Trip Info
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Suitable for solo travelers and groups
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Saoirse: This tour takes place in Addis Ababa and ends in Addis Ababa.
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Pre and post tour accommodation for this tour is also available at an additional charge.
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Normal 4x4 vehicle
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Can start any day
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Mid-range, shared tour
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All meals included
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English
Overview
Immerse yourself in the rich cultures of Ethiopia with a 7-Day Omo Valley Tribal Experience Tour. Visit remote tribes, explore vibrant traditions, and discover breathtaking landscapes in one of the world’s most culturally diverse regions.
What will be memorable for you will be the Omo Valley which has numerous tribes featuring a fascinating culture and meandering body painting. You will visit the Hamer, Karo, and Mursi tribes, observing culture and art performances together with admiring unique nature. This rich journey provides a rare insight into the cultural richness of one of Ethiopia’s most enchanting territories.
Highlights
- Can start any day
- Shared tour
- Mid-range tour
- Can be customized
- Suitable for single travelers
- Suitable for all ages
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Itinerary
When you arrive to Addis Ababa, you will be met and driven to your hotel to freshen up. To start your day on the first day, you will make a morning trip to Mount Entoto to enjoy the view of the city. You will then go to the National Museum where you will see the ancient fossil known as Lucy the oldest known hominid. Then, you will proceed to the Holy Trinity Cathedral that was constructed during World War II. They will visit the Ethnographic Museum that used to be the residence of the Emperor Haile Selassie until the year 1960. Last but not the least; visit Merkato, formally known as the largest market in East Africa and was founded by the Italians in 1937.
Main Destination:
Addis Ababa (City)
Accommodation:
Hotel Golden Tulip Addis Ababa
- It is a luxury hotel found in the city of Addis Ababa.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
After breakfast, you will proceed to Hawassa. During the tour, you will visit Abijatta-Shalla National Park that covers area of 887sq.kilometers which hosts two alkaline lakes; Abijatta and Shalla. It is comprised of grasslands as well as the Acacia savannah where you can sight Grant’s gazelles, warthogs among other non-plant life forms and over 300 avian species among which are the ostriches. Temperatures are moderate to high with occasional rainshowers to mark the continuation of the dry season wherein you will spend the night at Hawassa Haile Resort or similar.
Main Destination:
Awasa (City)
Accommodation:
Haile Resort Hawassa
- The mid-range resort is located in Awasa (City).
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
After breakfast, you will visit the fish market in the local area and go for bird watching at Amora Gedele. In the afternoon, you will visit the Dorze village where the local women are involved in weaving beautiful textiles. The small houses which are shaped like elephants, and the roofs that are thatched with bamboos depict the region. The local staple Fermented banana or Enset plant is the chief staple food of these people who are called the Dorze. Your accommodations throughout the tour will be at Haile Resort Arba Minch or similar Lodges.
Main Destination:
Arba Minch (City)
Accommodation:
Haile Resort Arba Minch
- It is a mid range hotel found in Arba Minch (City).
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
The day begins with a boat ride on Lake Chamo, the third biggest lake in Ethiopia. Be on the lookout for Nile crocodiles, hippos and a number of bird species. Next you will proceed to Konso village, a cultural world heritage site famous for the cultivation techniques practiced in that area that help control soil erosion through terracing. The village itself is surrounded with stone walls made of basaltic stones. It also turned out some of the best quality coffee in the country, more so the Sidamo and the Yirgacheffe. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Turmi and lodged at Emerland or any other related lodge.
Main Destination:
Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)
Accommodation:
Emerald Lodge Turmi
- Budget range lodge is situated in the Turmi, Lower Omo Valley.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
Today you will go to the Karo people of Murulle who are famous for their scarification or body painting using white chalk especially for ceremony. The body of Karo women is considered to be aesthetically appealing with scarred chests to control bleeding during childbirth while men’s scars exemplify a glorious performance in combat. After this, the spotlight shifts to the Nyangatom people characterized by their beaded jewelry and attractive goat skin skirts. After lunch to Turmi, you will proceed to see the Hamer people, the community known to practice a rite known as the bull jumping ceremony associated with the initiation of young men. You will notice their way of dressing especially the body tattoos and outlandish hair styles. Accommodation for the night will be at Emerland Lodge in Turmi or a similar establishment.
Main Destination:
Lower Omo Valley (Cultural Village)
Accommodation:
Emerald Lodge Turmi
- Budget range lodge is situated in the Turmi, Lower Omo Valley.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
After breakfast you will drive to Omorate about 72kms from Turmi to attend the Dassanech tribe. A boat ride takes you to the southeastern shores of Lake Turkana to visit the Dassanech, the remaining initial inhabitants in the region. Return for lunch to Turmi, after which there will be a journey to the Ari people, the largest in the Lower Omo Valley. Ari women are best known for their decorative skirts made from the Enset plant; they are also good potters and brewers of traditional beer. Your accommodation for the night will be at Jinka Resort or a closely located equivalent.
Main Destination:
Omorate (Lower Omo Valley)
Accommodation:
Jinka Resort
- A low cost hotel that is in Jinka, Lower Omo Valley.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
For the day trip after breakfast you will go to visit the Mago National Park which is 70km away from Mursi village. In the morning, you’ll have an understanding of the Mursi people and the women with massive plates fixed on their lips for various uses. Mursi women especially know how to tattoo their body and different scars on the body indicate different social classes. Finally, upon your arrival, you will be transferred to Jinka where you will take a flight to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival a traditional Ethiopian dinner with live music will be served before being transferred to Bole International Airport to fly back home.
Main Destination:
Mago National Park
Best Time To GoJune to February (Little rainfall)
High Season is around October to January (though it might be a bit crowded)
Best Weather
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Non-alcoholic drinks
End of tour
- More accommodation for any other extra persons can be arranged at an extra charge.
- You will be dropped at the airport.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- • Park fees (For non-residents)
- • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- • A professional driver/guide
- • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All Taxes/VAT
- • Roundtrip airport transfer
- • Meals As described under the day by day section
- • Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Cost Excludes
- • International flights (From/to home)
- • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- • Things to Carry (To take home as souvenirs, travel insurance, visas etc.)
- • Taxes and park fees have also been raised by the government
FAQs
This 7 Days Omo Valley Tribal Experience tour takes you through part of Ethiopia, which has a unique social culture and color. The tour focuses on mainly the Lower Omo valley and will see you visit some of the tribes like the Hamar and the Mursi the Karo and the Dassanech. You will see diverse practices and traditions like dances, painting, and other matters that have been passed through the generations for hundreds of years. The tour also entails cultural immersions, scenic drives, through stunning vistas, national parks as well as the local vibrant markets.
For the 7-Day Omo Valley Tribal Experience Tour, an array of shelled up accommodations in awasa and Arba Minch towns while the more natural and basic accommodations in some of the tribal regions. Whereas the location of these accommodations is plusher and more convenient, the lifestyle in the areas is native and definitely non-tourist, using traditional huts or simple shelters. Some of the villages may barely have any amenities in regards to their accommodation; however, this is overshadowed by the rich experience gained from the cultural experiences.
The most convenient time to do the 7-Day Omo Valley Tribal Experience is during the dry season which is from October to March. This is perhaps the best season, as it is characterized by good weather conditions for travelling from one tribal village to another. It should be noted that roads can be in rather bad condition during the rainy season especially from April to September, however the continent looks splendid during these months. For people, who want to see tribal dances and performances, specific holidays might define when it is best to come.
Cultural attractions include tribal interaction while the natural sites are the Omo River and the Mursi villages as well as the local markets. They will visit the cultural sites with a guide and be able to watch cultural performances such as rituals, dances, and activities of the people of the Omo Valley. The tour also has a boat ride across Lake Chamo in search of crocodiles and hippos, visit to Mago for a chance to meet the magnificent Mursi people and markets where various tribal groups converge to exchange commodities. The day-to-day breakdown of the tour accommodates cultural exploration alongside exposure to Ethiopia’s geographical terrains.
For the 7-Day Omo Valley Tribal Experience Tour travel light, casual, loose fitting clothing is advisable because of the hot climatic nature on the area for the day activities and at night. A hat and sunglasses should be worn to protect oneself against the sun, and comfortable walking shoes are advised. Appropriate clothing may be needed during the wetter period of the year; a rain jacket can be beneficial. Other items include insect repellent, sun block, a water bottle, a camera and additional cards for it, and small currency for buying souvenirs or giving tips to local guides. Failing regions may also lack electricity making a power bank or extra batteries also useful to carry along.
The 7-Day Omo Valley Tribal Experience Tour is intermediate in difficulty as it covers rough road trips, easier walks through Omo Valley tribes and short hikes at natural settings. Most of the activities are moderate, but that heat and some of the terrains that are sometimes encountered can be quite a test for some individuals. Tours involving movement should inform the tour operator in advance of any issues with mobility so arrangements may be made. It’s very fulfilling as there are a lot of cultural aspects to try and beautiful sceneries to see when one feels ready for the challenge.
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