8 Days Cultural tour to Omo valley (SET21)

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The southern cultural route usually known as Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia is a little visited area of Ethiopia containing several of the most vibrant and fascinating tribes and ethnic groups. The charming costumes, colorful rituals and celebrations, arts, crafts, music, local market and dance of the Dorze, Konso, Ari, Benna, Hamer, Mursi, Karo, Geleb, Arbore and Borena people are special ones to name a few. In the Omo Valley region many of the tribal groups have changed little over hundreds of years and they offer the visitor extraordinary insight into a variety of traditional cultures. On the trip, you get truly off the beaten track, exploring little visited villages and vibrant tribal markets of the Southern Ethiopia.

The lower valley of the Omo unlike any other place on Earth has the largest diversity of ethnically different groups in the whole of Ethiopia and possibly in Africa. A voyage to the Omo Valley is a true expedition to encounter some of the most remarkable tribal peoples on Earth! To this day, the Omo Valley remains rich in traditional culture and human history. It’s been said: “If Africa was the mother of all humanity then the Omo River acted as a main artery!” The valley is also rich in paleo-anthropological fossils; the latest hominid remains to be discovered date back over four million years in the Omo Valley—evidence of an almost continuous “human” presence. More than ten different languages are spoken (excluding dialects) .Experts believe that for thousands of years it was a crossroads of a wide variety of cultures where early humans of many different ethnicities passed as they migrated from and to lands in every direction. To this day, the cultures and people of the Lower Valley of the Omo are focus of study for their incredible diversity, driving through the Great Rift Valley with the chain lakes and boat trip make trip unforgettable.

Accommodations/ Hotels

Your choice of Up market/ Midrange/Budget with camping during trekking & adventure trip as per your preferred program

Meal plans

Your choice of meal- BB/HB/FB with all meals during trekking and adventure trip with professional cook at camping.

Transportation (Ground Drives & Domestic Flights)

Your choice of transportation based on the route you pick with Minivans/ Buses/ 4x4s & Domestic flights with walking/hiking, and pack animals during trekking and adventure trips

Entrance fee

All Entrance fee in the sightseeing’s, villages & National parks

Guiding services

Option 1- Professional licensed federal English or your preferred languages speaking guide throughout the trip with a local guides in each destination and scout in the case of attraction sight and national park

Option 2- English speaking driver guide throughout the trip with a local guides in each destination and scout in the case of attraction sight and national park

All activities & services based on your preferred program

Boat trips, pack animals, camel & horse ridding hyena man performance, camping equipments & other activities based on your preferred programs

Water

Daily bottled water

Government tax

Since our company is legal our price include government tax

  • International air/flight tickets,
  • Alcohol beverages,
  • Tourist Insurance,
  • Video filming and photography fees,
  • Tips and items of personal nature like laundry, souvenirs, etc
  • All expense that are not mentioned in the included part

Tour Title

Cultural tour to Omo valley cultural route with Rift Valley Regions and Nechsar National park

Tour Type

Culture, scenery, Boat trip, Rift Valley, tribes, live culture. people

Activity level

Easy –Moderate

Tour Code

SET 21

Tour Duration

8 Days & 7 Nights

Mode of Transportation

All Drive-/Minivans/Buses/ (4x4s is recommended )

No of traveler

Private/Groups/ Joining

Type of accommodation

Option of -Up market/ Midrange/ Budget

Attraction Highlights

The Omo Valley in Southern Ethiopia is a little visited area of Ethiopia containing some of the most colorful tribes and ethnic groups. The fascinating costumes, colorful ceremonies and celebrations, arts, crafts, music and dance of the Bena, Hamer, Mursi, Karo, Gelebpeopl/ Dasench and much more are very special. In the Omo Valley region many of the tribal groups have changed little over hundreds of years and they offer the visitor extraordinary insight into a variety of traditional cultures. On this trip, you get truly off the beaten track, exploring little visited villages and vibrant tribal markets of the Southern

Day 1- drive ADDIS aBABA - AWASSA ON THE WAY TIYA UNESCO SITE

Morning after breakfast meet with SET staffs (driver and guide) at your preferred departure point and time, then start drive down to south, drive to southward to the rift valley regions passing creator lakes and rift valley lakes on the way visit the Tiya steal field a UNSCO registered site in Ethiopia, arrival at Awassa and walk on the lake shore of Lake Awassa, overnight hotel.

Day 2- DRIVE Awassa - arbaminch- ON THE VISIT THE DORZE TRIBE

Mornings after breakfast walk on the lake shore to see the fish market and a very good opportunity to see the aquatic birds, then drive will take you along the scenic farmlands of Gurage People. We will also drive through the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys, on the way visit the Dorze tribe and their village, famed for their bee hive shaped houses and their weaving skills. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze. They are also farmers, who prevent soil erosion by ingenious terracing of the mountainsides. Around their huts they have their own little garden with vegetables, spices; tobacco and Enset (false-banana or musa Ensete). You arrive late in the afternoon at Arbaminch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arbminch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town, Overnight hotel

Day 3-DRIVE ARBAMINCH- TURMI ON THE WAY BOAT TRIP & KONSO TRIBE

Early in the morning drive to the Lake shore to have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, Boat trip on Lake Chamo is along the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Nile Crocodiles which measure about 6 meter with the water birds are great the scenery is truly unforgettable, continue drive on the way stop at KONSO to visit the Konso tribe with their king- UNSCO registered site for their extensive terracing and practice of making a wooden grave mark for their hero and kings, continue driving and late afternoon arrival to Turmi, overnight Lodge.

Remark: - if there is any ceremonial activity like traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony

DAY 4- TURMI- EXCURSION KARO TRIBE AT MURULLE- ON THE WAY DIMEKA MARKET (SATURDAY/ TUESDAY) - AFTERNOONS HAMER VILLAGE

Early in the morning after breakfast excursion to Murulle to see the Karo tribe, famous for their body panting (they prepare the ink for the painting from locally available material like flower, soil and animal blood) we will also admire the scenery view of the Omo river from the edge of the village, then drive to Dimeka Market to attend the weekly colorful market of the HAMER tribe then drive back to Turmi after afternoon break in the lodge late afternoon walk from the lodge to the village to visit the HAMER tribe with their own way of life interaction with their way of life, overnight Lodge.

Remark: - if there is any ceremonial activity like traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony

Day 5- DRIVE TURMI- JINKA ON THE WAY excursion TO OMORATE-DASENCH TRIBE

These day early in the morning after breakfast drive 73 km west to visit the Dassench/Geleb people; who inhabited in the bank of Omo River and we cross the Omo River by locally made boat to see the village these tribes are semi nomadic with very little agriculture on the bank of the Omo River, then drive to Jinka on the way enjoy the interaction of different tribes with their way of life, overnight Lodge.

DAY 6- DRIVE JINKA- ARBAMINCH AM EXCURSION TO MURSI TRIBE ON THE WAY KEY AFER MARKET (THURSDAY)

After breakfast early in the morning leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted, then drive to KEY AFER- Tribal Market one of the best market in the OMO VALLEY since at list four different tribes are coming to attend these weekly market arrival to the small town and escort a local guide walking around the market and explore different section of the market including animal, vegetable, cereals and much more. Then continue drive back to Arbaminch, overnight hotel/ lodges

Day 7- AM GAME DRIVE AT NECHSAR NATIONAL PARK THEN DRIVE ARBAMINCH -YERGAALEM/AREGASH LODGE

Early in the morning after breakfast drive to Nechisar is named after the white grass that covers the undulating Nechisar plains and contrasts with the black basalt rocks of the Amaro Mountains to the east, and the black soils of the plains. Around 15% of the park comprises portions of Lakes Abaya to the north and Chamo to the south. The water of Lake Abaya is always brown or red-brown due to iron-ferric, in contrast with Lake Chamo which has strikingly blue water and white sandy beaches. The park also covers the neck of land between the lakes which supports groundwater forest. At the foot of Mt Tabala in the south-east there are hot springs. During game drive you will have a chance to observe different wild life include Zebra, lesser and greater Kudu, gazelle, baboons and various bird lives then start drive to Aregash Lodge an interesting lodge in the middle of forest in Sidama region with a traditional house made up of traditional material available from the surrounding arrival, overnight lodge

Day 8- DRIVE aregash lodge/yergalem- addis ababa on the way SIDAMA VILLAGE through rift vally - DEPARTURE

Morning After relaxed breakfast in the lodge you will visit the Sidama people and their village with their fascinating culture and the false Banana preparation and coffee plantations and enjoying the sunrise start to drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley on the way coffee and tea stop at the town of Debrezeyet in one of the creator lake arrival at Addis, shopping and coffee break and finally in the evening traditional farewell dinner in cultural restaurant with live tribal music.

END OF THE TOUR

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