Site: Southern Omo Cultural tour

Day 1: Addis Ababa – Fly to Jinka – Ethnographic Museum- Jinka

In Addis Ababa, you will be welcomed by Mewael representatives and transferred to your domestic flight to Jinka, which is a market town in southern Ethiopia, located in the hills north of the Tama Plains. This town is the capital of the Debub (South) Omo Zone, of the Southern people of Ethiopia.  Upon arrival, check-in to the hotel and visit the ethnographic museum of South Ethiopia (a center for cultural studies). It displays the artifacts of more than 16 tribes of Omo valley. Overnight Jinka

Day 2: Jinka – Mursi- Turmi

Early in the morning drive through Mago national park and visit the home of Mursi tribe who are well known for their distinctive body patterns, lip plate, and hanging earlobes, and seasonal stick fighting (Donga).  Spend some time visiting their cultural lifestyle then drive to Turmi, home of the popular Hamar tribe (the second dominant tribe in southern Ethiopia), famous for their body and hair decoration. They wear quantities of colorful beads and clay hair buns with Ostrich feathers.  Bull-jumping ceremonies and Evangadi dances are the most popular activities peculiar to the tribe. On the way, visit the colorful market at Keyafer (on Thursdays) or Dimeka (on Tuesdays/ Saturdays) villages. Overnight Turmi

Day 3: Turmi – Omorate – Turmi

After breakfast, guests will be driven to Omorate, where a short trip across the Omo river on a traditional canoe will allow guests to visit the village to the Dassanech tribe who have settled around the eastern and western bank of the Omo River bordering northern Kenya. The Dassanech tribe is also well known for their body paintings for beautification purposes.

In the late afternoon, guests will be driven to one of the nearest Hamer villages to visit their way of life. (Depending on the season and if it meets the occasion- a visit can be arranged to see their unique traditional dance and bull jumping ceremonies). Overnight Turmi

Day 4: Turmi – Konso – Arbaminch

Drive to Arbaminch, on the way visit Konso one of the world Heritage sites. Konso is known for its cultural landscape; particularly it’s stone wall village and intricately terraced hillsides. Their village is also known for finely woven materials and traditionally carved wooden totem “waka”, which are symbols of grave marks for their clan chief and warriors. After a short visit proceeds to Arba Minch. Overnight Arbaminch

Day 5: Lake Chamo- Fly to Addis – Unity park – departure

After an early breakfast, guests will have a morning visit to the ‘crocodile market’ on Lake Chamo.  The Chamo Lake is known to be the sole lake in Ethiopia that is ecologically balanced thus the crocodiles and other wildlife situated there are found to be more passively basking in the sun.   Guests will be able to sight the enormous population of aquatic life such as the giant Nile Crocodiles, Hippopotamus, and different species of birds.

After a pleasant time spent spotting the wildlife, fly back to Addis in time to visit Unity park which is located within the compound of Menelik II palace. Here guests will be able to visit the historical buildings, the Aquarium, the Zoo, indigenous plants, and the unique cultural displays of the people of Ethiopia. In the evening guests will enjoy a farewell dinner at one of the traditional restaurants with a live folkloric show and be driven to the airport for departure.

• The tour itinerary can be amended, rearranged differently, and include or exclude activities based on your interest.