14-Day Tour of Southern Ethiopia from Addis Ababa
Highlights
Addis Ababa, Arba Minch, Awassa, Hosaina, Jinka, Konso, Lake Langano, Mago National Park, Turmi, Nechisar National Park
Locations Covered
Addis Ababa, Arba Minch, Awassa, Hosaina, Jinka, Konso, Lake Langano, Mago National Park, Turmi, Nechisar National Park
boating, cultural, Tribal
Group Tour
14 Days
Easy
English, German
Description
Travel across Southern Ethiopia, visiting and exploring its colourful tribes, villages, markets, and more. Witness wildlife and other natural attractions. Discover the villages of Omorate and Gurage. Visit the archaeological sites of Melkaquntre, and marvel at the magnificent views of Lake Abaya. Travel to Murile and explore the wondrous African landscape.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Addis Ababa
Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, you will be greeted with the traditional Ethiopian hospitality at the airport and transferred to the hotel. (Depending on your arrival time, we can arrange an afternoon or after hour city tour)
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Day 2: Addis Ababa – Hosaena
Travel to the south of Ethiopia, a region noted for its enormous variety of peoples and cultures. Along the route, visit the archaeological site of Melkaquntre, the site of the ageless stele at Tiya, and the Gurage villages. Taste false banana, the staple food of the Gurage.
Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel in Hosaena
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Day 3: Arba Minch – Jinka
Cross soft rolling hills with dark red soil allowing plentiful crops. The Dorze people, famous for their textiles, inhabit the territory. Their bamboo houses are surrounded by small gardens.
Moving on, meet the Konso people, excellent farmers who erect totem poles on the tombs of their dead. Southeast of the Konso village is the Borena, who are semi-nomadic shepherds.
Overnight stay and dinner in Jinka, a large town on the edge of the southern savannah
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Day 4: Hosaina – Arba Minch
Explore the region inhabited by the people of the Guragie, who were once nomads but are now farmers. A long section of the road offers magnificent views of lake Abaya, surrounded by mountains. The lake has volcanic origins and is almost pink in colour.
Overnight stay at Bekele Mola Hotel with a panoramic view of lakes Abaya and Chamo and here, excellent fish from the lake is served.
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Day 5: Mago National Park
Drive to Mago - 33 km. Mago National Park is located on the east bank of the river Omo, ranging from 450 to 2,528 metres.
After a 2 hour drive, arrive at the camp where we will spend the night. The campsite is in a beautiful clearing among towering trees, which provide shade, and near the river Neri.
Later, visit the Mursi village, whose women have the custom of expanding their lower lips using disks that gradually get larger and larger. These are people who live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world.
Overnight and dinner at the camp
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Day 6: Murile
Early morning, drive to Murile - 50 km. Travel through the savannah in a typically African landscape, frequently meeting herds of oryx and gazelle.
Arrive at Muriel Lodge - bungalows and campsite right on the river Omo and surrounded by huge trees. This is the land of the Karo tribe, and it is possible to meet them along the river.
Spend the night in Murile in a tent
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Day 7: Turmi
Go for an early morning drive to Turmi through the savannah along tracks barely visible, passing through a vast meadowland with shrubs acacia trees. Pass through the village of Omorate on the Omo River, seeing the Galeb people.
Later, arrive at Turmi and camp to see the Hamer people.
Dinner and overnight stay in camp
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Day 8: Turmi - Konso
Early Monday morning, there is a spectacular Hamer market in Turmi. The Hamer are one of the most beautiful and dignified people of the Omo basin. The women colour their hair with red earth and butter and wear elegant leather skirts festooned with tiny pearls.
Head into the savannah, running alongside the mountains of Men, then raise to the Karkerte Mountains – providing splendid panoramic views – until reaching the terraced hills of Konso.
Camp for the night in Konso, sleeping in tents
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Day 9: Arba Minch
- Early morning, start towards the North, towards the lakes of the Rift Valley, Arba Minch. The Rift Valley is deep fission that extends for over 6,000 km from the Middle East to Mozambique. The rift valley contains a marvellous series of lakes, which are teeming with fish and provide a habitat for hundreds of species of birds.
Travel along the side of lake Chamo and arrive at Arba Minch towards lunchtime.
In the afternoon, visit the park of Nech Sar, located between lakes Chamo and Abaya.
Dinner and stay in Arba Minch Bekel Mola Hotel.
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Day 10: Awassa
In the morning, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo, populated by crocodiles and hippos.
Get on the road back to Awassa, crossing fertile land planted with bananas, cereals and tobacco. These plains are inhabited first by the Oromo people and then by the Sidamo. All kinds of fruit are sold along the roadside.
- Reach Lake Awassa, which is surrounded by mountains and populated by countless species of birds.
Overnight stay in a hotel and dinner in the pleasant town of Awassa
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Day 11: Awasa – Langano
Crossing very fertile areas cultivated with all kinds of tropical fruits, arrive after 30 km to the hot springs of Wondo Genet, where there is also a charming swimming pool. The site is an ancient and inactive crater, surrounded by a fine wood populated by baboons.
After a long stay in Wondo Genet, drive to Langano. Arrive in Langano by the evening.
Overnight and dinner in a hotel with bungalows on the lake
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Day 12: Langano
Explore this holiday resort with a splendid beach dotted with acacia trees, pinkish volcanic water ideal for swimming.
Later in the day, visit the nearby park around lakes Abyata and Shala. The park provides beautiful vistas over the two lakes and the valley covered in acacia trees. Numerous birds live on the shores, like the pink flamingo.
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Day 13: Langano – Addis Ababa
The afternoon is free to explore Addis Ababa.
Stay overnight in the same hotel as before and have dinner in one of the capital's many restaurants.
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Day 14: Addis Ababa
After early breakfast, visit the National Museum (a multi-collections representing Ethiopia's past and present image). Among the famous exhibits, the 3.5 million-year-old skeleton of 'Lucy' is worth visiting. Also, visit the Ethiopian Studies Institute Ethnological museum for its extraordinary collection of the priceless and varied ethnic medley.
Then, we continue driving up to the mount Entoto(over 3000 meters), the first seat of Emperor Menelik II before he established Addis Ababa as the capital of Ethiopia in 1886. Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit Trinity Cathedral and Merkato. See avenues, squares, obelisks, and many places of interest and shopping along our way.
Early evening, have a coffee ceremony with the guides as they share their appreciation for touring with them.
Late at night, transfer to the Bole International Airport and depart for home.
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
Meeting Point
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.
Price
Person | |
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1 to 4 | /person |
This is a group tour |