Ethiopia’s Omo Valley Cultural Safari

This Safari is a cultural feast and will appeal to travellers wishing to fully immerse themselves in tribal life that dates back thousands of years.

The Safari is a combination Safari meaning we make use of hotel and camping accommodation facilities along the way.

We will visit villages and local markets in the Lower Valley of the Omo. Over twenty tribes inhabit the area including the Mursi, Nyangatom, Suri, Dizi and Me'en amongst others. You will learn about their culture and customs that has remained relatively unchanged for thousands of years.

We will also visit the Rift Valley Lakes, an area with rich soils and spectacular scenery. We will partake in some game viewing in Nech Sar Park and Mago National Park before finishing the Safari back in Addis Ababa where we do a fascinating city tour.

A Safari that will leave you with a far greater understanding of ancient cultures, and a deep appreciation of mankind's differences and similarities.

Day 01: Arrival in Addis Ababa

You will be met on arrival in Addis Ababa and transferred to your hotel.

Day 02: Addis - Langano

The day begins with a drive to Langano visiting the crater lakes en route. The Langano Lake is a great place to enjoy water activities. Lake Langano is the only bilharzia-free lake in Ethiopia. The high mineral content gives the water its brown color,  but the water is actually clean and pleasant for swimming. Optional activities on offer include: horse riding, fishing, trekking, swimming, or relaxing on the beach. We overnight at a comfortable hotel in Langano.

Day 03: Langano - Chencha - Arba Minch

In the morning we drive to the town of Arba Minch, translated as "forty springs". The town is set high on the escapement and has fantastic views over the twin lakes Chamo and Abaya. En route we take a scenic drive to the mountain village of Chencha, home of the Dorze people. The Dorza are renowned for their cotton weaving and their distinctive houses which are towering beehive shaped structures made from woven thatch. From Chencha we proceed to Arba Minch where we overnight at a hotel.

Day 04: Arba Minch (Crocodile market &  Nech Sar NP)

We start our morning off with a visit to the Nech Sar Park. In the afternoon we visit the Crocodile Market. 

The Nech Sar Park is a beautiful setting sandwiched between the lakes Chamo and Abaya. Nech Sar means "white grass". The name is derived from the plain where the color of the grass is golden white. This park is inhabited by a variety of wildlife including Gravy's Zebra, Waterbuck, and the Swayne's Hartebeest, one of Ethiopia's rare endemic species. In addition to the wildlife the park also boasts a wide variety of plant and bird life.

You can partake in a boat cruise on lake Chamo whera at a spot called " Azo Gebeya" or crocodile market you can observe huge concentrations of crocodiles, herds of hippo as well as many species of birds.

Day 05: Arba Minch - Jinka

Leaving Arba Minch behind we drive southwards to Jinka. We will visit the Konso village people who live along low terraced hills. They are reputed to be the hardest workers in Ethiopia. It is along these terraced hills where some of the finest Ethiopian Coffee is grown. The people have a rich and facinating culture which includes erecting peculiar totems on the graves of there deceased. An area rich in tribal culture. These tribes of the area include the Ari, Benna and Tsemay. We camp overnight at a local campsite.

Day 06: Jinka - Mago NP - Jinka

Today we will do a full day excursion to Mago National Park where we will visit the Mursi village. The Mursi are one one of Ethiopias oldest ethnic groups. They live in small huts made of straw leaves. The women of the tribe insert terra cotta clay into there lips and earlobes that strech them out, while the men are famous for their unique hair style! After our visit we will drive back to Jinka for a nights camping.

Day 07: Jinka - Turmi

Leaving  Jinka, we drive onwards to Turmi home of the Hammer people. The Hammer tribe are one of the most beautiful and dignified people in the Omo basin. The women wear elegant leather skirts festooned with tiny pearls. Elaborate hairstyles are another form of personal adornment. We camp for the night.

Day 08: Turmi - Murelle - Turmi

Today we drive towards the Murulle area to see the Karo ethnic group who are experts in body painting. They use clays and locally available vegetable pigments to trace fantastic patterns on each other's faces, chests, arms and legs. Karo men are also famous for their unique hairstyle. After visit the Karo we drive back to Turmi and spend the night camping.

 Day 09: Turmi - Yabello

We depart Turmi and head for Yabelo where we visit the Erobe and the Borana pastoralists en route with their innumerable cattle. Tonight we stay in a motel.

Day 10: Yabello - Yirgalem

After breakfast we leave Yabelo and drive to Yirgalem passing through a number of fruit growing towns. The town of Yirgalem is located between coffee fields and lush indigenous vegetation. The Bamboo thatched Tukuls where we stay compliment the traditional Sidama village that is located nearby. The surrounding forest is home to diverse range of flaura and fuauna including over a 100 species of birds and mammals.  You can partake in numerous activities from the lodge including trekking, horseback riding, a visit to historical caves, sacred sites and natural hot and cold-water springs. We overnight at a lodge. 

Day 11: Yirgalem - Addis

This morning we visit the fish market around Lake Awassa. We then drive back to Addis visiting  Lakes Abiyata and Shala en route. These Lakes are designated national parks, but this doesn't mean much in practice. Lake Abiyata is shallow, with heaps of birds, while Lake Shalla sits at the bottom of a 250m (820ft) deep crater. This evening, we will go for a special "farewell dinner" where you will get the opportunity to taste various national dishes, and watch the dances of various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. You will also experience a traditional coffee ceremony. Overnight at a hotel in Addis Ababa.

Day 12: Sightseeing/Departure

After breakfast you will do a city tour of Addis which starts off with a drive up to Mount Entoto. The view from the top is breathtaking. We descend back down to Addis whre we proceed to the Archeological Museum that house facinating archeological findings. Later on we visit Trinity Cathedral, the largest and most revered of all the churches in Addis. the Cathedral was built in 1941. After lunch we visit the Ethnographic Museum. The Museum consisits of two main sections. The first covering local crafts and the second the regions and people of Ethiopia. The museum has an impressive array of religious crosses, triptychs and murals, as well as Haile Selassies's bedroom and bathroom. Later we proceed to Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa. Later you willl be transferred to the airport for your onwards departure. ( Additional nights accommodation can be arranged in Addis Ababa upon request).

Note:

Vehicles used will be Toyota land cruisers for the south and minibuses for airport transfers and the city tour.

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