| Country: | Ethiopia |
| Duration: | 12 Day(s) - 11 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
Day 1: Addis Ababa - Arba Minch
The South is very rich in its great ethnic and linguistic diversity. The people it comprises constitute a real mosaic. Some ethnic groups consisting of only few hundred individuals do not even have their proper language, tradition, and way of life and have little attachment to them.
Accommodation: Paradise Lodge or similar
Day 2: Arba Minch
Arba Minch is a peaceful and very comfortable town constructed on the flank of a hill. It is composed of two levels and offers a panoramic extraordinary view on two Rift Valley lakes: Abyata and Chamo. Excursion on boat on Lake Chamo also allows to walk among crocodiles and hippopotamus which coexist peacefully with pelicans and other white eagles.
Accommodation: Paradise Lodge or similar
Day 3: Arba Minch – Key Afer – Jinka
We discover here the Banna and Ari ethnic groups. Having the same linguistic and cultural family with the Hamer, their social organization is also identical. On the way to Key Afer, there is a very colourful market every Thursday. Key Afer is located at a refreshing altitude of about 1800 km on Koso – Jinka road. It is by far the most accessible town of interest in the Omo region. Key Afar is dominantly inhabited by the Ari, but Banna and Hamer people also in and around the town. Transfer until Jinka
Accommodation: Jinka Resort
Day 4: Jinka - Mago Park - Turmi
It is in the Mago Park, on the lowland located to the east of Omo and to the west of River Mago, that we find the Mursi. The torrid climate and the warrior practice characteristic of this population have preserved them for a long time from every form of occupation as well as modernity. The Mursi are Agro- pastoralists. Like the Hamer and Banna, their social organisation and ritual make use of the principles of generation, age and house in a combined manner. Women of the higher rank are decorated with lip plates whose origin and significance is not completely elucidated until today.
Accommodation: Buska Lodge
Day 5: Mago Park – Dimeka – Turmi
This journey shall be totally devoted to the encounter with the Hamer people. Among these ethnic group, all individuals are grouped into 2 generational classes: the “Homeland Children” and the “Homeland Fathers”. The handing over of generational class from the “Homeland Children” to the “Homeland Fathers” is accompanied by an initiation ritual.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 6: Turmi – Dassenech - Turmi
Departure in the direction of Omorate village in Dassenech, also known as the Galeb or Reshiat, countryside and go back on the opposite bank of the Omo, which is a new source of encounter and of change of scenery. The Dassenech are people with nomadic roots, today clearly seen in their traditional huts similar in structure to desert people like the Tuareg of the Sahara and the Nama of the Kalahari. They are presently living on fishing, agriculture and livestock herding.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 7: Turmi – Konso
Following the periple in the Omo Valley and discovery of the Konso ethnic group, visit of their village. If the king is present, it is possible to meet him and he will explain the particularity of his people, their relationship with the ancient people and gives his wise advice.
The Konso region is characterized by its cultures of terraces (basically the millet). Each village is structured with quarters composed of groups of mutual aid to one another and in which representatives to the Village Council are assigned. The Konso people are categorized into 9 clans each having their own totem.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 8 : Konso – Yabello
Following descent towards the south until Yabello, one comes across a village of the Borana ethnic group, fierce warriors attached to their land. They are adorn very colourful clothes and have a great culture of hospitality. Their social system is based on the principle of age-groups which constitutes the demographic regulator of these people. Yabello Game Sanctuary at a small distance from the town encloses dry acacia savannah wherein a small number of Swayne’s hartebeest, Burchell’s zebra, greater and lesser kudu, Grant’s gazelle and a variety of smaller predators are sheltered. The sactuary however is best known for its endemic birds.
Accommodation: Yabello Motel
Day 9: Yabello – Yergalem
After Yabello, one comes to the Sidamo region until Yergalem, a small town lying at the heart of the green landscape, surrounded by coffee plantations. This region is one of the principal zones of coffee production; occasion to evoke the Ethiopian origin of this plant, whose culture is developing all over the world. All the plants of Coffee Arabica of the world have their ancestors in the Ethiopian Coffee. It is also possible to visit a traditional Sidamo village on foot.
Accommodation: Aregash Lodge
Day 10 : Yergalem – Bale
The Bale National Park covers an area of 515 km2. It was established to serve as a sanctuary for the three endemic mammals of Ethiopia. The Abyssinian redfox, the mountain nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck. Here one can also observe some indigenous birds such as the Blue Winged Bird, the Rugget’s Rail, the Wattled Ibis and the White-collar Pigeon.
Accommodation: Wabi Shebelle Hotel or similar
Day 11 : Bale
The Bale National Park covers an area of 515 km2. It was established to serve as a sanctuary for the three endemic mammals of Ethiopia. The Abyssinian redfox, the mountain nyala and Menelik’s Bushbuck. Here one can also observe some indigenous birds such as the Blue Winged Bird, the Rugget’s Rail, the Wattled Ibis and the White-collar Pigeon.
Accommodation: Wabi Shebelle
Day 12 : Bale – Addis
On a return trip to Addis Ababa, one may stop on the side of Lake Zeway to observe the abundance in the avian species.
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