Domestic flight to Abra Minch
Your journey to the southern hinterland of Ethiopia starts at the airport in Addis Ababa. Upon your arrival you will be picked up by your guide who will give you a briefing on your trip before taking you to the domestic terminal where you will board a plane together and head to Arba Minch.
Once you arrive to Arba Minch you will be driven to your lodge, which is beautifully set in the lush mountains of the Great Rift Valley with spectacular views of two of the Great Rift Valley lakes; Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo.
Paradise Lodge itself consists of individual bamboo thatched huts nestled in the beautiful gardens of the lodge grounds. The lodge has an outdoor swimming pool, a sauna and a spa, perfect for recovering after your day of traveling.
- Main Destination:
- Arba Minch (City)
- Accommodation:
- Paradise Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Boat Trip Lake Chamo / Hike in Nechisar NP or visit Dorze Tribe
After breakfast you will set off on a boat tour of Lake Chamo, the third largest lake in Ethiopia. The lake is located in the mountainous and verdant landscapes of Ethiopia’s Rift Valley promising magnificent panoramic views of the soaring Guge mountain range. Besides a large variety of water birds and hippos the main showstopper at Chamo Lake is the large population of giant Nile crocodiles.
In the afternoon you will have the choice of two activities.
Option 1: Hike in Nechisar N.P.
Nechisar NP is ranked as one of the most scenic in East Africa, notable for its diverse terrestrial habitats ranging from open savannah and acacia woodland to thick bush and shoreline forests.
Option 2: Visit the Dorze Tribe
The Dorze live up in the Guge highlands overlooking beautiful views of Arba Minch and the Rift Valley lakes below. The Dorze are famous for their cotton-weaving techniques and for their uniquely designed bee-hive shaped dwellings.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Chamo
- Accommodation:
- Paradise Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
To Jinka
Today you will get an early morning start on your drive to Jinka. The journey will take you through the Omo Valley, where you can experience a variety of landscapes and the tribes and animals that inhabit them.
Which of the tribes we visit depends on your preference as well as the whereabouts of the tribes themselves, as some are nomadic and do not stay in one place for long. With an early start, there will be plenty of time to stop for pictures along the way as well as a lunch stop at the lovely Kanta Lodge in Konso.
Your destination today is Eco Omo Lodge, just outside of Jinka, where you will be spending the next two nights. The lodge consists of 20 eco-friendly en-suite safari tents and stone bungalows constructed in harmony with its verdant surroundings.
- Main Destination:
- Jinka (Omo Valley)
- Accommodation:
- Eco Omo Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Visit the Mursi tribe
Today you will visit one of the most famous tribes in the Omo Valley, the Mursi. On your way to the Mursi village, you will pass through Mago National Park with some chances of mammal and bird spotting. The landscape rolling by outside your window will be mostly dry savannah, interspersed with forested riverbeds. The main highlight of the day is experiencing the way of life of the Mursi tribe. The Mursi women are well-known for their lip-plate wearing tradition, and the men for their fierce stick fighting duels.
Whether you venture out to visit the Mursi, or do any of the optional activities today lunch will be enjoyed in Jinka where there are plenty of things to explore. The town houses an Ethnographic Museum with an interesting exhibition on the various cultures and ways of life of the people living in and around Omo Valley. You can combine a visit to the museum with an afternoon walk through the village to observe the daily life of the Ari people who live there.
- Main Destination:
- Jinka (Omo Valley)
- Accommodation:
- Eco Omo Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Visit the Karo tribe
Today you will drive to see the Karo tribe, who live in Korcho, on the eastern bank of the Omo River. This tribe is famous for their intricate face and body painting designs, which were once only worn by men as a means to ward off evil spirits. These days the patterns adorn both male and female bodies and is a way to express beauty and reflect social significance.
Your accommodation for the next two nights will be at Emerald Lodge in the outskirts of Turmi. The lodge offers basic, yet spacious en-suite rooms. The friendly staff will invite you to join a traditional coffee ceremony and meals can be enjoyed outdoors overlooking the natural surroundings.
- Main Destination:
- Turmi (Omo Valley)
- Accommodation:
- Emerald Lodge Turmi
- Meals & Drinks:
Visit the Hamer tribe
Today you will visit the Hamer who inhabit the lands east of the Omo River. The Hamer people are known for their elaborate hairstyles, dyed with ochre and adorned with feathers and other decorations. The women distinguish themselves by wearing leather skirts, decorated with shells, several copper bracelets around their arms and heavy iron necklaces around their necks. Around midday you will enjoy a packed lunch and spend some more time visiting this fascinating tribe before heading to Turmi.
If time allows you will visit one of the colorful markets in the area on your way to the lodge.
Optional activity: Bull jumping ceremony
Your visit with the Hamer tribe may coincide with a wedding or a coming of age ceremony. Men have to take giant leaps over an impossibly long row of bulls – without falling. If completed successfully the men gain respect within the tribe and are allowed to marry and carry a weapon. Cost: $30 per person.
- Main Destination:
- Turmi (Omo Valley)
- Accommodation:
- Emerald Lodge Turmi
- Meals & Drinks:
To Konso
In the early morning you will depart for Konso Karat. On the way, you will get the opportunity to see the Konso Cultural Landscape.
Walking among these fortified settlements, where the way of life is based on century-old traditions, is like stepping back in time. The communities who live here have adapted to the harsh, dry environment and you will be able to experience their traditions and customs during your visit.
In the afternoon you will continue on to your lodge for the night, Kanta Lodge, where you can enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding valleys.
- Main Destination:
- Konso (Cultural Village)
- Accommodation:
- Kanta Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
To Hawassa
After breakfast, you will start the journey north to Hawassa. On the way, we will stop for a visit to the Wolayta people. You will have the opportunity to visit one of the farms and see how they live. You will also stop for a local lunch along the way.
Your accommodation for the night is at Haile Resort, which is set on the shores of Lake Hawassa. Here you can stroll along the lake enjoying the scenic lake views, take a dip in the pool or watch the sunset from the terrace.
- Main Destination:
- Awasa (City)
- Accommodation:
- Haile Resort Hawassa
- Meals & Drinks:
To Bale Mountains NP
Today you will travel along the incredibly scenic route to Bale Mountains N.P.
This national park is a veritable treat for trekkers, nature enthusiasts and bird and wildlife watchers. During your journey the rugged mountainous landscape will transition to the incredibly biodiverse Gaysay Plains. The landscape here is teeming with birdlife and you have good chances of spotting the endemic Mountain Nyala and the Menelik Bushbuck.
From here the road will continue up to the main attraction of Bale Mountains N.P.; the Sanetti Plateau. Much of this Afro-alpine landscape lies above 4000 meters, and it is here that you may spot the world’s rarest canid, the endangered Ethiopian Wolf. We will take our time crossing the plateau and stop at several viewpoints and for wildlife spotting.
During the next two nights you will stay at Bale Mountain Lodge, which lies just south of the Sanetti Plateau.
- Main Destination:
- Bale Mountains National Park
- Accommodation:
- Bale Mountain Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Visit the Sanetti Plateau
No visit to Bale Mountain National Park would be complete without spending some time on the Sanetti Plateau. After breakfast you will depart on the 45-minute to the plateau, in the company a knowledgeable guide. The landscape changes dramatically as you ascend out of the dense and damp forest around the lodge to the arid and lobelia-dotted landscape of the plateau, complete with alpine lakes and plunging waterfalls. Mt Tully Deemtu (4,377m) rises up in the center of this expanse and visitors can now drive all the way up to the summit of Ethiopia’s fourth tallest peak!
Most trips will result in a sighting of the main attraction of the plateau – the rare and endemic Ethiopian wolf. You are most likely to see them in the day-time when they are out hunting for Mole Rats, which is the main diet of the wolves. Only 350 wolves still exist today and two thirds of them inhabit the Sanetti Plateau.
- Main Destination:
- Bale Mountains National Park
- Accommodation:
- Bale Mountain Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
To Lake Langano
In the morning you will have some time to enjoy final views of the Sanetti Plateau as you make your way back up north. Your destination for the day is Lake Langano, another one of the series of crater lakes scattered along the Ethiopian Rift Valley. You will have some time in the afternoon to explore the lake.
Tonight, you will be staying at the Africa Vacation Club, which is set amidst beautiful gardens on the shore of Lake Langano, overlooking the lake and the mountains beyond. The hotel features a swimming pool, a spa and sandy beaches just off your doorstep.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Langano
- Accommodation:
- Africa Vacation Club Ethiopia
- Meals & Drinks:
To Addis Ababa
In the morning, you will set off to Addis Ababa. Depending on the departure of your international flight you may have time to visit several cultural highlights in the afternoon, for instance; the National Museum where the famous “Lucy” is exhibited, the palace of Emperor Menelik in the Entoto mountains, and the Mercato, reputed to be the largest market in Africa and a go-to for souvenirs. (Activities in Addis Ababa are at own expense).
- Main Destination:
- Addis Ababa (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks: