14 Days Omo Valley Tribe Tour with Visiting Harar

14 Days Omo Valley Tribe Tour with a Visit to The Walled City of Harar

Introduction

The Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia has been an intersection for thousands of years for people migrating to new lands. Because of the sheer diversity of tribal groups that live in this remote area of the Great Rift Valley, it is undeniably one of the most unique places on the planet today.

This is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of some of these societies, including the Mursi, Hamer, and Karo tribes. Expect a true adventure in primitive conditions; the Omo Valley tribe is an incredible reminder of an Africa that has yet to be modernized.

We travel by car to the Omo Valley region of Ethiopia from Addis Ababa and take a boat tour on Lake Chamo to see hippos and a variety of water birds.

We travel from one Omo Valey tribe village to another village over the course of the next several days, observing the traditional way of life of the Omo valley tribe. It’s really fascinating to learn about the Mursi customs, in which women cut big clay plates into their lower lips, and the Hamer traditions, in which people tattoo their bodies with scars and paint.

The Hamar is the most visited Omo valley tribe compared to the others due to its colorfulness, beauty, and strategic location in the Omo river valley area. After our journey to the Omo valley tribe is over, we return to Addis Ababa and think back on this unforgettable experience of unspoiled cultures, rituals, and breathtaking natural settings.

Trip Highlight

Addis Ababa landmarks visit include Lucy, Menilik II Palace, and Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The stele fields at Tiya are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The only southern rock-hewn church is Adadi Mariam.
The Dorze Village at Chencha
The Arba Minch Crocodile Farm
Meet and visit Konso, Mursi, Turmi, Karo, Dassenech, and other Omo valley tribes.
Attend the vibrant tribal markets at Keyafer and Dimeka.
Take part in Evangadi and the Bull Jumping ritual events.
Locals canoe across the Omo River.
Meeting the Borena people and visiting Elsod’s Creator Lakes
Watching hyenas being fed at Yirgalem Aregash Lodge

Itinerary

Arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
At your arrival meet and greet, our guide will assist you with a transfer to the hotel to drop off your luggage. If you arrive late at night, you will spend the night at the hotel.

Day 1: Addis Ababa Sightseeing Tour

You will be mated at the hotel today, and you will begin exploring Addis Ababa around 09:00.
AM: Drive to Entoto, Ethiopia’s first capital before Addis Ababa became a center. You’ll go to Emperor Minilik II’s palace, the museum, and the St. Merry church.
PM: You will also visit the National Museum, which is one of the most important Sub-Saharan African museums in Africa. The museum houses the fossilized humanoid Lucy, as well as an incredible collection of relics, royal objects, and artwork.
Then we will go to the Ethnological Museum, which is housed in Haile Selassie’s former palace.
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity: Holy Trinity Cathedral is Ethiopia’s largest Orthodox church and has survived many historical periods, as seen by its remarkable architecture. The thrones and tombs of the Emperor and part of the royal family are housed in the cathedral.
Mercato, Africa’s largest open-air market, may be explored by vehicle.

The night will be at the hotel, lodge, or resort.

Day 2: Drive (450 kilometers) through Butajira to Arba Minch to experience the Omo valley tribe lifestyle.

We leave at 06:30 and go down the western side of the Rift Valley, passing through Butajira, Hossana, and Sodo.
It’s a long day’s journey (450 km), roughly 9 hours with pauses for lunch and coffee, but it’s on a decent asphalt route. The view is breathtaking all around.
There are other intriguing stops along the way, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiya. And Adadi Mariam, the only rock-hewn church in the south.
Today you will encounter the Gurage and Oromo people, as well as their communities.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 3: All-day sightseeing in Arba Minch

In the morning, you will have a boat ride on Lake Chamo, which is one of the finest in Ethiopia. There is an opportunity to see a lot of hippos and a lot of huge crocodiles. Water birds abound, and the environment is breathtaking.
A boat ride across Lake Chamo to Nech Sar National Park to see the rare vegetation and wildlife.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 4: Travel from Arba Minch to Jinka on Thursday to attend the Key After Market.

After breakfast, the drive will be a day to observe the stunning scenery that descends to the Omo and is marked by pleasant weather.
On Thursday, there is a very appealing Omo valley tribe market at Key Afer, which is attended by Bena and Ari people. Jinka will be our home for the night.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 5: Visit the Mursi people in Mago National Park before returning to Jinka.

After breakfast, take an excursion trip to the Mursi village, which is famed for its lip plates, body decorations, and stick-fighting culture.
Drive to the nearest Omo valley tribe Mursi village, Shembel. We can drive up the escarpment to the Mursi settlements if we want to go further. Take your time taking pictures and making personal contact with the people before returning to Jinka.
Pack a picnic meal for lunch on the way to or from the lodge.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 6: Drive from Jinka to Turmi (the Hamer people’s main town) and attend the Saturday Dimeka Market.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Turmi, a Hamer settlement famed for its colorful hairstyles and bull-jumping tradition during weddings. The women are usually dressed in leather-made skirts with sounding pearls and shining aluminum around their necks.
Today is Saturday. At Dimeka there will be a vibrant market where visitors will be able to observe tribes such as the Hamer.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 7: Travel to Murulle to meet and visit the Karo people – Return to Turmi

After an early breakfast at the hotel, go to Murulle, a Karo settlement known for its distinctive body-adorning culture.
Take a picnic lunch with you on the way.
Begin your tour at the village of Dus before returning to Turmi for the night.
In Turmi, you will participate in the Hamer people’s tribal dance (Evangadi and/or Bull Jumping rite, both optional). The Hamers have a traditional bull jump as a rite of passage for a younger boy; in order to marry, this ceremony must be completed. The young man must leap four times over a line of at least ten bulls.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 8: Boat journey to Omorate to see the Dassench tribes, then back to Turmi to see Hamer Village and the Turmi Monday market.

Drive to Omorate after breakfast in the morning.
At Omorate you will meet the Dassenach, a cow-herding tribe whose holdings stretch all the way to Lake Turkana.
Then go back to Turmi.
In the afternoon, you will visit a Hamer village. The Hamer tribe (also known as Hamar) is one of the Valley’s most populous.
You will attend the biggest Turmi Monday market to meet the Hamers and adjacent tribes in a much more festive atmosphere than on previous occasions.
You will also explore the colorful Hamer tribes and their communities today.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 9: Drive from Turmi to Konso and spend the day with the Konso people.

After breakfast, drive to Konso.
Visit the Arbore people on the way, who shares many cultural characteristics with the Oromo people in Borena.
When we arrive in the “Konso,” a Konso village, we will take a lunch break before going sightseeing. The Konso, who are divided into nine clans, have a custom of electing their own king, who has his own residence and servants. He is a Konso symbol of peace and integrity, with a dynasty that dates back hundreds of years.
The Konso have clean, well-built, and safe villages, with each village having a communal living house called “Mora” where young lads spend the night protecting the village. They also have an age-initiation custom for boys to progress from childhood to adulthood. Konso is well-known for its “Waka” wooden burial sign.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 10: Visit Elsod’s Creator Lakes and drive to Yirgalem.

Excursion tour to Elsod crater salt lake and the Borena people in the early morning.
On the way back, stop at Dubluk to view the singing well typical of the Borena tribes as they serve their cattle from 20-meter-deep wells.
Then drive to Yirgalem through the coffee farmlands. Spend the night in the lodge.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 11: Return to Addis Ababa via Awassa, attend the Morning Fish market-Night at Addis Ababa

Drive to Addis Ababa after breakfast in the morning.
Stop in Awassa if there is a fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa. The visit to the fish market is contingent on market availability on this particular day.
Continue driving to Addis Ababa, stopping briefly in Abijata Shala National Park for a short visit.

Arrival late in the afternoon and overnight will be at Hotel/Lodge/Resort.

Day 12: Drive from Addis Ababa to Harar, then attends a hyena feeding in the evening.

Drive to Harar, a fortified city, in the morning.
When you arrive in the evening, check into your hotel and start getting ready to watch the Hyena Man feeding performance. They survive by gathering animal flesh and bones to feed the wild hyenas that live in the neighboring hills.
These savage predators emerge from the shadows shortly after sunset. They hurry forward, according to the name, to steal their food from the hands of the Hyena men. You can also participate and use the opportunity to feed the hyenas.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 13: Full-day visit to Harar’s Walled City

Today will be a full day of discovering treasures hidden in the narrow alleyways of Harar’s walled city; visiting vibrant markets; innumerable mosques and shrines; meeting the Harari people, and touring their beautiful and colorful villages.
The House of Rimbaud, Ras Tafari’s House, Ras Mekonnens Palace, the Harari National Cultural Center, and the tomb of Emir Nur, who built the famed Jugol, also known as the well-known wall by locals, are all on your itinerary today.

Overnight Hotel/Lodge/Resort

Day 14: Return to Addis Ababa via car. On the way, you will have a game drive at Awash National Park. Evening Farewell Dinner and Night Departure

After breakfast at the hotel, then drive back to Addis Ababa.
On the route, you will pull over at Awash National Park. African Orange-bellied Parrots, Bustards, Weavers, Hoopoes, Yellow-throated Serines, Red-fronted Barbets, Pygmy Batis, Lesser-striped Swallows, and House Martins are just a few of the bird species that may be found here.
The park is home to various species of wildlife, including the Anubis Baboon, Columbus Monkey, Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Egyptian mongoose, Warthog, Beisa Oryx, Semarang’s Gazelle, Lesser Kudu, Salt’s Dikdik.
Then continue on your way back to Addis for the night.
Furthermore, in the evening, you will be our guest for a farewell dinner at one of Ethiopia’s traditional restaurants, accompanied by a folkloric dance.
Then, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight back home.

— The 14 days Omo Valley Tribe and Harar journey has come to an end. —

Optionally you can book your 11 days tour to Omo valley in Ethiopia