5 days tour to Omo valley
Ethiopia is the home of more than 85 ethnic groups with their own tradition and customs. From which 56 found to southern Ethiopia. And 16 are known as Omo valley tribes who live following the Omo river bank.
National Geographic magazine has called the Omo Valley “Africa’s last frontier.” Home to approximately 225,000 people, the valley is busting with diversity; there are nine main tribes and many smaller ones all speaking their own language, practicing unique customs and rituals that identify to them only. Life has evolved slowly here as tribes have clung to their life practices while the world around them has changed. Now their beauty and fanciful dress are attracting attention as they welcome you to their villages, interact at local markets and dance with you at nightly rituals.
This trip will give you a chance to meet the Dorze, Konso, Tsemay, Banna or Benna, Ari, Mursi, Hamer, Dassenech or/and Karo.
Day 1, Addis- Arba minch
Take a flight (45 minutes) .after lunch drive to Chencha, where the Dorze people are living around. They are famous by their Elephant shaped house and A bread from fake banana( they demonstrate the process as well from cutting the steam to baking the bread and you will be invited to taste it).O/n Haile resort or Paradise lodge.
Day 2, Arba Minch- Jinka
After breakfast, have a boat trip on Lake Chamo to Admire the Nile crocodiles, hippos and many aquatic birds. Then drive to Konso. Konso is registered by UNESCO as the cultural landscape. Visit their village and their enclosure compound which has many layers. After lunch drive to Jinka. If the day falls on Thursday, you will have a chance to see three tribes in Keyafer Market (Banna, Tsemay and Ari). O/n hotel
Day 3, Jinka-Mursi-Turmi
In the morning drive to Mursi across Mago National Park. The Mursi women and girls are well known by elongated lips and the boys have their own initiation tradition so call Donga (stick fighting).take time for pictures and social interaction. Then back to Jinka for lunch. Then drive to Turmi. If the day is Tuesday or Saturday, there will be a market at Alduba or Dimeka.o/n Buska /paradise/ Emerald / Turmi lodge.
Day 4 Turmi-Omo Rate-Turmi
This day you will have many options.in a morning drive to Omorate to visit the most isolated Dassenech tribe who are living in Ethiopia and Kenya. They are pastoralists and cultivating small scale crops. After lunch, you will see the options either Bull leaping ceremony or drive to karo tribe (famous by body paintings) or visit Hamer village or if it is Monday, visit the market.o/n same place.
Day 5, drive to Jinka. On the way visit the Banna tribe. Then take a flight to Addis. Have shopping time and after Farwell dinner departure.