Tout Summary:
A road tour highlighting the far
southern part of the Omo with its immense cultural attractions of the ethiopia
and Addis Ababa city tour.
Day 01: Arrive Addis Ababa
Arrival to Addis Ababa, once clearing
through Customs & Immigration, you will be met at the exit gate for a transfer
to your hotel. Addis Ababa, the name of the city, in Amharic, means
"new flower". Founded in 1886 by Menelik II, it is located at 2,500 m (8202 ft)
above sea level in one of the highest parts of the Entoto Mountain chain (3,000
m/9842 ft above sea level). Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of
jacaranda trees, interesting museums and one of the largest open-air markets in
Africa, known as the "Mercato". Check in time starts from 1400 hrs.
Day 02: Addis Ababa / Hosanna
An early morning departure takes us south
of Addis Ababa towards the south Western side of the country. Our first stop is
at Melka Kunture, one of the most important Paleolithic sites in Ethiopia. Along
the Awash River where Melka Kunture is located, have been found the fossils of
hippopotamus, rhinoceros, and elephants. Continue to the church of Adadi Mariam,
the southern-most rock hewn church in Ethiopia. Contemporaneous with those of
Lalibela (in fact local tradition says that it was built by King Lalibela in
1106), the church was carved below ground level and contains 24 windows
surrounded by a wide, high tunnel. It is still being used today. Our next stop
is at Tiya, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, where we can see the
northernmost example of a peculiar type of engraved, standing stone monoliths
that stretch across parts of south Ethiopia. Then we drive down the beautiful
landscape and picturesque Oromo and Gurage people rural village to reach our
today’s destination, Hosanna. Overnight
Hotel, Hosanna.
Day 03: Hosanna / Arba Minch
Drive from Hosanna to Arba Minch: Passing
though the wonderful panoramic landscape of the Hadiya and Wolayita People. En
route we will visit the highland people of Dorze who live high in the mountains.
They are famous for their beehive-shaped bamboo houses. They use ingenious
terracing and have a unique traditional life style with their colorful weaving
products. Afterwards we commence descending towards the lakes of the Rift
Valley. The Rift Valley is a deep fission that extends for over 6,000 km from
the Middle East to Mozambique – testimony to the (most recent) violent and
massive shifting of the earth’s tectonic plates. The rift contains a marvelous
series of lakes, which are teeming with fish and provide a habitat for hundreds
of species of birds. We travel along the side of Lake Abaya and arrive at Arba
Minch late afternoon. Overnight Hotel, Arba Minch.
Morning boats
ride on Lake Chamo to see crocodiles, hippopotamus and some aquatic birds and
more Overnight hotel. Afternoon free to relax.
Day 05: Arba Minch / Jinka
Early morning drive to Jinka. On the way,
visit the Cushitic speaking Tsemay people in the Weyto Valley (where we will
have lunch) and the Bena and Ari people. There is a big Thursday market in Key
Afer where you can see the Tsemay, Ari and Bena people.
Overnight Jinka
Day 06: Jinka – Mago National Park –Mursi
village- Jinka
Today you will experience the most famous and
extraordinary people of Mursi. The Mursi people are typically known for the clay
lip plates the women insert in their lower lips. This practice is regarded as a
sign of beauty among the Mursi – the bigger the plate, the more beautiful the
wearer. You will have a light picnic lunch on the way overnight hotel.
Drive from Jinka to Turmi, the settlement
of the Hamer people, via Key Afer. If this day is Thursday you will visit one of
the most colorful multicultural weekly markets whereby the Tsemai, the Ari, and
the Benna people meet. Around Turmi, visit the Hamer people whose women are
famous for their typical skirts and hairdressings. The Hamer people are also
noted for their ‘Bull Jumping’ Ceremony where boys jump lines of bulls to show
the community that they are old and matured enough to carry the responsibility
of marriage. Hamers have remarkable hairstyles made from ochre, water, and
binding resin. They rub the mixture into their hair then twist the strands
repeatedly to create coppery-coloured locks. This is a sign of wealth and
welfare. Hamers are considered to be masters of body decoration.
Overnight Lodge Turmi.
Day 08: Turmi - Murulle – Turmi
Make an excursion trip to Murulle to visit the
Karo people who are the fewest ethnic groups in the Omo Valley
numbering only about 1,500 individuals. The Karos are famous for tattooing,
scaring and body painting. They reside by the side of the Omo River. Then, your
guide will arrange you a typical Ethiopian coffee ceremony at Turmi overnight
Lodge.
This morning we depart the Lower Omo
Valley. Our route today continues into the savannah, running alongside the
mountains of Men, and then rises up into the Karkerte Mountains – providing
splendid panoramic views – Visit the Erbore people before we reach the soft,
terraced hills of Konso. The people of Konso are known for their terraced
agriculture and wooden totems commemorating their ancestors. After lunch drive
to Yabelo to see the Borena Oromo people. For 500 years the Borena, Ethiopia’s
semi-nomadic pastoralists, have survived their harsh environment by ingeniously
sourcing water from wells that are up to 30 meters deep. The dust kicks up as a
long line of camels and cows wander down a path dug below ground level, leading
to a deep well. Men stand on top of each other, forming a human chain down the
well; they toss buckets between each other on a precarious ladder, gathering one
of the world’s most precious resources – water. There is a loud chorus of
singing, which keeps the rhythm going; the yellow buckets are lowered and raised
at a mesmerizing pace and the troughs are gradually filled at the mouth of the
well. Overnight Hotel - Yebello
Day 10: Yebello
/ Yirgalem
Driving from Yebello to Yirgalem , you will
travel back crossing fertile land planted with bananas, cereal and tobacco, and
inhabited first by the Oromo people and then by the Sidamo. visit the Sidama
people way of life, enjoy the evergreen place of the country, one of the most
known coffee plantation field ,Continue northward to reach the lodge at mid
afternoon. Nestled between coffee fields and lush vegetation in Yirgalem town,
the lodge is a peaceful haven for those who seek relaxation and is also a
welcome break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Overnight Lodge - Awassa
Day 11: Yirgalem / Addis Ababa
This morning departure takes us to Lake Awasa. Set in a volcanic crater, Awassa
Lake is the smallest in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. Here, we may view hippos,
grivet monkeys, and colobus monkeys with their wonderful white faces encircled
by deep ebony crowns. Birdwatchers will especially enjoy such avian wonders as
the silvery-cheeked hornbill, black-winged lovebird, and Abyssinian black-headedoriole.
The city of Awassa with its diverse ethnic mix will be especially enjoyable as
we walk through the daily market where colorful villagers negotiate for fish.
Visit the Rift Valley Lakes of Abyata and Shala, part of a national park, to
view the rich concentration of brightly colored flamingoes. Shala, the southern
lake, fills a crater almost 1000 feet deep, while nearby Abyata is a shallow
pond – each creating its own environmental niche.
Overnight: Siyonat Hotel - Addis Ababa (2 nights)
(B, L, D)
We spend the day exploring Addis Ababa beginning
with a visit to the National Museum, one of the most important sub- Saharan
museums in all of Africa. The museum is home to the fossilized humanoid Lucy, as
well as an amazing collection of artifacts, royal items and art. We then visit
the Ethnological Museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie. After
lunch, we take time in St. George Cathedral, built in 1896 by Emperor Menelik
and then continue on to Holy Trinity Cathedral. Holy Trinity Cathedral is the
largest Orthodox Church in Ethiopia and has survived through many historical
periods, as its interesting architecture can attest to. The Cathedral contains
the thrones and the tombs of the emperor and some of the royal family. Visit
Mercato, the largest open air market in Africa. This evening we will enjoy a
farewell dinner in the best Ethiopian traditional restaurant then you will be
transferred to the airport for your departure flight out and it will be end of
the trip.
The total price will be USD 2,980 per person
on a twin bed bases. Minimum 2 pax.
Cost includes
-
11 nights Hotel accommodation
-
Meal on half board bases ( breakfast and dinner) with hot and
soft drinks.
-
All ground transport 4WD land cruiser cobra 2002 Model
including fuel with Experienced driver.
-
All entrance fee as per the program.
-
Two hours boat excursion on Lake Chamo.
-
English speaking local guides in every destination
Excludes
-
Lunch
-
Alcoholic drinks.
-
Camera and video
shootings. (If you use camera, please expect USD 5/6 in some places).
-
Other expense of
personal nature like telephone call, Laundry etc
-
All what is not included in the inclusive
part above.
Kenya
