Discover the Omo Valley tribes and Hara. By Visiting villages of the last isolated tribes in the world. Experience their fascinating culture, beautification, traditions and ritual activities. Visit the waled city of Harar and the Hyena man.
Karo Girl on the bank of Omo River
Day 1 – Arrival – Addis Ababa City Tour
Our team will meet you at Bole International Airport, upon your arrival. Transfer to your hotel. Get some rest.
Today we will take you on a guided city tour of Addis Ababa. It gives an introduction to Ethiopia and Addis Ababa by visiting different Attractions and learn about the culture.
The tour has a visit to the National Museum. Where you will see Lucy, the famous human ancestral fossil estimated to be 3.2 million years old. The you will go up on the top of Mount Entoto, where you will have a panoramic view of the city. The Holy Trinity Cathedral houses the tomb of Emperor Haile Silase, the last emperor of Ethiopia. We will walk through the Merkato market, the largest open air market in Africa.
Overnight Addis Ababa Carvan Hotel
Day 2- Addis Ababa-Arbaminch
In the morning We leave Addis Ababa and descend towards Ethiopia’s Rift Valley. We pass through Butajira, Werabe, Alaba, Welaita Sodo, and other small towns and villages along the 450 km road. The journey continues along a scenic area and the homes of many tribes.
Overnight in Arbamich Haile Resort
Day 3- ArbaMinch-Konso-Jinka
Early in the morning you will take a boat trip on Lake Chamo in Nech Sar National Park to visit the crocodile market. It is not a real market but a lake-shore where giant crocodiles are enjoying sun-bathe.
Drive to Konso, the Konso tribes famous are famous for their impressive soil conservation by terracing of their farmland. The Konso villages are found on hilltops protected by several rounds of stone Walls. Inside the village it has a narrow alley and few entrances. The Konso people are an extremely hardworking people in Ethiopia. UNESCO recoded Konso Village as a world Heritage site.
After a lunch in Konso, We cross the Weito River and pass through the territories of the Steamay, Bena and Ari tribes land to reach Jinka.
Overnight Jinka Eco Omo Lodge
Day 4- Jinka-Mursi Tribes Village-Turmi
Early in the morning we start driving to the Mursi village. As we cross the Mago National Park, We may spot some animals. Mursi people are warriors and Their lifestyle has never been changed. They don’t have much possession. Their life is attached mostly to their cattle. They also practicing flood retreat agriculture along the banks of the OMO River. Often referred to as nomads, the Mursi have a sedentary lifestyle.
The Mursi are famous for their women having a large clay plate insert in to their Lip. The larger the clay lip disk a Mursi girl has inserted on her lip, considered the more beautiful she is. The Mursi men wear very little except an occasional scarf and paint their bodies on special occasions.
After lunch we drive to Turmi, passing through the Keyafer and Dimeka lands of the Bena Tribes. There is a colorful market on Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Overnight in Turmi – Paradise Logde Turmi
Day 5- Turmi-Omorate-Turmi
In the Morning drive to Omorate home of The Dasenech tribes. The Dasenech have settled north of Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya and along both banks of Omo River. They are mainly pastoralists, fishermen, and practice flood retreat farming along the banks of the river. To reach the Dasench village, we will take a traditional local boat to cross the river on the opposite side of Omorate.
Dasenech women have elaborate Beadles on their bodies. The men’s usualley beautify their hair with Clay paintings and feather. After watching the Dasench dancing and playing. We return to Turmi . Turmi is the home of the Hamer tribe. Known for their beautiful appearance of the women, with a lock of red hair. The Hamer people are the most welcoming and friendly tribes in the Omo Valley. We Visit a Hamer Village where we learn the family structure and Daily life.
The Hamer people depend on raising animals and practice small rain-fed agriculture. Hamer boys must perform a rite of passage to transform into a man. It has a long ritual ceremony, The main Event of the ceremony is Jumping a row of bulls. We look for an opportunity to witness the bull jumping ceremony.
Overnight Turmi Paradise Logde Turmi
Day 6 Turmi – Karo / Kara tribes
After breakfast, we will travel to the village of Korcho. It is one of the few Villages of Kara or Karo tribe. Korcho village is located on a hill with a breathtaking view of the OMO River. The Karo tribes are small in number and are famous for being the most colorful body painters using different colors of clay.
The Karo tribes were very rich and command large herds of cattle’s. A devastating outbreak of Pandemic whipped their entire animals. Since then they become dependent on fishing and farming.
Drive back to Turmi where we look for a Bull Jumping ceremony in the Afternoon. look on Hamer Villages and local Market. Monday is a market day, where the Hamer tribes come to trade Animals, agricultural goods, coffee, Tobacco, honey, clothes… etc.
Overnight Karo – Paradise Logde Turmi
Day 7 Drive back to Arbaminch
We keep taking photos along our drive back to Arbaminch. We may stop at Keyafer for a colorful Market. The market days are Mondays and Thursdays. After the visit, proceed to Konso and Arbaminch.
Overnight Arbaminch Toursit Hotel
Day 8 Addis Ababa – Harar
Fly from Addis Ababa to Diredawa meets your Guide/driver at the airport and drive to Harar. or Take a 5 AM Bus from Addis Ababa to Harar. Our representatives will wait (at Bus station or Airport) for you with a sign of your name on it. Drive to Harar check-in to your Hotel. After rest go out for a city tour of Harar.
On Harar city tour you will walk in the narrow alleyways of city paths passing through its colorful house and visit Sheriff Museum (former Ras Teferi Honeymoon house), Rimbaud House, and Harari National Cultural Center. Visit Harari’s colorful house and local market.
One of The Best Experiences of Harar is to see the hyena man. He is a man who Tames the wild Hyena. He is usually found at his place after 6:30 AM. He feeds Meat to the wild hyenas every night. Sometimes by holding meat in his mouth and a Hyena comes to Grab. The Hyenas obey him and they will not come unless he calls them by their names. It is a nice experience to feed the Hyena, many do it and you may also feed them some meat mouth to mouth :).
Overnight Hotel or In Harai Traditional Guest
Day 9 Harar – Babile- Addis Ababa
Morning Drive from Harar to Babile Camel Market and Valley of Marvels. Babile is the largest Camel Market in the region . It happens every Monday and Thursday. Somali and Oromo farmers will walk to Babile to sell their Camels Goats, and cattle. we will also drive further to the Valley of Marvels. It has wonderful landscapes, famous for its balancing rock formations. It is amazing to see how a big stone balanced and stays on a tip of a single stone.
If It is not happen to be on a Market Day and not worth visiting Babile On your way back to Diredawa you will visit Koremi. Koremi is a village older than harar itself. Its houses are built by stone in aver old style that may show the ancient architecture of the area. The People is Koremi plant a mild Narcotic plant called Qat and coffee.
Drive back to Diredawa airport to fly back to Addis – After a fare-well dinner with Ethiopian traditional music and Dance you will fly back home.
End of tour