Travel to Omo Valley Tribes

Our team will meet you at Bole International Airport in Addis to take you to your hotel. Then, you will take a city tour of the vibrant capital. You will first start your visit with the Selassie (Trinity) Cathedral - the final resting place of Haile Selassie. Then continue to the nearby National Museum - home of Lucy’s 3.2 million years old remains. After the visit, proceed to the Ethnographical Museum found in the Addis Ababa University campus displaying Ethiopia’s diverse cultures. After lunch, you will head north to Entoto Mountain. On the way, you can stop at Shiro Meda to visit the colorful market of traditional clothes. We will finish the day at Entoto which provides a panoramic view of Addis. Here you will also visit the Entoto Maryam church and museum.

Early in the morning, take a drive to Arba Minch. On the way, you will visit Tiya stelae field and Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church. Tiya is a World Heritage Site registered by UNESCO in 1980. It is very accessible to any visitor destined for or passing by it, as it is a few hundred meters off the road from the main paved road of Addis Ababa – Butajira. Adadi Mariam is a rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela.

After breakfast, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo. Lake Chamo is famous for its big Nile crocodile and hippo population. After lunch, drive to the Gamo Highlands - home to the Dorze people. The Dorze proudly display their excellent craftsmanship, particularly in weaving and pottery. They are also renowned for their huts that have a shape like both an elephant’s face and a beehive. Today, you will meet these hard-working people and witness their lifestyle. Return to Arba Minch for an overnight.

After breakfast, drive to Konso. The Konso dwell in a remote location in the basalt hills of the Lower Omo Valley. They are known for their unique culture and terraced farming on the steep rocky hills of the area. In 2011, the Konso Cultural Landscape was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, you will visit a Konso Village and get to mingle with the locals. Then, continue driving to Turmi via Dimeka. Tuesday/Saturday is a market day in Dimeka where tribes like the Benna, Hamer & Tsemay meet to trade goods. After the visit, proceed to Turmi - home of the Hamer tribe. In the evening, the Hamers enjoy themselves with a traditional dance - Evangadi. You will end your day watching (and taking part in) this dance.

After breakfast, drive to Omorate to experience the culture and way of life of the Dassanech tribe found near the Kenyan border. You will cross the Omo River by a dugout canoe and walk for about 10 minutes to get to the village. The Dassanech often wear colorful beads, shells, and metal ornaments. Return to Turmi for lunch. Then, you will visit a Hamer village to explore the colorfully decorated lifestyle of the Hamer tribe. If you are lucky, you may also see the Bull-Jumping ceremony - a ritual that marks the transition of young men into adulthood.

After breakfast, you will take a drive to Jinka. On the way, you will visit the Benna tribe and Ari Village. You will also visit Key Afer market (if Thursday) which is another very popular market in the region attended by the Ari, Benna & Tsemay tribes.

In the morning, you will drive to Mago National Park ( 55 kms) to visit the Mursi tribe. The Mursi are well-known by the outside world for their body paintings and lip plates. The lip plates represent feminine social adulthood - customarily worn by brides and child-bearing women. After the visit, return to Jinka and drive to Arba Minch in the afternoon.

After breakfast, take a drive back to Addis Ababa. Depending on your time of flight, your guide will take you to a traditional dinner with cultural music and dance before we drop you at the airport for your international flight.