What Our Past Clients Are Saying: "Just a note to let you and Mr. Muigai know our appreciation for your valuable services.
Our group certainly enjoyed their safari experience, the good guides, as well as the excellent services of the hotels. Please extend our gratefulness
to all the guides assigned to our group." Gaddiel & Maria, Puerto Rico
Tour Summary:
Places to Visit : Addis Ababa, Arbaminch, Jinka, Mago, Turmi, Konso, Yirga Alem and Awassa
A tour to the people of the South Omo is an enriching and educational experience. Up to two dozen tribes inhabit the area. The tour will be a visit to the villages and local markets in order to meet the local people. Apart from visiting the people you will also visit the Rift Valley Lakes with their beautiful scenery and fertile surroundings in which you are likely to see a wide range of mammals in Nechisar and Mago Parks.
Tour Starts From:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Season Rates and Dates
(Please note the rates below are in US$)
From
To
Rate Per Person
Single Room Supplement
01-Jun-2011
31-Dec-2011
US$ 2832
US$ 225
Tour Length: 11 Nights
Itinerary:
Day 1 : Arrival
On Arrival you will be met by Africa Point representative at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, and transferred to the Ghion Hotel from where the expedition will start the following day. If your flight arrives early you may spent some time for city tour before proceeding for dinner at the hotel.
Dinner and Over night at Ghion Hotel
Day 2 : Drive Addis to Arba Minch
After breakfast, start the Journey to Arbaminch which is about 505 km south of Addis Ababa. The tour will take you to some of the Rift Valley Lakes with stopover at Lake Ziway, well known for its abundance in birdlife. you will also drive through the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys.
Arbaminch is set on an escarpment overlooking the Rift Valley Lakes, Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the south. The town’s name in Amharic literally means "forty springs" that are found around the town .
Dinner and over night at Paradise Lodge
Day 3 : Arbaminch
Today you will start the day by visiting the Nech Sar National Park which lies 510 km south of Addis Ababa, near the town of Arba Minch between lake Abaya and lake Chamo. You will enjoy this part of the country as a variety of plain game roams freely on the 514m2 of Savannah, dry bush and groundwater forest. More than 188 species of birds have been recorded here.
In the far eastern part of the park, hot springs bubble to the surface. A backdrop of hills and mountains combine to make Nech Sar one of the most spectacular and attractive national parks in Ethiopia. In the afternoon take a boat trip on Lake Chamo, that is populated by crocodiles and hippos.
Dinner and over night at Paradise Lodge
Day 4 : Arba Minch to Jinka
After breakfast drive to Jinka. On the way, visit the Cushitic speaking Tsemay people in the Weyto Valley (where we will enjoy lunch) and the Bena and the Ari people. There is a big Market at Key Afer where you can see the Tsemay, Ari and the Bena people carrying out their activities.
Dinner and over night at Resort hotel
Day 5 : Excursion to Mursi people
Today you will drive to Jinka, Mursi - Mago which is 40km away. Mago National Park is located on the east bank of the river Omo and ranges in altitude from 450 to 2,528 meters above sea level. You will visit the Mursi village, whose women have the custom of expanding their lower lips using disks that gradually get larger and larger. These people carry out farming and breed livestock and they live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world.
Dinner and over night at Resort hotel
Day 6 : Turmi - Hamer people
After breakfast drive to Turmi via Dimeka. En route you will pass by the Hamer and Benna cattle herders. Turmi is the central town of the Hamer people. Markets in this town are very interesting since it is a major trading point between many of the Rift Valley people. Optional Bull jumping is possible during any of the day while in Turmi.
Hamers have remarkable hairstyles made from ochre, water, and binding resin. They rub the mixture into their hair then twist the strands repeatedly to create coppery-coloured locks. This is a sign of wealth and welfare. Hamers are considered to be masters of body decoration. If this day falls on Saturday you will visit the colorful market of Dimeka.
Dinner and Over night at a Camp
Day 7 : Kolcho
Today you will have an excursion trip to Murulle to visit the Karo people. The Karo adorn their bodies with different paintings, done for dance, feast, or celebration. Yellow mineral rock, black charcoal and pulverized red iron ore are traditionally used for the body painting. They use bid biros, nails, candy wrappers, and cartridges for body decoration.
After lunch you will have village visit featured with tribal dance. The most important event in Hamer society is the bull jumping, an initiation rite. Up to 15 bulls are lined up in a row. The initiate with naked body has to leap on the back of the first bull, then from one bull to the next, until he reaches the end of the row. He must repeat in the opposite direction, then third times. Spend the afternoon at the bull jumping heading to our campsite for the evening. Bull jumping is an occasional event.
Dinner and Over night at a Camp
Day 08 : Full day in Turmi
After breakfast drive to Omorate and after crossing the Omo River we encounter the Dasenech people. Omorate lies on the eastern bank of the Omo River and is almost totally isolated from the rest of Ethiopia. The main attraction is the Dasenech Villages on the out skirts of the town. The Dasenech are also known as Galeb or Reshiat they were forced out of there homeland in a region called Nyupe, to the west of Turkana, by the expansionist wars of Turkana in the 18th century. They now cover a large territory of the western banks of the Omo all the way south to Lake Turkana. Here we’ll encounter the Galeb people in the countryside, and go into the villages, in the river people bathe and wash their clothes. Afterwords continue on to Turmi.
Dinner and Over night at a Camp
Day 9 :Arbaminch
After breakfast, depart the Lower Omo Valley. Our route today continues into the savannah, running alongside the mountains of Men, and then rises up into the Karkerte Mountains – providing splendid panoramic views – until it reaches the soft, terraced hills of Konso. The people of Konso are known for their terraced agriculture and wooden totems commemorating their ancestors. After wards we commence our return northwards, towards the lakes of the Rift Valley. The Rift Valley is a deep fission that extends for over 6,000 km from the Middle East to Mozambique. The rift contains a marvelous series of lakes, which are teeming with fish and provide a habitat for hundreds of species of birds. Travel along the side of Lake Chamo and arrive at Arba Minch towards mid afternoon.
Dinner and over night at Paradise Lodge
Day 10 : Awassa
On this day head up into the hills to visit Dorze village with its remarkable, tall thatched houses. The Dorze people, who live high in the mountains are famous for their beehive-shaped bamboo houses. They use ingenious terracing and have a unique traditional life style with their colourful weaving products. Then Proceed to the Lake side town of Awasa having lunch at Sodo or Shashemene. At Shashemene we visit the Rastafarian village.
Dinner and overnight at Tadese Enjory Hotel
Day 11 : Addis Ababa
After breakfast visit Lake Awassa that is set in a volcanic crater, Awassa Lake is the smallest in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Here, you may view hippos, grivet monkeys, and colobus monkeys with their wonderful white faces encircled by deep ebony crowns. Birdwatchers will especially enjoy such avian wonders as the silvery-cheeked horn-bill, black-winged lovebird, and Abyssinian black-headed oriole. The city of Awassa with its diverse ethnic mix will be especially enjoyable as you walk through the daily market where colorful villagers negotiate for fish. Then continue driving to Addis Ababa passing through Shashemene, visit the Rastafarian village at Shashemene and arrive in Addis Ababa mid afternoon. This evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner of Ethiopian national cuisine with different tribal music and dance show.
Over night at Ghion hotel
Day 12 : Departure
After breakfast, drop off at the airport to catch your flight back home.
Remarks:
The above prices are based on a minimum of 2 persons. A price reduction is available for numbers above two persons. Six persons may enjoy up to 25% saving on the per person rate!
The Tour Package includes :
* Accommodations as per the itinerary
* Meals on full board including soft drinks and bottled water
* Cooler box for serving cold drinks during the trip
* Ground transportation by a newest model 4WD
* Entrance fees as per the program. This doesn’t mean the filming or photography fee of any tribe
* Boat trip on Lake Chamo and Omo River
* English or French speaking national guide
* Professional and well experienced local cook in the part of the Omo Valley lodges and during the trip.
* Porter fees
The Tour Package Excludes :
* Visa expenses.
* The International ticket.
* Any personal expenses
* Video or photographing fees or tips at different sites.
* Any alcoholic beverages
Tour Image
Why Book With Us?
3 Top Reasons To Book With Us!
You will get speedy and personal attention to your request from a real travel expert.
You are guaranteed of extremely low prices.
Book with confidence! We are a member of American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) with over 14 years experience.
