Day 1- drive ADDIS aBABA – AWASSA ON THE WAY TIYA UNESCO SITE
Morning after breakfast meet with SET staffs (driver and guide) at your preferred departure point and time, then start drive down to south, drive to southward to the rift valley regions passing creator lakes and rift valley lakes on the way visit the Tiya steal field a UNSCO registered site in Ethiopia, arrival at Awassa and walk on the lake shore of Lake Awassa, overnight hotel.
Day 2- DRIVE Awassa – arbaminch- ON THE VISIT THE DORZE TRIBE
Mornings after breakfast walk on the lake shore to see the fish market and a very good opportunity to see the aquatic birds, then drive will take you along the scenic farmlands of Gurage People. We will also drive through the Wolayta farmlands, with views of the lush green hills and valleys, on the way visit the Dorze tribe and their village, famed for their bee hive shaped houses and their weaving skills. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze. They are also farmers, who prevent soil erosion by ingenious terracing of the mountainsides. Around their huts they have their own little garden with vegetables, spices; tobacco and Enset (false-banana or musa Ensete). You arrive late in the afternoon at Arbaminch – meaning ‘Forty Springs’ in Amharic. Arbminch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town, Overnight hotel
Day 3-DRIVE ARBAMINCH- TURMI ON THE WAY BOAT TRIP & KONSO TRIBE
Early in the morning drive to the Lake shore to have a boat trip on Lake Chamo, Boat trip on Lake Chamo is along the best anywhere in Ethiopia. One can spot many Hippos and the world’s most spectacular concentrations of Giant Nile Crocodiles which measure about 6 meter with the water birds are great the scenery is truly unforgettable, continue drive on the way stop at KONSO to visit the Konso tribe with their king- UNSCO registered site for their extensive terracing and practice of making a wooden grave mark for their hero and kings, continue driving and late afternoon arrival to Turmi, overnight Lodge.
Remark: – if there is any ceremonial activity like traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony
DAY 4- TURMI- EXCURSION KARO TRIBE AT MURULLE- ON THE WAY DIMEKA MARKET (SATURDAY/ TUESDAY) – AFTERNOONS HAMER VILLAGE
Early in the morning after breakfast excursion to Murulle to see the Karo tribe, famous for their body panting (they prepare the ink for the painting from locally available material like flower, soil and animal blood) we will also admire the scenery view of the Omo river from the edge of the village, then drive to Dimeka Market to attend the weekly colorful market of the HAMER tribe then drive back to Turmi after afternoon break in the lodge late afternoon walk from the lodge to the village to visit the HAMER tribe with their own way of life interaction with their way of life, overnight Lodge.
Remark: – if there is any ceremonial activity like traditional dance, Bull jumping ceremony you will be informed by your guide so based on that you will pay the extra payment for the ceremony
Day 5- DRIVE TURMI- JINKA ON THE WAY excursion TO OMORATE-DASENCH TRIBE
These day early in the morning after breakfast drive 73 km west to visit the Dassench/Geleb people; who inhabited in the bank of Omo River and we cross the Omo River by locally made boat to see the village these tribes are semi nomadic with very little agriculture on the bank of the Omo River, then drive to Jinka on the way enjoy the interaction of different tribes with their way of life, overnight Lodge.
DAY 6- DRIVE JINKA- ARBAMINCH AM EXCURSION TO MURSI TRIBE ON THE WAY KEY AFER MARKET (THURSDAY)
After breakfast early in the morning leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe. They are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted, then drive to KEY AFER- Tribal Market one of the best market in the OMO VALLEY since at list four different tribes are coming to attend these weekly market arrival to the small town and escort a local guide walking around the market and explore different section of the market including animal, vegetable, cereals and much more. Then continue drive back to Arbaminch, overnight hotel/ lodges
Day 7- AM GAME DRIVE AT NECHSAR NATIONAL PARK THEN DRIVE ARBAMINCH -YERGAALEM/AREGASH LODGE
Early in the morning after breakfast drive to Nechisar is named after the white grass that covers the undulating Nechisar plains and contrasts with the black basalt rocks of the Amaro Mountains to the east, and the black soils of the plains. Around 15% of the park comprises portions of Lakes Abaya to the north and Chamo to the south. The water of Lake Abaya is always brown or red-brown due to iron-ferric, in contrast with Lake Chamo which has strikingly blue water and white sandy beaches. The park also covers the neck of land between the lakes which supports groundwater forest. At the foot of Mt Tabala in the south-east there are hot springs. During game drive you will have a chance to observe different wild life include Zebra, lesser and greater Kudu, gazelle, baboons and various bird lives then start drive to Aregash Lodge an interesting lodge in the middle of forest in Sidama region with a traditional house made up of traditional material available from the surrounding arrival, overnight lodge
Day 8– DRIVE aregash lodge/yergalem- addis ababa on the way SIDAMA VILLAGE through rift vally – DEPARTURE
Morning After relaxed breakfast in the lodge you will visit the Sidama people and their village with their fascinating culture and the false Banana preparation and coffee plantations and enjoying the sunrise start to drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley on the way coffee and tea stop at the town of Debrezeyet in one of the creator lake arrival at Addis, shopping and coffee break and finally in the evening traditional farewell dinner in cultural restaurant with live tribal music.
