» Package: 22 Days Upper and Lower Omo Valley

Day 1
Depart from Addis Ababa to Jimma via Weliso, which is home to the Gurage tribe, known as “the hardest working people in Ethiopia”.  On the way you will pass through beautiful landscapes as you drive through the Gibe River Valley.  Overnight in Jimma at hotel of your choice.

Day 2
Continue your drive to Mizan Tefari via Bonga.  Bonga is in ancient Kingdom of Kaffa, the birthplace of coffee.  You will have an opportunity to visit a traditional Kaffa house and learn about the culture of the Kaffa people.  You will also pass through the Belete Forest, where you can visit the Colobus monkeys.

Day 3
Depart from Mizan Tefari to Kibish.  On the way, visit the Bebeka coffee plantation, where they cultivate organic coffee trees as well as rubber trees.  You can also learn about the coffee processing techniques.  Afterwards, pass through Dima, which is home to the Inuak tribe; here you can visit these tribes and learn about their culture.  Overnight camping in Kibish.

Day 4
Today you will visit the Surma tribe near the village of Kibish.  Overnight camping in Kibish.

Day 5
After your breakfast, depart 25 km to the Surma village of Tulgete, where you can visit with the local Surma people.  Also, if you’re lucky, see the Surma stick-fighting competition, known as Donga.  Here, men from different local villages meet and compete against each other, winning the respect of the maiden ladies in the crowd.  Overnight camping in Kibish.

Day 6
Today, depart Kibish for Tum.  On the way, visit the Dizi tribe.  The Dizi people are hereditarily very short people who have beehive-like houses, similar to the Dorze.  Overnight camping in Tum.

Day 7
From Tum, take a day trip to Magi, where you will meet with the Dizi, Surma, Tishena, and perhaps the Bume tribe.  If lucky, you will visit on market day (Saturday), which is a wonderful opportunity to meet and mingle with the local tribes.  Return to Tum for overnight camping.

Day 8
As it isn’t currently possible to travel directly from the Upper to Lower Omo Valley, we will return north to Jimma before continuing back south.  Today we continue back north to Bebeka, where we will stay for overnight inside the guesthouse at the Bebeka Coffee Plantation.  Overnight in Bebeka in guesthouse with hot shower!

Day 9
Continue to Jimma via Mizan Tefari.  In Jimma you can take a refreshing swim in the pool at Central Jimma Hotel.  Overnight in Jimma.

Day 10
From Jimma we proceed to Sodo.  On the way we will pass the Chida Mountain and cross the Gojeb River.  Overnight in Sodo (hotel).

Day 11
Continue along to visit the Dorze tribes.  The Dorze people are known for their tall beehive-like houses and their quality cotton weaving.  If today is a Monday or Thursday, we will visit the market at Dorze; if it’s a Tuesday or Saturday, we will visit the market at Chencha.  Overnight in Dorze village in traditional Dorze hut or continue to Arba Minch for overnight.

Day 12
After a short drive to Arba Minch, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market” and the hippos.  The crocodile market is known to be one of the best displays of crocodiles in all of Africa.  Afterwards, continue to Konso for overnight.

Day 13
Today you will visit with the Konso people, who are known for their wooden totems erected in honor of their dead warriors, as well as their intricate agricultural terracing techniques.  We will also visit the natural New York village, which gets its name from the tall sand formations that resemble skyscrapers.   Konso market days are Monday and Thursday, which are good days to visit Konso.  Afterwards, continue driving to Jinka for overnight.

Day 14
In the morning, drive to Mago National Park to visit the Mursi tribe, who are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates.  After the visit, return to Jinka for overnight.  Saturday is market day in Jinka, so that may be visited.  Alternatively, take a walk in the local hills to visit an Ari village.

Day 15
Depart Jinka for Turmi, via Key Afar and Dimeka, stopping in local markets along the way.  Thursday is market day in Key Afar, home of the Benna people, while Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days in Dimeka.  Both of these markets are quite busy and colorful.  Overnight in Turmi - camping or in lodge.

Day 16
In the morning, drive to Omorate to cross the Omo River by local boat and visit the Dassenech tribe.  Afterwards, you will return to Turmi for further visiting with the Hamer tribe.  If it’s a Monday, there is a very colorful market that will be visited.  Also, if there is the traditional Hamer Jumping of the Bulls wedding ceremony, that will be visited.  At night time, you can visit the traditional night dancing of the Hamer people, known as Evangadi.  Overnight in Turmi – camping or in lodge.

Day 17
Today we drive to Kolcho and Dus to visit with the Karo people.  Overnight camping in Karo village.

Day 18
Departing from Karo territory, we pass through Turmi, and Erbore to Konso.  Passing through the Weyto Valley, you will stop in Erbore to meet with the Erbore people.  Erbore market day is Friday.  Overnight in Konso (hotel).

Day 19
After breakfast, drive to Yabello for a visit to the Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary.  Overnight in Yabello (hotel).

Day 20
Depart south from Yabello to El Sod.  Close to the village of El Sod is the House of Salt, a very deep crater lake which supplies large amounts of salt to Ethiopians.  After a visit and a short hike here, we will continue to Awassa for overnight (hotel).

Day 21
In the morning, you can take a boat trip on Lake Awassa to visit the fish market.  In the afternoon, we will continue to Lake Langano, stopping at Wondo Genet for a dip in the hot spring pools along the way.  Overnight camping on the shores of Lake Langano or in Lodge.

Day 22
Today we return to Addis.  On the way, we will visit the Lakes Shala and Abiatta National Park and Lake Ziway for the birds that inhabit the areas.  We will drive via Butajira, where you can visit the archeological sites of Tiya (ancient stellae fields) and Adadi Maryam – a rock-hewn church.