13-DAYS WILD TRIBES OF ETHIOPIA AND BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Tour Code: EAET406
Duration: 14 Nights / 15 Days

Day 1:Arrival Addis Ababa and City Tour

On arrival Addis Ababa EAET representative will meet you at Bole international Airport and transfer to the Hotel, start visiting the city from National Museum, where Ethiopia’s oldest resident, Lucy is housed, Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, continue with Holy trinity church and you will enjoy a panoramic view of the capital with fresh air hill top of Mount Entoto. Overnight stay on reserved Hotel

Day 02: Addis Ababa -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 7: Turmi -Karo-Turmi

Early morning depart from Turmi to the village of Kangatan. Here you will cross the Omo River and take a short walk through the local fields to visit a village of the Nyangatom tribe. After the visit, return across the river and proceed to the Karo village of Korcho, with a stunning location looking over the Omo River. The Karo people, while the smallest tribes of the Omo valley in number are also known to be the most decorated .after the visit return to Turmi .Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 8: 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 9: Turmi –Arba Minch

After breakfast depart from Turmi to Arba Minch via Key Afar and Konso.  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.  After the visit, proceed driving to Arba Minch. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 10: Bale Mountain National Park

We will travel to the Bale Mountains National Park, the most beautiful national park in Ethiopia. Except for several kinds of endemic mammals we will also find there biotopes, which can’t be found anywhere else in Ethiopia.

Day 11: Excursion trip to Sanetti Plateau

We will view the mountain plateau with endemic Ethiopian wolves, Seneca’s, and lobelias, and a mist forest in the foothills of the nearby mountains. Overnight stay on reserved hotel

Day 12: A safari (on foot) observing endemic mountain nyals, and pigs. For anyone interested, there will be a possibility of a horse ride.

Day 13: Drive back to Addis Ababa via Bekoji-Assela &departure

You will arrive in Addis Ababa late in the afternoon where you will shop for souvenirs. Evening we will have fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurant for cultural dances from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for flight back home.

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