8 Days Omo River Valley Tour

8 Day Omo River Valley Tour Through Awassa

Introduction

Omo River Valley is one of the world’s most ethnographically diverse places which is found in the southern Ethiopia. It was formerly a gathering place for tribes as they migrated from all over Africa, and now it is home to a variety of tribes, each with interesting and distinctive customs. The benefits of visiting this area are tremendous. This is a location unlike any other on Earth, whether you are engaging in the traditional Hamer ceremonial of jumping the bulls or wondering at the sight of a Mursi’s lip plates.

Trip Highlight:

Explore the dynamic metropolis of Addis Ababa.
Meet and take pictures of various ethnic communities in the Omo River Valley.
Discover the nation’s stunning natural surroundings, from terraced slopes to savannahplains.
Observe the unique jewelry and hairstyles worn by many tribes.
Attend the most vibrant and colorful tribal markets.
Attend occasional tribal festivities like bull jumping and evangadi dancing.
You will try tasting the varied Ethiopian cuisine.
Attend occasional tribal events like bull jumping and evangadi dancing.
Visiting the country’s national parks to observe an abundance of common and rare wildlife.
Boating on Lake Chamo and the Omo River.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Travel from Addis Ababa to Awassa via Tiya Stelae Fields and Adadi Mariam.

Leave Addis Ababa, heading south via Butajira to explore the Omo river area.
You will stop at the archeological sites of Adadi Maryam, and Tiya, which are all en route. Tiya is an ancient stelae field and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (pre-historic tool-making site).
Awassa is the final stop for the day.

Awassa hotel, resort, or lodge for the night

Day 2: Attend Fish Market in Awassa, drive to Dorze Village, Arba Minch

Visit the Lake Awassa fish market after breakfast, and then drive to Dorze, which is located in the mountains above Arba Minch. The tall, hive-like Dorze homes and their exquisite cotton weaving are well known. You will go to the village and discover what these hardworking folks do on a daily basis.
It will be seen if there is a market day today (Monday and Thursday in Dorze village and Tuesday and Saturday in adjacent Chencha).

Spend the night at Arba Minch (hotel or lodge).

Day 3: Boat trip on Lake Chamo then Drive to Turmi from Arba Minch

Leave for Arba Minch in the morning to take a boat tour on Lake Chamo to see the nearby hippos and the “crocodile market.”
Then, depart for Turmi from Arba Minch.
You will travel through the Tsemai tribe’s village of Weyto along the way (market day is on Saturday).
Continue on to Erbore through the Weyto Valley, where you will stop for a quick visit to a nearby Erbore village (market day is Saturday).
Finally, head to Turmi, where the Hamer tribe lives. You can witness the evangadi dancing of the Hamer tribe at night.

Nighttime in Turmi (hotel or lodge).

Day 4: Boat ride to Omorate, visit to Dassenech tribes -Turmi, and meet with the Hamer people

Visit the Dassenech tribe in Omorate on a day trip in the morning. By using a local boat, you can access Dassenech village from here after crossing the Omo River.
When you get back to Turmi (Monday is market day), stop by a nearby Hamer village. If there is a jump of the Bulls’ traditional event by Hamers, you will attend before returning to the hotel for overnight.

Nighttime in Turmi (hotel or lodge).

Day 5: Travel to Jinka; on the way, attend Tuesday’s Keyafer or Dimeka Saturday Markets.

Start your journey toward Jinka through Dimeka and Key Afar.
The Dimeka market, one of the most vibrant in the region and frequented by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna, and Karo, is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
After that, proceed to Jinka.

Overnight in Jinka (hotel or lodge).

Day 6: Travel to Mago National Park and see the Mursi People-Jinka.

Drive through the Mago National Park in the morning to a Mursi tribe village. The Mursi are distinguished by their lower lip and earlobe plates.
After returning to Jinka in the afternoon, you can learn more about the local tribes at the South Omo Museum & Research Center.
Alternatively, go on a stroll in the nearby hills to see a local Ari village.

Jinka overnight (hotel or lodge).

Day 7: Drive to Konso, see the Konso people, and spend the night at Arba Minch.

After breakfast, take the road from Jinka to Arba Minch, passing through Key Afar and Konso.
Thursday is market day in Key Afar, with the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading items. This is another popular market in the area.
Continue to Konso after the visit (market days are Mondays and Thursdays).
The Konso are noted for their wooden statues known as wakas that are created in commemoration of deceased heroes, as well as their creative agricultural terracing. You will have a brief opportunity today to visit a small town and the cultural museum, which houses several waka statues.
Following the visit, drive to Arba Minch.

Arba Minch overnight (hotel or lodge).

Day 8: Arba Minch-Addis Ababa, Visit Abijata Shalla N.Park, Evening departure

Depart Arba Minch early in the morning for a long day’s trip to Addis Ababa to end the Omo river valley tour.
On the way up, stop for a short visit to the Abijata and Shalla National Park, is a home to a variety of common and unique birds.
Traditional goodbye dinner in the evening with local cultural entertainment

—The Eight-day Omo River Valley tour program has concluded—

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