo, Erbore and Borena people are very special. In the Omo Valley region many of the tribal groups have changed little over hundreds of years and they offer the visitor extraordinary insight into a variety of traditional cultures. On this trip, you get truly off the beaten track, exploring little visited villages and vibrant tribal markets of the far Southern Ethiopia.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at Bole international air port, you will be received by our representative and transfer to your hotel, free time in the morning. After noon meet with the tour organizer. Overnight hotel at Addis Ababa

Day 2: Full Day Addis Ababa City Tour (optional)

Morning after breakfast you will make a full day city tour of Addis Ababa that includes National Museum, Ethnological Museum, Saint Trinity Cathedral, Saint George Cathedral Museum and Church, Mount Entoto and Merkato. Overnight hotel at Addis Ababa

Day 3: Addis Ababa – Hawassa

In the morning, you will drive to Abijyata Shalla National Park through the Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. On the way, you will visit the Rift valley lakes of Koka and Zeway. Have your lunch at the town of Zeway , then drive to Abijyata Shalla National Park to see thousands of Flamingos breed on Lake Shalla the deepest lake in Africa north of the equator with 280 meter deep. Then continue to drive Hawassa, the capital for the Southern People’s Nation and Nationalities. Overnight hotel at Hawassa

Day 4: Hawassa – Arbaminch

Early in the morning having breakfast and have time in Lake Hawassa to see the fish market that held early in the morning with numerous aquatic bird life. After that you will drive to the town of Arbaminch. On the way, you will see the magnificent landscape and waterscape. Overnight hotel at Arbaminch

Day 5: Visit Doze Village and Boat trip on Lake Chamo

 After breakfast visit the village of Dorze community and their lifestyle, famed for their bee hive shaped houses and their weaving skills. Weaving is a primary profession for many of the community members. The rural setting of Dorze and its pleasantly cold climate with taste of delicious local cuisine is truly exotic. Afternoon boat trip on Lake Chamo, where one can spot a troop of Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Crocodiles, called Nile crocodile. Alongside one can also see beautiful aquatic and non aquatic endemic and common bird species. Overnight at Arbaminch, Hotel

Day 6: Arbaminch- Konso-Jinka

After breakfast drive to Konso town (90 Kms) to visit Konso community villages with colorful costume, centuries old terraced land features, beautifully carved wooden grave markers made as a symbol of status for clan leaders. For people concerned about environment and would like to support the community there is tree planting experience for visitors only. Further along the Southern route visit the Woito people who live in the area around Woito River and Tsemay village.

This region is studded with various communities with different culture and language. You will be amazed by the diversity of the culture and way of life.
Continue driving down to the south to the small town of Key Afer, stop at this little town and visit the local Market. Late in the afternoon you will arrive in Jinka for overnight stay in Jinka, Hotel.

Day 7:  Jinka - Mursi – Jinka

After breakfast leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi community. They are renowned for the unique traditional practice where women member of the community slit their lower lips and insert circular clay disc as a mark of reaching maturity. On the way back, visit Mago National Park. After a picnic lunch in the late afternoon drive back to Jinka. Overnight Jinka, Hotel

 Day 8: Jinka – Turmi en route visit the Demeka Market

After breakfast drive to Turmi through Demeka for the visit to Hamer people and their village. Turmi is a small town, which is the base to visit the Hamer village. Hammers have remarkable hairstyles made from ochre, water, and binding resin. They rub the mixture into their hair then twist the strands repeatedly to create coppery-colored locks. This is a sign of wealth and health. Hammers are considered to be masters of body decoration. Overnight hotel at Turmi

Day 9: Turmi – Karo- Turmi -Omorate- Turmi

Early morning after breakfast head to Murielle to see the Karo tribe, famous for their body panting (they prepare the ink for the painting from locally available material like flower, soil and animal blood) we will also admire the scenery of the Omo river from the edge of the village.

After lunch, drive to Omorate to visit the Dasench (Geleb) community by crossing the Omo River. Overnight hotel Turmi

Day 10: Turmi- Erbore –Yabello

Drive to Yabello visiting the Erbore and the Tsemay people en route. After lunch stop at Konso, continue to the Oromo region of Borena and visit their village. The tour of this day will let you experience the life of the Borena Oromo people who is well known in cattle rearing. You also visit the Borena Oromo villages and their ' Water Well Singing ' sung during fetching water to their thousands of cattle. Overnight Yabello Motel

Day 11: Yabello – Yirgalem

Drive from Yabello to Yirgalem over a beautiful Sidama Mountains and coffee plantation. On the way, stop at Wenago to visit the Tutu Fella stele field – dating many centuries, overnight Aregash lodge at Yirgalem

Day 12: Yirgalem- Addis Ababa via Butajira

In the morning drive back to Addis Ababa through beautiful scenery from another gate to the capital. In the evening our company will invite you to a farewell dinner party in one of the Traditional Ethiopian Restaurants with traditional music and dances from different ethnic groups, then transfer to Bole International Airport to fly back home.

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