Day 1: Addis Ababa to Arba Minch
Early in the morning we depart by 4x4 SUV to Arba Minch - in Amharic “forty springs” (505km away) enjoying the scenic Great Rift Valley lakes that are teemed with different bird species as well as the Enset (False Banana Tree) plantation and Wolayita people’s unique bamboo huts. We will overnight Arba Minch.
Day 2: Arba Minch to Nech Sar
Early morning drive to Nech Sar National Park about 30 minutes away. In the experience of many visitors, Nech Sar National Park ranks as one of the most beautiful places in the tropical savannahs.
It is a small park of 514 sq kms (201 sq miles) located on an outstandingly scenic part of the Rift Valley floor. Sandwiched between two lakes (Chamo and Abaya) and bordered in the east by the Amaro Hills, the central plains of this park seem from a distance to be very pale, thus giving rise to the name Nech Sar or "white grass."
The park is home to Burchell's zebra, Grant's gazelle and the endemic Swayne's hartebeest. The two adjoining lakes - Chamo and Abaya, support a considerable population of Nile crocodile and concentration of Nile perch. We will overnight Arba Minch.
Day 3: Arba Minch (Nech Sar) to JinkaIn the morning we leave for Jinka on the way enjoying the extraordinary diversity of cultures. Seven distinct groups of people border on the Omo River and most of them preserve their traditional ways of life hardly changed from what they were centuries ago. Picnic lunch en-route, overnight stay at Rocky Recreation Campsite.
Day 4: Jinka / Mago National Park
In the morning we drive through the natural forests and undulating terrains across the Mago River and visit the Mursi Villages. Undeniably, the highlight of your Omo Safari will be the visit of the Mursi women who wear clay lip plates. Afternoon depart for Mago National Park and game viewing. Picnic lunch en-route, overnight stay at Mago Camp Site.
Day 5: Mago to Murulle
In the morning we drive through the savanna woodland to Murulle, the principal home of Karo people who decorate their bodies with chalk paint, often imitating the spotted plumage of a guinea fowl. During the afternoon visit the Karo villages along with their famous practice of face and torso paintings. We will overnight at Murulle Camp Site.
Day 6: Murulle to Turmi
Mid morning we drive to Dimeka to visit the weekly market of the archetypal South Omo residents, the Hammer people that enjoy body decoration like the other Omo area tribal people and wear quantities of colorful beads and clay hair buns with Ostrich feathers. Picnic lunch en-route and afternoon departure to Turmi, the capital of Hammer’s and visit the surrounding villages. We will overnight at Turmi campsite.
Day 7: Turmi to Omorate and back to Turmi
In the morning we drive Omorate and Turkana Lake visit the Bume and Dassenech peoples villages. Drive back to to overnight at Turmi campsite.
Day 8: Turmi to Konso
In the morning we drive from Turmi to Yabello with a stopover in Konso. The Konso people venerate ancestor wood carved statues. We will visit the terrace hills and wood carved Konso ancestor statue. Konso is the last outpost of civilization. We will overnight at Konso.
Day 9: Konso to Dublock singing well and El Sod crater via Yabello
In the morning we drive from Yabello and visit Borena peoples villages on the way to Dublock singing wells.
The singing wells of Borana, a region in Southern Ethiopia, ¾ of the way to the border of Kenya. This lowland area suffers frequently from drought; rains are erratic and the Borena struggle to keep their vast herds alive. However, they have a way to combat this problem: they have mastered the harsh ecosystem by creating an ingenious way of sourcing water, which they have been operating for the last 500 years – a series of wells, which are often up to 30 meters deep.
Continue in the afternoon drive to El sod crater, from where Borena men harvest salt. Centuries ago salt was used as common currency to trade among different peoples within Ethiopia. Visit some of their villages. Overnight at Yabello.
Day 10: Yabello to Wondo Genet via Shashemene
Mid morning we drive to Shashemene which is situated at (300km from Addis Ababa) a crossroads, with roads north south and east west. We will visit this vibrant commerce town in the crossroads that connect the different regions of southern Ethiopia and the Rastafarian community.
It is also home to a Rastafarian community mainly from Jamaica. The late Emperor Haile Selassie I granted them land here in perpetuity in recognition of the support and solidarity of the people of African origin in the Caribbean for Ethiopia at the time of the Fascist invasion in 1935 by Mussolini.
Wondo Genet (in Amharic Place of Heaven) is located about 20 km east of Shashemene in the mountainous fertile lands spa quality natural hot springs.
Emperor Haile Selassie had a lodge here, now part of a resort hotel. The hot springs coming down from the hills travels over 1 km like a river coming down over the cliff as waterfall at the bottom of the spa and swimming pool. The hot spring water is about 120 degree Fahrenheit when it reaches the bottom of the fall, one can stand underneath getting a natural hydro-massage. The waters are reputed to have curative properties, so people from all over the region including Addis Ababa come here for days at a time to cure all kind of illnesses from arthritis, muscle injury, eczema, dandruff and the common cold.
The scenery around the lodge is hilly and Juniper forested. While most visitors may prefer to relax around the spa, there are some very good trekking up the hills (about 3 hours to go up and down), with plenty of bird-life and wildlife such as monkeys and baboons. Spectacular sunsets can be seen from the terrace outside the bar, with a great view of Lake Awassa that's why it is called Wondo Genet "Place of Heaven".
Day 11: Wondo Genet to Langano
Spend the morning in Wondo Genet and start the drive after lunch to Langano. This evening we will relax at Bekele Mola hotel and swimming and trekking is available at the property on Lake Langano.
Day 12: Langano to Addis Ababa via Lake Abiata and Shala
Early in the morning (at dawn) we drive to Lake Abiata and Shala two of the Flamingo inhabited rift valley lakes. Here we pass through the Ostrich Park on the way to the lakes.
There is a beautiful view on top of the cliff of the two ocean blue lakes, this is a picture moment. We will proceed to the bottom of the hill to Lake Shala to see the Geysers. The Geysers eject a column of hot water and steam into the air. Locals boil corn on the cob to eat. If we get here early enough we will be able to see thousands of Flamingos.
We leave mid morning to Ziway (fishing town on Lake Ziway), we will have brunch and visit the local fisher's market and photo opportunity of Bird-life. We then proceed driving back to Addis Ababa.
In the early evening festive dinner with folk dance at the Crown Hotel or Agilgil restaurant, your choice in the outskirt of Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel.
Price:$1425.00 (per person, double occupancy)
Single supplement: $713.00 (a single room throughout the trip) should a roommate be requested and one not be available, this supplement will be charged.
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Difficulty: Medium
Not recommended for children under 13 or people above 65 years old.
Disclaimer:
• Weather, road conditions and/or bridges could prevent us going through certain routes or reaching certain location within this itinerary. Yemgeta will make every effort to reroute to complete the itinerary.
