10-Day Explore Southern Ethiopia & Bale Mountains

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

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, begin exploring Ethiopia’s vibrant capital.

City tour highlights may include:

National Museum (home of Lucy, the 3.2-million-year-old hominid)

Ethnological Museum (royal palace of Emperor Haile Selassie)

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market

Mount Entoto for panoramic city views

Overnight: Addis Ababa.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Sun View Addis Hotel

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

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+9 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Visit Adadi Maryam & Melka Kunture - Arbaminch

Depart Addis Ababa early and drive south through scenic highlands and Rift Valley landscapes.

En-route visits:

Tiya Stelae Field (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Ancient carved stone monuments whose origin dates back over 800 years

Adadi Maryam Church: A remarkable rock-hewn church believed to be contemporary with Lalibela

Melka Kunture Archaeological Site: One of East Africa’s most important prehistoric sites, showcasing early human tools and fossils

Continue south to Arbaminch, known as the “Forty Springs” city.

Overnight: Arbaminch.

Main Destination:

Arba Minch (City)

Accommodation:

Wubete Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Arba Minch (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Chamo & Dorze Village

In the morning, take a boat safari on Lake Chamo, part of Nech Sar National Park.

Highlights:

Large populations of Nile crocodiles

Hippos and diverse birdlife

Scenic lake shores framed by the Great Rift Valley escarpment

In the afternoon, visit the Dorze people, famous for:

Tower-shaped bamboo houses (up to 12 meters high)

Traditional cotton weaving

Enset (false banana)-based cuisine and cultural practices

Overnight: Arbaminch.

Main Destination:

Lake Chamo

Accommodation:

Wubete Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Arba Minch (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Arbaminch - Konso - Hamer Villages

Drive south to Konso Cultural Landscape (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Konso highlights:

Terraced agriculture ingeniously built on hillsides

Traditional stone-walled villages

Waga wooden statues commemorating heroes and elders

Continue to the Hamer (Hamar) villages near Turmi, known for their colorful attire and rich cultural traditions.

Overnight: Turmi.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Emerald Lodge Turmi

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

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+10 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Dasanech & Karo Peoples

Explore two distinctive Omo Valley communities:

Dasanech (Dassanech) People: Living along the Omo River near the Kenya border, known for fishing, pastoral life, and unique hairstyles

Karo People: Renowned for elaborate body painting using natural pigments and ash, and villages overlooking the Omo River

This day offers exceptional opportunities for cultural interaction and photography.

Overnight: Turmi.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Emerald Lodge Turmi

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

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Turmi - Key Afer - Mursi - Yabelo

Depart Turmi and drive northward.

En-route visits:

Key Afer Market: A vibrant multicultural market attended by Banna, Tsemay, Ari, and Hamer peoples (best on market days)

Mursi Village: Famous for lip plates worn by women and strong cattle-centered traditions

Continue to Yabelo, in the Borana region.

Overnight: Yabelo.

Main Destination:

Turmi (Lower Omo Valley)

Accommodation:

Yabello Motel

• Budget hotel located near Yabello WS (Wildlife Sanctuary)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Yabelo - El Sod Crater - Bale Mountains

Visit the dramatic El Sod Crater, a volcanic crater where the Borana people traditionally extract natural salt blocks by hand.

Drive eastward toward the Bale Mountains National Park, transitioning from semi-arid lowlands to high-altitude landscapes.

Overnight: Camping (Bale Mountains).

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit November to February (Little rain)

High Season October to January (Park is never busy)

Best Weather November to February

Wildlife in Bale Mountains NP

Ethiopian Wolf Common

Mountain Nyala Common

Warthog Common

Menelik's
Bushbuck Occasional

Guereza Monkey Occasional

Show more

Olive Baboon Occasional

Bohor Reedbuck Occasional

Starck's Hare Occasional

Giant Mole-rat Occasional

Bale Monkey Rare

Giant Forest Hog Rare

Golden Jackal Rare

Gelada Monkey None

Walia Ibex None

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains & Sanetti Plateau

Spend the day exploring the heart of Bale Mountains National Park.

Highlights:

Sanetti Plateau (4,000+ meters above sea level)

Sightings of endemic species such as:

Ethiopian wolf

Mountain nyala

Bale monkey

Afro-alpine moorlands, giant lobelias, and sweeping vistas

Overnight: Camping (Bale Mountains).

Main Destination:

Bale Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Bale Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bale Mountains - Rift Valley Lakes

Bale Mountains - Rift Valley Lakes
At the morning after breakfast, Descend from the highlands and drive west toward the Rift Valley.
Enjoy changing landscapes as you pass forests, farmlands, and lakeside scenery, arriving at the Lake Langano / Hawassa area.

Overnight: Hawassa.

Main Destination:

Lake Langano

Accommodation:

Lewi Resort Hawassa

• Mid-range resort located in Awasa (City)

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Langano - Addis Ababa - Departure

In the morning, enjoy leisure time at Lake Langano, known for its warm waters and relaxing atmosphere.
Later, drive back to Addis Ababa via the Rift Valley, with possible stops for photos and refreshments.
Transfer to Bole International Airport for your international departure, concluding your unforgettable journey through Ethiopia’s cultural and natural wonders.

Main Destination:

Awasa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

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