7-Day Southern Ethiopia Cultural Tour with Omo Valley Tribes

After breakfast, we drive to Arba Minch (approximately 7 hours), with a stop at Tiya, 80 km from Addis Ababa, to explore the Stelae field of Tiya, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Mysterious engraved stelae stretch across Southern Ethiopia, and the field comprises approximately 45 stones reaching heights of 2-3 m. We then continue to Arba Minch, enjoying fantastic scenery, including the best spot to view the two Rift Valley lakes: Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the south. We arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon, where you can relax and enjoy stunning views from the terrace.

• Morning:
  • After breakfast, we embark on a boat cruise on Lake Chamo, searching for Africa's largest crocodiles, which can grow up to 6 m long, as well as hippos and a wide variety of birdlife.
• Afternoon:
  • We visit the Dorze people, enjoying fantastic scenery along the way, including the Wolayta farmlands with views of the lush green hills and valleys. The Dorze village lies high in the Guge Mountains, overlooking Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo.

• After breakfast, we drive to Konso (approximately 3.5 hours). Konso is another UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. We visit the village compound and the local museum, and usually receive a warm welcome in the Konso chief's compound, which includes the family graveyard, house, and mummies. The Konso people have a rich rural culture and construct ingenious terraces and walls that encircle their fields and villages, protecting them against livestock damage and flooding.
• From Konso, we continue our journey to the colorful market of Key Afer, open on Thursdays only, frequented by several tribes of the Omo Valley such as the Derase, Tsemay, Benna, and Ari, before reaching Jinka in the late afternoon.

• Morning:
  • We enter Mago National Park (approximately 2 hours), admiring different animals and birds along the way, and proceed to visit the Mursi tribe and their villages. The Mursi are one of the most unique tribes in Africa, with women using massive round lip plates for beauty reasons.
• Afternoon:
  • After lunch, we continue our trip to Turmi (approximately 3 hours), where we meet the fascinating Hamer tribe. Turmi serves as our base for exploring the tribes of the Southern Omo Valley. The entire region of Southern Omo has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980.

• Morning:
  • After breakfast, we visit the colorful market in Dimeka near Turmi, open on Saturdays only, frequented by several tribes of the Omo Valley.
• Afternoon:
  • Turmi is well known for its traditional events, and with some luck, we may even participate in a Hamer marriage ceremony, including the bull jumping ceremony and more. In the late afternoon, we also visit a nearby Hamer village and immerse ourselves in the tribe's daily surroundings. We may even witness a moonshine dance (Evangadi), a traditional dance of young Hamer men and women.

• Today we take an excursion to visit the Dassanech ethnic group (70 km one way), famous for their nomadic lifestyle and fascinating decorations and scarification on their bodies. There are also breathtaking views of the Omo River while crossing it in a dugout canoe.
• Afternoon: Turmi - Konso (180 km)
  • After lunch, we drive back to Konso (approximately 3.5 hours). We reach the neat lodge in the late afternoon.

• Morning/afternoon:
  • We drive from Konso to Arba Minch (1 hour) and return to Addis Ababa. You will be transferred from the domestic airport in Addis Ababa to your reserved hotel, where a day room will be reserved until 6 pm.
• Evening:
  • You are invited to a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance show at a renowned restaurant in Addis Ababa in the evening. After dinner, you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure.