14 Days Tour Itinerary to Southern Ethiopia/Omo Valley

Activities: History, Religion, Scenery and Wildlife

14 days, 13 nights


Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa Mahteb Tours


Day 1:
Arrival in Addis Ababa at Bole International Air port Meet and greet Vacation Ethiopia Tours representative at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Reliance Hotel Apartment. 

Day 2:
Addis Ababa is the third highest capital of the world on an altitude of 2300-2500 m. with a pleasant climate and a background of green with eucalyptus trees covered mountains. The city is founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and Queen Taitu. Visit Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, the National/Ethnographic museum, St George church and the Merkato, biggest open air market in Africa. Overnight stay in Reliance Hotel Apartment.

Awasa 

Gurage Tribe, Mahteb Ethiopian Tours


Day 3: Drive to Awassa via the Great Rift Valley

Today en route you will make a stop on Awash River and Lake Ziway to visit aquatic birds. Lake Ziway, the shallowest lake in the rift valley chain of lakes which depth 7m. Its extensive aquatic vegetation attracts a variety of water birds. Commonly seen and easily identified are; Saddle-billed stork, greater jacana, African fish eagle, darter, herons, darters and Wood hoope In Awassa you can also walk around the ditch to for nice sunset and aquatic birds. 

Overnight stay in Lewi or Haile Resort.

Arba Minch

Arba Minch, Mahtep Ethiopian Tours

Day 4: Drive to Arba Minch via Wolayta

oday before starting drive to Arba Minch you will visit the scenic morning Fish market in Awassa where the fisher man sell his fresh Tilapia, Catfish, and Barbus whereas Pelicans and Storks are competing to take the left over. You can also spot Black and White Colbous monkey around the Amor Gedele. En route make a stop and visit Wolayta villages. 

Overnight stay in Paradise or Swaynes Lodge.

Lake Chamo

Lake Chamo Mahteb Ethiopian Tours


Day 5: Make a boat trip to Lake Chamo and in afternoon drive to Dorze

Make a boat trip on Lake Chamo where the longest and fattest crocodiles of Africa take a sunbath on the shores. Hippo’s hide themselves under the water and you will also see a good range of birds including; weavers, sunbirds, waxbills and colonies of pelicans.

After lunch drive to Dorze, the road slowly ascends to the top, where it gives you a panoramic view to the Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo then visit the Dorze village. The Dorze are famous for constructing distinguished beehive shaped huts, terrace cultivation and the best weaving work of Ethiopia. Overnight stay in Paradise or Swaynes Lodge.

Dorse Village Mahteb Ethiopian Tours

Jinka

Key Afar Mahteb Ethiopian Tours


Day 6: Drive to Jinka via Key afar

Passing the terraced mountains of Konso with magnificent views into Weyto valley you drive to Jinka, if you the day is Thursday you will have the opportunities to visit the Key Afar market, which gather; the Hammer, Benna, Ari and Tsmay tribes. Depending on your arrival you can visit also the Ethnographic museum of Jinka.

 Overnight stay in Jinka Resort or Jinka Eco-omo Lodge.

Mago NP, Mursi Village

Mago National Park Mountains Mahteb Tours


Day 7: Excursion to visit the Mursi village via Mago National Park

To visit the Mursi you cross a part of the Mago NP on a track through the bush where many Dikdiks (small antelopes) and gazelle can be seen on the savanna plains. The Mursi are well known for the big clay plates the women bear in their lower lip and ear. The origin of this tradition is not known but the Mursi themselves consider it as something that makes them distinguish from the surrounding tribes and to make the women unattractive for slave-market. But nowadays it is considered as a sign of beauty and wealth. 

Overnight stay in Jinka Resort or Jinka Eco-omo Lodge

Turmi Bull Jumping

Hammer Tribe, bull jumping Mahteb Ethiopian Tours


Day 8: Drive to Turmi via Key afar-Dimeka

Drive to Turmi a small town of Hammer people. Visit the Hammer village. They are well-known for their Bull-Jumping ceremony and Evangadi dance. The Bull-Jumping occur when young boys reach the age of marriage he have to jump three times over the backs of a long row of bulls without falling. If this succeeds they have passed to adulthood from childhood. 

Overnight stay in Buska or Turmi Lodge.

Tulgete Surma

Dassenetch Tribe Mahtheb Ethiopian Tours


Day 9: Excursion to Omorate (Dassenetch/Gleb) village

Today you drive through the wilderness of the Omo valley to the Dassanech (or Galeb) who are living on the other side of the Omo River. To reach their village you cross the river in a canoe which is made of a hollow tree. 

Overnight stay in Buska or Turmi Lodge.

Karo Village

Karo Tribe Mahteb Ethiopian Travel


Day 10: Excursion to Murille to visit the Karo villages

Drive to Murille to visit the Karo village Kolcho. The Karo people are thought to be one of the most endangered groups of the omo valley people. Overnight stay in 

Buska or Turmi Lodge.

Konso

Bebeka Mahteb Ethiopian Tours


Day 11: Drive to Konso

The society of the Konso boasts a rich culture and a highly specialized and successful agricultural economy by their indigenous way of terracing the steep slopes for cultivation of sorghum and different grains. Visit the Konso village and the natural wonder “New York”: huge sand pillars formed through ages by rain and erosion. 

Overnight stay in Kanta Lodge.

Yabelo

Borena Girls Mahteb Ethiopian Tours


Day 12: Drive to Yabelo

In the morning you drive to Yabelo through semi-arid area of Borena. The Borenas are semi-nomadic tribe and you can see a small flock of camels with their Borena owners here and there. 

Overnight stay in Yabelo Motel.

Yireg Alem

Sidama People Mahteb Ethiopian Tours


Day 13: Drive to Yireg Alem

Today you drive through the region of the Gedeo and Sidama people. The hills and mountains are intensively cultivated in this densely populated area. Overnight stay in Aregash lodge, a peaceful view to green valley and to intense tranquility, with hayena and the sound of many birds. 

Overnight stay in Argash Lodge. 

Tiya, Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa Mahteb Tours


Day 14: Drive back to Addis Ababa via Tiya and Melka-Kuntare

On your way back to Addis Ababa via an alternative route through Ziway-Butajira, the green and fertile are of the Gurage people you can visit UNESCO registered the 600 – 800 years old Tiya stelae field and the interesting Melka-Kunture archeological site where thousands of Stone Age tools are found. There is also a small but interesting museum. 

Late in the afternoon have a farewell dinner then check-in for flight back home.