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Overview
Experience the Great Rift Valley, much of Africa's volcanic activity is concentrated along the immense 6000 km long crack in the earth's surface known as the Great Rift Valley. Great Rift Valley is great because it is extensive and it was formed by the sinking and tearing apart of the earth. The largest valley on the earth, the Great Rift Valley is one of the planet's most outstanding features.
Visit some of the South Ethiopia tribes and the Omo valley, this vast, scenic valley is however most famous for its staggering cultural diversity. Over a dozen distinctive ethnic groups exist here, many of whom live lives little touched by the modern world. This is largely due to the area’s remoteness and prior near-inaccessibility, forming a natural barrier to modernization and the detribalization of the Omo Valley. Our tour aims to spend time with the Dorze, Konso, Arbore, Hamar, Benna, Karo, Ari and Mursi tribes (all now justly famous for their dress, body adornments and unique culture) and we will also encounter other tribes when visiting market villages. Detailed Itinerary
Arrive at Bole International airport, transfer to hotel
After some rest, meet your ESG and enjoy a city tour of Addis Ababa including a drive to Mount Entoto for the panoramic view and old palace, National museum which is the resting place of our famous Lucy, Ethnological museum which is the cultural collection place, Trinity Cathedral and Merkato
O/N: Nexus hotel 4* (HB) Standard Room
Breakfast at the hotel
Today we leave Addis Ababa and drive to Hawassa via the Great east Africa Rift valley visiting lake Koka, Zeway, Langano.
Lunch in Zeway and continue to Abjata Shalla National park which is the best place for aquatic birds and some wild life.
We also visit the Oromo people and experience their way of life and their villages
Arrival at the hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure
O/N: Haile resort Hawassa 4* (HB) Standard Room
07:30 depart from hotel and visit the fish market near lake Awassa and then drive to Arba Minch in Amharic meaning 40 springs, admire very interesting views and visit the Alaba, Wolayta and Gamo people on the way.
Proceed to visit the Dorze people, their villages, culture, the cultivation of the false banana tree, from which roots they extract their traditional bread, the kotcho and their beehive-shaped houses at Chencha before arriving in Arba Minch around 17:30
O/N: Haile Resort Arbaminch 4* (HB) Standard Room
Breakfast at the hotel
Today depart for Turmi, visiting the Tsemay, Konso tribes en-route
And as today is Monday or Tuesday we will see the colorful market at Turmi of Dimeka that gives a chance to see many tribes together exchanging goods. If you are lucky you will see the bull jumping ceremony of the Hamer tribes
Proceed to your hotel
Rest of the day at leisure
O/N: Paradise lodge Turmi 4* (HB) Standard Room
This morning we will rise early and drive to the edge of the Omo River.
We will cross the river by canoe to the villages of the Dasanech tribes, a motor boat or a ferry maybe available but is not guaranteed.
The Dasanech are a semi-nomadic tribe numbering approximately 50,000.
Their clans stretch across Sudan, Kenya and Southern Ethiopia. There are known for their very unique and ornate hair buns.
Afternoon visit the Dimeka market which will be a good opportunity to see many tribes together exchanging goods.
After the market, if you are lucky you will see the bull Jumping ceremony around Turmi
Arrival at the hotel
Rest of the evening at leisure
O/N: Buska/Paradise lodge Turmi 4* (HB) Standard Room
07:00 Meet your ESG and head to Murulle to meet with the tribe Karo, whose members are known for their adorn bodies with which the various patterns and scars. Afternoon moving in Jinka.
Along the way, you can see the decorated tribal Benna, Ari and their village Further drive to Jinka for lunch.
Afternoon visit the Jinka Museum and at 16:00 drive to lodge
O/N: Omo safari lodge or Similair 4* (HB) Standard Room
07:00 proceed to Mago national park, meeting with the Mursi tribe!
Women have taken Mursi inserted into the lower lip plate, and the men inflict a scar on the forearm by the number of killed enemies or wild animals.
Back to Jinka for lunch and as today is Thursday, you will visit one of the best market in the omo Valley at Keyafer Market.
Proceed to Konso
O/N: New Kanta Lodge/ Konso Korebta Lodge 4* (HB) Standard Room
Breakfast at the hotel
Meet your ESG and depart for a visit to the UNESCO Cultural site of Konso. Konso Cultural Landscape is a 55km arid properties of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia.
After lunch proceed to lake Chamo for early morning boat excursion to see the Crocodile Market and the Hippos. Here crocodiles are some of the longest in Africa , With length of 8 and also above meters
O/N: Haile resort Arbaminch 4* (HB) Standard Room
Breakfast at the hotel
11:00 Meet your ESG, transfer to the airport for your onward flight service
Upon arrival into Addis, meet your ESG and embark on a City tour of Addis Ababa
Also enjoy some souvenir shopping.
Evening farewell dinner at one of the city’s best traditional restaurants to enjoy a variety of Ethiopian cuisines and watch traditional dancing, transfer to airport and end of the service.
Gallery
Inclusions
- Accommodation as specified in itinerary
- Meals as specified in itinerary
- Transfers as specified in itinerary
- English Speaking Driver as specified in itinerary
- Russian Speaking Guide as specified in itinerary
- English Speaking Guide as specified in itinerary
- Services of an experienced English-speaking driver-guide
- All entrance fees and guided excursions as described in itinerary
- All park fees
- Unlimited bottled water per person per day
Exclusions
- International Flights and Airport Taxes
- Visa Fees (if applicable)
- Medical & Travel Insurance
- Incidental tips to hotel/lodge staff
- Gratuity to tour driver/guide
- All expenses of personal nature
- Any entrance fees and guided excursions not included in the above itinerary
- Early Check In & Late Check Out
- Internal & Domestic Flights (priced separately)
- Lunch
Notes
- Supplement cost for flights from/to Arbaminch to Addis is available on request
- Child supplement on request
- All quotes are subject to availability and change due to airfare increases, hotel rate increases, currency exchange fluctuations and any other unforeseen circumstances all without prior notice.
- Itinerary and journey times are close approximations and are subject to change without prior notice.
- Light Aircraft Flights:
- Baggage allowance is normally restricted between 15kg to 30 kg (depending on country, aviation supplier and seat class chosen) per passenger, inclusive of hand luggage in soft bags. Excess baggage will be charged at prevailing rates and only carried subject to space availability.
- Timings in remote areas such as national parks may vary from day to day. It is very important that your clients ask their tour guide or lodge manager to reconfirm flights 24 hours before departure. This reconfirmation process will give the departure and arrival details for the flight(s) the following day and will save unnecessary waiting time and discomfort. Charter companies reserves the right to change departure times or carrier when so required for operational, weather or safety reasons.
- Passenger weights limits apply for light aircraft flights and additional seats may be required if exceeding the weight limit. However, please let us know in advance if this is likely to apply so we can do whatever is possible to minimize the likelihood of this becoming an issue.