Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Addis Ababa – Tiya – Awassa
Head south via Butajira, visiting the UNESCO-listed Tiya stelae field, the rock-hewn church of Adadi Maryam, and the prehistoric site of Melka Kunture. Arrive in the lakeside city of Awassa for the evening.
Day 2: Awassa Fish Market & Dorze Village
Visit the morning fish market on Lake Awassa before driving to the highlands of Chencha. Meet the Dorze people, famous for their tall bamboo houses and intricate weaving. Stay overnight in a traditional Dorze hut or descend to Arba Minch.
Day 3: Lake Chamo Boat Trip
Explore the local market in the morning, then take a boat trip on Lake Chamo. Visit the “crocodile market,” where massive Nile crocodiles bask on the shore, and look for hippos and diverse water birds. Overnight in Arba Minch.
Day 4: Drive to Turmi via Erbore
Travel through the Weyto Valley to visit the Erbore tribe. Continue to Turmi, the center of the Hamer people. In the evening, you may witness the vibrant “Evangadi” night dancing. Overnight in Turmi.
Day 5: Omorate & Hamer Tribes
Excursion to Omorate to cross the Omo River and visit a Dassenech village. Return to Turmi to visit a Hamer village. If the timing is right, you may have the opportunity to attend a “Bull Jumping” rite of passage ceremony. Overnight in Turmi.
Day 6: Markets of Dimeka & Jinka
Drive to Jinka, stopping at the colorful tribal markets in Dimeka or Key Afar (depending on the day). These markets are vital social hubs for the Hamer, Banna, and Karo tribes. Overnight in Jinka.
Day 7: Mursi Tribe & Mago National Park
Drive through Mago National Park to a Mursi village, known for the lip plates worn by the women. In the afternoon, visit the South Omo Museum in Jinka or hike to a nearby Ari village. Overnight in Jinka.
Day 8: Konso Cultural Landscape
Drive to Konso, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ancient terraced hills and “Waka” wooden statues. Visit a local village and the cultural museum. If time permits, see the natural sand formations known as “New York.” Overnight in Konso.
Day 9: Senkele Sanctuary & Lake Langano
Head north to Lake Langano, stopping at the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary to search for the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest. Enjoy the evening by the shores of Ethiopia’s only bilharzia-free lake. Overnight at Lake Langano.
Day 10: Rift Valley Lakes to Addis Ababa
Enjoy a morning swim or birdwatching. Drive back to the capital, stopping at Abiatta-Shala National Park to see flamingos and the deep blue waters of Lake Shala before your departure flight from Addis Ababa.
