4 Days of Cultural Immersion in Ethiopia's Omo tribes
Your private, four-day Omo Valley experience takes you through one of the off-the-beaten-path and little-known regions of the Omo Valley. In this interactive experience, you can meet and engage tribes like the Mursi, Kara, Arbore, and Hamar. With a two-night stay in the traditional villages of Kara and Hamar, you can take part in some of their daily activities to learn about their traditional way of life, which has not changed in centuries. Take the traditional Hamar cooking class. Witness a bull jumping ceremony marking the maturation of the Hamar tribes, meet the Mursi warriors and their women, who are famed for wearing enormous lip plates, and much more.
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DAY 1: jinka - Arbore - Turmi ( Arbore tribe)
We will meet you at Jinka Airport to begin our exciting drive to Arbore through the breath-taking Weito Rever Valley, home to the Tesmay and Arbore tribes. When we arrive in Arbore, we will take a short detour to Gondoroba, the village of Arbore Chife, to talk with the chief, learn from his richness of wisdom and stories, and visit his residence and community. Arbore women have stunning dark pigmentation and distinctive facial features. Women have their heads shaved before marriage. They dress in black robes with colorful accoutrements. Pearl earrings, necklaces, and bracelets Even the leather skirts are decorated with beaded and metal embellishments. We'll spend the night at the Buska Lodge following taking quality time with the arbore community.
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DAY 2 : tURMI - KORCHO – turmi ( kara & hamar tribes)
Once again, another early morning start. Set off on the road to Koro. The road winds through lush countryside before arriving at the scenic great curve of the Omo River, Korcho village, where we will meet the Kara tribe and discover their incredible stories and traditions. The Kara are world-renowned for their creative facial and body painting. After noon Drive to Hamar village this afternoon for ?homestay and gain a personal insight of the Hamar lifestyle. Take pleasure in hearing the youngsters sing songs around the fire. The Hamers are gregarious and easily engaged. You will get to know Hamar's elderly men and women, ask questions, and appreciate the villagers' humour and kindness as you learn that they are just as interested in your life as you are in theirs.
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Day 3 : Turmi - Omorate –dimeka( Dassanch tribes and market)
Today is an early start! Early in the morning, drive to the border town of Omorate, which is home to the Dassanach tribe, who are thought to have Bantu descendants. Crossing the newly constructed Omo River bridge and heading to a little-known dassanch pastorilist community, hoping to arrive before the sun rises, before the cattle leave their barn to capture the incredible natural and human atmosphere, would then photograph children feeding and playing, women milking, cooking by fire, grinding corn meal, and men with their flock. We return to Jinka in the afternoon, and if our days coincide with one of the weekly tribal markets (Monday, Tuesday, or Saturday), it's a terrific opportunity for people watching. Following that, we shall proceed to Jinka for the night.
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Day 4 : JINKA-MURSI-jinka Addis (mursi tribe)
Today our journey begins early in the morning at 05:30 am with an excursion to the scenic Mago national park, where the Mursi tribes reside. We will explore some Mursi villages across the Maki river. The Mursi semi-nomadics are noted for wearing large lip palte and participating in ceremonial stick fights (donga). Having lunch in Jinka, we proceeded to Jinka Airport.
