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Ethiopia · Tribal Experiences
The journey
Explore Ethiopia's Lower Omo Valley, often described as a living cultural museum, on a 7-day journey through tribal communities, Rift Valley landscapes, and UNESCO-listed heritage. Visit Tiya's stele field, meet the Halaba, Dorze, Konso, Mursi, Dasenech, and other peoples of southern Ethiopia, and experience local markets, traditional villages, and distinctive cultural traditions. The tour also includes a boat trip on Lake Chamo to see crocodiles, hippopotamus, and water birds, as well as a farewell dinner with folkloric dance and Ethiopian meals in Addis Ababa. Four of Africa's major linguistic groups are represented in the region, including the Omotic-speakers.
Explore Ethiopia's Lower Omo Valley, often described as a living cultural museum, on a 7-day journey through tribal communities, Rift Valley landscapes, and UNESCO-listed heritage.
From the itinerary
At a glance
Day by day
Overnight at a lodge.
Overnight at a hotel.
Overnight at a hotel.
Overnight at a hotel.
Overnight at a hotel.
Overnight at a hotel.
Where this trip takes you
stele field of Tiya, Lake Chamo 'crocodile market', Mago National Park
The route
The fine print
Day 1 - Addis Ababa - Alaba Kulito - Arba Minch
Drive 250 km south to Alaba Kulito, visiting the stele field of Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the tribal people of Halaba, who are noted for their beautifully painted houses and hats. Then visit the Dorze tribe, which is known for its cultivation of enset, or false banana, as well as a local market. The Dorze are also renowned for their huge huts and colourful cotton clothes.
Overnight at a hotel.
Day 2 - Arba Minch - Konso - Turmi
In the morning, you will have a remarkable boat trip on the Rift Valley lake of Chamo to visit the 'crocodile market,' where you can see large African crocodiles, hippopotamus, and lowland water birds, and then drive to Konso after visiting the villages of the Konso people, who are renowned for their colourful hand-woven cotton clothes and beautiful rock terraces. If the day is Thursday, stop on your way at Key Afer to visit the most colourful multicultural market in the Lower Omo Valley, attended by the tribal groups of Ari, Benna, Hamer, and Tsemai.
Overnight at a hotel.
Day 3 - Turmi - Omorate - 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 scarification. In the late afternoon, you will visit the village of the Hamer people, whose women are noted for their typical hairdressing and leather skirts.
Day 4 - Arbaminch - Addis
Drive to Arba Minch through the magnificent landscape of Mount Buska.
Day 5 - Arba Minch - Addis
After breakfast, drive back to Addis through Debre Zeyit, crossing some of the lakes found in the Great East African Rift Valley and visiting some local markets. In the evening before departure, you will have a farewell dinner party at one of the best traditional restaurants, where you will see the folkloric dance of the people of Ethiopia and taste a variety of Ethiopian meals.
Then, be transferred to the airport for your departure.
Logistics
Your 7 days finish where they began, in Jinka.
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