8-Day Southern Omo Valley Tribes

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This morning fly to Arba Minch, the largest town in southern Ethiopia, set amongst lush green hills near Lakes Abaya and Chamo. Arba Minch is named for the numerous local springs that produce a groundwater forest. The town is divided into two distinct areas, the uptown admin centre and, 4 km away, the downtown commercial-residential areas of Sikela, connected by a paved road. You can buy fruits here, including mangoes, bananas, guava and pineapple; it's also known for its fish farms.

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In the morning, take a one-hour boat ride on the lake to Azo Gebeya, the so-called “crocodile market”, a gathering place for crocodiles and pelicans. Visit Konso village famously known for their Waga sculptures and carvings celebrating deceased men. Their elaborately stone-walled terraced hillside grows some of the country's best coffee. They have living cultural traditions that stretch back 21 generations–more than 400 years.

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The Mursi are one of the original ethnic Omo valley tribes. They live in one of the most isolated areas of Ethiopia and the women like to wear terra cotta plates on their stretched lower lips and earlobes. Stay at Buska Lodge, an unpretentious eco-lodge, overlooking the plains of Buska Mountain. The lodge offers also a rare opportunity to learn about and experience the culture and traditions of the local Hammer community.

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This day you will take an excursion to Omoratte where you will meet the Dassenech people, the inhabitants of the Lower Omo River Valley. Later, you will venture to Murulle to visit the Karo people, who also reside along the banks of the Lower Omo River. The Karo incorporate rich cultural symbolism into their rituals and use ornate body art, intricate headdress, and body scarification to emphasise their beauty and status within the community.

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You will visit Hammer peoples and experience a bit of their culture before making your way back to Arba Minch. The Hammer people are known for their unique custom of "bull jumping," which initiates a boy into manhood, as well as their decorative jewellery items that elaborately cover their bodies. After visiting the village, you'll continue back to Arba Minch.

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You will drive back to Addis. En route you will visit Tiya one of Ethiopia's great archaeological sites and one of eight UNESCO sites in the country. It highlights the widespread presence of mysterious engraved stelae stretching across this region of southern Ethiopia. This is a long day of driving, once you are in Addis, you can relax for the remainder of the day.