6 DAYS ANNUAL KAEL RITUAL ( FAT CONTEST ) AND OMO TRIBES

June 14, 2024 - June 19, 2024

Join on our  a Cultural Expedition to the Omo Valley: Encounter the Iconic Mursi and Hamar Tribes, and Immerse Yourself in the Festivities of the Bodi/Meen Tribe's New (Keer/Keel) Celebration. Experience the Intriguing Annual Fat Contest, a Tradition Reflecting Months of Preparation with Fresh Cow Milk and Blood Solay to be crown the fattest person of the year. Journey to the Remote Corners of the World and Witness the Richness of Tradition and Community in this Unforgettable Cultural Experience."  

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DAY 1: FRI, JUN 14TH : FLY ADDIS TO JINKA( BACO)-MURSI

We will pick you up at Jinka Airport freshen up and drive to Mursi village with a two-hour trip via gorgeous Mago National Park to see the legendary Mursi tribes, who reside spread along the Maki river to the Mago highlands. The Mursi are one of indigenous ethnic group in Omo Valley. They inhabit in low-to-the-ground grass and leaf houses. Terra cotta jewellery looks great on women's enormously enlarged lower lips and ear lobes. Males are well-known for their hairstyle O/N JINKA RESORT MEALS: BLD

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DAY 2: SAT, JUN 15TH : JINKA –HANA(BODI)-JINKA

Today we will start early in the moring around 6 AM, and spend full day witnessing kael festival, Once a year, the Bodi (also known as Meen) tribes come together to celebrate the vibrant festival of Kael/Keer. This week-long event marks the tribe’s New Year and is rooted in ancient courtship rituals, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to witness an extraordinary cultural spectacle. Kael/Keer is the most significant ceremony for the Bodi tribes. During this ritual, hundreds of participants adorn themselves with clay and ashes and perform mesmerizing dances around sacred trees. They are judged not only on their physical stature but also on their dance skills, with the entire community closely observing their performances. An elder meticulously measures the neck, thighs, abdomen, and arms of each contestant, declaring the one with the highest measurements as the winner. Taking place in southern Ethiopia, the Ke’er/Keel festival occurs between the last week of March and the first week of June. The Bodi tribe, also known as the Meen or Mekan, are semi-nomadic people living in the Mago wooded savannah on the eastern side of the Omo River. They sustain themselves through a combination of livestock herding, hunting and gathering, and flood-relief cultivation. This festival is a captivating glimpse into their rich traditions and way of life. O/N JINKA RESORT MEALS: BLD

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DAY 3:SUN, JUN 16TH : Jinka –turmi (2hrs)

Following breakfast we will have 2hrs drive to turmi , centre for a Hamer tribes, on our way would witness spectaclur benna stick walking tribes, Arriving in turmi , In the afternoon, we will proceed to the largest hamar hamlet, for more immersive experience of their daily lives. For a villages camping, our staff will make sure camping tents ready on arrival, A hammer women have prominent cheekbones and wear heavy copper necklaces with intricate handmade beads. The Hamers are gregarious and easily engaged. Camping with hamar tribes/ with option of staying in buska lodge Meal: BLD O/N-Buska Lodges

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DAY 4:MON, JUN 17TH: DRIVE TURMI – OMORATE- HAMAR

Travel to your ancestral home. We begin the day with a journey through the magnificent Dassanch heartland, only a few kilometers from the Turkana lake shore, where anthropologists uncovered precious remnants to which, according to DNA analysis, every single human kind is connected. Discover their history and way of life, and photograph dassanch nomads and women grinding and cooking in their village. Return back to buska for lunch Turmi-Arbore-Turmi following early lunch we head out 1 hrs scenic drive to at Arbore, home for Tesmay and mainly Arbore tribes. will be visiting an Arbore tribal village located at the northern edge of Mount Buska. The Arbore women are absolutely stunning, they have extremely dark skin and strong features. Prior to marriage the women have their heads shaved. They wear dark robes, colorful beads and their huts are fabricated from tree branches.. . O/N-Buska Lodges Meal: BLD

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DAY 5 : TUE, JUN 18TH :TURMI- KARA -JINKA (230 KM 4HRS)

Depart early, aiming to arrive while the sun is still soft. Head towards Korcho, one of the three villages of the Kara village, all of which are situated in a breathtaking setting on the banks of the Omo River. The kara is well-known for its adorning flowers as well as its creative and decorative body chalk painting. Many of the Kara women have pierced lips and inserted nails and pins. Learn more about the Kara tribe. Drinking coffee in their traditional hut, listen to their stories and interact with elders and tribeswomen. Then, return to Turmi for lunch. Aftere lunch break Pay a visit to Thursday Turmi's colorful weekly market. The Omo Regional Market is a bustling place where various dwindling tribes of the Omo Region come together to socialize, share what is happening around them, and sell and buy goods. -a great place for people-watching. All kinds of goods are sold at the market, including lots of crafts, jewelry, and spices. Processed drive to Jinka for the night O/N JINKA RESORT MEALS: BLD

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DAY 6: WED, JUN 19th : JINKA_ ADDIS ABABA

Breakfast and coffee farewell ceremony , processed to jinka airport , f0r the early flight that depart on 10:00 AM