Duration: 16 days/15nights

Route: Omo valley- Surma, Mursi, Hamer, Karo, Dasenech, Konso, Agnuak, Nuer, etc tribes

Transportation: 4×4 vehicles

Minimum Group size: 2 pax

Itinerary

Ethiopia is composed of about 83 ethnic groups with 200 dialects. Based on the language they speak, they can be divided into Semitic, Cushitic, Nilotic, and Omotic stocks. Most of the tribes of interest are located in the Omo valley residing to the East and west part of the Omo River. This itinerary covers all the tribes that are to the east and west part of the Omo River, like Suram, Mursi, Hamer, Karo, Dasenech, Konso, Agnuak, Nuer, Ari, Benna, Dorze, etc. This itinerary is ideal for those travelers who want to cover all the tribes in the Omo valley deeper than the usual way. The itinerary gets travelers “off the beaten path” with an opportunity to learn about and interact with Ethiopia’s most unique cultural groups.

Day 1 – Tue – Arrival + Addis
Be welcomed by your guide on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Air Port, and transfer into the hotel. O/N – Jupiter or other similar 4* Hotel

Day 2 – Wed – Addis – Gambella
Fly west to Gambella, in the morning, and after lunch visits the cultural market of Gambella, and have an interesting walk by the Baro River, which joins the White Nile in Sudan, enjoying bird watching and the sunset. O/N – Ethiopia Hotel or similar Hotel

Day 3 – Thu – Gambella
In the morning, drive 48 km to Itang to visit the Nuer people who are cattle keepers and fishermen, and in the afternoon, visit the Agnuak people on the outskirts of the town of Gambella. O/N – Ethiopia Hotel or similar Hotel

Day 4 – Fri – Gambella – Bebeka
Drive to Bebeka, where the largest coffee plantation is found, visiting the people of Maji people, and the Tepi Tea Plantation on the way. O/N – Bebeka Guest House or similar

Day 5 – Sat – Bebeka – Tulgit – Kibish
With a short visit of the Rubber Plantation around Bebeka, proceed driving farther south to Kibish, via Tulgit – the other settlement of the Surma people, and crossing the Akobo River, which flows, to Baro River. O/N – Camping at Kibish

Day 6 – Sun – Kibish
Full day with the Surma people who share the practice of the women’s inserting of clay discs in their lower lips, and the men’s ‘Stick Fighting’ – with the Mursi people who live on the other side of the Omo River. O/N – Camping at Kibish

 Day 7 – Mon – Kibish – Mizan Teferi
Drive Mizan Teferi via Bebeka where you will visit the coffee exporting processes from nursery to packing and transporting. O/N – Eden Hotel or similar Hotel

Day 8 – Tue – Mizan Teferi – Jimma
Visiting the Chat or mild Stimulant cultivation, and the Muslim Oromo people on the way, drive to Jimma – which was the regional capital of Ethiopia in the late 19th Century. O/N – Central Jimma Hotel or similar

Day 9 – Wed – Jimma – Sodo – Arba Minch
With a stop at Gojeb River where you may spot hippos, drive 360 km to Arba Minch. On your way visit the people of Wolita who are known for their cultivation of Enset of False Banana. O/N – Paradise Lodge or similar

Day 10 – Thu – Arba Minch – Key Afer – Jinka
Visiting the most colorful multicultural market in the Lower Omo Valley at Key Afer – which is attended by the tribal groups of Ari, Benna, and Tsemai, drive 275 km to Jinka. O/N – Eco-Omo lodge or similar

Day 11 – Fri – Jinka – Mago NP – Jinka
Today, you will have an excursion to the Mago National Park and visit the people of Mursi who are typically known for the clay lip plates of the women. Then, drive back to Jinka and visit the Cultural Museum of the People of the Lower Omo Valley. O/N – Eco-Omo lodge or similar

Day 12 – Sat – Jinka – Dimeka – Turmi
Drive to Turmi – the settlement of Hamer people. Stop off at Dimeka to visit the other interesting weekly cultural market of the Hamer and the Benna people. After dinner at your hotel, you will be driven to the nearby village of the Hamer people to see the traditional dances of the Hamer people – the Evangadi Dance. O/N – Buska Lodge or similar

Day 13 – Sun – Turmi
In the morning, you will have an excursion to Omo Rate to visit the Dasenech people who are the southernmost people of the country and are known for their scarifications. After a picnic lunch at Murulle, proceed driving to Korcho to visit the Karo people. And, finally, drive back to Turmi. O/N – Buska Lodge or similar

Day 14 – Mon – Turmi – Arba Minch
With an early start, drive north to Arba Minch with a stop at Lake Chamo to have a remarkable boat trip to visit the ‘Crocodile Market’ where you can visit the display of big African Crocodiles, hippos, and various low land water birds. O/N – Paradise Lodge or similar

Day 15 – Tue – Arba Minch – Langano
Drive north to the Rift Valley Lake of Langano visiting the people of Dorze who are known for their huge bamboo huts, and colorful cotton clothes. You will also visit the chains of Rift Valley Lakes on your way. O/N – Sabana Beach Resort or similar

Day 16 – Wed – Langano – Addis + departure
Drive back to Addis, in the morning, and after lunch at Addis have a short city tour of Addis to visit the National Archeological Museum of Addis Ababa, and Merkato – the largest open-air market in Africa. In the evening, before departure, you will be a guest of the Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour at one of the best traditional restaurants to taste the variety of Ethiopian meals and to see their folkloric dances.

Then, be transferred to the airport for your departure.

Included Services: –
1: Accommodation on a double bed room-sharing basis
2: Three meals a day out of Addis, and only breakfast in Addis
3: All entrance fees
4: Transfer ins and outs
5: Comfortable and air-conditioned 4X4 Toyota Land Cruiser with fuel, insurance, and driver’s allowance
6: Professional English Speaking guide with all his expenses
7: Professional Cook for the camping days
8: Boat Rent at Lake Chamo
9: Bottled water in the vehicle
10: Portage fees.
11: First-class camping gears
12: All local guides
13: Scouts at the parks
14: Government tax

Excluded Services:-
1: Lunch and dinner in Addis
2: Any alcoholic drinks
3: A personal expense like souvenirs, laundry, etc
4: Tips
5: Any expense which is not stated in the ‘Included List’ above