Southern Ethiopia Omo Valley Cultural Tours
Southern Ethiopia Omo Valley Cultural Tours
Southern Ethiopia Omo Valley Cultural Tours
8 Days Starting in Addis Ababa Ethiopia and ending in Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Visiting: Addis Ababa, Arba Minch, Konso, Mago National Park, Turmi
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ETS003
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
20 - 2
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
0-85
Special diets catered:
VegetariansJain, Vegans, Meat, Halal
Tour operated in:
English , French , German , SpanishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
A journey of cultural discovery and amazing wildlife viewing on the southern Ethiopia. Split asunder by the Great Rift Valley, Southern Ethiopia is a land of lakes, rivers, and diverse tribal cultures awaiting discovery. Their culture, artefacts, ornaments and the decorations they use is just simple and unique. The Mursi lip plates and body paintings are just incredible. You’ll never forget your first bull jumping ceremony in Hammer Village.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival In Addis Ababa And City Tour
Location: Addis Ababa
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa and City Tour
Upon arrival at Bole International Airport you will be delivered to your hotel after some rest. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options city tour in Addis Ababa National Museum which among other exhibits the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy. Trinity Cathedral: this is the burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots; the cathedral is the most magnificent of its kind in the country, ornamented with carvings, mosaics and other artistic works. Mount Entoto with the best views over the capital. And The Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa. (Lunch in hotel & dinner in cultural restaurant)
Overnight: sapphire Addis hotel or other similar standard
Day 2 : Addis Ababa – Arba Minch (465Km)
Location: Addis Ababa, Arba Minch
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 2: Addis Ababa — Arba Minch (465km)
After breakfast, we drive to Arba Minch, with a stop on the way at Tiya (80km from Addis Ababa) to explore the Stele field of Tiya, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mysterious engraved stele stretch across Southern Ethiopia. The field comprises some 45 stones of up to 2-3m in height. We then continue to Arba Minch with some fantastic scenery, including the best spot to view the two rift valley lakes, Lake Chamo to the South and Abaya to the north. With Africa’s biggest crocodiles, hippos and numerous bird species
We will arrive at the Arba minch in late afternoon and have rest to your lake view hotels (lunch in butajira hotel, dinner in Haile resort or Paradise Lodge)
Overnight: Haile resort Arba Minch
Day 3 : Arbaminch — Lake Chamo Day — Arbaminch
Location: Arba Minch
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 3: Arbaminch — Lake Chamo — Arbaminch
After breakfast, we visit Lake Chamo, The Nech Sar National Park includes parts of Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo and the 'Bridge of God' between them. It offers stunning scenery and a variety of wildlife among them the endemic Swayne's hartebeest. Game drives and walks are possible in the park. A boat trip on Lake Chamo offers a variety of birds, most of the time hippo's and a spectacular visit to the 'crocodile market' where dozens of crocodiles (among them the biggest of Africa) warming their bodies in sun. Afternoon we visit the Dorze people they are living around the villages of Chencha and Dorze. The Dorze are famous for their weaving skills and for the use of the 'ensete' or 'false banana' as their staple food.
(Lunch and dinner in paradise lodge or similar standard hotel)
Overnight: in Haile resort
Day 4 : Arbaminch — Konso — Key Afer Market — Jinka (240 Km)
Location: Konso
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 4: Arbaminch — Konso — Key Afer Market — Jinka (240 km)
After breakfast, we drive to Konso approx. (travelling time 3.5 hrs.). The cultural landscape of Konso is the youngest World Heritage Site of Ethiopia. The Konso are famous for their waga stele or grave markers for an important carved wooden grave markers. A row of this stele are erected on the grave of an important Konso man. One symbolising the hero, the others his wives and his defeated enemies or killed dangerous animals.
The market days are on Monday and Thursday Around the village there are extensive terraces where the crops are grown. Their agricultural skills are among the best found in Ethiopia. From Konso we continue our journey to the colourful market of Key Afer (Thursdays only) frequented by several tribes of the Omo valley Thursday is market day in key Afer to see Derase, Tsemay, Benna and Ari, before reaching Jinka in the late afternoon.
(Lunch in konso kanta lodge dinner jinka)
Overnight in Eco omo or similar standard
Day 5 : Jinka — Mago National Park (Mursi) — Turmi (160 Km)
Location: Mago National Park, Turmi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 5: Jinka — Mago National Park (Mursi) — Turmi (160 km)
Morning drive to Mago National Park and found Mursi village will bring many Grunters' dik-dik and a few olive baboons or guereza black and white colobus monkeys and an occasional greater or lesser kudzu and defassa waterbuck. A more in-depth exploration of the park might show more of the variety of big mammals among them Africa's well known elephant, buffalo and lion. More restricted to this area (and northern Kenya) are the rectangular giraffe and Grevy's zebra. And visit Mursi The Mursi tribe are one of the last remaining tribes in Africa to still wear traditional dress and accessories The Mursi women also wear clay or wooden plates in their lower lips or earlobes. These are to mark traditional rites of passages afternoon after lunch, we continue our trip to Turmi (approx. 3 hrs), where we will meet the fascinating Hammer tribe. Turmi is our base to explore the Southern tribes of the Omo Valley. The whole region of the Southern Omo is UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.
(Lunch jinka dinner paradise lodge Turmi)
Overnight: paradise lodge Turmi
Day 6 : Turmi — Karo — Turmi
Location: Turmi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 6: Turmi — Karo — Turmi
Morning:-Drive to karo people although more people in southern practice body painting, the Karo are famous for elaborated decoration of their body. Different types of painting are used for certain ceremonies.
Afternoon after lunch Turmi is well known for its traditional events and with some luck we will even participate in a Hamer marriage ceremony, with its bull jumping ceremony and more! In the late afternoon, we will also visit a nearby Hamer village and encounter the tribe in its daily life surroundings. With some luck, we may even witness a moonshine dance (Evangadi), a traditional dance of young Hamer men and women.
(Lunch jinka dinner paradise lodge turmi)
Overnight: paradise lodge turmi
Day 7 : Turmi – Omorate – Konso
Location: Turmi, Konso
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 7: Turmi – Omorate – Konso
Morning: Turmi – Omorate- Turmi (140 km):
The town of Omerate is only 30 km away from Kenya and South Sudan and functions as a border post. At only 375 meter above sea level it is the lowest place in the Omo Valley and often very hot and dusty. We take an excursion to visit the Dassanech Ethnic group (70 km, one way), famous for their nomad lifestyle and very interesting decoration and scarification on their bodies. There are also great views of the Omo River when crossing in a dugout canoe. Here you can cross the Omo River with local boat and inter to dassench village.
Afternoon after lunch drive to Turmi – Konso (180 km) Konso (approx. 3.5 hrs.). We will reach the well-kept Kanta Lodge in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Kanta Lodge, Konso
Day 8 : Konso — Arba Minch — Addis Ababa (Flight) Morning:
Location: Arba Minch, Addis Ababa
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 8: Konso — Arba Minch — Addis Ababa (flight)
Morning:
We drive from Konso to Arba Minch (1 h).
Afternoon:-We fly back to Addis Ababa with flight you will be picked up at Bole Airport and be transferred to your reserved hotel (day room). Flight time you will do some shopping for souvenirs. Finally, you will be taken to a farewell dinner depending on your scheduled flight; you will be transferred out to Bole International Airport for return flight back home
Evening:-In the evening, you will be invited for a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance show at a renowned restaurant of Addis Ababa. Then you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.
What's Included
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1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day
1 bottle mineral water in the car
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Accommodation
Hotel and Lodge in all the tour including breakfast
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Transfer in and out
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
Domestic transport in surface
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Entrance Fees
All entrance fee during the tour included
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Fully Guided
Guide in the tour
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Game Drives on Safari
Game drive in allowed park
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International Travel
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Meals – Breakfast Only
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Meals – Full Board
Upon request, we amened the price
What's Not Included
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Country Entry Visas
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Free Wi-Fi at Accommodation
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Meals – Full Board
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Meals – Half Board
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Train Tickets
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Meals Visas International and domestic flights Activities not mentioned above Photo and video fees Other personal expenses
Check out our Q&As
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Enter Ethiopia Tours have its own site
Enter Ethiopian Tours Website
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes depend on the schedule
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Yes
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
Yes
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes first aid not health insurance
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Enter Ethiopia Tours
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Confirmation
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes si
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We use the rule f
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Enter Ethiopia have its own site
Enter Ethiopia Term and conditions
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Three years
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
Cancel or change the tour before two weeks
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Enter Ethiopia Tour requires a minimum deposit of 100 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 25 days before departure.
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