Available Dates:
* 30.09.2009 - 15.10.2009
* 23.10.2009 - 05.11.2009.
The Omo Valley is situated in south-west Ethiopia. This area is virtually free from human habitation, except along the banks of the Omo River. The Omo region became a part of Ethiopia, at the latter stages of the 19th century,but remained isolated from the historic and political events which effected the rest of the country. There are many small and large clans with their own diverse traditions and cultures, yet are all interelated by a common ideals of non matralistic traditions, which is more than compensated, by the symbolic and ornamental wealth on their beautifully decorated bodies, from labial plates(mursi) to the Karo with outstanding body paintings, that display the animals and the landscape, which is old and untouched a place of wonder and beauty in the outback of East Africa.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Addis Abeba, overnight hotel.
Day 2: Drive to the southern town of Arbaminch, en route visit the beautiful Rift Valley lakes - Lake Ziway, Lake Abijata and Lake Shalla. We shall make a stop at the acheilogical site of Tiya, the site of around 40 ancient stelae. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 3: A morning excursion to visit the Nech Sar National Park and Lake Abaya. After lunch a boat ride on Lake Chamo to visit a large number of crocodiles and hippos, overnight hotel.
Day 4: The tour continues today from Arbaminch to Jinka via Konso and kaey afer. The Konso people were the first in Ethiopia to practice farming/agriculture and their system of terracing can still be seen today. Today's route is culturally very rich - each of the different tribes having their own way of life. Overnight in Jinka at a simple local hotel or camping.
Day 5: Onward from Jinka to Mago National Park. Visit the village of the Mursi tribe. They are primarily pastoralists, who move between their wet season range in the lower Tama steppe and their dry season range in the Mursi Hills sector of Mago National Park. Some practice flood retreat cultivation along the Omo River. They collect honey from traditionally made hives that one frequently sees in the park. The Mursi women wear clay lip plates and the men take part in stick fighting. Then back to Mago Park for overnight camping.
Day 6: Drive to Omo National Park. The Omo National Park, the largest in the country with an area of 3 450 sq km, is a vast expanse of true wilderness. It is one of the richest and least visited wildlife sanctuaries in eastern African.
Day 7: Drive back to Jinka, overnight hotel.
Day 8: Drive to Turmi via Murule and the two villages of the Karo tribe namely Karo Duss and Karo Chorcho. The Karo and Hammer are friendly, handsome, photogenic tribes related in culture. Their main practice is cattle herding and great wealth is measured by the number of cattle they own. They are famous for their hairstyles and body painting.
Day 9: Drive to Omorate a small town on the Omo River visit Lake Turkana, overnight camping.
Day 10: Drive back to Turmi and visit the Hamar market and surrounding area, overnight camping.
Day 11: Drive back to arbaminch via Konso via Erbore and Woyito. Visit the interesting Erbore tribe with their unique adornments such as aluminium bead necklaces. Enjoy a lunch stop at Woyita and visit the Sunday Market where the Tsemai and Erbore people come together to trade amongst themselves. Overnight camping or at a local hotel in Konso. The Konso are partly pagan, with some Christians amongst them. They erect eerie wooden totems replete with phallic symbols over the graves of the dead (it almost seems related to what the Axumites did in the past: the stele of Axum).
There are numerous cults based around the breeding and veneration of serpents. The Konso have adopted a complex age grading system. Sacred drums, symbolizing peace and harmony, are circulated from village to village according to a fixed cycle and are beaten in rituals that mark the transition from one age-grade to the next. Though under the Ethiopian government's rule, the Konso still have their own King.
Day 12: Drive from Arbamich to Langano with lunch en route. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy swimming and birdwatching at Lake Langano. Camping overnight.
Day 13: Drive back to Addis Abeba, traditional Ethiopia farewell dinner, overnight hotel.
Day 14: Departure / Transfer to airport.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Single Supplement: € 200.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Ethiopia
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
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