Lost Tribes of Ethiopia 14 days Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: Addis Ababa

On arrival in Addis Ababa, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Please note this is an arrival day, so you may arrive at any time. If you arrive early, an optional visit to the National Museum can be arranged. Addis Ababa is a bustling city, dotted with Italian architecture, interesting churches and friendly inhabitants. It is also a city of immense contrasts – the Addis Sheraton, with its ‘singing fountain’ is one of the most luxurious in all of Africa, yet you only need to travel a few streets away to find yourself among busy markets, dirt roads and the odd goat or two wandering the streets. The city is relatively new– established by the Emperor Menelik II in 1887, and at 2,400m has the distinction of being the third highest capital in the world. Although Ethiopia was the only African nation never to be colonised, parts of it, including Addis, were briefly occupied by the Italians in the twentieth century, and in many parts of the city their legacy lives on in the form of old art deco buildings and coffee shops, particularly in the area known as the Piazza. Addis can seem daunting at times, but even the briefest foray into the busy streets can reveal interesting new insights.

Day 2: Arba Minch

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Today we start travelling to the south of Ethiopia, a region noted for its enormous variety of peoples and cultures. Many of these populations are nomadic or semi-nomadic and, far from the influence of the modern world, their ancient traditions have remained intact. After leaving Addis Ababa, we pass through the high mountain plateau. Set in dramatic surroundings, Arba Minch is a small southern Ethiopian town lying at an altitude of 1,300m above sea level, on a cliff overlooking Lake Chamo and Lake Abaya. To the west, mountains form a backdrop rising to 4,000m. Although there's not much to do in town, it is the gateway to Nechisar National Park. Along the way we will pass by a Dorze village, famous for its beehive huts. Driving time: Approximately 10 hours

Day 3: Nechisar National Park

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

With some of the most dramatic scenery in Africa, Nechisar National Park lies at the heart of the Rift Valley, covering Lakes Chamo and Abaya and the mountainous causeway between them known as the 'Bridge of God'. The Nechisar Plain offers the best game viewing, with Burchellis zebra, gazelle and kudu. Lions are found in the park but are rarely seen. Waterbuck are found near the lake shore, and there are many smaller species of buck found in the forest areas. Today we visit Nechisar, to view the wide variety of wildlife and take a boat trip on Lake Chamo, inhabited by hippo and crocodile. Driving time: Approximately 2 1/2 hours

Day 4-5: Jinka

Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

We pass through the territories of several different tribes on our way to Jinka including the Konso, who erect totem poles on the tombs of their ancestor. Jinka is a small mountain town set apart from the country. It’s both remote and rustic, accentuated by the grass airstrip in the middle of town. People come from across South Omo to visit the local markets, particularly Ari, Bana, Besheda and Besketo people. Probably the best known tribe in Ethiopia, the Mursi people are most famous for their practices of extending their lower lips with clay discs, and stick fighting. We visit a Mursi village to learn more about this fascinating group. When a Mursi woman reaches 20 years old, a slit is made beneath the lower lip and a clay plate inserted. Each year a larger plate is added, stretching the lower lip until it juts out so far that a 15cm plate can be worn and the woman can pull her lip right over her head. This is considered the height of attractiveness. Mursi men do not escape entirely unscathed, as they take part in stick fights which in the past sometimes ended in the death of one of the participants. Decorated with white clay, they whack each other with 2m long poles. There are consolations; the winner is carried off by a group of eligible girls who then decide which one of them will marry him. Driving time: Day 4 approximately 8 hours; Day 5 approximately 1 1/2 hours. Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 2 dinners

Day 6: Murile

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Here the track stops. Travelling through open savannah and often encountering herds of Buffalo, Giraffe and gazelle, we head towards Murile. We visit the Karo tribe, masters of body decoration who use chalk to paint themselves. We will also visit the Hamer people, known for their remarkable hairstyles. Murile (also spelled Muelle and Murli) lies on the banks of the Omo River, and is a popular base for exploring what is essentially a rugged area. There is a fair amount of wildlife in the area, and a good chance of seeing some form of antelope and possibly raptors overhead. The two main tribes who live in the area are the Karo and the Hamer, both of whom practice scarification and have elaborate hairstyles. The highlight of the year in the Hamer calendar is the Bull Jumping Ceremony, the culmination of a 3 day initiation ceremony. 15 bulls are lined up and the initiate has to jump onto each one, all the way down the line, before turning round and coming back the same way. The ceremony is usually held around December/January and August, right after the harvest season. Driving time: Approximately 5 hours

Day 7: Turmi

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Today we visit a colourful local market and mingle with different tribes like the Karo, Hamer and Benna. There are many interesting handicrafts to be found too - don’t forget to bargain. Hopefully we will also be invited into a couple of homes. Dimeka is the principal town in Hamer country, with an impressive market on Saturdays, where Hamer villagers make their way to from miles around. Dimeka borders different tribal areas, and you're likely to encounter several different tribes mingling together in the market. A visit to one of the villages in the area is also rewarding; made entirely of mud, the small thatched huts are tidily arranged with very few outside influences to be seen, offering a glimpse into another way of life. Driving time: Approximately 3 hours

Day 8: Turmi

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Covering a large territory, the Geleb live along the western banks of the Omo River, having been forced out of the Turkana region by conflict in the 18th century. Originally nomadic pastoralists, the more fertile surroundings of the Omo River has caused them to put down more permanent roots based around fishing and agriculture. The Geleb live in small huts that befit their nomadic origins, as they could be easily and quickly dismantled. Today we visit the Geleb tribes, crossing the Omo River by boat. In the afternoon we drive back to Turmi and spend the night camping.

Day 9: Konso

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Today’s drive offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding scenery including the terraced hills of Konso. Along the way, we may be lucky enough to see beisa oryx, dik-dik, and lesser kudu. We visit Konso village where the people are known for their colourful, traditional dress and the unusual engraved wooden statues or totems they use as grave markers. All roads into South Omo pass through Konso, and this unprepossessing small town of 3000 inhabitants is a good base for exploring the hillside villages in the surrounding countryside. The Konso people themselves live in walled hilltop settlements with maze-like fences. There is a central communal building called a mora, the ground floor of which is used by the men and boys as a social area; women are excluded. Carved wooden grave markers are a Konso tradition, with the deceased warrior's features enhanced by using teeth made from animal bones. Driving time: Approximately 4 1/2 hours

Day 10: Yabello

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Today we take a very scenic drive to El Sod village. Here we take a short hike to visit 'the house of salt', on the edge of a deep crater lake. We also drive to Dublock to visit the 'singing wells'. The singing wells take their name from the chanting of people as they form human chains to pass buckets from hand to hand to when collecting water from wells in the area. This activity only ever takes place in the dry season, when herders will travel for several hours to ensure their livestock are watered. Some 20km to the south, El Sod is the site of Chew Bet, or the 'house of salt', a saline crater lake that lies at the bottom of a 200m deep crater. The lake is almost black in colour and has a vaguely sinister air as a result; villagers collect the salt formed by evaporation on a rota system to ensure levels are kept sustainable. Driving time: Approximately 7 1/2 hours

Day 11: Lake Awasa

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Awasa is one of the largest cities in southern Ethiopia but manages to retain an easy-going feel, making it a pleasant place to spend some time. There is a bustling central market as well as a separate fish market. Tabor Hill offers good views across the lake, which is the main draw; it has an imposing mountainous backdrop with the lakeshore itself fringed with lush vegetation where monkeys are frequently seen. Hippos are found out in the lake itself - they emerge onto the shore to graze after dark. The lake has excellent birdlife, with many species of waders present, as well as heron, stork, and pygmy geese. Fish eagles are also found here, their haunting cry often heard at dusk. On the way to Awasa we stop at Wenago to visit the Tutu Fella stelae field - an unusual collection of carved stones. We then continue to Lake Awasa, which is surrounded by mountains and populated by countless species of birds. On arrival, we walk along the shores of the lake to see birds and possibly Hippos. Driving time: Approximately 5 hours

Day 12: Wondo Genet Langano

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Morning visits the fish market which is very active during this time of the day and we take a short drive to Wondo Genet, the site of an inactive crater and an area of hot springs. The hot springs of Wonda Genet lies 20km to the south of the town of Shashemene, set in a region of beautiful scenery rich in birdlife. The hills are covered in juniper, providing a habitat for hornbill, turaco and yellow-fronted parrot. The nearby Abyata-Shala National Park incorporates the two Rift Valley lakes it is named after, and borders Lake Langano. The two lakes could not be more different - Shala lies in a crater 265m deep, studded with volcanic islands. Lake Abyata, in contrast, is large and shallow, nowhere deeper than 14m. We then continue to Langano where the rest of the day is free; those who wish may visit the nearby park around lakes Abyata and Shala. The park provides beautiful views over the two lakes and the valley covered in acacia trees. Numerous birds, including the pink flamingo, live on the shores. Driving time: Approximately 1 1/4 hours

Day 13: Addis Ababa

Meals included: 1 breakfast

We return to Addis Ababa. The rest of the day is free for you to explore or perhaps indulge in a bit of last minute shopping. You may like to enjoy an optional final dinner at a well known local Ethiopian restaurant. Here you will able to put your new-found dancing moves to the test by joining in with the traditional dancers. Driving time: Approximately 4 hours

Day 14: Addis Ababa

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Tour ends this morning in Addis Ababa after breakfast.