12-Day Omo Valley, Awash & Harar Journey

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Arrive in Addis Ababa and meet your guide at the airport. Depending on arrival time, enjoy a city tour including the National Museum, home of “Lucy,” and the vibrant Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market. Continue to Mount Entoto for sweeping views over the capital and insight into Ethiopia’s imperial history. Relax at your hotel and prepare for your upcoming adventure through Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, wildlife parks, and ancient eastern cities.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Jupiter International Hotel Bole

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Addis Ababa – Arba Minch

Depart Addis and drive through the Great Rift Valley, passing scenic lakes, farmlands, and villages. Stop at Lake Ziway for birdwatching and cultural encounters. Continue to the highland village of Dorze, known for its beehive-shaped houses, weaving traditions, and mountain scenery. Experience local culture before continuing to Arba Minch. Enjoy sunset views over Lakes Chamo and Abaya as you settle into your lodge for the night.

Main Destination:

Arba Minch (City)

Accommodation:

Paradise Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Arba Minch (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Chamo – Jinka

Start your day with an optional boat trip on Lake Chamo, where you'll encounter massive Nile crocodiles, hippos, and diverse bird species. Note: The boat trip is an optional wildlife viewing activity, available at an additional cost.
After lunch, drive south through Konso, a UNESCO Cultural Landscape renowned for its stone terraces and traditional villages. Learn about Konso’s social structures and its famous wooden “waka” statues.
Continue to Jinka, a gateway town to the Omo Valley tribes. If time allows, explore the South Omo Research Center or visit the local market.

Main Destination:

Jinka (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Eco Omo Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Jinka (Lower Omo Valley)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Jinka – Mursi Tribe – Turmi

Enter Mago National Park and travel to meet the Mursi people, famous for their lip-plate tradition, body art, and pastoral lifestyle. Learn about their customs with respectful guidance from your local escort. After the visit, continue through the scenic Omo Valley lowlands to Turmi, homeland of the Hamer tribe. Enjoy an evening village walk and experience the warm hospitality and vibrant culture that make Hamer communities so fascinating.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Buska Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Hamer Tribe – Bull Jumping (if available)

Spend the day exploring Hamer villages and learning about their traditions, hairstyles, honey-based diet, and social ceremonies. With luck and timing, witness the extraordinary bull-jumping ritual, a major rite of passage for Hamer young men. The ceremony features female relatives singing, dancing, and displaying deep bonds of loyalty. Enjoy time with families and understand the cultural richness that defines the Omo Valley.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Buska Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Karo Tribe – Omorate – Turmi

Travel to visit the Karo tribe, known for their elaborate body painting using chalk, ash, and natural pigments. Photograph their riverside villages overlooking the Omo River. Continue your journey to Omorate, near the Kenyan border, where you'll cross the river by local boat to visit the Dassanech people. Learn about their nomadic traditions and unique architecture.
Return to Turmi for some relaxation, followed by an optional evening cultural experience with local communities.
Note: The boat trip to Omorate is an optional wildlife viewing activity, available at an additional cost.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Buska Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Turmi – Konso – Yabello

Leave Turmi and travel north through the Omo Valley toward the Konso highlands. Explore a traditional Konso village to discover their terracing systems, clan structures, fortified compounds, and ancient wooden grave markers. Continue to Yabello, passing volcanic landscapes and pastoral communities. Enjoy a peaceful evening at your lodge while preparing for tomorrow’s journey toward the Rift Valley and Ethiopia’s famous wildlife regions.

Main Destination:

Yabello Wildlife Sanctuary (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Accommodation:

Yabello Motel

• Budget hotel located near Yabello WS (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Yabello – Awash National Park

Depart Yabello in the morning and drive to Awash National Park, located in the scenic Rift Valley. Arrive at Awash Falls Lodge and settle in. In the afternoon, embark on a safari to spot oryx, kudu, warthogs, baboons, and diverse birdlife. Explore acacia woodlands, savannah plains, and volcanic landscapes. Enjoy the golden sunset over the Awash River before returning to the lodge for dinner. Overnight: Awash Falls Lodge.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Best Time To Visit October to February (Little rain and less hot)

High Season September to April (The park is never busy)

Best Weather October to February

Wildlife in Awash NP

Olive Baboon Abundant

Beisa Oryx Common

Soemmerring's
Gazelle Common

Hamadryas
Baboon Common

Salt's Dik-dik Common

Show more

Lesser Kudu Occasional

Desert Warthog Occasional

Defassa Waterbuck Occasional

Nile Crocodile Occasional

Spotted Hyena Occasional

Guereza Monkey Rare

Ethiopian Wolf None

Gelada Monkey None

Walia Ibex None

Accommodation:

Awash Falls Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Awash National Park Safari

Spend a full day exploring the park’s natural wonders. Take morning and afternoon game drives or short hikes to view wildlife, volcanic formations, hot springs, and the majestic Awash Falls. Photograph stunning landscapes and enjoy birdwatching in one of Ethiopia’s most diverse parks. Return to Awash Falls Lodge for meals, relaxation, and overnight.
Overnight: Awash Falls Lodge.

Main Destination:

Awash National Park

Accommodation:

Awash Falls Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Awash NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Awash Falls & Travel to Harar

Begin with a morning safari through Awash National Park to explore grasslands, acacia forests, and volcanic formations. Visit the spectacular Awash Falls, a highlight of the park. After lunch, drive east toward the ancient walled city of Harar, passing farms and highland landscapes. Check into your hotel and enjoy an evening stroll inside Harar Jugol, the vibrant old town known for its colorful alleys and rich heritage.

Main Destination:

Harar (Town)

Accommodation:

Harar Ras Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Harar (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Harar Cultural & Historic Exploration

Spend the day exploring Harar Jugol, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit traditional Harari homes, ancient mosques, markets, museums, and the house of poet Arthur Rimbaud. Enjoy the city’s unique blend of African, Arab, and Islamic culture. In the evening, witness Harar’s famous hyena feeding ritual, an unforgettable cultural experience where locals call wild hyenas by name to feed them by hand.

Main Destination:

Harar (Town)

Accommodation:

Harar Ras Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Harar (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Harar – Dire Dawa – Addis Ababa Departure

After breakfast, drive to Dire Dawa to explore its lively markets, historic railway station, and charming streets. Enjoy lunch before transferring to Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa for your departure flight. Depending on your schedule, you may have time for last-minute shopping, coffee tasting, or a brief city visit. This marks the conclusion of your unforgettable 12-day journey through Ethiopia’s tribes, wildlife, landscapes, and historic cities.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.