11-THE LOWER OMO VALLEY & SOUTHERN REGION

Duration: 10 Nights / 11 Days

Day 01: Addis Ababa-Langano

Arrival Addis Ababa early in the morning EAET representative welcomes you at the airport, morning after breakfast dive to Langano, one of the rift valley lakes and after lunch, explores the Abyata-Shalla National Park, which is remarkable for its alkaline lakes with impressive colony of pink flamingos and many other species of birds such as Ostrich, pelicans. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 02: Arba Minch

Drive to the town of Arba Minch, a town that owes its existence and vitality to the twin lake Abaya and Chamo. Along the way, discover the small Senkele Sanctuary, established to protect the Swayne hartebeest, an antelope endemic to the region. Continue to Arba Minch which in Amharic means “Forty Springs”, a peaceful and warm town that offers a magnificent view overlooking two lakes in the Rift valley. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 03: Arba Minch

In morning make a boat trip on Lake Chamo, a lake that supports a large population of crocodiles and hippos, fishes such as Nile Perch, tilapia, catfish. We cross the lake, head to the eastern bank and climb the plateau to the Nechisar National Park. Return to boat, and observe crocodiles (some specimens’ reach 5-6 meters long), Co-habiting peacefully with hippos, pelicans and fish eagles. In the afternoon we will visit Dorze villages once formidable warriors, members of this ethnic group have turned to weaving and farming Enset (false banana) to earn a living. On a hilly and wooded, beautiful hiking through plantations and surprising traditional huts made of bamboo and false banana of bullet-shaped, high of about ten meters.

Day 04: Arba Minch-Jinka
Drive to Jinka En route visit Konso, Tsemay and Bena. continue drive to Jinka with a stop at Tsemay and Bena village. If it is Thursday; you will visit the spectacular Key Afer market where different Omo valley ethnic group meet in harmony. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 05: Jinka –Mursi-Jinka

In the morning, drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe.  The Mursi are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates.  In the afternoon, after returning to Jinka, you can visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center to learn more about the local tribes.  Alternatively, take a hike in the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 06: Jinka –Turmi
Drive Jinka to Turmi, home of the Hamer people. On the way, stop in Dimeka for the local market if it is Saturday , this is one of the most colorful markets in south Omo and is visited by neighborhood Hamer, Benna, Karo, Tsemai and Ari tribes. In the evening you will enjoy the traditional night dancing of the Hamer people .Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 07: Turmi-Omorate -Turmi

In the morning, take a day trip to Omorate to visit the Dassenech tribe.  Here you will cross the Omo River by local boat and enter a Dassenech village.  Afterwards, return to Turmi (Monday is market day) for a visit to a local Hamer village.  If there is jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer coming-of-age ceremony that will be visited. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 08: Turmi-Konso

After breakfast depart from Turmi to Konso via Key Afar.  Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods.  This is another very popular market in the region.  After the visit, proceed to Konso (market days are Mondays and Thursdays).  The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing.  Today you will have a brief opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 09: Konso-Yabello

For another adventure to discover the Borena people. We head to the town of Yabello, the capital of the Borena region; we cross the road passing through several herds of camels and enjoy beautiful mountain landscapes dotted with acacias and giant termite mounds. We head to the isolated village of El Soda, overlooking a beautiful deep crater 800M. The savannah and acacia filled area is the great zebra playground and various gazelles: Grant, Thomson, and Gazelle-Giraffe. Walk along on the crater rim, towards the lake that hosts a saline lake for the extraction of large quantities of salt. The salt diggers must delve into the dark waters of the lake saturated with iodine to resurface the precious commodity.  The salt is mostly feed to animals, but the refined one is intended for human consumption. By late afternoon, walking around this wooded crater with beautiful views from the ridges plunging. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 10:Borena –Sidamo

After out adventure of the Borena region, we take the direction of North, back to the starting point, after a brief stop to visit one of the traditional villages of Borena and typical huts, continuing through more mountainous and lush scenery to Yergalem. We enter the Sidamo territory, reputed for being one of the main coffee growing regions. From Ethiopia, the Arabica coffee plant was introduced into the world. In the afternoon, a stop to see the interior designs of the beautiful Sidamo huts, lined with euphorbia candelabra. Beyond the coffee, the fertile land is suitable for many cultures: false banana, pineapple, papaya, mango, chat … In the evening, we enjoy our super comfortable lodge in an amazing setting, in the middle of the forest. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 11: Back to Addis & Departure
Drive back to the capital Addis Ababa via Shashemene, a town where dreadlocked Rasta settlers, many born in the Caribbean, have now made their home.  The Rastas declarethe last king of Ethiopia to be the Messiah, or “Jah” Selassie’s pre-coronation name, Ras Tafari Makonnen, was adopted to name their movement. Continue to the shores of Lake Ziway to observe the abundance of birds. We arrive later afternoon, in the evening farewell party in one of Ethiopian traditional restaurant where you can see cultural music and dance. Then Transfer to the airport for flight back home.

• Note: The above program can be adjusted according to your time, Budget and interest.