Omo Valley Ethiopia Safari

Your Ethiopia safari begins today as you board your international flight to Africa.

Welcome to Africa! As you arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, you will be met by our representative and transferred to the Hilton Hotel for your first night in Africa!

After breakfast this morning, you will be met by your guide in the hotel lobby for you road transfer south to the Rift Valley Lake of Langano. Here you will visit the rock-hewn church of Adadi Mariam, believed to be the southernmost church founded by King Lalibela, the pre-historic archeological site of Melka Kunture, and the stelea field of Tiya (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

During your visit, you might even enjoy a bit of swimming and bird watching.

Your Ethiopia safari continues today as you transfer by road to Arba Minch through the fertile land of Wolayta and Alaba regions. The Alaba people are famous for their beautiful home painting style.

On the way, visit Sinkile Wild life Sanctuary, where you will see the endemic Swayne’s hartebeest and other mammals.

Today you will drive to Chencha to visit the Dorze village.

The Dorze people are well known for the weaving tradition and their attractive elephant shaped traditional hut made from bamboo and false banana tree leafs. While you are here, enjoy interacting with the Doreze people, learning their customs and traditions.

Later this afternoon, you will drive back to Arba Minch for lunch, before your boating excursion on Lake Chamo, one of the rift valley lakes. As you explore the lake, you will visit the Crocodile Market, where you will have the opportunity to see a large number of crocodiles, different aquatic birds and hippos.

After breakfast this morning, your Ethiopia safari heads south to Jinka, visiting the villages of the Konso people who are renowned for their colorful hand-woven cotton clothes and beautiful rock terraces. (If the day is Thursday, stop on your way at Key Afer to visit the most colorful multicultural market in the Lower Omo Valley, which is attended, by the tribal groups of Ari, Benna, and Tsemai.)

Today, you will have an excursion to the Mago National Park to visit the people of Mursi, who are typically known for their women with clay lip plates. You will then transfer by road back to Jinka for a tour of the Cultural Museum of the People of the Lower Omo Valley.

Your Ethiopia safari continues to Turmi today, the village of the Hamer people whose women are noted for their typical hairdressing and leather skirts. (If today is Saturday or Tuesday, you will have a stop at the colorful weekly market of the Hamer and the Benna people at Dimeka.)

In the morning, you will have an excursion to Omo Rate to visit the Dasenech people who are the southernmost people of the country and are known for their scarifications. Then, with a picnic lunch stop at Murulle, you will make your way to Korcho, the village of the Karo people.

Continue by road to Yabello with a stop at the villages of the nomadic people of Erbore.

Head to the north visiting the nomadic people of Borena, as well as the people of Sidama, who are renowned for their cultivation of Enset or False Banana.

Your Ethiopia safari concludes today. After a visit to the ‘Fish Market’ at the Shore of Lake Awassa, you will begin your drive back to Addis visiting the chains of the Rift Valley Lakes of Langano, Abiyatta, Shalla, and Ziway.

You will enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

In the evening, you are invited to a farewell dinner party at one of the best traditional restaurants of Addis to see the folkloric dances of the Ethiopian people and to taste the variety of meals of the Ethiopian people. You will then be transferred to the airport to connect with your international flight back to the USA.