Southern Ethiopia (8 days)

Included in the travel price

• 7 nights with breakfast in hotels and lodges as agreed at the time of booking
• Road transfer in Toyota minibus or 4x4 Landcruiser with experienced tour driver and fuel
• 1 domestic flight with Ethiopian Airlines (discounted tariff if your international flight is with Ethiopian Airlines)
• Professional tour guide (English, German, French, Italian and Spanish-speaking available)
• All local guides, rangers and scouts as required
• All entrance fees
• Boat trip on lake Chamo
• Traditional dinner on the last evening before departure
• 1 liter of mineral water per day

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa and City Tour

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be transferred to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options:

• Mount Entoto with the best views over the capital.
• Institute of Ethiopian Studies, where you can see a variety of artifacts from all the different regions reflecting the history and culture of the country
• National Museum which among other exhibits the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy.
• Trinity Cathedral: this is the burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots; the cathedral is the most magnificent of its kind in the country, ornamented with carvings, mosaics and other artistic works.
• The Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa

Accommodation: Hotel, Addis Ababa

Day 2: Addis Ababa – Tiya – Arba Minch (465km)

After breakfast, we drive to Arba Minch (approx. 7hrs.), with a stop on the way at Tiya (80km from Addis Ababa) to explore the Stelae field of Tiya, listed as UNESCO world heritage site. Mysterious engraved stelae stretch across Southern Ethiopia. The field comprises some 45 stones of up to 2-3m in height. We then continue to Arba Minch with some fantastic scenery, including the best spot to view the two rift valley lakes, Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the South. We will arrive at the lodge in the late afternoon, and you may relax at the lodge with stunning views from the terrace.

Accommodation: Lodge or Resort, Arba Minch

Day 3: Arbaminch – Lake Chamo – Dorze Village – Arbaminch

Morning:
After breakfast we undertake a boat cruise on lake Chamo and search for Africa’s biggest crocodiles (up to 6m long), hippos and a large variety of bird life.
Afternoon:
We will visit the Dorze people with some fantastic scenery, including the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys. The Dorze village is found high in the Guge Mountains overlooking lake Abaya and lake Chamo.

Accommodation: Lodge or Resort, Arba Minch

Day 4:  Arbaminch –  Konso – Key Afer Market – Jinka (240 km)

After breakfast, we drive to Konso approx. (travelling time 3.5 hrs.). Konso is another UNESCO Cultural Heritage site. We will visit the village compound and the local museum, and usually are also welcomed in the Konso chief’s compound, which includes the family graveyard and house mummies. The Konso people have a rich agrarian culture and construct ingenious terraces and walls that encircle their fields and villages for protection against livestock damage and flooding.
From Konso we continue our journey to the colourful market of Key Afer (Thursdays only) frequented by several tribes of the Omo valley, such as Derase, Tsemay, Benna and Ari, before reaching Jinka in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel or Lodge, Jinka

Day 5: Jinka – Mago National Park (Mursi) – Turmi (160 km)

Morning:
We enter the Mago National Park (travelling time approx. 2hrs), admiring different animals and birds on the way; and proceed to visit to the Mursi tribe and their villages. One of the most unique tribes in Africa. Here women use huge round lips plates for beauty reasons
Afternoon:
After lunch, we continue our trip to Turmi (approx. 3 hrs), where we will meet the fascinating Hamer tribe. Turmi serves as our base to explore the tribes of the Southern Omo Valley. The whole region of the Southern Omo has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site since 1980.

Accommodation: Lodge, Turmi

Day 6: Turmi – Dimeka Market – Turmi

Morning:
After breakfast, we visit the colourful market in Dimeka near Turmi (Saturdays only), frequented by several tribes of the Omo valley.

Afternoon:
Turmi is well known for its traditional events and with some luck we will even participate in a Hamer marriage ceremony, with its bull jumping ceremony and more! In the late afternoon, we will also visit a nearby Hamer village and encounter the tribe in its daily life surroundings. With some luck, we may even witness a moonshine dance (Evangadi), a traditional dance of young Hamer men and women.

Hotel: Lodge, Turmi

Day 7: Turmi – Omorate – Konso

Morning: Turmi – Omorate – Turmi (140 km)
Today we take an excursion to visit the Dassanech Ethnic group (70 km, one way), famous for their nomad lifestyle and very interesting decoration and scarification on their bodies. There are also great views of the Omo River when crossing it in a dugout canoe.

Afternoon: Turmi – Konso (180 km)
After lunch, we drive back to Konso (approx. 3.5 hrs.). We will reach the neat lodge in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Lodge, Konso

Day 8: Konso – Arba Minch – Addis Ababa (flight)

Morning / afternoon:
We drive from Konso to Arba Minch (1 h) and fly back to Addis Ababa. You will be transferred from the domestic airport in Addis Ababa to your reserved hotel (a day room will be reserved for you until 6 pm)

Evening:
In the evening, you are invited for a traditional Ethiopian dinner and dance show at a renowned restaurant of Addis Ababa. After dinner you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure or, if you are still staying in Addis Ababa overnight, back to your hotel.

Departure or individual Extension