7 Days South: Omo Valley
Summary:
Short description to go here:
Tours start at:
$2990.00 (usd)
per person
Day 1: Addis Ababa – Arba Minch
Early in the morning, depart south from Addis Ababa for a full day’s drive to Arba Minch. On the way you may have time to visit one of the following archeological sites of interest:
– Tiya – ancient stellae field and UNESCO World Heritage site
– Adadi Maryam – rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela
– Melka Kunture – pre-historic tool-making site
Overnight at hotel of your choice.
Day 2: Arba Minch – Nechisar National Park – Arba Minch – Turmi
Visit Lake Chamo, which is part of the Nechisar NP. The lake is home to a large crocodile population. We will visit the “crocodile market”, an area of the lake nicknamed as such due to the impressive crocodile population usually found there. Hippos also inhabit the lake and might be spotted. Depart Arba Minch to Turmi via the villages of Konso, home to the Konso people (market days Monday & Thursday), Weyto, home to the Tsemai tribe (market day Saturday), Key Afar, home to the Benna tribe (market day Thursday) and Dimeka (Hamer & Karo market, Tuesday & Saturday). Finally, proceed to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribe. At night, you might be lucky to see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer people, known as evangadi. Overnight at hotel of your choice.
Day 3: Omorate – Turmi
Depart for Jinka, via Dimeka and Key Afar. Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days in Dimeka, which is one of the most colorful markets in the area and is visited by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna and Karo. Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods. This is another very popular market in the region. Overnight at hotel of your choice.
Day 4: Turmi – Jinka
Depart for Jinka, via Dimeka and Key Afar. Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days in Dimeka, which is one of the most colorful markets in the area and is visited by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna and Karo. Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods. This is another very popular market in the region. Overnight at hotel of your choice.
Day 5: Mago National Park – Jinka
In the morning, drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi women are well known for their lower lip and earlobe plates – the larger the lip plate, the higher the bride price they will get when married. In the afternoon, after returning to Jinka, visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center to learn more about the local tribes. Additionally, take a hike in the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village and learn how the locals do different tasks, such as blacksmith work and distilling the local gin, known as areki. Overnight at hotel of your choice.
Day 6: Jinka – Konso – Arba Minch
Depart from Jinka, driving to Konso via Key Afar. Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods. This is one of the most popular markets in the region. The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing. Today you will have the opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. Time permitting, you can also visit the “natural New York Village”, named after the tall sand formations resembling skyscrapers. Market days in Konso are Monday and Thursday. Depart from Konso to Arba Minch. Overnight at hotel of your choice.
Day 7: Arba Minch – Addis Ababa
Early in the morning, depart from Arba Minch for a full day’s drive back to Addis Ababa. Time permitting, you may visit any of the archeological sites not visited on the first day.
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