Day 1: Arrival to Addis Ababa
In the morning arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. You will be welcomed by your guide from Elegant Ethiopia Tours and transfer to your hotel. Then visit Addis Ababa or ‘the new flower’ in Amharic which is relatively new city, established by the Emperor Menelik II in 1887. Begin your exploration of Addis Ababa at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, a monument to the country’s liberation from Italian occupation during World War II and final resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Next drive deeper into Ethiopia’s rich cultural diversity at the Ethnographical Museum. Continue your excursion at the National Museum, seeing the authentic, Lucy’’ skeleton, a significant anthropological revelation. Finally visit Merkato the largest open-air market in Africa.
Day 2: Addis Ababa --- Arba Minch
After morning breakfast Begin long but scenic drive to the town of Arba Minch in the south of Ethiopia (approximately 9 hours), a region noted for its enormous variety of peoples and cultures. This drive will take you along the scenic farmlands of Gurage People. We will also drive through the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys. Today on the way you will visit Tiya stele filed which is an archaeological site and registered by UNESCO. You arrive late in the afternoon at Arba Minch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arba Minch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town. The surrounding are undeniably dramatic – lying at an altitude of 1,600m above sea level, on green hills overlooking Lake Chamo and Lake Abaya and with mountains forming a backdrop rising to 4,000m to the west. The town is also well situated as the gateway to Nechsar National Park.
Day 3: Arba Minch
Full day in Arbaminch and explore the attractions around the city. In the morning visit Nech Sar National Park and Boat trip on lake Chamo. With some of the most dramatic scenery in Africa, Nechsar National Park lies at the heart of the Rift Valley, covering Lakes Chamo and Abaya and the mountainous causeway between them known as the 'Bridge of God'. Today you will visit Nechsar for a game viewing walk, and experience its thrilling beauty. The open grasslands of the Nechsar Plain offer the best viewing of the diverse wildlife on offer, which numbers at 70 mammal and 342 bird species, and include Burchell’s zebra, gazelle and kudu. Lions are also found in the park but it’s rare to catch a glimpse. Waterbuck gather near the lakeshore, and there are many smaller species of buck located in the forest areas. You’ll also enjoy a boat trip on Lake Chamo, the country’s third largest, which is inhabited by a significant number of hippo and crocodile.The roads within the park are sometimes impassable if there have been heavy rains. If this should happenyou’ll take a guided walking tour within the park instead.In the afternoon visit the Dorze tribe village on the Guge Mountain. The Dorze known for their cotton weaving skills and their beehive style huts, which are some of the most distinctive traditional dwellings on the continent. Made of bamboo and a thatched roof of leaves, the conical structures are at least 6 meters tall, can be moved, and can last up to 60 years.
Day 4: Arba Minch --- Jinka
After breakfast get on the road to the South Omo region and the administrative capital of Jinka You’ll pass through the territories of several different tribes on your way to Jinka. En route you will view the beautiful terraced agricultural fields of the Konso people who are well known for their intricately terraced hillsides which are registered by UNESCO as a world heritage site. You will walk in the village and visit fine woven materials, the carved totems with which they decorate their graves and their unique house. Jinka is a small mountain town virtually isolated from the rest of the country. It’s remote and rustic, yet its cling to the rest of the county is accentuated by the grass airstrip in the middle of town. People come from across South Omo to visit the local market in Jinka, particularly Ari, Bana, Besheda and Besketo people. Before arrival at Jinka you will stop at Ari Tribe Village. The Ari people are famous for their style of dress and houses are frequently colorful and eye-catching. Their villages are typically verdant because of the enset - known colloquially as the Ethiopian banana or false banana – they are known for cultivating. While you’re there, watch the locals prepare Ethiopian staple Injera (sourdough-risen flatbread). You'll spend the night here in Jinka.
Day 5: Jinka --- Turmi
This morning head into Mago National Park on the east bank of the River Omo home to a wide range of ethnic groups. Visit a Mursi village and learn something of their unique habits including lip plates and large decorative ear plugs. Afterwards continue to Turmi, home of the proud Hamer tribe. If today is a market day there will be an opportunity to wander around the colorful market in the Omo Valley.
Day 6: Turmi
This morning you will drive to Karo Village. The Karo or Kara is a small tribe with an estimated population between 1,000 and 3,000. They are closely related to the Kwegu tribe. They live along the east banks of the Omo River in southern Ethiopia and practice flood retreat cultivation. The crops that are grown by them are sorghum, maize and beans. Only small cattle are kept because of the tsetse flies. These flies are large and consume the blood of vertebrate animals. They are very famous for their body decoration. Return back to Turmi. After a break you’ll visit a nearby Hamer village and learn more about this tribe. The women roll their hair into dreds called goscha using fat and dark red ochre, and their arms are wrapped in beads and copper bracelets. The tribe practice scarification, with women having scars cut into their arms or shoulders to make themselves more beautiful and as a display of their strength. They wear beaded goatskin frocks over their upper body, and married women wear thick copper necklaces. The men are also adorned with scars, for beauty or traditionally representing the number of enemies they have killed, and courageous men wear clay hair buns on their heads. The Hamer have annual ceremony, a young man must jump back and forth on the backs of bulls to prove himself worthy of the family's pride and of a wife, while women are ritualistically whipped in voluntary support of the initiate.
Day 7: Turmi --- Konso
This morning you’ll journey south, driving 75 kilometres (47 miles) to Omorate, a river town where the Ethio-Kenyan border located. Pass through acacia forests, where you will see Hamer tribes people herding cattle. Arrive at Omorate and cross the Omo river and then, visit a Dassenech tribe. Both the Hamer and Dassenech tribes here are fiercely independent and culturally unique - you may witness evidence of scarification practices and body modification in both tribes. The Dassenech live a traditional way of life, abandoning the irrigation systems. Return to Turmi in the afternoon and dive back to Konso. On the way you will visit a local market based on availability.
Day 8: Konso --- Awassa
You will drive to Awassa known for the beautiful lake Awassa and several birds. You will drive through Arbaminch and Sodo towns. On the way stop at Alaba People village and visit their unique huts. Arrive in Awassa in the afternoon and transfer to your accommodation. After a break you will walk by the lake side and enjoy the nature.
Day 9: Awassa --- Addis Ababa & Departure
In the morning visit the fish market at lake Awassa and then drive back to Addis Ababa via the rift valley lakes region. On the way you will visit Abijatta-Shalla National Park, Lake Langano and Lake Ziway. Tonight you will have a wonderful cultural evening at a local Restaurant. Witness a performance displaying some of the countries many diverse cultural dances and costumes, and enjoy a traditional meal with a drinks. Then transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
