Day 1. Arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
You will be met by your guide who will take you to your hotel and give you a short tour briefing. You can then take a city tour. Start with the National Museum, famous for the remains of Lucy, a hominid who lived over 3 million years ago.
These remains were found in 1974. Another place to visit is the palace of former Emperor Haile Selassie.
Overnight at Hotel Lobelia.
Day 2. Flight to Arbaminch
After breakfast, head to the airport and fly to Arbaminch in southern Ethiopia. This area is home to many cultural groups. When you arrive, the driver will take you to your hotel to check in.
In the afternoon, visit the Dorze people in the Guge Mountains. They are known for their cotton weaving and for building beehive-shaped houses made of natural materials.
These houses can be moved if needed, for example, in case of termites.
Overnight at Mora Heights Hotel.
Day 3. Drive to Jinka
After breakfast, drive to Jinka. Visit the open-air market where many Omo tribes come to trade. On the way, stop briefly at the village of the Ari people.
They live in a green area and mostly grow coffee and fruits like avocado, mango, and bananas for their use.
Overnight at NASA Hotel.
Day 4. Jinka – Mago National Park
After breakfast, drive to Mago National Park. Stop in the villages of the Mursi people. Mursi women are known for stretching their lips by adding clay disks. The men take part in stick fighting as a ritual called Donga.
These are some of the few tribes in Africa that still keep these customs. In the afternoon, drive back to Jinka, then return to Arbaminch for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at NASA Hotel.
Day 5. Drive to Turmi
After breakfast, drive to Turmi, a small town where many Omo Valley tribes meet. First, visit the Konso people. They are farmers known for their terraced fields and stone-walled villages built in the mountains. After lunch, drive to the villages of the Hammer people. The women style their hair using clay, which shows their wealth and pride.
Overnight at Emerald Lodge.
Day 6. Omorate Excursion
Drive about 75 kilometers to Omorate to visit the Dassanech people who live along the Omo River near the Kenya border. These people farm and fish. Return to Turmi for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Kara people, known for painting their bodies and faces using natural materials like soil, plants, chalk, and charcoal. The paintings are usually for special occasions.
Overnight at Emerald Lodge.
Day 7. Turmi to Konso (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Drive to Konso, recently named a UNESCO World Heritage site. The highland people are known for their terraced hills and carved totems used to decorate graves. This site shows a living cultural tradition over 400 years old.
Overnight at Korebta Lodge.
Day 8. Konso – Hawassa
Drive to Hawassa, a town by a lake. There are resorts here, making it a good place to rest and relax after wildlife viewing. You can watch birds while the sun sets over the lake.
Overnight at Lake View Hotel.
Day 9. Drive to Bale Mountains (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Arrive at Bale Mountains National Park. At the park headquarters, you will be briefed and cleared for activities inside the park.
Overnight at Tokuma Hotel.
Day 10. Full Day in Bale Mountains
Drive around the park to see animals like Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, and Bohor Reedbuck, all found only in Ethiopia. The park also has unique birds like the Abyssinian Thrush.
The mountains are between 9,500 and 14,360 feet above sea level. They hold the largest moorland forest in Africa. This forest is untouched and very natural. You will see special animals, rocks, and many small lakes. Tullu Dimtu, the tallest mountain in Ethiopia, rises to 4,377 meters above sea level.
Overnight at Tokuma Hotel.
Day 11. Drive Back to Addis Ababa
After breakfast, leave Bale Mountains and drive back to Addis Ababa with several stops along the way. Enjoy a farewell dinner with traditional Ethiopian food and local dancing. After dinner, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
End of the tour.
