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| Duration: | 7 Day(s) - 5 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
DAY 01- ARRIVAL TO ADDIS ABABA
Welcome! Upon your arrival at Bole International Airport, you will clear immigration and proceed to baggage claim, after collecting your checked bags, clear customs and pass through the arrivals hall where you will meet a FINOT TOUR ETHIOPIA tour guide or representative, who will assist you with your transfer to your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Min Bus High Roof
Monarch Park View or Similar
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will drive 15 km and 20 minutes drive
Driving time will vary the stops like pee stop, photo stop, . . .
DAY 02- DRIVE ADDIS ABABA - ARIBAMINCH ON THE WAY TO TIYA UNESCO SITE ON THE VISIT TO THE DORZE TRIBE
The morning after breakfast meet with FINOT TOUR ETHIOPIA staff (driver and guide) at your preferred departure point and time, then start driving down the south, drive southward to the Rift Valley regions passing creator lakes and Rift Valley lakes on the way see some local markets when we get.
Then drive will take you along the scenic farmlands of Guraghe People. We will also drive through the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys, on the way visit the Dorze tribe and their village, famed for their beehive-shaped houses and their weaving skills. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze. They are also farmers, who prevent soil erosion by ingenious terracing of the mountainsides.
Around their huts, they have their own little garden with vegetables, spices tobacco, and Enset (false-banana or Ensete). You arrive late in the afternoon at Arbaminch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arbaminch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Land Cruiser 4X4
Paradise Lodge or Haile Resort
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will drive 475 km and 7-9 hours drive
Driving time will vary the stops like pee stop, photo stop, . . .
You have breakfast, bring with you some snacks, and drink for the long ride.
DAY 03-DRIVE ARBAMINCH- TURMI ON THE WAY BOAT TRIP & KONSO TRIBE
Early in the morning drive to the Lake shore to have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, The Boat trip on Lake Chamo is the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Nile Crocodiles, which measure about 6 meters with the water birds, are great the scenery is truly unforgettable. Continue your drive Konso.
You will stop to visit the Konso tribe with their king- a UNESCO-registered site for their extensive terracing and practice of making wooden grave markers for their hero and kings.
On this day you will have a brief opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many “Wagas” statues. This is the famous 'wagas' a funerary tradition, where magnificent carved wooden sculptures were created in honor of Konso warrior heroes, who have killed an enemy or animal, and are often grouped to represent the man, his wives, and his adversaries.
The Konso people are known for their totems erected in honor of the dead and their intricate agricultural terracing techniques. You will visit the Konso people who have an ancient, complex, and fascinating culture of their own. Here are found human fossils dating from between 1.3 and 1.9 million years. Witness the spectacle of ‘Konso's New York' an extraordinary landscape of sand pinnacles formed by wind and rain. Continue driving and the late afternoon and arrive in Turmi.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Land Cruiser 4X4
Emerald Lodge or Similar
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will drive 275 km and 4-6 hours drive
Driving time will vary the stops like pee stop, photo stop, . . .
Prepare enough cash /10 Ethiopian birr per one photo of one person/ if you want to take photos of or with the tribe people. To avoid unnecessary chaos, it is better to ask the tour guide before you take pictures.
REMARK - if there is any ceremonial activity like a traditional dance or bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide.
DAY 04– DRIVE TO DASSENECH - TURMI – DRIVE TO MURULLE TO VISIT KARO TRIBE.
This day early in the morning after breakfast drive 73 km west to visit the Dassench /Geleb/ people; who inhabited the bank of the Omo River we cross the Omo River by locally made boat to see the village these tribes are semi-nomadic with very little agriculture on the bank of the Omo River.
You will drive back to Turmi for lunch. After lunch, you will drive for an excursion to Murulle to see the Nyangatom tribes and the Karo tribe. They are famous for their body painting they prepare the ink for the painting from locally available materials like a flower, soil, and animal blood.
We will also admire the scenic view of the Omo River from the edge of the village, then drive to Dimeka Market to attend the weekly colorful market of the HAMER tribe, and then drive back to Turmi. Around
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Land Cruiser 4X4
Emerald Lodge or Similar
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will drive 295 km and 6-7 hours drive
Driving time will vary the stops like pee stop, photo stop, . . .
Prepare enough cash /10 Ethiopian birr per one photo of one person/ if you want to take photos of or with the tribe people. To avoid unnecessary chaos, it is better to ask the tour guide before you take pictures.
REMARK - If there is any ceremonial activity like a traditional dance or bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide.
DAY 05- VISIT HAMAR AND DRIVE JINKA
In the morning, you will drive to one of the nearest villages of the Hammar tribes and visit. The Hamar is one of the most well-known tribes in Southern Ethiopia. They inhabit the territory east of the Omo River and have villages in both Turmi and Dimeka.
They are especially well known for their unique rituals, including a cattle-leaping ceremony that the young men have to undergo in order to reach adulthood and marry. They are highly ‘superstitious’ people, and to this day they consider twins to be babies born outside of wedlock, while children whose upper milk teeth develop before their lower teeth are deemed to be ‘evil’ or ‘unclean’.
As mentioned, the young Hamar men are famous for their “Evangadi dance” and “Bull jumping” ceremony (it is as part of this ceremony that the aforementioned whipping occurs). This ritual entails young men who wish to marry jumping over a line of bulls, thereby proving their worth to their intended bride’s family. It also signifies their advent into adulthood. This is a rarely seen event however, with luck, we may hear of one on our Omo Valley tribe photography tour and even be invited to attend this landmark event. After lunch, you will drive to Jinka overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Land Cruiser 4X4
Jinka Resort or Orit Hotel
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will drive 275 km and 4-6 hours drive
Driving time will vary the stops like pee stop, photo stop, . . .
Prepare enough cash /10 Ethiopian birr per one photo of one person/ if you want to take photos of or with the tribe people. To avoid unnecessary chaos, it is better to ask the tour guide before you take pictures.
DAY 06- DRIVE MAGO - VISIT MURSI - ARBAMINCH ON THE WAY KEY AFER MARKET
After breakfast early in the morning leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of the Mursi tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women, who on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted.
Then drive to KEY AFER- Tribal Market one of the best markets in the OMO VALLEY since at least four different tribes are coming to attend this weekly market arrival to the small town and escort a local guide walking around the market and explore different sections of the market including animal, vegetable, cereals and much more. Then continue to drive back to Arbaminch.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Land Cruiser 4X4
Paradise Lodge or Haile Resort
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will drive 295 km and 5-7 hours drive
Driving time will vary the stops like pee stop, photo stop, . . .
Prepare enough cash /10 Ethiopian birr per one photo of one person/ if you want to take photos of or with the tribe people. To avoid unnecessary chaos, it is better to ask the tour guide before you take pictures.
DAY 07- DRIVE - ADDIS ABABA VIA LANGANO
Morning After a relaxed breakfast in the lodge drive from Arbaminch to Addis Ababa via Lake Langano. You will pass through the fertile land of Wolayta with its fascinating culture and the false Banana preparation and coffee plantations and Alaba regions. You will pass through the land, that produces the best banana, papaya, apple, and mango in Ethiopia for the world market.
The Alaba people are very famous for their beautiful home painting style. You will stop for lunch at Sabana Beach Resort and enjoy your lunch by the lakeside views.
You will continue to drive to Addis Ababa and enjoy a drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley on the way coffee and tea stop at the town of Debrezeyet in one of the creator lakes arrive at Addis, shopping and coffee break, and finally in the evening traditional farewell dinner in a cultural restaurant with live tribal music.
End of Tour!
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Land Cruiser 4X4
CONSULTANT NOTE
You will drive 475 KM and 7-9 hours drive
Driving time will vary the stops like pee stop, photo stop, . . .
NB: The tour program can be modified differently, rearranged, combined with other itineraries, and shortened or extended to suit your interest, time, and budget. Up on request, FINOT TOUR ETHIOPIA can arrange various tour programs based on your interest.
